310-395 c. AD
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Late Imperial/Early Christian Era)
1. AVSONIVS PAVLO SVO S. D.
[From Ausonius to Paul]
[From Ausonius to Paul]
Pervincis tamen et operta musarum mearum, quae initiorum velabat obscuritas, quamquam non profanus, irrumpis, Paule carissime.
[Hail, Paul, dearest of all, still you prevail completely, and shatter the works of my poetic inspiration, things which the obscurity of their beginnings hide, although you act respectfully.]
Quamvis enim te non eius vulgi existimem, quod Horatius arcet ingressu, tamen sua cuique sacra, neque idem Cereri quod Libero, etiam sub iisdem cultoribus.
[You see, no matter how much I esteem you to be popular, since Horace summons at the entrance, still these holy things to anybody, and neither for Ceres nor Bacchus, even among these very same worshipers.]
Poematia, quae in alumnam meam luseram, rudia et incohata ad domesticae solacium cantilenae, cum sine metu [et] arcana securitate fruerentur, proferri ad lucem caligantia coegisti.
[My poetic music, which I had previously played for my nurseling, was untalented and suited for the comfort of my house's hackneyed singing, which can be enjoyed without a sense of fear and with private security--but you forced it to brought out from the darkness into the light.]
Verecundiae meae scilicet spolium concupisti, aut, quantum tibi in me iuris esset, ab invito indicari;
[Surely you have yearned for the prize of my embarrasment, or for me to be publicly declared by someone unwilling, at least as much as you could legally prevail over me.]
ne tu Alexandri Macedonis pervicaciam supergressus, qui, fatalis iugi lora cum solvere non posset, abscidit et Pythiae specum, quo die fas non erat patere, penetravit.
[So that it won't be you stepping across the willfulness of Alexander of Macedonia, who, since he could not let loosen the reins of his deadly fate, stole away and entered deep into the cave of the Pythian oracle, on that day when the gods deemed it not right to lie open.]
Utere igitur ut tuis, pari iure, sed fiducia dispari;
[Therefore, the result is that you should make use of equal sense of law, but not a sense of trust.]
quippe tua possunt populum non timere, meis etiam intra me erubesco.
[Really, your work need not fear the people, but I too blush to myself about my own.]
Vale.
[Farewell.]
2. PRAEFATIO [Preface]
Ut voluisti, Paule, cunctos Bissulae versus habes,
[As you wish, Paul, you have all the poetry of Bissula,]
lusimus quos in Suebae gratiam virgunculae,
[which we have played to upon the grace of a small Suebian pipe,]
otium magis foventes quam studentes gloriae.
[as they desire leisure more than thirst for glory.]
Tu molestus flagitator lege molesta carmina.
[It is you are the vexing agitator, read your vexing songs.]
Tibi, quod intristi, exedendum est:
[Whatever you have set upon, you must perform:]
2. PRAEFATIO [Preface]
Ut voluisti, Paule, cunctos Bissulae versus habes,
[As you wish, Paul, you have all the poetry of Bissula,]
lusimus quos in Suebae gratiam virgunculae,
[which we have played to upon the grace of a small Suebian pipe,]
otium magis foventes quam studentes gloriae.
[as they desire leisure more than thirst for glory.]
Tu molestus flagitator lege molesta carmina.
[It is you are the vexing agitator, read your vexing songs.]
Tibi, quod intristi, exedendum est:
[Whatever you have set upon, you must perform:]
Verecundiae meae scilicet spolium concupisti, aut, quantum tibi in me iuris esset, ab invito indicari;
[Surely you have yearned for the prize of my embarrasment, or for me to be publicly declared by someone unwilling, at least as much as you could legally prevail over me.]
ne tu Alexandri Macedonis pervicaciam supergressus, qui, fatalis iugi lora cum solvere non posset, abscidit et Pythiae specum, quo die fas non erat patere, penetravit.
[So that it won't be you stepping across the willfulness of Alexander of Macedonia, who, since he could not let loosen the reins of his deadly fate, stole away and entered deep into the cave of the Pythian oracle, on that day when the gods deemed it not right to lie open.]
Utere igitur ut tuis, pari iure, sed fiducia dispari;
[Therefore, the result is that you should make use of equal sense of law, but not a sense of trust.]
quippe tua possunt populum non timere, meis etiam intra me erubesco.
[Really, your work need not fear the people, but I too blush to myself about my own.]
Vale.
[Farewell.]
2. PRAEFATIO [Preface]
Ut voluisti, Paule, cunctos Bissulae versus habes,
[As you wish, Paul, you have all the poetry of Bissula,]
lusimus quos in Suebae gratiam virgunculae,
[which we have played to upon the grace of a small Suebian pipe,]
otium magis foventes quam studentes gloriae.
[as they desire leisure more than thirst for glory.]
Tu molestus flagitator lege molesta carmina.
[It is you are the vexing agitator, read your vexing songs.]
Tibi, quod intristi, exedendum est:
[Whatever you have set upon, you must perform:]
2. PRAEFATIO [Preface]
Ut voluisti, Paule, cunctos Bissulae versus habes,
[As you wish, Paul, you have all the poetry of Bissula,]
lusimus quos in Suebae gratiam virgunculae,
[which we have played to upon the grace of a small Suebian pipe,]
otium magis foventes quam studentes gloriae.
[as they desire leisure more than thirst for glory.]
Tu molestus flagitator lege molesta carmina.
[It is you are the vexing agitator, read your vexing songs.]
Tibi, quod intristi, exedendum est:
[Whatever you have set upon, you must perform:]
