O you who must be remembered among my doubtless companions, who, calling you truly what you are, Carus, says: Greetings!
From where you are greeted, this color and the structure of my poem can be at once an indicator to you.
§4.13.5non quia mirifica est, sed quod non publica certe est: §4.13.6qualis enim cumque est, non latet esse meam.
Not because it is wonderful, but because it is certainly not commonplace; for of whatever kind it is, it is not hidden that it is mine.
§4.13.7ipse quoque, ut titulum chartae de fronte revellas, §4.13.8quod sit opus, videor dicere posse, tuum.
You yourself also, although you should tear away the title from the front of the sheet, I seem to be able to say what work is yours.
Although placed among however many books, you are recognized and will be found through observed marks.
§4.13.11proderit auctorem vires, quas Hercule dignas §4.13.12novimus atque illi, quem canis ipse, pares.
The strength, which we know to be worthy of Hercules and equal to him whom you yourself sing, will help [to reveal] the author.
And my Muse also, detected by her own color, can perhaps be distinguished by her own faults.
Ugly form prevented Thersites from being hidden as much as beautiful form made Nireus conspicuous.
Nor will it befit you to wonder if the poems are faulty, which I make, being almost a Getic poet.
§4.13.19a! pudet, et Getico scripsi sermone libellum, §4.13.20structaque sunt nostris barbara verba modis:
Ah! I am ashamed, and I have even written a booklet in the Getic tongue, and barbarian words have been arranged in our meters.
And I pleased them (congratulate me!) and began to have the name of a poet among the uncultivated Getae.
§4.13.23materiam quaeris? laudes: de Caesare dixi.
Do you ask the subject? Praises: I spoke of Caesar.
§4.13.24adiuta est novitas numine nostra dei.
Our novel undertaking was aided by the divine power of the god.
§4.13.25nam patris Augusti docui mortale fuisse §4.13.26corpus, in aetherias numen abisse domos: §4.13.27esse parem virtute patri, qui frena rogatus §4.13.28saepe recusati ceperit imperii: §4.13.29esse pudicarum te Vestam, Livia, matrum, §4.13.30ambiguum nato dignior anne viro: §4.13.31esse duos iuvenes, firma adiumenta parentis, §4.13.32qui dederint animi pignora certa sui.
For I taught that the body of father Augustus was mortal, but his divinity had departed into the ethereal dwellings; and that he (Tiberius) is equal to his father in virtue, who, being entreated, took the reins of the empire so often refused; that you, Livia, are the Vesta of chaste mothers, it being doubtful whether you are more worthy of your son or of your husband; that there are two youths, firm supports of their parent, who have given sure pledges of their mind.
§4.13.33haec ubi non patria perlegi scripta Camena, §4.13.34venit et ad digitos ultima charta meos, §4.13.35et caput et plenas omnes movere pharetras, §4.13.36et longum Getico murmur in ore fuit.
When I read through these things written not in my native Muse, and the last sheet came to my fingers, they moved both their heads and all their full quivers, and there was a long murmur in Getic mouths.
§4.13.37atque aliquis
scribas haec cum de Caesare
, dixit §4.13.38Caesaris imperio restituendus eras. §4.13.39ille quidem dixit: sed me iam, Care, nivali §4.13.40sexta relegatum bruma sub axe videt.
And someone said: "Since you write these things about Caesar, you ought to have been restored by Caesar's command." He indeed said so: but, Carus, already the sixth winter sees me exiled under the snowy sky.
§4.13.41carmina nil prosunt, nocuerunt carmina quondam, §4.13.42primaque tam miserae causa fuere fugae,
Poems do no good, poems once harmed me, and they were the first cause of so wretched an exile.
§4.13.43at tu, per studii communia foedera sacri, §4.13.44per non vile tibi nomen amicitiae §4.13.45(sic capto Latiis Germanicus hoste catenis §4.13.46materiam vestris adferat ingeniis: §4.13.47sic valeant pueri, votum commune deorum, §4.13.48quos laus formandos est tibi magna datos), §4.13.49quanta potes, praebe nostrae momenta saluti §4.13.50quae nisi mutato nulla futura loco est.
But you, by the common bonds of our sacred study, by the name of friendship which is not cheap to you (so may Germanicus, the enemy captured in Latin chains, bring material to your talents; so may the boys thrive, the common vow of the gods, whom to be given to you to be trained is your great praise), offer as much weight as you can to my salvation, which will be none unless the place is changed.