§1.9.1Quae mihi de rapto tua venit epistula Celso, §1.9.2protinus est lacrimis umida facta meis; §1.9.3quodque nefas dictu, fieri nec posse putavi, §1.9.4invitis oculis littera lecta tua est.
Your letter that came to me about the snatched-away Celsus was immediately made wet with my tears; and, what is a crime to say, and what I thought could not happen, your letter was read by my unwilling eyes.
§1.9.5nec quicquam ad nostras pervenit acerbius aures, §1.9.6ut sumus in Ponto, perveniatque precor,
Nor has anything more bitter reached our ears, since we have been in Pontus, and I pray that nothing more bitter may reach them.
Before my eyes, as if of one present, his image clings, and love imagines him, though dead, to be alive.
Often my mind recalls the games lacking seriousness, and the serious matters often performed with clear fidelity.
§1.9.11nulla tamen subeunt mihi tempora densius illis, §1.9.12quae vellem vitae summa fuisse meae, §1.9.13cum domus ingenti subito mea lapsa ruina §1.9.14concidit in domini procubuitque caput.
Yet no times come to my mind more thickly than those which I would wish to have been the end of my life, when suddenly my house, fallen with a huge ruin, collapsed and fell upon the head of its master.
He was present for me, when a great part of my friends abandoned me, O Maximus, nor was he himself a companion of my fortune alone.
I saw him weeping at my funeral not otherwise than if his brother were to be placed upon the fire.
§1.9.19haesit in amplexu consolatusque iacentem est, §1.9.20cumque meis lacrimis miscuit usque suas.
He clung to my embrace and consoled me as I lay prostrate, and continually mixed his tears with mine.
Oh, how often did that hated guardian of my bitter life hold back my hands ready for my own destruction!
§1.9.23o quotiens dixit "placabilis ira deorum est: §1.9.24vive nec ignosci tu tibi posse nega! §1.9.25vox tamen illa fuit celeberrima, "respice, quantum §1.9.26debeat auxilium Maximus esse tibi.
Oh, how often did he say: "The anger of the gods is placable; live, and do not deny that you can be forgiven!" Yet that voice of his was most frequent: "Look back at how much of a help Maximus ought to be to you.
§1.9.27Maximus incumbet, quaque est pietate, rogabit, §1.9.28ne sit ad extremum Caesaris ira tenax; §1.9.29cumque suis fratris vires adhibebit, et omnem, §1.9.30quo levius doleas, experietur opem. §1.9.31haec mihi verba malae minuerunt taedia vitae.
Maximus will apply himself, and with the piety that is his, he will ask that the anger of Caesar be not tenacious to the end; and he will apply his brother's strength along with his own, and will try every means, so that you may grieve more lightly." These words lessened for me the weariness of a bad life.
§1.9.32quae tu ne fuerint, Maxime, vana cave.
Take care, Maximus, lest these words should have been in vain.
He used to swear to me that he would come even here, only if you gave him the right of this long journey.
For he cherished your inner shrine in no other way than you yourself cherish the gods, the rulers of the world.
§1.9.37crede mihi, multos habeas cum dignus amicos, §1.9.38non fuit e multis quolibet ille minor, §1.9.39si modo non census nec clarum nomen avorum §1.9.40sed probitas magnos ingeniumque facit,
Believe me, though you, being worthy, have many friends, he was not inferior to any one of the many, if only it is not wealth nor the famous name of ancestors, but honesty and talent that make men great.
§1.9.41iure igitur lacrimas Celso libamus adempto. §1.9.42cum fugerem, vivo quas dedit ille mihi: §1.9.43carmina iure damus raros testantia mores, §1.9.44ut tua venturi nomina, Celse, legant.
Rightly, therefore, do we offer tears to the snatched-away Celsus, which he gave to me when I was alive and fleeing; rightly do we give poems testifying to rare character, so that future generations, Celse, may read your name.
§1.9.45hoc est, quod possum Geticis tibi mittere ab arvis §1.9.46hoc solum est istic quod licet esse meum.
This is what I can send to you from the Getic fields; this alone is what is allowed to be mine there.
§1.9.47funera non potui comitare nec ungere corpus, §1.9.48aque tuis toto dividor orbe rogis, §1.9.49qui potuit, quem tu pro numine vivus habebas, §1.9.50praestitit officium Maximus omne tibi.
I could not accompany your funeral, nor anoint your body, and I am divided from your pyre by the whole world; but he who could, whom you when alive held as a divinity, Maximus, performed every duty for you.
§1.9.51ille tibi exequias et magni funus honoris §1.9.52fecit et in gelidos versit amoma sinus, §1.9.53diluit et lacrimis maerens unguenta profusis §1.9.54ossaque vicina condita texit humo.
He performed your obsequies and a funeral of great honor, and poured spices into your cold breast, and, grieving, diluted the ointments with his shed tears, and covered your bones buried in the neighboring earth.