§5.8.1Non adeo cecidi, quamvis abiectus, ut infra §5.8.2te quoque sim, inferius quo nihil esse potest, §5.8.3quae tibi res animos in me facit, improbe? curve
I have not fallen so far, although cast down, that I am below you also, than whom nothing can be lower, what thing gives you courage against me, wicked man?
§5.8.4casibus insultas, quos potes ipse pati?
Or why do you insult my misfortunes, which you yourself can suffer?
§5.8.5nec mala te reddunt mitem placidumque iacenti §5.8.6nostra, quibus possint inlacrimare ferae; §5.8.7nec metuis dubio Fortunae stantis in orbe §5.8.8numen, et exosae verba superba deae.
Nor do our evils, at which wild beasts could weep, make you gentle and mild to one lying low; nor do you fear the power of Fortuna standing on her unstable wheel, and the proud words hated by the goddess.
The avenging Rhamnusia exacts punishment from those who deserve it: why do you trample on my fate with your foot placed upon me?
§5.8.11vidi ego naufragium qui risit in aequora mergi, §5.8.12et
numquam
dixi
iustior unda fuit. §5.8.13vilia qui quondam miseris alimenta negarat, §5.8.14nunc mendicato pascitur ipse cibo.
I myself saw him who laughed at a shipwreck sink into the sea, and I said, "Never was a wave more just." He who once denied cheap food to the wretched, now is fed himself on begged food.
§5.8.15passibus ambiguis Fortuna volubilis errat §5.8.16et manet in nullo certa tenaxque loco, §5.8.17sed modo laeta venit, vultus modo sumit acerbos, §5.8.18et tantum constans in levitate sua est.
Voluble Fortuna wanders with doubtful steps, and remains certain and firm in no place, but now comes joyful, now assumes a harsh face, and is constant only in her own levity.
§5.8.19nos quoque floruimus, sed flos erat ille caducus, §5.8.20flammaque de stipula nostra brevisque fuit.
We too have flourished, but that flower was fleeting, and our flame was of straw and short-lived.
§5.8.21neve tamen tota capias fera gaudia mente, §5.8.22non est placandi spes mihi nulla dei, §5.8.23vel quia peccavi citra scelus, utque pudore §5.8.24non caret, invidia sic mea culpa caret, §5.8.25vel quia nil ingens ad finem solis ab ortu §5.8.26illo, cui paret, mitius orbis habet.
Yet lest you capture fierce joys with your whole mind, there is not no hope for me of placating the god, either because I sinned short of crime, and just as my fault is not without shame, so it is free from malice, or because the vast world, from the rising to the setting of the sun, has nothing milder than him whom it obeys.
§5.8.27scilicet ut non est per vim superabilis ulli, §5.8.28molle cor ad timidas sic habet ille preces, §5.8.29exemploque deum, quibus accessurus et ipse est, §5.8.30cum poenae venia plura roganda dabit.
Indeed, just as he is not surmountable by force to anyone, so he has a soft heart towards fearful prayers, and following the example of the gods, whom he himself is to join, he will give, with the pardon of punishment, more things to be asked for.
If you should count the suns and clouds in a whole year, you will find that the day is more often bright.
§5.8.33ergo ne nimium nostra laetere ruina, §5.8.34restitui quondam me quoque posse puta: §5.8.35posse puta fieri lenito principe vultus §5.8.36ut videas media tristis in urbe meos, §5.8.37utque ego te videam causa graviore fugatum, §5.8.38haec sunt a primis proxima vota meis.
Therefore, lest you rejoice too much in our ruin, think that I also can one day be restored: think that it can happen, the prince being softened, that you may see my face in the middle of the city, sad, and that I may see you exiled for a heavier cause; these are the nearest prayers next to my first ones.