Do you recognize at all from the image of the pressed wax that Naso writes these words to you, Macer?
And if his ring is not the indicator of its author, is our letter recognized as made by my hand?
Or does the lapse of time snatch away from you the knowledge of these things, and do your eyes not seek again the ancient signs?
Although you may have forgotten equally both the gem and the hand, let only the care for me not fall away from you.
§2.10.9quam tu vel longi debes convictibus aevi, §2.10.10vel mea quod coniunx non aliena tibi est, §2.10.11vel studiis, quibus es, quam nos, sapientius usus, §2.10.12utque decet, nulla factus es Arte nocens. §2.10.13tu canis aeterno quicquid restabat Homero, §2.10.14ne careant summa Troica bella manu.
Which you owe either to the companionships of a long age, or because my wife is not a stranger to you, or to the studies, which you have used more wisely than we, and as is fitting, you have been made guilty by no "Art." You sing whatever was left for eternal Homer, lest the Trojan wars should lack the final hand.
§2.10.15Naso parum prudens, artem dum tradit amandi, §2.10.16doctrinae pretium triste magister habet, §2.10.17sunt tamen inter se communia sacra poetis, §2.10.18diversum quamvis quisque sequamur iter: §2.10.19quorum te memorem, quamquam procul absumus, esse §2.10.20suspicor, et casus velle levare meos.
Naso, too little prudent, while he delivers the art of loving, has as a teacher the sad reward of his teaching, Yet there are sacred rites common among themselves for poets, although each of us follows a different path: Of which I suspect that you are mindful, although we are far away, and that you wish to lighten my misfortunes.
With you as guide we looked upon the magnificent cities of Asia: with you as guide Trinacris was seen by my eyes.
§2.10.23vidimus Aetnaea caelum splendescere flamma, §2.10.24subpositus monti quam vomit ore Gigans, §2.10.25Hennaeosque lacus et olentis stagna Palici, §2.10.26quaque suis Cyanen miscet Anapus aquis.
We saw the heaven gleam with Aetnean flame, which the Giant placed beneath the mountain vomits from his mouth, And the Hennean lakes and the pools of smelly Palicus, and where Anapus mixes Cyane with his waters.
§2.10.27nec procul hinc nymphe, quae, dum fugit Elidis amnem, §2.10.28tecta sub aequorea nunc quoque currit aqua.
Nor far from here is the nymph who, while she flees the river of Elis, runs even now covered beneath the sea-water.
§2.10.29hic mihi labentis pars anni magna peracta est.
Here a great part of the slipping year was passed by me.
§2.10.30eheu, quam dispar est locus ille Getis!
Alas, how different is that place from the Getae!
And what a small part are these of the things which we both saw, while you made the journeys pleasant for me!
§2.10.33seu rate caeruleas picta sulcavimus undas, §2.10.34esseda nos agili sive tulere rota, §2.10.35saepe brevis nobis vicibus via visa loquendi, §2.10.36pluraque, si numeres, verba fuere gradu, §2.10.37saepe dies sermone minor fuit, inque loquendum §2.10.38tarda per aestivos defuit hora dies.
Whether we furrowed the blue waves with a painted boat, or carriages with swift wheel bore us, Often the way seemed short to us by the turns of talking, and if you should count, the words were more than the steps, Often the day was too short for our discourse, and during the summer days the slow-passing hour was wanting for our talking.
§2.10.39est aliquid casus pariter timuisse marinos, §2.10.40iunctaque ad aequoreos vota tulisse deos.
It is something to have feared together the perils of the sea, and to have offered joined vows to the gods of the deep.
§2.10.41et modo res egisse simul, modo rursus ab illis, §2.10.42quorum non pudeat, posse referre iocos, §2.10.43haec tibi cum subeant, absim licet, omnibus annis §2.10.44ante tuos oculos, ut modo visus, ero.
And now to have done serious things together, and now again to be able to recall from them jokes of which one would not be ashamed, When these things come to your mind, although I may be absent, in all years I will be before your eyes, as if just seen.
§2.10.45ipse quidem certe cum sim sub cardine mundi, §2.10.46qui semper liquidis altior extat aquis, §2.10.47te tamen intueor quo solo pectore possum, §2.10.48et tecum gelido saepe sub axe loquor, §2.10.49hic es, et ignoras, et ades celeberrimus absens, §2.10.50inque Getas media iussus ab urbe venis.
I myself indeed, although I am certainly under the axis of the world, which always stands out higher than the clear waters, Yet I gaze upon you with my heart, by which alone I can, and often speak with you under the frozen pole, You are here, and you do not know it, and though absent you are present very frequently, and having been bidden you come from the midst of the City into the land of the Getae.