§4.3.1Conquerar, an taceam? ponam sine nomine crimen,
Should I complain, or should I keep silent?
§4.3.2an notum qui sis omnibus esse velim?
Shall I state the accusation without a name, or should I wish who you are to be known to all?
I will not use your name, lest you be made famous by my complaint, and fame be sought for you by my poem.
While my ship was supported by a strong keel, you were the first who wished to run with me.
Now, because Fortune has wrinkled her brow, you withdraw, after you know that there is need of your help.
§4.3.9dissimulas etiam, nec me vis nosse videri, §4.3.10quisque sit, audito nomine, Naso, rogas, §4.3.11ille ego sum, quamquam non vis audire, vetusta §4.3.12paene puer puero iunctus amicitia: §4.3.13ille ego, qui primus tua seria nosse solebam §4.3.14et tibi iucundis primus adesse iocis: §4.3.15ille ego convictor densoque domesticus usu, §4.3.16ille ego iudiciis unica Musa tuis.
You even dissemble, and do not wish to seem to know me, and when you hear the name, you ask: "Who is this Naso?" I am that man, although you do not wish to hear it, joined by an old friendship, almost a boy joined to a boy: I am that man, who was accustomed to be the first to know your serious matters and the first to be present at your pleasant jokes: I am that companion and intimate through close intercourse, I am that man, the sole Muse in your judgments.
§4.3.17ille ego sum, qui nunc an vivam, perfide, nescis, §4.3.18cura tibi de quo quaerere nulla fuit.
I am that man, who now, faithless one, you do not know whether I am alive, about whom you have had no care to inquire.
Either if I was never dear, you confess that you simulated it: or if you were not pretending, you will be found inconstant.
§4.3.21aut age, dic aliquam, quae te mutaverit, iram: §4.3.22nam nisi iusta tua est, iusta querella mea est.
Or come, tell of some anger that has changed you: for unless yours is just, my complaint is just.
§4.3.23quod te nunc crimen similem vetat esse priori?
What crime now forbids you to be like you were before?
§4.3.24an crimen, coepi quod miser esse, vocas?
Or do you call it a crime that I began to be wretched?
If you brought me no help in deeds and facts, a paper marked with three words would have come.
Indeed I scarcely believe it, but rumor reports that you even insult me as I lie and that you do not spare me in your words.
§4.3.29quid facis, a! demens? cur, si Fortuna recedat,
What are you doing, ah! madman?
§4.3.30naufragio lacrimas eripis ipse tuo?
Why, if Fortune should withdraw, do you yourself snatch away tears from your own shipwreck?
§4.3.31haec dea non stabili, quam sit levis, orbe fatetur, §4.3.32quae summum dubio sub pede semper habet, §4.3.33quolibet est folio, quavis incertior aura: §4.3.34par illi levitas, improbe, sola tua est.
This goddess confesses by her unstable wheel how light she is, she who always has the highest point under her doubtful foot, she is more uncertain than any leaf, than any breeze: your inconstancy alone, wicked man, is equal to her.
§4.3.35omnia sunt hominum tenui pendentia filo, §4.3.36et subito casu quae valuere, ruunt, §4.3.37divitis audita est cui non opulentia Croesi?
All things of men are hanging from a slender thread, and what things were strong fall in a sudden crash, By whom has the wealth of rich Croesus not been heard of?
§4.3.38nempe tamen vitam captus ab hoste tulit, §4.3.39ille Syracosia modo formidatus in urbe §4.3.40vix humili duram reppulit arte famem, §4.3.41quid fuerat Magno maius? tamen ille rogavit
Yet indeed, captured by the enemy, he saved his life, He who was recently feared in the city of Syracuse scarcely kept away harsh hunger by a humble trade, What had been greater than Magnus?
§4.3.42summissa fugiens voce clientis opem.
Yet he asked for fleeing, with a lowered voice, the help of his client.
§4.3.43cuique viro totus terrarum paruit orbis, §4.3.45ille Iugurthino clarus Cimbroque triumpho, §4.3.46quo victrix totiens consule Roma fuit, §4.3.47in caeno Marius iacuit cannaque palustri, §4.3.48pertulit et tanto multa pudenda viro.
And to which man the whole world of lands was obedient, He, famous for his Jugurthine and Cimbrian triumph, with whom as consul conquering Rome was so often victorious, Marius lay in the mud and marshy reed, and endured many shameful things for so great a man.
Divine power plays in human affairs, and the present hour scarcely has certain trust.
§4.3.51litus ad Euxinum
si quis mihi diceret ‘ibis, §4.3.52et metues, arcu ne feriare Getae,’ §4.3.53i, bibe
dixissem ‘purgantes pectora sucos, §4.3.54quidquid et in tota nascitur Anticyra. ’ §4.3.55sum tamen haec passus: nec, si mortalia possem, §4.3.56et summi poteram tela cavere dei.
If anyone had said to me, "You will go to the Euxine shore, and you will fear lest you be struck by the bow of the Geta,’" I would have said, "Go, drink juices that cleanse the heart, and whatever grows in all Anticyra." Yet I have suffered these things: nor, if I were able to beware of mortal things, could I also have avoided the weapons of the highest god.