Letter 25

Ausonius sends warm greetings to his own Paulinus. With what a kindness you have favored me, my son Paulinus, by a complaint that was never even delivered, yet was met all the same! Fearing that the oil you had sent might have displeased me, you repeated the gift, and you gave still more lavishly by adding the seasoning of Barcelona brine. Yet you know that I am neither in the habit of using, nor able to pronounce, that name muria which is common among the vulgar, since the most learned of the ancients, though they scorned Greek terms, still had no Latin word to put in place of the name garum [a fermented fish sauce]. But by whatever name that "liquor of the allies" is called, I shall now fill my dishes, so that this sauce, too sparingly poured upon the tables of our forefathers, may overflow the platter. But what could be so lovable, so hospitable, as that you, in order to make me a sharer, should cheat yourself of your own delicacies at the very first novelty of the season's first fruits? O sweeter than honey, O more delightful than the charm of the Graces, O you who deserve to be embraced by all with a father's embrace! Yet these tokens and other proofs of this kind of a generous spirit some other man too may perhaps show, at some time, however rarely. But as for this in your letters—their learning, the delightfulness of your poems, the invention and the polished arrangement—I swear by all things that it will never be imitable by anyone, even if he should confess that it ought to be matched. As for that little work, I shall do as you bid: I shall file down the whole of it meticulously, and although the final touch of the hand has already come to it through you, I shall apply the chisel of a superfluous polishing—more to obey you than to add anything to what is already perfect. Meanwhile, however, that your messenger might not return without a little crown of poetry, I thought I should make a preliminary flourish in a few iambics, while that which you desire of me in the heroic meter is being begun. Yet these verses—so may I keep you and Hesperius safe—since they were poured out in the space of a single brief night's work (though they themselves will vouch as much about themselves), have had no further care bestowed upon them. Farewell. Iambus, swifter than the Parthians and the darts of the Cretans of Cydon, iambus swifter than the wings of birds, more headlong than the Po in the rush of its current, denser than the great force of resounding hail, more darting than the flames of flashing lightning: even now fly through the breezes, carried by the winged sandals of Perseus and by the cap of the rich Arcadian [Mercury]. If the report of Hippocrene is true—the spring which the hoofed horse, urged on by the blow of his foot, poured forth with a snort—you, begotten in the very fountain of Pegasus, were the first to join together the measures of new feet, and, while the nine holy Muses sang in harmony, you stirred the Delian [Apollo] to the slaughter of the dragon. Carry this greeting, swift and wing-footed, all the way to the walls where Paulinus dwells—Hebromagus, I mean—and at once, if now, his strength resumed, he flourishes with the brisk motion of a restored body, demand back in turn the greeting you bade him give; do not delay at all, and now, while I am still speaking, return—imitating that founder of your stock [Pegasus] who flew safely over the Chimaera raging with its threefold blaze, past the fire so near at hand. Say that you are well, say: "Your friend and neighbor and patron bids you be well—the author of your honor, the nourisher of your talent." Say also "master," say "father," say all the coaxing and hallowed names of affection, and when you have said "Hail," say "Farewell," and return at once. But if he asks what I, mature in years and not unskilled, may judge concerning your new writings, you shall say that you do not know, but that there will soon be ready a wagon full of heroic verses. To it I shall yoke, from out of the windings of the mills where they roll the stones with their machine-like weight, three-footed nags with their backs broken by the lash, so that by them three comrade messengers may be carried. Perhaps too he will ask which comrades you mean, who are coming together. Say: "I saw the three-knotted Dactyl made ready upon a torturing hack; the slow-footed Spondee went as his companion, who at equal intervals holds back my course; and one like me, yet always turned to face me, neither equal nor unequal, who is called the Trochee." Say this in haste, and without lingering fly across, bringing back meanwhile some little gift from the bounty of the storehouse of poetry.

WHAT kind treatment of me, that my complaint is dealt with without even being delivered, my son Paulinus! Fearing that the oil you sent had not given satisfaction, you repeat the gift and, by the addition of some Barcelona sauce called muria, 3 in- crease its measure. Put you know that I am neither accustomed nor able to pronounce that name nutria which is popularly used, though the most learned of the ancients, even while disdaining to use Greek terms, have no Latin name by which to call garum.1 But by whatever name that Liquor of the Allies 2 is called, I'll flood my plate: this juice, too little used By our forefathers, must overflow the spoon. But what could be more friendly or more generous than that you, to give me a share, should cheat yourself of your own dainties just when freshly coming into season? O friend sweeter than honey, O more delightsome than the Graces' charms, O worthy to be clasped by everyone in a fatherly embrace! However, these and other tokens of a generous nature some other, perchance, some day, though but rarely, may reveal: as for your talent shown in the scholarliness of your letter, in the sweetness of your poem, in imagination and in apt composition, I swear by everything that it will never be imitable by any man, however much he admit that it deserves imitation. As for the work itself, I will do as you bid. I will work over the whole minutely, and although it has received the highest finish at your hands, I will apply my chisel to give a superfinish however needless, but rather to obey yon than to add aught to what is perfect. Meanwhile, however, that your messenger may not return without a douceur of verse, I think 1 must make a preliminary gambol in a few iambics while the work in heroic strains which you want of me is beginning. But—so may I have you and Hesperius safe! — since they are dashed off in a single evening (though this they in themselves will guarantee), have had no further pains bestowed upon them. Farewell. Iambus than Parthian or Cydonian dart, Iambus than wings of birds more fleet, than rushing Padus' current more impetuous, than the downpour of rattling hail more searching, than lightning's dazzling flash more darting, even now speed through the air borne by Perseus' winged sandals and with the eap of the Arcadian god.1 If 'tis truly told that Hippocrene gushed forth at the hoof-beat of the impatient courser, thou, begotten in the very fount of Pegasus, wast first to link new rhythmic feet and, while the nine holy Muses sang in harmony, didst urge the lord of Delos to slaughter of the dragon.2 Bear this my greeting, fleetfoot, winged-foot, even to the town where Paulinus dwells, I mean Hebromagus, and straightway, if, his strength now regained, brisk vigour nerves his refreshed frame, bid him hail, then demand of him a return. Tarry not at all, and return now ere I cease to speak, after the example of that author of thy source,3 who o'er Chimaera with her triple blast of raging flame flew safe from the fire so near. Say hail to thee, say greetings to thee sends thy friend and neighbour and thy patron, the source of thine honours,1 the fosterer of thy intellect. Say also master, say father, say every caressing name of hallowed affection. And having said Hail, say Farewell and instantly return. But if he ask what judgment my ripe and not unskilful age pronounces on his latest writings, say thou knowest not, but that soon there will be ready a waggon full of heroic verses. Thereto 1 will yoke a pair of three-legged screws, back-broken with the lash, taken from the labyrinths of the mill, where by the heavy crank they turn the millstones, that by these may travel three jovial messengers. Perchance, too, he will ask who are these jovial fellows whom thou dost say are coming in a troop? Then say: I saw three-jointed Dactyl ready on a heartbreaking hack;2 slow-footed Spondee was tramping in his company—he who at equal intervals checks my career—and one much like me but always facing about, neither equal to me nor unequal, who is called Trochee. Thus speak: then in haste fly hither straight without delay, bringing back meanwhile some little gift from the abundance of that storehouse of poetry.

AUSONIUS PAULINO SUO sal. PL. D. Quanto me adfecit beneficio non delata equidem, sed suscepta mea querimonia, Pauline fili! veritus displicuisse oleum, quod miseras, munus iterasti, addito etiam Barcinonensis muriae condimento cumulatius praestitisti, scis autem me id nomen muriae. quod in usu vulgi est, nec solere nec posse dicere, cum scientissimi veterum et Graeca vocabula fastidientes Latinum in gari appellatione non habeant, sed ego, quocumque nomine liquor iste sociorum vocatur, Iam patinas implebo meas, ut parcior ille maiorum mensis applaria sucus inundet. Quid autem tam amabile tamque hospitale, quam quod tu, ut me participes, delicias tuas in ipsa primitiarum novitate defrudas? o melle dulcior, o Gratiarum venustate festivior, o ab omnibus patrio stringende complexu! sed haec atque alia huius modi documenta liberalis animi aliquis fortasse et aliquando, quamvis rarus: illud de epistularum tuarum eruditione, de poematis iucunditate, de inventione et concinnatione iuro omnia nulli umquam imitabile futurum, etsi fateatur mutandum, de quo opusculo, ut iubes, faciam, exquisitim universa limabo et quamvis per te manus summa contigerit, caelum superfluae expolitionis adhibebo, magis ut tibi paream, quam ut perfectis aliquid adiciam. Interea tamen, ne sine corollario poetico tabellarius tuus rediret, paucis iambicis praeludendum putavi, dum illud, quod a me heroico metro desideras, incohatur. isti tamen, ita te et Hesperium salvos habeam, quod spatio lucubratiunculae unius effusi, quamquam hoc ipsi de se probabunt, tamen nihil diligentiae ulterioris habuerunt, vale. Iambe Parthis et Cydonum spiculis, iambe pinnis alitum velocior, Padi mentis impetu torrentior, magna sonorae grandinis vi densior, flammis corusci fulminis vibratior, iam nunc per auras Persei talaribus petasoque ditis Arcados vectus vola. si vera fama est Hippocrene, quam pedis pulsu citatam cornipes fudit fremens, tu, fonte in ipso procreatus Pegasi, primus novorum metra iunxisti pedum sanctisque Musis concinentibus novem caedem in draconis concitasti Delium. Fer hanc salutem praepes et volucripes Paulini ad usque moenia, Hebromagum loquor, et protinus, iam si resumptis viribus alacri refecti corporis motu viget, salvere iussum mox reposce mutuum, nihil moreris iamque, dum loquor, redi, imitatus illum stirpis auctorem tuae, triplici furentem qui Chimaeram incendio supervolavit tutus igne proximo, dic te valere, dic: “salvere te iubet amicus et vicinus et fautor tuus, honoris auctor, altor ingenii tui.” dic et magister, dic parens, dic omnia blanda atque sancta caritatis nomina, haveque dicto dic vale, actutum et redi. Quod si rogabit, quid super scriptis novis maturus aevi nec rudis diiudicem: nescire dices, sed paratum iam fore heroicorum versuum plenum, essedum. cui subiugabo de molarum ambagibus, qui machinali saxa volvunt pondere, tripedes caballos terga ruptos verbere, his ut vehantur tres sodales nuntii, fors et rogabit, quos sodales dixeris simul venire? dic: “Trinodem dactylum vidi paratum crucianti canthcrio: spondeus illi lentipes ibat comes, paribus moratur qui locis cursum meum, mihique similis, semper adversus tamen, nec par, nec impar, qui trochacus dicitur.” Haec fare cursim nec moratus pervola, a liquid reportans interim munusculi de largitate musici promptarii.