Receive the greeting sent from Naso, who is beloved to you, O Severus, a great part of my soul.
§1.8.3neve roga quid agam.
And do not ask how I am doing.
si persequar omnia, flebis; §1.8.4summa satis nostri si tibi nota mali.
If I should relate everything in detail, you will weep; it is enough if the summary of my misfortune is known to you.
We live in constant arms, devoid of peace, while the quivered Getan stirs up harsh wars.
And out of so many exiled, I alone among the banished am a soldier: the rest of the crowd lies hidden in safety, and I do not envy them.
And so that you may deign to look upon my little books with greater favor, you will read these poems knowing they were written in the midst of battle-readiness.
There stands an ancient city, near the bank of the double-named Hister, scarcely accessible by its walls and the very position of the place.
Caspian Aegisos, if we believe the locals about themselves, founded it, and called the work by his own name.
This city the fierce Getan, after the Odrysians were destroyed in sudden war, captured, and raised arms against the king.
He, mindful of his great lineage, which he increases with his virtue, immediately arrives, surrounded by countless soldiers.
Nor did he depart before he had crushed the bold spirits of the people with the well-deserved slaughter of the guilty.
But to you, O king, most brave in our age, may it be granted always to hold the sceptre with an honored hand.
§1.8.23teque, quod et praestat quid enim tibi plenius optem. §1.8.24Martia cum magno Caesare Roma probet.
And may warlike Rome, along with great Caesar, approve of you —which is indeed the best thing, for what more complete could I wish for you?
§1.8.25sed memor unde abii, queror, o iucunde sodalis, §1.8.26accedant nostris saeva quod arma malis, §1.8.27ut careo vobis.
But mindful of whence I digressed, I complain, O pleasant companion, that savage arms are added to my misfortunes, how I lack you all!
Stygias detrusus in oras, §1.8.28quattuor autumnos Pleias orta facit.
Thrust down to the Stygian shores, the rising Pleiad makes four autumns pass.
Nor should you believe that Naso seeks the comforts of city life; and yet he does seek those too.
§1.8.31nam modo vos animo dulces reminiscor, amici, §1.8.32nunc mihi cum cara coniuge nata subit: §1.8.33aque domo rursus pulchrae loca vertor ad urbis, §1.8.34cunctaque mens oculis pervidet usa suis.
For at one moment I remember you in my mind, sweet friends, at another my daughter together with my dear wife comes to me; and from my home I am turned again to the places of the beautiful city, and my mind surveys all things, using its own eyes.
§1.8.35nunc fora, nunc aedes, nunc marmore tecta theatra, §1.8.36nunc subit aequata porticus omnis humo.
Now the forums, now the temples, now the theatres covered in marble, now every portico on leveled ground comes to my mind.
§1.8.37gramina nunc Campi pulchros spectantis in hortos, §1.8.38stagnaque et euripi Virgineusque liquor.
Now the grass of the Campus looking towards the beautiful gardens, and the pools, and the canals, and the Virgin water.
But, I suppose, the pleasure of the city has been so snatched from wretched me, that I may at least be permitted to enjoy any countryside whatsoever!
§1.8.41non meus amissos animus desiderat agros, §1.8.42ruraque Paeligno conspicienda solo, §1.8.43nec quos piniferis positos in collibus hortos §1.8.44spectat Flaminiae Clodia iuncta viae.
My mind does not long for lost fields, nor the countryside to be admired on Paelignian soil, nor the gardens situated on pine-bearing hills which Clodia, joined to the Flaminian Way, looks upon.
§1.8.45quos ego nescio cui colui, quibus ipse solebam §1.8.46ad sata fontanas, nec pudet, addere aquas: §1.8.47sunt ubi, si vivunt, nostra quoque consita quaedam, §1.8.48sed non et nostra poma legenda manu.
Which I cultivated for I know not whom, to which I myself used to add spring waters to the plantings, and I am not ashamed to admit it: where there are, if they still live, certain things planted by me too, but the fruits are not to be gathered by my hand as well.
In place of which lost things, would that it might be granted at least here to me, an exile, to have a clod of earth to cultivate!
§1.8.51ipse ego pendentis, liceat modo, rupe capellas, §1.8.52ipse velim baculo pascere nixus oves; §1.8.53ipse ego, ne solitis insistant pectora curis, §1.8.54ducam ruricolas sub iuga curva boves, §1.8.55et discam Getici quae norunt verba iuvenci, §1.8.56adsuetas illis adiciamque minas, §1.8.57ipse manu capulum pressi moderatus aratri §1.8.58experiar mota spargere semen humo.
I myself, if only it were permitted, would pasture she-goats hanging from the cliff, I myself would wish to pasture sheep, leaning on a staff; I myself, lest my breast dwell on its usual cares, will lead the earth-tilling oxen under the curved yokes, and I will learn the words which the Getic steers understand, and I will add the shouts accustomed to them, I myself, having guided the handle of the pressed plow with my hand, will try to scatter seed when the earth has been turned.
§1.8.59nec dubitem longis purgare ligonibus herbas, §1.8.60et dare iam sitiens quas bibat hortus aquas,
Nor would I hesitate to clear weeds with long hoes, and to give waters which the already thirsty garden may drink.
§1.8.61unde sed hoc nobis, minimum quos inter et hostem §1.8.62discrimen murus clausaque porta facit?
But whence should this be for me, between whom and the enemy a wall and a closed gate make the smallest distinction?
But for you at your birth—at which I rejoice with all my heart— the fateful goddesses spun strong threads.
§1.8.65te modo Campus habet, densa modo porticus umbra §1.8.66nunc, in quo ponis tempora rara, forum.
Now the Campus holds you, now the portico with its dense shade, now the forum, in which you spend your brief times.
Now Umbria calls you back, and also the Appian Way leads you with glowing wheel as you seek the Alban fields.
Perhaps here you may wish that Caesar suppress his just anger, and that your villa may be my place of hospitality.
Ah! it is too much, what you ask, my friend: wish more moderately, and, I pray, draw in the sails of your prayer.
I would wish that a land closer and subject to no war be given.
erit nostris pars bona dempta malis.
A good part will have been taken away from my misfortunes.