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Ovid · Letters from the Black Sea §2.6.1-2.6.38

Letter to Graecinus: Accepting Reproof and Pleading for Aid

Passage 18 of 52 · Latin

Summary

The poet sends a poem from the Black Sea to his friend Graecinus, acknowledging the justice of his sharp reproof but appealing for aid like saving a shipwrecked man. He implores his friend to maintain loyalty during difficult times, citing great classical models of friendship, and promises to immortalize him through his poetry.

§2.6.1Carmine Graecinum, qui praesens voce solebat, §2.6.2tristis ab Euxinis Naso salutat aquis.
Sad Naso greets Graecinus with a poem from the Euxine waters— Graecinus, who, when present, was accustomed to greet him with his voice.
§2.6.3exulis haec vox est: praebet mihi littera linguam, §2.6.4et si non liceat scribere, mutus ero.
This is the voice of an exile: writing provides a tongue for me, and if it should not be allowed to write, I will be mute.
§2.6.5corripis, ut debes, stulti peccata sodalis, §2.6.6et mala me meritis ferre minora doces.
You reprove, as you ought, the sins of your foolish companion, and you teach me that I bear misfortunes lighter than my deserts.
§2.6.7vera facis, sed sera meae convicia culpae: §2.6.8aspera confesso verba remitte reo.
You make true, but late, reproaches against my fault: relax your harsh words toward a confessed defendant.
§2.6.9cum poteram recto transire Ceraunia velo, §2.6.10ut fera vitarem saxa, monendus eram.
When I was able to pass the Ceraunian cliffs with a straight sail, I ought to have been warned so that I might avoid the wild rocks.
§2.6.11nunc mihi naufragio quid prodest discere facto, §2.6.12qua mea debuerit currere cumba via?
Now, when the shipwreck has already happened, what does it profit me to learn by which path my boat ought to have run?
§2.6.13brachia da lasso potius prendenda natanti, §2.6.14nec pigeat mento supposuisse manum.
Rather offer your arms to be grasped by the weary swimmer, nor let it displease you to have placed a supporting hand beneath his chin.
§2.6.15idque facis, faciasque precor.
And you do this, and I pray that you may continue to do so.
sic mater et uxor, §2.6.16sic tibi sint fratres totaque salva domus, §2.6.17quodque soles animo semper, quod voce precari, §2.6.18omnia Caesaribus sic tua facta probes.
So may your mother and wife, so may your brothers and your whole household be safe, and what you are accustomed to pray for always in your mind and with your voice, so may you approve all your deeds to the Caesars.
§2.6.19turpe erit in miseris veteri tibi rebus amico §2.6.20auxilium nulla parte tulisse tuum, §2.6.21turpe referre pedem, nec passu stare tenaci, §2.6.22turpe laborantem deseruisse ratem, §2.6.23turpe sequi casum et fortunae cedere amicum, §2.6.24et, nisi sit felix, esse negare suum.
It will be shameful for you, to an old friend in his misery, to have brought your help in no part, shameful to retreat, nor to stand with a firm step, shameful to have abandoned a struggling ship, shameful to follow fortune and yield a friend to fate, and, unless he is successful, to deny that he is your own.
§2.6.25non ita vixerunt Strophio atque Agamemnone nati, §2.6.26non haec Aegidae Pirithoique fides: §2.6.27quos prior est mirata, sequens mirabitur aetas, §2.6.28in quorum plausus tota theatra sonant,
Not so lived the sons born of Strophius and Agamemnon, nor was this the loyalty of the son of Aegeus and of Pirithous: whom the prior age admired, and the following age will admire, in whose applause whole theaters resound.
§2.6.29tu quoque per durum servato tempus amico §2.6.30dignus es in tantis nomen habere viris,
You too, by keeping your friend through hard times, are worthy to have your name among such great men.
§2.6.31dignus es, et, quoniam laudem pietate mereris, §2.6.32non erit officii gratia surda tui.
You are worthy; and, since you merit praise for your devotion, the gratitude for your service will not be deaf.
§2.6.33crede mihi, nostrum si non mortale futurum est §2.6.34carmen, in ore frequens posteritatis eris.
Believe me, if our poem is not to be mortal, you will be frequently on the lips of posterity.
§2.6.35fac modo permaneas lasso, Graecine, fidelis, §2.6.36duret et in longas impetus iste moras,
Only see to it, Graecinus, that you remain faithful to the weary one, and let that impulse of yours endure through long delays.
§2.6.37quae tu cum praestes, remo tamen utor in aura, §2.6.38nec nocet admisso subdere calcar equo.
Even though you provide these things, I still use the oar in the breeze, nor does it hurt to apply the spur to a horse already in full gallop.

Notes

  1. §2.6.1solebat — The infinitive `salutare` (implied from `salutat` in the next line) is omitted after `solebat` in the relative clause, meaning "was accustomed [to greet] with his voice."
  2. §2.6.6mala me meritis ferre minora — An accusative-and-infinitive construction dependent on `doces`. `me` is the subject of the infinitive `ferre`, and `mala` (neuter plural accusative) is its object. `minora` modifies `mala`, and `meritis` is an ablative of comparison ("than what is deserved" i.e., my deserts), meaning "misfortunes lighter than what I deserved."
  3. §2.6.15sic — The conditional `sic` used in solemn wishes or oaths. It introduces the optative subjunctives (`sint` and `probes`), expressing a prayer for Graecinus' family and success on the condition that he continues to help Ovid.
  4. §2.6.37remo tamen utor in aura — A metaphorical expression meaning "to use the oar even when there is a breeze (favorable wind)." It signifies making redundant or extra effort (by repeatedly pleading) even though Graecinus is already willingly offering his help.

Cite this passage

Ovid, Letters from the Black Sea §2.6.1-2.6.38. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi009.humanitext-lat2:2.6.1-2.6.38

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.