§3.5.1Quam legis, unde tibi mittatur epistula, quaeris?
Do you ask whence this letter you are reading is sent to you?
§3.5.2hinc, ubi caeruleis iungitur Hister aquis,
From here, where the Hister is joined with blue waters.
As soon as the region is mentioned, the author too ought to come to mind: the poet Naso, harmed by his own talent.
§3.5.5qui tibi, quam mallet praesens adferre salutem, §3.5.6mittit ab hirsutis, Maxime Cotta, Getis.
Who sends to you the greeting which he would have preferred to bring in person, from the shaggy Getae, Maximus Cotta.
O youth not degenerate from your father's eloquence, we have read the eloquent words spoken by you in the full forum.
§3.5.9quae quamquam lingua mihi sunt properante per horas §3.5.10lecta satis multas, pauca fuisse queror.
Although these were read by me with a hastening tongue through quite many hours, I complain that they were too few.
§3.5.11plura sed haec feci relegendo saepe, nec umquam §3.5.12non mihi, quam primo, grata fuere magis,
But I made them more by reading them again often, and never were they not more pleasing to me than at first.
§3.5.13cumque nihil totiens lecta e dulcedine perdant, §3.5.14viribus illa suis, non novitate, placent.
Since they lose nothing of their sweetness by being read so many times, they please by their own strength, not by novelty.
Happy are those to whom it happened to know these things in the actual performance and to enjoy so eloquent a tongue!
For, although there is a sweet taste in water brought to us, waters are drunk with more pleasure from the spring itself.
And it pleases more to pluck an apple from a branch drawn down, than to take it from an engraved platter.
§3.5.21at nisi peccassem, nisi me mea Musa fugasset, §3.5.22quod legi, tua vox exhibuisset opus, §3.5.23utque fui solitus, sedissem forsitan unus §3.5.24de centum iudex in tua verba viris, §3.5.25maior et implesset praecordia nostra voluptas, §3.5.26cum traherer dictis adnueremque tuis.
But if I had not sinned, if my Muse had not banished me, your voice would have exhibited the work which I read, and as I was accustomed to be, I would perhaps have sat as one judge out of the hundred men upon your words, and a greater pleasure would have filled our heart when I was drawn by your words and nodded my agreement.
§3.5.27quem quoniam fatum patria vobisque relictis §3.5.28inter inhumanos maluit esse Getas, §3.5.29quod licet, ut videar tecum magis esse, legenda §3.5.30saepe, precor, studii pignora mitte tui, §3.5.31exemploque meo, nisi dedignaris id ipsum, §3.5.32utere, quod nobis rectius ipse dares,
Since fate has preferred that I, having left my country and you, should be among the uncivilized Getae, do send, I pray, what is allowed so that I may seem to be more with you, the proofs of your study, to be read often, and use my example, unless you disdain that very thing, which you yourself would more rightly give to us.
For I, who perished long ago to you, Maximus, strive not to have perished in my talent.
Return the favor, and let not rare monuments of your labor be received by my hands, which will be grateful.
§3.5.37manus, dic tamen, o iuvenis studiorum plene meorum, §3.5.38ecquid ab his ipsis admoneare mei.
Yet speak, o youth full of my studies, whether you are at all reminded of me by these very things.
§3.5.39ecquid, ubi aut recitas factum modo carmen amicis, §3.5.40aut, quod saepe soles, exigis ut recitent, §3.5.41quaeror, ut interdum tua mens, oblita quid absit, §3.5.42nescio quid certe sentit abesse sui, §3.5.43utque loqui multum de me praesente solebas, §3.5.44nunc quoque Nasonis nomen in ore tuo est?
Is it at all, when you either recite a poem just made to your friends, or, as you are often accustomed to do, demand that they recite, that I am missed, so that sometimes your mind, forgetting what is absent, certainly feels something of itself to be missing, and as you were accustomed to speak much of me when I was present, is the name of Naso also now in your mouth?
§3.5.45ipse quidem Getico peream violatus ab arcu §3.5.46(et sit periuri quam prope poena, vides) §3.5.47te nisi momentis video paene omnibus absens.
Indeed, let me perish wounded by a Getic bow myself (and you see how close is the punishment of a perjurer), unless, though absent, I see you at almost every moment.
§3.5.48gratia quod menti quolibet ire licet.
Thanks to the fact that the mind is allowed to go anywhere it pleases.
When I have arrived here in the city, to be seen by no one, I often speak with you, often enjoy you speaking.
§3.5.51tum mihi difficile est, quam sit bene, dicere, quamque §3.5.52candida iudiciis illa sit hora meis.
Then it is difficult for me to say how well it is, and how bright that hour is in my judgment.
Then, if there is any faith, I suspect that I am received in a heavenly seat with the fortunate gods.
§3.5.55rursus ubi huc redii, caelum superosque relinquo, §3.5.56a Styge nec longe Pontica distat humus, §3.5.57unde ego si fato nitor prohibente reverti, §3.5.58spem sine profectu. Maxime, tolle mihi.
When I have returned here again, I leave the heaven and the gods above, nor is the Pontic land far distant from the Styx, whence if I strive to return against the prohibition of fate, take away from me, Maximus, hope without progress.