Decimus Magnus Ausonius→Axius Paulus|c. 390 AD|Decimus Magnus Ausonius|From Saintes|To Bordeaux|AI-assisted
Ausonius to Axius Paulus, the rhetorician, greetings.
At last, having struggled free from the soft restraints that held me back, I have left behind the soft enticements of Bordeaux, and have come to a farm near the city of the Santones [Saintes, in southwestern Gaul]. If this is welcome to you, my excellent Paulus, give me proof of it: let horn-hoofed mules whirl a four-wheeled carriage to your door; or, if you prefer, leap into a three-horse gig; or mount a swift posthorse, or a hack with a broken-down back—only come quickly, come now. For the approaching rites of Easter call me back, and I have no freedom to linger here in idleness. Bring along on your jaunt either your three thousand lyric verses, or the sham lawsuits that your school sows [the mock declamations of the rhetorical school]. With me you will find none of these, for I have left behind in that place the old remnants of my trifles, along with my wit.
AT last, having struggled free from delay's seductive toils. I have left Bordeaux's soft enticements and on a neighbouring farm dwell nigh the town of Saintes: if this pleases you. friend Paulus, give me proof of it. Let horn-hoofed mules whirl hither a harnessed four-wheeled car,1 or, if you please, jump in a three-horse gig, 2 or mount a cob, or else a back-broken hack, if only you come quickly; for approaching Easter's rites summon me back, nor am I free to linger idly here. Bring over on your jaunt thrice a thousand lyrics or the feigned eases 3 which your pupils weave. With me you will rind none, for I have left yonder the old remnants of my trifles together with my wit.
AUSONIUS AXIO PAULO RUETORI sal.
tandem eluctati retinacula blanda morarum
Burdigalac molles liquimus inlecebras.
Santonicamque urbem vicino accessimus agro:
quod tibi si gratum est, optime Paule, proba,
cornipedes rapiant inposta petorrita mulae;
vel cisio triiugi. si placet, insilias,
vel celerem manuum vel raptum terga veraedum
conscendas, propere dum modo iam venias;
instantis revocant quia nos sollemnia Paschae
libera nec nobis 1 est mora desidiae.
perfer in excursu vel leriuga milia epodon
vel falsas lites, quas schola vestra serit,
nobiscum invenies nullas, quia liquimus istic
nugarum veteres cum sale relliquias. 2
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Ausonius to Axius Paulus, the rhetorician, greetings.
At last, having struggled free from the soft restraints that held me back, I have left behind the soft enticements of Bordeaux, and have come to a farm near the city of the Santones [Saintes, in southwestern Gaul]. If this is welcome to you, my excellent Paulus, give me proof of it: let horn-hoofed mules whirl a four-wheeled carriage to your door; or, if you prefer, leap into a three-horse gig; or mount a swift posthorse, or a hack with a broken-down back—only come quickly, come now. For the approaching rites of Easter call me back, and I have no freedom to linger here in idleness. Bring along on your jaunt either your three thousand lyric verses, or the sham lawsuits that your school sows [the mock declamations of the rhetorical school]. With me you will find none of these, for I have left behind in that place the old remnants of my trifles, along with my wit.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
AUSONIUS AXIO PAULO RUETORI sal. tandem eluctati retinacula blanda morarum Burdigalac molles liquimus inlecebras. Santonicamque urbem vicino accessimus agro: quod tibi si gratum est, optime Paule, proba, cornipedes rapiant inposta petorrita mulae; vel cisio triiugi. si placet, insilias, vel celerem manuum vel raptum terga veraedum conscendas, propere dum modo iam venias; instantis revocant quia nos sollemnia Paschae libera nec nobis 1 est mora desidiae. perfer in excursu vel leriuga milia epodon vel falsas lites, quas schola vestra serit, nobiscum invenies nullas, quia liquimus istic nugarum veteres cum sale relliquias. 2