Humanitext Reader

Ovid · Letters from the Black Sea §4.15.1-4.15.42

Gratitude to Sextus and a Plea for Prayers of Return

Passage 51 of 52 · Latin

Summary

The poet informs anyone still concerned about him that he owes his life to the emperors and his survival to Sextus, comparing himself to a part of Sextus's estate to express his deep gratitude while asking for prayers to the gods for his return.

§4.15.1Siquis adhuc usquam nostri non inmemor extat, §4.15.2quidve relegatus Naso, requirit, agam.
If there is anyone still anywhere who is not unmindful of me, or if he asks what I, the exiled Naso, am doing.
§4.15.3Caesaribus vitam, Sexto debere salutem §4.15.4me sciat, a superis hic mihi primus erit.
Let him know that I owe my life to the Caesars, my safety to Sextus; let him know that I owe this; after the gods, this man will be the first for me.
§4.15.5tempora nam miserae complectar ut omnia vitae, §4.15.6a meritis eius pars mihi nulla vacat, §4.15.7quae numero tot sunt, quot in horto fertilis arvi §4.15.8Punica sub lento cortice grana rubent, §4.15.9Africa quot segetes, quot Tmolia terra racemos, §4.15.10quot Sicyon bacas, quot parit Hybla favos, §4.15.11confiteor: testere licet, signate Quirites!
For even if I should encompass all the periods of my miserable life, no part of it for me is free from his services, which are as many in number as the pomegranate seeds that grow red under the tough rind in a fertile field's garden, as the pomegranate seeds grow red under the tough rind, as many as the crops Africa produces, as many as the clusters of grapes the Tmolian land produces, as many as Sicyon produces olives, as many as Hybla produces honeycombs, I confess: you may bear witness, sign this, citizens!
§4.15.12nil opus est legum viribus, ipse loquor, §4.15.13inter opes et me, parvam rem, pone paternas: §4.15.14pars ego sum census quantulacumque tui.
There is no need for the force of laws, I myself speak, place me too, a small thing, among your paternal wealth: I am a part, however small, of your estate.
§4.15.15quam tua Trinacria est regnataque terra Philippo, §4.15.16quam domus Augusto continuata foro, §4.15.17quam tua, rus oculis domini, Campania, gratum, §4.15.18quaeque relicta tibi, Sexte, vel empta tenes: §4.15.19tam tuus en ego sum, cuius te munere tristi §4.15.20non potes in Ponto dicere habere nihil, §4.15.21atque utinam possis, et detur amicius arvum, §4.15.22remque tuam ponas in meliore loco!
As much as Trinacria is yours, and the land ruled by Philip, as much as your house adjacent to the Forum of Augustus, as much as your Campania, a countryside pleasing to its master's eyes, and whatever things left to you, Sextus, or bought, you possess: so much, behold, am I yours, through whose sad gift you cannot say that you have nothing in Pontus, and would that you could, and a friendlier land were given, and you might place your property in a better place!
§4.15.23quod quoniam in dis est, tempta lenire precando §4.15.24numina, perpetua quae pietate colis.
Since this is in the hands of the gods, try to soften by praying the divinities, whom you worship with perpetual piety.
§4.15.25erroris nam tu vix est discernere nostri §4.15.26sis argumentum maius an auxilium.
For it is difficult to distinguish whether you are a greater proof or a greater help for my error.
§4.15.27nec dubitans oro: sed flumine saepe secundo §4.15.28augetur remis cursus euntis aquae, §4.15.29et pudet et metuo semperque eademque precari, §4.15.30ne subeant animo taedia iusta tuo.
And I do not pray with doubt: but often, when the current is favorable, the course of the running water is speeded by oars, and I am both ashamed and afraid to pray always for the same things, lest a justified weariness creep into your mind.
§4.15.31verum quid faciam? res inmoderata cupido est.
But what should I do? Desire is an immoderate thing.
§4.15.32da veniam vitio, mitis amice, meo.
Grant pardon to my fault, gentle friend.
§4.15.33scribere saepe aliud cupiens delabor eodem!
Wishing often to write of something else, I slip back to the same subject!
§4.15.34ipsa locum per se littera nostra rogat.
My letter itself of its own accord asks for the place.
§4.15.35seu tamen effectus habitura est gratia, seu me §4.15.36dura iubet gelido Parca sub axe mori, §4.15.37semper inoblita repetam tua munera mente, §4.15.38et mea me tellus audiet esse tuum.
Yet whether your favor is to have effect, or harsh Fate orders me to die under the icy axis, I will always recall your favors with an unforgetting mind, and my land will hear that I am yours.
§4.15.39audiet et caelo posita est quaecumque sub ullo §4.15.40(transit nostra feros si modo Musa Getas) §4.15.41teque meae causam servatoremque salutis, §4.15.42meque tuum libra norit et aere minus.
And whatever land is situated under any sky will hear it (if only my Muse passes beyond the fierce Getae) and will know you as the cause and savior of my safety, and me as yours, short of the scales and bronze.

Notes

  1. §4.15.5complectar ut — The conjunction ut with the subjunctive complectar introduces a concessive clause ('even if', 'although'). Here it indicates that even if the poet should encompass all the periods of his miserable life, no part of it is free from Sextus's benefits.
  2. §4.15.25vix est discernere — The impersonal use of est followed by the infinitive discernere means 'it is difficult to distinguish' or 'one can scarcely distinguish' (analogous to the Greek usage of ἔστι with an infinitive). It governs the indirect question sis... an in the next line.
  3. §4.15.42libra norit et aere minus — The phrase libra et aere refers to the formal Roman legal procedure of transfer of property or purchase of slaves (mancipatio). The word minus here means 'without' or 'short of'. Thus, the passage means that any land will know that the poet is Sextus's property, only lacking the formal ceremony of scales and bronze.

Cite this passage

Ovid, Letters from the Black Sea §4.15.1-4.15.42. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi009.humanitext-lat2:4.15.1-4.15.42

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