§5.1Si te propositi nondum pudet atque eadem est mens, §5.2ut bona summa putes aliena vivere quadra; §5.3si potes illa pati quae nec Sarmentus iniquas §5.4Caesaris ad mensas nec vilis Gabba tulisset, §5.5quamvis iurato metuam tibi credere testi.
If you are not yet ashamed of your purpose, and your mind is the same, so that you think the greatest good is to live from another's platter; if you can endure those things which neither Sarmentus at the unequal tables of Caesar, nor the vile Gabba would have borne, I should fear to believe you, even if you were a sworn witness.
§5.6ventre nihil novi frugalius; hoc tamen ipsum §5.7defecisse puta, quod inani sufficit alvo: §5.8nulla crepido vacat? nusquam pons et tegetis pars
I know nothing more frugal than the belly; yet assume that even this very thing is lacking, which is enough for an empty stomach: is there no vacant curb? Is there nowhere a bridge, and a part of a mat shorter by half?
§5.9dimidia brevior? tantine iniuria cenae, §5.10tam ieiuna fames, cum possit honestius illic §5.11et tremere et sordes farris mordere canini?
Is the insult of a dinner worth so much, is hunger so ravenous, when it could be more honorable there both to shiver and to gnaw the filth of dog's spelt?
§5.12Primo fige loco, quod tu discumbere iussus §5.13mercedem solidam veterum capis officiorum, §5.14fructus amicitiae magnae cibus; inputat hunc rex, §5.15et quamvis rarum tamen inputat.
Fix this in the first place, that when you are ordered to recline at table, you receive the solid reward of your old services; the fruit of a great friendship is food; the master reckons this up, and though rare, he reckons it up nonetheless.
ergo duos post §5.16si libuit menses neglectum adhibere clientem, §5.17tertia ne vacuo cessaret culcita lecto, §5.18una simus,
ait.
Therefore, if after two months it has pleased him to invite a neglected client, lest a third cushion should remain idle on an empty couch, "Let us be together," he says.
votorum summa! quid ultra
The summit of your wishes! What more do you seek?
§5.19quaeris? habet Trebius propter quod rumpere somnum §5.20debeat et ligulas dimittere, sollicitus ne §5.21tota salutatrix iam turba peregerit orbem, §5.22sideribus dubiis aut illo tempore quo se §5.23frigida circumagunt pigri serraca Bootae.
Trebius has a reason for which he must break his sleep and leave his shoelaces loose, anxious lest the whole crowd of morning-saluters has already completed its round, under doubtful stars, or at that time when the cold wains of the sluggish Bootes wheel themselves around.
Yet what a dinner! Wine which greasy wool would refuse to take in: from a guest you will see a Corybant.
§5.26iurgia proludunt, sed mox et pocula torques §5.27saucius et rubra deterges vulnera mappa, §5.28inter vos quotiens libertorumque cohortem §5.29pugna Saguntina fervet commissa lagona.
Quarrels serve as a prelude, but soon you will also hurl cups, wounded, and wipe your wounds with a red napkin, whenever between you and the cohort of freedmen a battle rages, joined with a Saguntine pitcher.
§5.30ipse capillato diffusum consule potat, §5.31calcatamque tenet bellis socialibus uvam, §5.32cardiaco numquam cyathum missurus amico; §5.33cras bibet Albanis aliquid de montibus aut de §5.34Setinis, cuius patriam titulumque senectus §5.35delevit multa veteris fuligine testae, §5.36quale coronati Thrasea Helvidiusque bibebant §5.37Brutorum et Cassi natalibus.
He himself drinks wine bottled under a long-haired consul, and keeps the grape trodden during the Social Wars, never about to send a single cup to a friend with a stomach-ache; tomorrow he will drink something from the Alban mountains or from the Setine hills, whose origin and label old age has erased by the thick soot of the ancient jar, such as the garlanded Thrasea and Helvidius used to drink on the birthdays of the Brutuses and Cassius.
Ipse capaces §5.38Heliadum crustas et inaequales berullo §5.39Virro tenet phialas: tibi non committitur aurum, §5.40vel si quando datur, custos adfixus ibidem, §5.41qui numeret gemmas, ungues observet acutos.
He himself holds capacious cups of amber reliefs and rough with beryl, Virro holds the bowls; to you, gold is not entrusted, or if ever it is given, a guard is fixed to the spot, to count the gems and watch your sharp fingernails.
§5.42da veniam, praeclara illi laudatur iaspis; §5.43nam Virro, ut multi, gemmas ad pocula transfert §5.44a digitis, quas in vaginae fronte solebat §5.45ponere zelotypo iuvenis praelatus Iarbae.
Forgive him, a brilliant jasper on it is praised; for Virro, like many, transfers gems to his cups from his fingers, gems which on the front of his scabbard the youth preferred to the jealous Iarbas used to place.
§5.46tu Beneventani sutoris nomen habentem §5.47siccabis calicem nasorum quattuor ac iam §5.48quassatum et rupto poscentem sulpura vitro.
You will drain a cup bearing the name of the Beneventan shoemaker, with four nozzles, and already cracked, and demanding sulfur for its broken glass.
If the master's stomach is hot with wine and food, a boiled water colder than Getic frosts is sought.
§5.51non eadem vobis poni modo vina querebar: §5.52vos aliam potatis aquam, tibi pocula cursor §5.53Gaetulus dabit aut nigri manus ossea Mauri §5.54et cui per mediam nolis occurrere noctem, §5.55clivosae veheris dum per monumenta Latinae:
I was not complaining just now that the same wines are not served to you: you drink another water; a Gaetulian runner will give you your cups, or the bony hand of a black Moor, and one whom you would not want to meet in the middle of the night while you are carried through the tombs of the hilly Latina Road.
§5.56flos Asiae ante ipsum, pretio maiore paratus §5.57quam fuit et Tulli census pugnacis et Anci §5.58et, ne te teneam, Romanorum omnia regum §5.59frivola.
The flower of Asia is before him, purchased at a greater price than was the estate of both fighting Tullus and Ancus, and, not to keep you, all the trifles of the Roman kings.
quod cum ita sit, tu Gaetulum Ganymedem §5.60respice, cum sities.
Since this is so, look back at your Gaetulian Ganymede when you are thirsty.
nescit tot milibus emptus §5.61pauperibus miscere puer; set forma, set aetas §5.62digna supercilio, quando ad te pervenit ille?
A boy bought for so many thousands knows not how to mix for the poor; but his beauty, his age, are worthy of his haughtiness.
§5.63quando rogatus adest calidae gelidaeque minister?
When does he come to you? When does he stand by, when asked, as a servant of hot or cold water?
§5.64quippe indignatur veteri parere clienti, §5.65quodque aliquid poscas et quod se stante recumbas.
Indeed, he is indignant to obey an old client, and that you should ask for anything, and that you should recline while he stands.
§5.67ecce alius quanto porrexit murmure panem
Look, another slave has handed you bread with what a grumble!
§5.68vix fractum, solidae iam mucida frusta farinae, §5.69quae genuinum agitent, non admittentia morsum; §5.70sed tener et niveus mollique siligine fictus
Hardly broken, already moldy pieces of solid flour, which would wear out your molars, admitting no bite; but a tender and snowy loaf, made of soft siligo, is reserved for the master.
Remember to restrain your right hand; let the respect for the bread-pan be safe!
§5.73inprobulum, superest illic qui ponere cogat: §5.74‘vis tu consuetis, audax conviva, canistris §5.75impleri panisque tui novisse colorem?’ §5.76‘scilicet hoc fuerat, propter quod saepe relicta §5.77coniuge per montem adversum gelidasque cucurri §5.78Esquilias, fremeret saeva cum grandine vernus §5.79Iuppiter et multo stillaret paenula nimbo. ’ §5.80Aspice quam longo distinguat pectore lancem §5.81quae fertur domino squilla, et quibus undique saepta §5.82asparagis qua despiciat convivia cauda, §5.83dum venit excelsi manibus sublata ministri.
Yet imagine that you are a little impudent, there is one standing over there to force you to lay it down: "Will you, audacious guest, be filled from your usual baskets, and know the color of your own bread?" "So this was indeed it, for which I so often, leaving my wife, ran across the opposing hill and the cold Esquiline, when the spring Jupiter rumbled with cruel hail, and my cloak dripped with much rain!" Look how the lobster which is carried to the master distinguishes the dish with its long breast, and with what asparagus hemmed in on all sides, with what a tail it looks down upon the banquet, while it comes lifted up by the hands of a tall servant.
But to you a crab, hemmed in by half an egg, is served on a tiny plate, a funeral dinner.
§5.86ipse Venafrano piscem perfundit: at hic qui §5.87pallidus adfertur misero tibi caulis olebit §5.88lanternam; illud enim vestris datur alveolis quod §5.89canna Micipsarum prora subvexit acuta,
He himself pours Venafran oil over his fish; but this cabbage which is brought pale to wretched you, will smell of the lantern; for that oil is given to your platters which the canoe of the Micipsae brought in with its sharp prow,