§4.7.1Missus es Euxinas quoniam, Vestalis, ad undas, §4.7.2ut positis reddas iura sub axe locis, §4.7.3aspicis en praesens, quali iaceamus in arvo, §4.7.4nec me testis eris falsa solere queri.
Since you have been sent, Vestalis, to the Euxine waves, to administer justice to the places situated beneath the polar axis, behold, you see in person what kind of land we lie in, and you will not be a witness that I am accustomed to complain of false things.
Through you, there will be added to my voice a credit that is not in vain, O youth descended from Alpine kings.
§4.7.7ipse vides certe glacie concrescere Pontum, §4.7.8ipse vides rigido stantia vina gelu; §4.7.9ipse vides, onerata ferox ut ducat Iazyx §4.7.10per medias Histri plaustra bubulcus aquas, §4.7.11aspicis et mitti sub adunco toxica ferro, §4.7.12et telum causas mortis habere duas.
You yourself surely see the Pontus freeze with ice; you yourself see the wine standing stiff with hard frost; you yourself see how the fierce Iazyx herdsman drives his laden wagons through the midst of the Hister's waters; you see also poison being sent beneath the hooked iron, and the weapon having two causes of death.
And would that this part had only been seen by you, and not also known through your own combat!
Through dense dangers, you advanced to the rank of first centurion, which honor recently fell to you according to your merit.
§4.7.17sit licet hic titulus plenus tibi fructibus, ingens §4.7.18ipsa tamen virtus ordine maior erit.
Although this title may be full of fruits for you, yet your virtue itself will be greater than your rank.
The Hister does not deny this, whose water your right hand once made purple with Getic blood.
Aegisos does not deny it, which, recaptured as you entered, felt that there was no help in the nature of the place.
For, whether it was defended better by its position or by hand is doubtful, the city was on the highest ridge, equal to the clouds.
§4.7.25Sithonio regi ferus interceperat illam §4.7.26hostis et ereptas victor habebat opes, §4.7.27donec fluminea devecta Vitellius unda §4.7.28intulit exposito milite signa Getis,
A fierce enemy had snatched it from the Sithonian king, and as victor held the plundered riches, until Vitellius, carried down by the river's wave, brought his standards against the Getis, landing his soldiers.
But to you, most brave offspring of noble Donnus, came the impulse to go against the opposing men.
§4.7.31nec mora, conspicuus longe fulgentibus armis, §4.7.32fortia ne possint facta latere caves, §4.7.33ingentique. gradu contra ferrumque locumque §4.7.34saxaque brumali grandine plura subis.
And without delay, conspicuous from afar in your gleaming arms, you take care that your brave deeds cannot lie hidden, and with a giant stride you go up against both the steel, the place, and stones more numerous than winter hail.
Neither does the crowd of javelins sent from above delay you, nor the weapons that are wet with viper's blood.
§4.7.37spicula cum pictis haerent in casside pinnis, §4.7.38parsque fere scuti vulnere nulla vacat, §4.7.39nec corpus cunctos feliciter effugit ictus: §4.7.40sed minor est acri laudis amore dolor.
Darts cling to your helmet with painted feathers, and almost no part of your shield is free from a wound, nor did your body happily escape all blows: but pain is less than the sharp love of praise.
§4.7.41talis apud Troiam Danais pro navibus Aiax §4.7.42dicitur Hectoreas sustinuisse faces, §4.7.43ut propius ventum est admotaque dextera dextrae, §4.7.44resque fero potuit comminus ense geri, §4.7.45dicere difficile est quid Mars tuus egerit illic, §4.7.46quotque neci dederis quosque quibusque modis.
Just as Ajax is said to have withstood Hector's torches before the ships of the Danaans at Troy, when they came closer and hand was brought to hand, and the matter could be fought hand-to-hand with the fierce sword, it is difficult to say what your valor achieved there, and how many you gave to death, and whom, and in what ways.
As victor, you trod upon heaps made by your sword, and many a Getan was beneath your placed foot.
§4.7.49pugnat ad exemplum primi minor ordine pili, §4.7.50multaque fert miles vulnera, multa facit, §4.7.51sed tantum virtus alios tua praeterit omnes, §4.7.52ante citos quantum Pegasus ibit equos,
A soldier of lower rank than the first centurion fights after your example, and the soldier bears many wounds, and inflicts many; but your virtue so far surpasses all others, as Pegasus will go before swift horses.