Letter 19

AUSONIUS TO HIS FATHER, ON THE BIRTH OF A SON I had believed that nothing could be added to my affections, by which, honored father, you might be loved more. Yet something was added (thanks to the gods above and to the grandson who stands between us, who has laid a twofold yoke upon our names) - a title was added by which your honored standing may grow, by which I may teach my own son what it is to love a father. The grandson himself has made you a grandfather: to me he is likewise a son, and through him I am a son to you. By this child's birth we are both of us fathers, and no longer does my own devotion alone urge me to love you: now I love you by the name of a twofold parent. For I seem made your equal, because this little one ennobles me as well, honored with that same name - not because our age is the same, for I am of an age not far below yours and could pass for your brother. No such great span is set between our years as the seasons that usually divide other men. I have myself seen brothers whose birthdays were as many years apart as ours: names lay no weight upon one's years. In you, fair youth so joins itself to old age that the earlier season of life remains while the present one is only just beginning. And I think these two ages have agreed, each to offer itself without hurrying its hour: the one flowing gently onward, the other arriving without haste, bearing ripe fruit while the blossom yet remains. I declare, best of fathers, that I do not know your years, and reckon yours to be as many as I judge my own to be. Let no son know these years; let the more grasping heir count them up, cherishing wills and testaments more than dutiful prayers, and by his bad example teaching his sons to grow up wishing that they too had no long-lived fathers. But I, born when my own father was in his earliest youth, will confess that these seasons of an age so nearly matched are welcome to me. What I owe as a son, my dutiful care for the grandson urges me to add to, that I may honor you the more as a grandfather. You too, my father, rejoice in your doubled name, made a grandfather by the birth of a son still in his early youth. It is a small thing to be a grandfather: may the dutiful powers of the gods be favorable, and from his own grandson may the grandfather become a great-grandfather. The Fates will be able to draw out old age more generously still - yet I think those prayers are more surely answered which are kept within measure.

I HAD believed that nought could be added to the sum of my affection whereby, mine honoured father, my love might be increased. Added (thanks to the gods above and to thy grandson, their instrument, who has laid upon our names a two-fold yoke), added is a title whereby my reverence for thee is increased, whereby I may teach my son what 'tis to love, a father. This grandson himself hath made thee a grandfather: to me he too is son, and to thee am I: his birth makes us both fathers. No longer doth natural affection alone inspire me with love for thee: as doubly a father I love thee now. For I seem made thy peer, because a little boy ennobles me too with the distinction of that name; not because our age is the same, since I somewhat approach thee in age and can pass as thy brother, nor does so great a span divide our years as the seasons which part others. I have seen brothers whose birthdays were separated by as many years as ours: names add no weight to years. Fair youth so blends with old age in thee, that thy earlier time of life lingers, while tin' present but begins. And, me-thinks, these two ages have agreed each to present itself without hurrying on their seasons, this gently gliding onwards, that approaching without haste, bringing ripe fruit while yet the flower remains. I vow, my dearest father, that I know not thy years, and account thine as many as I deem my own. Let no son know these, let the too hasty heir reckon them up, his heart set more on inheritance than loving wishes, teaching his sons to grow op after such bad pattern as to hope they too have no long-lived father. But I, born when my sire was in his earliest youth, will avow that I delight that our times of life are so nearly matched. What I owe as a son, my dear love for thy grandson moves me, his father, to increase, the more to honour thee as a grandsire. Thou too, my sire, rejoice in thy doubled title now that thy son in early youth hath made thee grandfather. A small thing 'tis to be a grandfather: may the kind powers be propitious, and by his own grandson may the grandfather be made great-grandfather. Even further the Fates will have power to prolong thine age: but those prayers, methinks, are rather answered which are moderate.

AUSONIUS AD PATREM DE SUSCEPTO FILIO CREDIDERAM nil posse meis adfectibus addi, quo, venerande pater, diligerere magis, accessit (grates superis medioque nepoti, bina dedit nostris qui iuga nominibus) accessit titulus, tua quo reverentia crescat, quo doceam natum, quid sit amare patrem. ipse nepos te fecit avum: mihi filius idem et tibi ego: hoc nato nos sumus ambo patres, nec iam sola mihi pietas mea suadet amorem: nomine te gemini iam genitoris amo. quippe tibi aequatus videor, quia parvulus isto nomine honoratum me quoque nobilitat: non aetas quia nostra eadem: nam subparis aevi sum tibi ego et possum fratris habere vicem, nec tantum nostris spatium interponitur annis, quanta solent alios tempora dividere, vidi ego natales fratrum distare tot annis, quot nostros: aevum nomina non onerant, pulchra iuventa tibi senium sic iungit, ut aevum quod prius est maneat, quod modo ut incipiat. et placuisse reor geminis aetatibus, ut se non festinato tempore utraque daret, leniter haec flueret, haec non properata veniret, maturam frugem flore manente ferens, annos me nescire tuos, pater optime, testor totque putare tuos, quot reor esse meos. nesciat hos natus, numeret properantior heres, testamenta magis quam pia vota fovens exemploque docens pravo iuvenescere natos, ut nolint patres se quoque habere senes. verum ego primaevo genitus genitore fatebor subparis haec aevi tempora grata mihi. debeo quod natus, suadet pia cura nepotis addendum patri, quo veneremur avum. tu quoque, mi genitor, geminata vocabula gaude, nati primaevi nomine factus avus. exiguum, quod avus: faveant pia numina divum deque nepote suo fiat avus proavus, largius et poterunt producere fata senectam: set rata vota reor, quae moderata, magis.