Letter 12

Ausonius to Probus, Praetorian Prefect, greetings. Given the delay imposed by the copyists, I know, Probus, best of men, that the pleasure of my promise has been worn away by the waiting; yet I count it among my comforts that I have not broken my word. The Fables of Titianus and the Chronicle of Nepos—these too like other fables (for they themselves are very much of the kind of stories)—I have sent to your nobility, glad, and indeed boastful, that there should be something which the labor of my devotion may contribute to the education of your children. To the little book of fables, however, I have set in front a few epodes, in the most shameless zeal of my regard for you. Few indeed, as I, a man of many words, judge them; but you, when you read them, will think them even far too many. I appeal to your good will, the witness of my modesty, that I composed these on a sudden impulse—for who would brood long over such things? And this they will surely prove of themselves. It may chance, if life is granted me, that I shall polish up some account of your affairs, unrefined craftsman though I am; and even if you do not approve it when read, you will take it kindly as written, and though I have imitated the madness of Choerilus [the fawning court-poet of Alexander, proverbial for bad verse], you will forgive me with the magnanimity of Alexander. These, then, as Plautus says, will meanwhile serve as the foreword to the fables—chattering and deceitful—which, though composed to do the service of honoring you, have rushed off all together to assault your ears. Farewell, and love me. Go forth, little book, to Sirmium [imperial residence on the Save, in Pannonia], and say to my master and yours: hail, and a very good day to you. Who this master of ours is—do you not know, little book? Or, when you do know, do you gladly hear what gives delight? I could say it plainly, but I shall talk around it more sweetly and so enjoy myself longer in the telling. I mean the man who, mighty in tongue, surpasses the younger son of Atreus [Menelaus, famed for concise eloquence] in pleading with few and musical words; who blends in himself the storm-bursts of Ulysses and honey-flowing Nestor through the speech of Tully [Cicero]; who alone, three excepted, is first of the masters of masters and greatest in the Praetorium. I mean him, the president of the Senate, prefect at once and consul (for he is famed as consul forever, colleague of an Augustus who was consul), the pillar of the Roman curule chair, first among those who bear the second rods of office; for he will be first of all men as consul, and second to the prince alone. He, the survivor of the Golden Race and sower of a golden line, refutes the old man of Ascra [Hesiod, who taught of the ages of decline], proving that this is no Age of Iron, since he conquers the wrong done by time, the renewer of the Aonian stock [the line of letters and the Muses], and adorns the lineage of the Anicii with fillets equal to their own. It is Probus I speak of: you know him full well, whom no one ever named in speech without first praising him. Go forth, little book, and enjoy unbounded happiness. Nay, even ask, if he will allow you to speak in a deferential strain: "Come, true offspring of Romulus, declare the reason of your name—whether your character gave you this name, or the rule of your character followed this name; or whether the supreme arbiter of the world, foreknowing what is to come, having created you such in character, commanded that you be called by such a name?" A name given for proclamations and as the testimony of your life. Happy little book, whom so great a man will unroll in his bosom and will not complain that his hours are taken up in welcome leisure; whom he will favor with the tones of his honeyed voice or a gentle whisper; for whom the little dark pupils of his eyes will deign to make time; whom he will read through with mind and ear attentive, though some passages be passed over. Whatever your fortune be, go forth, little book, and enjoy unbounded happiness. Say that I am well and alive; say that I live according to my devout vow, praying with holy words that the man whom the latest consulship gave as colleague to the son [Probus, consul together with the young emperor], the elder Augustus may in turn perpetuate in his own honors. And add this too, gently: "Lo, fables has Ausonius sent you, all the way from the frontier of the Rhine, Ausonius, a name of Italy, the teacher of your Augustus—the Aesopian trimeters which Titianus, that craftsman of speech, turned with slender pen, fashioning a work in prose; so that from this the glory of grandfather and father, rising again in mingled blood, both Probian and Anician—just as once within the walls of Alba the last-born of Aeneas [Silvius] blended the Silvii with the Iuli—so this child of yours, these little flowers of Romulus, amid his nurse's lays and the sleep-bringing strains of the lullaby, may grow skilled in fables and learn at once both to play and to learn." To this add the prayer which I, in piety, have conceived to a gracious God: "As Augustus the father gave Probus as colleague to the son, so may Gratian join this new one to the line that is to be." The things I speak shall come to pass: so the merits of his deeds command. But now, that Julius [the poet's mouthpiece, perhaps Julius Titianus] may speak, receive an end of words, though unwilling, swift-footed dimeter, and having said hail, now say farewell.

AFTER the delay caused by the copyists, I know that the pleasure caused by my promise has been outworn by hope deferred, most noble Probus; yet I count it good fortune that I have not broken my word. The Fables of Titianus 2 and the Chronicles of Nepos 3—as though they were further fables; for they, too, are like fairy tales—I now send your excellency, glad, nay exultant, that there will be something which my devotion and pains can contribute towards your children's education. To the little book of Fables, however, I have, in the zeal of my respect for you, taken the extreme liberty of prefixing a few verses—few at least as I judge, who am a man of words; though you, when you have read them, will think them all too many. I solemnly assure your good-natured self, who can vouch for my honour, that I gave vent to them on a sudden impulse. For who would need to ponder long over these? This, indeed, the verses themselves will confirm. It may be that, if I live long enough, I will fashion out some work on your career, rude craftsman though I am: even should you not be satisfied with the reading of it, you will take the writing in good part. And since 1 have copied Chocrilus in his madness, yon must pardon me with the generosity of Alexander.1 These verses then (to use Plautus' word 2) will serve meanwhile as Foreword to the Fables, wordy and treacherous though they are. Though put together to convey my dutiful compliments to you, they have rushed off with one accord to offend your ears. Farewell, and give me your good regard. Go forth, little book, to Sirmium, and to thy lord and mine bid hearty health and greeting. Thou knowest not, little book, who is that our lord? Or though thou knowest, dost thou love to hear what delights thee? I might tell thee outright, but for more pleasure I will talk in mazes and with speech drawn out get full enjoyment. Him 1 mean who, full eloquent, outstrips Atreus' younger son 3 in pleading with few but melodious words; who combines Ulysses' hail and Nestor's honeyed flow with Tully's utterance; who is the all-highest save the three Lords of Lords,1 and supreme in the Praetorium. Him I mean, the Senate's chief, prefect likewise and consul (for as consul he has endless fame as colleague of an Emperor-consul), prop of the Roman curule chair—first, though his authority is second in degree; for first of all citizens shall he be as consul, but second to the Prince. He, the survivor of the Golden Race, begetter of a golden progeny, refutes the sage of Ascra,2 showing this is no Iron Age, since, conquering Time's ravages, he renews the line of the Annii and has equal right to deck with fillets the Anician family-tree.3 Of Probus speak I: thou knowest him full well —whom none ever named in speech without first praising him.4 Go forth, my little book, there to enjoy boundless good fortune. And ask withal, if he will suffer thee to address him in humble tones: Prithee, true son of Romulus, declare the reason of thy name. Was it thy conduct earned thee this name, or to this name hath thy rule of conduct conformed? Or of his fore-knowledge did the supreme Disposer of the world bid thee be called by a name expressive of the nature with which he created thee? The name was given in his praise and for a token of his life. Ah, happy little book, that such a man will unroll thee on his knee and not complain that thou takest up the hours of his welcome leisure; that he will vouchsafe thee the tones of his honeyed voice or his soft whispers; that for thee the dear dark pupils of his eyes will deign to find leisure; that with mind and ear in unison he will read thee through, some pages skipped. Whate'er thy fortune, go forth, little book, and enjoy thy boundless happiness. Say that I fare well and live, say that I live as I devoutly asked, praying with hallowed words that, as the last consulship made him colleague of the son, so again Augustus the sire 1 will renown him with partnership in his own honours. This also gently add: Lo, from the very borders of the Rhine Ausonius, Italian of name,2 tutor of thy belov'd Augustus, sends thee these Fables, by Aesop writ in trimeters, but rendered in simple style and adapted into prose by Titianus, artist in words; that hereby he who is his father's and grandfather's pride, sprung from the mingled strains of the Probi and Anicii—as of old in Alba town the last scion of Aeneas' stock united the lines of Silvius 1 and Iulus—so he who is thy offspring, flower of the flowerlets of Rome, amid nurse's tales and drowsy strains of lullaby, may become versed in fables, growing used to play and learn at the same time. Thereto add this prayer which I, though sinful, have addressed to the all-loving God: Even as Augustus the sire hath made Probus colleague to his son, so may Gratian link this new Probus with his offspring which shall be. Fulfilled hereafter shall be the words 1 speak: the worth of Probus' deeds demands it so. But now, that Julius 2 may speak, though all unwilling make an end of words, swift - footed dimeter, and having said hail, say now farewell!

AUSONIUS PROBO PRAEFECTO PRAETORIO S. oblata per antiquarios mora scio promissi mei gratiam expectatione consumptam, Probe, vir optime; in secundis tamen habeo non fefellisse, apologos Titiani et Nepotis chronica quasi alios apologos (nam et ipsa instar sunt fabularum) ad nobilitatem tuam misi. gaudens atque etiam glorians fore aliquid, quod ad institutionem tuorum sedulitatis meae studio conteratur. Libello tamen apologorum antetuli paucos epodos. studio in te observantiae meae impudentissimo. paucos quidem, ut ego loquax iudico; verum tu, cum legens, etiam nimium multos putabis, adiuro benevolentiam tuam, verecundiae meae testem, eos mihi subita persuasione duxisse, nam quis hos diu cogitaret? quod sane ipsi per se probabunt, fors fuat, ut si milli vita suppetet, aliquid rerum tuarum quamvis incultus expoliam: quod tu etsi lectum non probes, scriptum boni consules, eumque ego imitatus sim vesaniam Choerili, tu ignoscas magnanimitate Alexandri. Hi igitur, ut Plautus ait, interim erunt antelogium fabularum, garruli et deceptores. qui compositi ad honorificentiae obsequium, ad aurium convicium concurrerunt, vale et me dilige. Perge, o libelle, Sirmium et dic ero meo ac tuo have atque salve plurimum. quis iste sit nobis erus, nescis, libelle? an, cum scias. libenter audis, quod iuvat? possem absolute dicere, sed dulcius circumloquar diuque fando perfruar. hunc dico, qui lingua potens minorem Atridam praeterit orando pauca et musica: qui grandines Ulixei et mel fluentem Nestora concinnat ore Tulli; qui solus exceptis tribus eris erorum primus est praetorioque maximus. dico hune senati praesulem, praefectum eundem et consulem (nam consul aeternum cluet collega Augusti consulis), columen eurulis Romulae primum in secundis fascibus; nam primus e cunctis erit consul, secundus principi. Generi hic superstes aureo satorque prolis aureae convincit Ascraeum senem, non esse saeelum ferreum, qui vincit aevi iniuriam stirpis novator Aoniae paribusque comit infulis Aniciorum stemmata. Probum loquor: scis optime, quem nemo fando dixerit, qui non prius laudaverit. perge, o libelle, et utere felicitate intermina. Quin et require, si sinet tenore fari obnoxio: “Age vera proles Romuli, effare causam nominis, utrumne mores hoc tui nomen dedere, an nomen hoc secuta morum regula? an ille venturi sciens mundi supremus arbiter, qualem creavit moribus, iussit vocari nomine? ” Nomen datum praeconiis vitaeque testimonio, libelle felix, quem sinu vir tantus evolvet suo nec occupari tempora grato queretur otio, quem melleae vocis modis leni aut susurro impertiet, cui nigellac luminum vacare dignabunt corae, quem mente et aure consciis, quibusdam omissis, perleget: Quaecumque fortuna est tibi. perge, o libelle, et utere felicitate intermina. dic me valere et vivere, dic vivere ex voto pio, sanctis precantem vocibus, ut, quem curulis proxima collegio nati dedit, hunc rursus Augustus prior suis perennet fascibus, subnecte et illud leniter: “Apologos en misit tibi ab usque Rheni limite Ausonius, nomen Italum, praeceptor Augusti tui, Aesopiam trimetriam, quam vertit exili stilo pedestre concinnans opus fandi Titianus artifex; ut hinc avi ac patris decus, mixto resurgens sanguine, probiano itemque Anicio, ut quondam in Albae moenibus supremus Aenea satus Silvios lulis miscuit, sic iste, qui natus tui, Hos flosculorum Romuli, nutricis inter lemmata lallique somniferos modos suescat peritus fabulis simul et iocari et discere.” His adde votum, quod pio concepimus rei deo: “Ut genitor Augustus dedit collegio nati Probum, sic Gratianus hunc novum stirpi futurae copulet.” rata sunt futura, quae loquor: sic merita factorum iubent. Set iam ut loquatur Iulius, fandi modum invita accipe, volucripes dimetria, haveque dicto dic vale.