EPISTLE VIII To Celsus Albinovanus greetings and good wishes! This message bear, O Muse, at my request, to the comrade and secretary of Nero. If he ask you how I fare, tell him that despite many fine promises I live a life neither wise nor pleasant; not because hail has beaten down my vines and heat blighted my olives, nor because my herds are sickening on distant pastures; but because, less sound in mind than in all my body, I will listen to nothing, will learn nothing, to relieve my sickness; quarrel with my faithful physicians, and angrily ask my friends why they are eager to rescue me from fatal lethargy; because I follow after what has hurt me, avoid what I believe will help me, and am fickle as the wind, at Rome loving Tibur, at Tibur Rome. Then ask him how his own health is, how in estate and person he is faring, how he stands in favour with prince and staff. If he says "Well," first wish him joy; then by and by remember to drop this warning in the dear fellow's ears: As you bear your fortune, Celsus, so we shall bear with you." IX TO TIBERIUS THIS charming letter of introduction is addressed to the young prince Tiberius on behalf of one Septimius, probably the friend of Carm. ii. 6, Septimi, Gadis aditure mecum et The delicate tact of the writer, who would seem selfish if he did not heed his friend's request, and might be guilty of effrontery if he did, has often been admired. The letter was probably written in 20 B.C., when Tiberius was preparing to set out for the East. IX. Septimius, Claudi, nimirum intellegit unus, quanti me facias. nam cum rogat et prece cogit scilicet ut tibi se laudare et tradere coner, dignum mente domoque legentis honesta Neronis, munere cum fungi propioris censet amici, quid possim videt ac novit1 me valdius ipso. multa quidem dixi cur excusatus abirem ; sed timui mea ne2 finxisse minora putarer, dissimilator opis propriae, mihi commodus uni. sic ego, maioris fugiens opprobria culpae, frontis ad urbanae descendi praemia. quod si depositum laudas ob amici iussa pudorem. scribe tui gregis hunc et fortem crede bonumque. 1 ac novit aE Goth: agnovit A2, II. 5 10 EPISTLE IX Only Septimius of course understands how much, Claudius, you make of me. For when he begs and by prayer forces me-mark you!-to an endeavour to commend and present him to you, as one worthy of the mind and household of Nero, the lover of virtue—when he deems that I fill the place of a closer friend, he sees and knows what I can do more fully than myself. To be sure I gave him many reasons for letting me go excused; but I feared that I might be thought to have made out my influence too small, falsely hiding my real power and seeking favour for myself alone. So to avoid the reproach of a graver fault, I have stooped to win the reward of town-bred impudence. But if you approve of my thus doffing modesty at the bidding of a friend, enrol him in your circle and believe him brave and good. |