§1Bene admones, Donate carissime: nam et promisisse me memini, et reddendi tempestiuum prorsus hoc tempus est, quo indulgente uindemia solutus animus in quietem sollemnes ac statas anni fatigantis indutias sortiatur.
You do well to remind me, dearest Donatus: for I both remember that I promised, and this is indeed the seasonable time for fulfilling it, wherein, the vintage indulgence relaxing it, the mind may obtain for rest its customary and fixed recess from a tiring year.
locus etiam cum die conuenit, et mulcendis sensibus ac fouendis ad lenes auras blandientis autumni hortorum facies amoena consentit: hic iocundum sermonibus diem ducere et studentibus fabulis in diuina praecepta conscientiam pectoris erudire.
The place also agrees with the day, and the pleasant appearance of the gardens harmonizes with the gentle breezes of coaxing autumn to soothe and cherish the senses: here to spend the day in pleasant conversation, and, by eager discourse, to instruct the conscience of the breast in divine precepts.
ac ne loqui nostrum arbiter profanus impediat aut clamor intemperans familiae strepentis obtundat, petamus hanc sedem: dant secessum uicina secreta, ubi dum erratici palmitum lapsus nexibus pendulis per harundines baiulas repunt, uiteam porticum frondea tecta fecerunt.
And lest any profane bystander should interrupt our talk, or the unrestrained clamor of a noisy household deafen us, let us seek this seat: neighboring retreats afford retirement, where, while the wandering glidings of the shoots creep with hanging knots through the supporting reeds, they have made a leafy roof of grapevines, a portico.
bene hic studia in aures damus, et dum in arbores et in uites uidemus, oblectante prospectu oculos amoenamus, animam simul et auditus instruit et pascit obtutus: quamquam tibi sola nunc gratia, sola cura sermonis est, contemptis uoluptariae uisionis inlecebris in me oculos tuos fixus es, qua ore, qua mente totus auditor es et hoc amore quo diligis.
Well do we here give our ears to studies, and while we look upon the trees and vines we delight our eyes with the pleasing prospect, while the hearing instructs and the sight feeds the soul at the same time: although to you now there is only grace, only care for discourse; having despised the allurements of pleasurable sight, you have fixed your eyes on me; with your face, with your mind, you are all listener, and that by this love wherewith you love me.
§2Ceterum quale uel quantum est, quod in pectus tuum ueniat ex nobis, exilis ingenii angusta mediocritas tenues admodum fruges parit, nullis ad copiam fecundi caespitis culminibus ingrauescit, adgrediar tamen facultate, qua ualeo: nam et materia dicendi facit mecum.
But whatever or how great is that which may come to your breast from us, the narrow mediocrity of my meager talent produces very thin fruits, and grows heavy with no heights of fertile soil for abundance; yet I will approach it with the capacity of which I am capable: for the subject of speaking also favors me.
in iudiciis, [contione] pro rostris opulenta facundia uolubili ambitione iactetur: cum de Domino et de Deo uox est, uocis pura sinceritas non eloquentiae uiribus nititur ad fidei argumenta sed rebus.
In the courts, in the assembly, or before the rostra, let rich eloquence boast itself with rolling ambition: when the voice is concerning the Lord and concerning God, the pure sincerity of the voice relies for the proofs of faith not on the powers of eloquence, but on facts.
denique accipe non diserta, sed fortia, nec ad audientiae popularis inlecebram culto sermone fucata, sed ad diuinam indulgentiam praedicandam rudi ueritate simplicia: accipe quod sentitur, antequam discitur, nec per moras emporum longa agnitione colligitur, sed conpendio gratiae maturantis hauritur.
Therefore, receive things not eloquent, but strong; nor painted with cultivated speech for the enticement of a popular audience, but simple with unpolished truth to preach divine indulgence: receive what is felt before it is learned, and is not gathered by long recognition through delays of time, but is drawn in by the compendium of hastening grace.
§3Ego cum in tenebris atque in nocte caeca iacerem cumque in salo iactantis saeculi nutabundus ac dubius uestigiis oberrantibus fluctuarem uitae meae nescius, ueritatis ac lucis alienus, difficile prorsus ac durum pro illis tunc moribus opinabar, quod in salutem mihi diuina indulgentia pollicebatur, ut quis renasci denuo posset utque in nonam uitam lauacro aquae salutaris animatus, quod prius fuerat, exponeret et corporis licet manente conpage hominem animo ac mente mutaret.
When I was lying in darkness and in blind night, and when I was tossing on the sea of a boasting age, wavering and doubtful with wandering steps, ignorant of my life, a stranger to truth and light, I used to think, altogether difficult and hard according to my character then, that which the divine indulgence promised me for my salvation: namely, that one could be born again anew, and that, quickened to a new life by the washing of salutary water, he might put off what he had been before, and, though the framework of the body remained, might change the man in soul and mind.
qui possibilis, aiebam, tanta conuersio, ut repente ac perniciter exuatur, quod uel genuinum situ materiae naturalis obduruit uel usurpatum diu senio uetustatis inoleuit? alta haec et profunda penitus radice sederunt.
"How is so great a conversion possible," I used to say, "that what has either grown hard, inborn by the condition of natural matter, or, practiced for a long time, has grown in with the decay of old age, should be suddenly and rapidly stripped off?" These things have settled deep down with a deep root.
quando parcimoniam discit, qui epularibus cenis et largis dapibus adsueuit? et qui pretiosa ueste conspicuus in auro atque in purpura fulsit, ad plebeium se ac simplicem cultum quando deponit? fascibus ille oblectatus et honoribus esse priuatus et inglorius non potest.
When does he learn thrift, who has been accustomed to banqueting feasts and abundant banquets? And when does he, who conspicuous in precious raiment has shone in gold and purple, lower himself to plebeian and simple dress? He who has been delighted with fasces and honors cannot be a private citizen and inglorious.
hic stipatus clientium cuneis, frequentiore comitatu officiosi agminis honestatus, poenam putat esse, cum solus est.
This man, surrounded by crowds of clients, honored by the numerous retinue of a dutiful train, thinks it to be a punishment when he is alone.
tenacibus semper inlecebris necesse est, ut solebat, uinolentia inuitet, inflet superbia, iracundia inflammet, rapacitas inquietet, crudelitas stimulet, ambitio delectet, libido praecipitet.
It is necessary that, by their persistent allurements, as was customary, wine-drinking should invite, pride inflate, anger inflame, greed disquiet, cruelty stimulate, ambition delight, lust precipitate.