Letter 33

Paulinus to Gestidius, the lord he deservedly looks up to. It is, to be sure, an affront to offer something of the earth and the countryside to a head of household who has an abundance of dainties from the sea; but I, so that I might have a pretext for some conversation with your kindred spirit, and might seem to attach some mark of deference to this little note, have sent a few from the very few fig-peckers [ficedulae, small songbirds prized as a delicacy] that the slave-boys bring in of an evening. And since I was blushing at how few they were, I have woven still more words beneath in some verses, as though I might really make up their number by my chatter. But since both faults are blameworthy, you will, by kindly and familiarly pardoning both, see to it that neither does the small number seem ungracious nor the garrulity hateful. Take, then, these birds fattened in the bramble-grown countryside, which the cunning fowler, lurking beneath a covering of fern, while he counterfeits the birds with a like whisper and deceives them, leaves hanging, all unsuspecting, in throngs upon his limed twigs. Then, carrying home his slender prey at no small profit, he lays out his catch upon the boards: and the first row gleams with the plump ones, gradually tapering off toward the bottom of the little table. So that the leanness may give less offense, the charm of the fattened birds, set out in front, gratifies the eyes that have been intercepted by the plump fowl.

Paulinus to the justly respected lord Gestidius. IT is an insult to present a man of standing who has plenty of sea dainties with anything derived from the land and country-side. But, that I might have excuse for some converse with you, my bosom friend, and to make a show of accompanying these words of mine with some token of respect, I am sending a poor few of the very few fig-peckers which my lads bring home of an evening. And since I blush for their small number, I added on more words to my verses, as though indeed I could increase their number by my chatter. But since both alike are open to criticism, you will do a kind and friendly action by pardoning both, so as to make the fewness of the birds not appear mean, and my wordiness not tiresome. Take, then, these fowl fed in the thickets of the country-side, which the cunning fowler, lurking beneath a screen of bracken, while he beguiles and decoys birds with a call like their own, has taken hanging on his limed twigs—a silly tribe. Then, bringing home his light prey of no slight price, he sets out the catch upon his stall: and the array makes goodly show of prime birds in front gradually thinning out towards the back of the counter. That the more skinny may not displease, the fat birds with their attractive plumpness hold the foremost place, forestalling and delighting the gaze.

PAULINUS GESTIDIO Domino merito suspiciendo Gestidio Paulinus. Iniuria quidem est patri familias maritimis deliciis abundanti terrenum aliquid et agreste praebere; sed ego, ut et causa mihi esset aput unanimitatem tuam aliquid conloquendi et aliquod sermoni huic obsequium viderer adiungere, panculas de paucissimis, quas pueruli vespere inferunt, ficedulas misi. quarum eum erubescerem paucitatem, plura etiam versiculis verba subtexui, quasi vero numerum loquacitate facturus. sed quia utraque culpabilia sunt, tu utrisque benigne ae familiariter ignoscendo facies, ut nec inhumana videatur paucitas nec odiosa garrulitas. Sume igitur pastas dumoso in rure volucres, quas latitans filicis sub tegmine callidus anceps, dum simili mentitur aves fallitque susurro, agmina viscatis suspendit credula virgis. tunc referens tenuem non parvo munere praedam digerit aucupium tabulis: et primus opimis ordo nitet, sensim tenuatus ad ima tabellae. ut minus offendat macies, praelata saginae gratia praeventos pingui iuvat alite visus.