200 Pace fores obdo, ne qua discedere possit : p. 142. 2 XXV. AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. But he is weak, both man and boy Contented if he might enjoy The things which others understand.-WORDsworth. The poet was the second son of an equestrian family, born at Sulmo B.C. 43. 10 ILLE ego qui fuerim, tenerorum lusor amorum, 149,132 Sulmo mihi patria est, gelidis uberrimus undis, 1076119 Editus hinc ego sum, nec non ut tempora noris, Una celebrata est per duo liba dies. Haec est armiferae festis de quinque Minervae, 102 2 113 125 120 107 b 111 He was intended for the law, and for public life, but he could not express himself in prose. Protinus excolimur teneri, curaque parentis 111 Frater ad eloquium viridi tendebat ab aevo, 20 At mihi iam puero caelestia sacra placebant, 106 3 Saepe pater dixit "Studium quid inutile temptas? Motus eram dictis, totoque Helicone relicto 125 123 Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat ad aptos, He lost his brother at the age of twenty. Soon after he entered on public life, but abjured senatorial rank. 30 40 Interea tacito passu labentibus annis Liberior fratri sumpta mihique toga est, Nec patiens corpus, nec mens fuit apta labori, Et petere Aoniae suadebant tuta sorores 113 107 d 107 c 119 b 124 106 132 140 1 He cultivated the friendship of the poets of his youth, and was in turn looked up to by his juniors. 50 Temporis illius colui fovique poetas, Quotque aderant vates, rebar adesse deos. Saepe suas volucres legit mihi grandior aevo, Quaeque necet serpens, quae iuvet herba, Macer. 150 Ponticus heroo, Bassus quoque clarus iambis 106 I 116 130 153 2 His first poems, love songs. A general favourite, he was cautious in his love passages, and gave no cause for scandal. 60 Carmina quum primum populo iuvenilia legi, Barba resecta mihi bisve semelve fuit. 107 a Multa quidem scripsi: sed quae vitiosa putavi, Emendaturis ignibus ipse dedi. [cremavi, Tunc quoque, quum fugerem, quaedam placitura Molle Cupidineis nec inexpugnabile telis 106 3 107 d 150 [igni, Cor mihi, quodque levis causa moveret, erat. He was three times married, and had a married daughter, who had children of her own. 70 Paene mihi puero nec digna, nec utilis, uxor Filia me mea, bis prima fecunda juventa, (Sed non ex uno conjuge,) fecit avum. 102 I 108 a 140 His father's and his mother's death lead him to protest that a blunder, not a crime, was the cause of his banishment. 80 90 Et jam complêrat genitor sua fata; novemque Non aliter flevi, quam me fleturus ademptum Ante diem poenae quod periere meae! Scite, precor, causam (nec vos mihi fallere fas est) 138 106 140 3 At the age of fifty (see note) he was banished from Rome to Tomi, on the west coast of the Euxine: the cause of his exile he conceals. Manibus hoc satis est. Ad vos studiosa revertor 107 Pectora, qui vitae quaeritis acta meae. Jam mihi canities, pulsis melioribus annis, 125 Postque meos ortus Pisaea vinctus oliva Causa meae, cunctis nimium quoque nota, ruinae [centes ? Quid referam comitumque nefas, famulosque no 133 ΙΙΟ Oblitusque mei ductaeque per otia vitae, Tacta mihi tandem longis erroribus acto 121 B 107 d 111 106 I In his banishment his consolation is poetry, and the reputation which he already possesses. Hic ego finitimis quamvis circumsoner armis, 152 112 Quod quamvis nemo est, cuius referatur ad aures, 150 Sic tamen absumo decipioque diem. Ergo quod vivo, durisque laboribus obsto, 106 a Gratia, Musa, tibi: nam tu solatia praebes, I 20 130 Tu dux et comes es tu nos abducis ab Histro, 156 3 Nam tulerint magnos quum saecula nostra poetas, 152 I. 5 [illis 106 3 Quumque ego praeponam multos mihi, non minor Dicor et in toto plurimus orbe legor. Si quid habent igitur vatum praesagia veri, 131 152 I. 5 |