Horace Satires 2:2 lines 93-111 Flashcards
…hos utinam inter
heroas natum tellus me prima tulisset.
das aliquid famae, quae carmine gratior aurem
95occupet humanam? grandes rhombi patinaeque
grande ferunt una cum damno dedecus: Adde
iratum patruum, vicinos, te tibi iniquum
et frustra mortis cupidum, cum deerit egenti
as, laquei pretium. ‘iure’ inquit ‘Trausius istis
100iurgatur verbis: ego vectigalia magna
divitiasque habeo tribus amplas regibus.’
If only the early
Earth had brought me forth born among these heroes!
You grant some [value] to reputation, which more welcome than
Song fills the human ear; great turbots and dishes [95]
Bring great disgrace together with loss: add in
The angry uncle, the neighbours, you critical of yourself,
And vainly desiring death, when a brass coin is lacking
[For you] in your need, the price of a noose. “Rightly”, he said, “is
Trasius criticised with those words of yours; I have great [100]
Revenues and wealth ample enough for three kings.
…Ergo,
quod superat non est melius quo insumere possis?
cur eget indignus quisquam te divite? quare
templa ruunt antiqua Deum? cur, inprobe, carae
105non aliquid patriae tanto emetiris acervo?
uni nimirum recte tibi semper erunt res,
In that case
Is there not something better on which you can spend what remains?
Why should any poor person be in need, while you are rich? Why
Do the ancient temples of the gods tumble down? Why, wicked man,
Do you not measure out something for your dear fatherland from so great a pile. [105]
For you alone, of course, affairs will always be successful.
o magnus posthac inimicis risus. Uterne
ad casus dubios fidet sibi certius? hic qui
pluribus adsuerit mentem corpusque superbum,
110an qui contentus parvo metuensque futuri
in pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello?
O how you will be a great object of laughter to your enemies! Which of the two,
Trusts himself more surely in the face of uncertain fortunes? This man who
Has accustomed his mind and proud body to more
Or he who [is] content with little and wary of what is to be, [110]
As a wise man in peace has fitted things out for war.
