Letter 17

AUSONIUS TO THEON I, Ausonius the consul, return the greeting of Theon the poet. You send golden apples, Theon, but leaden verses; who would suppose that these two kinds came from a single lump of ore? Both bear one name, yet there is a distinction between the two: just as you call the fruit "apples" [Latin mala, also meaning "bad things"], so turn your songs into bad ones [a pun: the same word mala is both the noun "apples" and the adjective "bad"]. Farewell, Theon, you whose name comes from the blessed gods [a play on the Greek theon, genitive plural "of the gods"]—though that very participle [theon, the Greek present participle of "to run"] often signifies one who is running.

I, AUSONIUS the Consul, return greeting to Theon the Bard. Apples of gold thou sendest, Theon, but verse of lead: who would think these species were of the same substance? Both have one name, but both have differences: to call your apples quinces, alter your quinsied verse.3 Farewell, Theon, whose name is from the blessed gods, but often as a participle it means one running.4

AUSONIUS THEONI AUSONIUS consul vatem resaluto Theonem. Aurea mala, Theon, set plumbea carmina mittis; unius massae quis putet has species? unum nomen utrisque, set est discrimen utrisque: poma ut mala voces, carmina verte mala. Vale beatis nomen a divis Theon, metoche set ista saepe currentem indicat.