Frankie Ruperto

Horace Satire 1.5

Description:

Horace is an ancient Roman Golden Age poet, who is famously known for writing Satires and Odes during the reign of Augustus. The works which made Horace famous are his Satires which prove the ridiculousness of a concept by exaggerating the concept to the extreme. Horace’s Satire 1.5 is one of his rather serious chapters where he takes his travels, which are expected to be adventurous, and transforms the journey into a comedic but boring trip with a secondary focus on having hope for peace through a treaty at Brundisium. This was very important to the Roman people as it could help end the strife of the civil war.

Translation:

Aricia has received me having departed from great Rome with modest hospitality; the orator Heliodorus is my companion, the most educated by far of the Greeks; from there to the forum of Appius packed with sailors and with stingy tradesmen. We, lazy, have divided this journey, one day for those having been girded higher than us: Via Appia is less heavy for slow (people). Here I, because of the water which was very bad, declare war on my belly, waiting for my eating companions with a hardly equal mind. Now night was preparing to lead shade to the earth and to pour out signs in the sky: then the boys pour in taunts to the sailors and the sailors to the boys: “Hit here; “ You insert 300”; “Ah, now is enough.” While bronze is taken out, while the mule is tied, a whole hour goes by. Evil gnats and swampy frogs steer away sleep; a sailor and a traveler having been washed by much flavorless wine sing in competition of their absent girlfriends; finally the tired traveler begins to sleep and the lazy sailor binds again that which holds back the mule (rope), having been sent to eat to a rock, and lying back snores. And now the day was present, when we sense the boat proceeding not at all, until the hasty one leaps forward and strikes the head and loins of a mule and of the sailor with a willow stick. In the fourth hour finally with difficulty we are put out. We washed mouths and hands in your spring O, Feronia. Then having eaten breakfast, we creep for three miles and we come under Anxur having been placed upon rocks shining wide. The best Maecenus and Cocceius were about to come to here, both having been sent as ambassadors about great things, accustomed to being together, friends having been averted (from each other). I blear-eyed spread black eye-salve on my eyes. Meanwhile Meacenas and Cocceius and Fonteian Capito arrive at the same time, a man having been made to a nail a friend (perfectly), of Antonius, as no other man was more. We gladly leave Fundi, with Aufidius Luscus being the praetor, laughing at the rewards of the insane scribe: a toga praetexta and a wide purple stripe and a fire pan.

We, having been exhausted, remain then in the city of Mamurrae, Murena offering a home, Capito a kitchen. The next day’s light is rising most pleasingly; for Plotinus and Varius and Vergil meet at Sinuassa, which sort (of guys) the land has not carried more honest of mind nor would anyone else be more devoted than me. O what embraces and great joys there were. I, sane, would compare nothing to a pleasant friend. Which small villa is closest to the Companian bridge, offered a roof and provincial officers offered wood and salt which they owed. From here the mules placed a pack-saddle at Capua in time. Maecenas goes to play, Vergil and I go to sleep; for it is hostile for us bleary eyed and bleeding to play with a ball. From here the very full villa of Cocceius receives us, which is above the taverns of Caudus. Now Muse, I would wish you would relate to me in a few words, the battle of Saentius Scurra and Messus Cicerrus and from which father each having been born brought together dispute. The family of Oscan Messus is famous; the mistress of Sarmentus stands out: they came to a battle having arisen from these ancestors. First Sarmentus (says), “I say that you are similar to a wild horse.” we laugh, and Messius himself (says) “ I accept” and moves his head. He asks “ if your forehead were not with the horn having been cut out, what would you do, when you thus mutilated are threatening?” And an ugly scar had deformed the bristly forehead of the left face for him.