Epist. 1.3.1Iūlī Flōre, quibus terrārum mīlitet ōrīs
Claudius Augustī prīvignus, scīre labōrō.Julius Florus, I am anxious to know in what regions of the earth Claudius, the stepson of Augustus, is campaigning. Epist. 1.3.3Thrācane vōs Hebrusque nivālī compede vinctus,
an freta vīcīnās inter currentia turrīs,
5an pinguēs Asiae campī collēsque morantur?Is it Thrace and the Hebrus bound in fetters of snow, or the strait running between neighbouring towers, or the rich plains and hills of Asia that detain you? Epist. 1.3.6Quid studiōsa cohors operum struit?What works is the studious band constructing? Epist. 1.3.6Hoc quoque cūrō.This too concerns me. Epist. 1.3.7Quis sibi rēs gestās Augustī scrībere sūmit?Who takes upon himself to write the deeds of Augustus? Epist. 1.3.8Bella quis et pācēs longum diffundit in aevum?Who spreads his wars and peace abroad to distant ages? Epist. 1.3.9Quid Titius, Rōmāna brevī ventūrus in ōra?What of Titius, soon to be on Roman lips? Epist. 1.3.10Pindaricī fontis quī nōn expalluit haustūs,
fastīdīre lacūs et rīvōs ausus apertōs, ut valet?He who did not blanch at draughts from the Pindaric spring, but dared to scorn open pools and streams, how is he?
Epist. 1.3.12Ut meminit nostrī?How does he remember me? Epist. 1.3.12Fidibusne Latīnīs
Thēbānōs aptāre modōs studet auspice Mūsā,
an tragicā dēsaevit et ampullātur in arte?Is he eager, with the Muse's blessing, to fit Theban measures to the Latin lyre, or does he storm and bombast in the tragic art? Epist. 1.3.15Quid mihi Celsus agit?What is my Celsus doing? Epist. 1.3.15Monitus multumque monendus,
prīvātās ut quaerat opēs et tangere vītet
scrīpta Palātīnus quaecumque recēpit Apollo,
nē, sī forte suās repetītum vēnerit ōlim
grex avium plūmās, moveat cornīcula rīsum
20fūrtīvīs nūdāta colōribus, ipse quid audēs?He has been warned, and must be warned often, to seek riches of his own and avoid touching whatever writings Palatine Apollo has received, lest, if the flock of birds should one day come to reclaim their feathers, the little crow, stripped of her stolen colours, should provoke laughter. What do you yourself venture? Epist. 1.3.21Quae circumvolitās agilis thyma?Round what thyme do you nimbly flit? Epist. 1.3.21Nōn tibi parvum
ingenium, nōn incultum est et turpiter hirtum.Yours is no small talent, not untilled and shamefully rough. Epist. 1.3.23Seu linguam causīs acuis seu cīvica iūra
respondēre parās seu condis amābile carmen,
25prīma ferēs hederae victrīcis praemia, quod sī
frīgida cūrārum fōmenta relinquere possēs,
quō tē caelestis sapientia dūceret, īrēs.Whether you sharpen your tongue for lawsuits, or prepare to give opinions on civil law, or compose a lovely song, you will carry off the first prizes of the victor's ivy. But if you could leave behind the cold compresses of cares, you would go where heavenly wisdom would lead you.
Epist. 1.3.27Hoc opus,
hoc studium parvī properēmus et amplī,
sī patriae volumus, sī nōbīs vīvere cārī.Let us, small and great, press on with this work, this pursuit, if we wish to live dear to our country and to ourselves. Epist. 1.3.30Dēbēs hoc etiam rescrībere, sit tibi cūrae
quantae conveniat Munātius;You must also write back this: whether Munatius is as dear to you as he should be; Epist. 1.3.31an male sarta
grātia nēquīquam coit et rescinditur?or does the badly patched friendship come together in vain and tear apart again? Epist. 1.3.32At vōs
seu calidus sanguis seu rērum īnscītia vexat
indomitā cervīce ferōs, ubicumque locōrum
35vīvitis, indignī frāternum rumpere foedus,
pāscitur in vestrum reditum vōtīva iuvenca.But whether hot blood or ignorance of the world troubles you, wild with untamed necks, wherever in the world you live, you who are too good to break the bond of brothers, a votive heifer is fattening for your return.