Letter 1002: This is a letter where the social gap between us actually shapes what we write.

[...]; for he judges unfairly who requires equal deference between unequal parties. And so your discourse proceeds from kindness, ours from obligation. These considerations and others of this sort have utterly compelled me, besides, not to regard the duty of writing as discharged. Now we must lay out for you the sequence of our doings; for it is my pleasure to render an account of my leisure no less than of my business. We have exchanged Bauli for a dwelling at the Lucrine Lake; not because satiety with that lodging had overtaken me (for the longer it is gazed upon, the more it is loved), but because there was a fear that, if affection for Bauli had grown ingrained in me, the rest of the things that ought to be seen might come to displease me. There, to Acindynus the founder and to his ancestors, I poured out measured words as a libation, and I reduced into reasoned order the license of the painting which had assigned to each man a different dress. I would draw you out a little longer, did I not fear that by delay your expectation might be nurtured. Therefore receive a little song woven with homespun thread: The Attic mantle covers the father-in-law, the painted toga the parent: the one presided over the sacred rites, the other pronounced the law of the Roman citizen; but as for me, since a clasp pinches my soldier's garb, among the peoples of the Dawn I governed the headquarters of kings. Yet the picture is silent about the fasces: do you look to the honors. I know that, the moment you read these lines, you will straightway set in motion the poetic lash. Do nothing of the kind, lest you glory at my peril! I approach you, after the example of our poet, as if by a certain law: let it be permitted among tuneful swans for a goose to make its noise. You will impose silence upon me, unless you grant this. Do you wish to prove how little I fear from you? See, I disclose to you yet another secret of my daydreaming, while still anxious about the former one. Hear verses pertaining to the history of Bauli: 'Hither the god Alcides drove the herds to be stabled, plucked from the home of triple Geryon. From there a later age, corrupting 'boaulia,' calls it Bauli, with a hidden indication of the name. From the divinity fortune ran on to noble lords, so that the fame of the place might not suffer the hero's name to lie obscure. This hall Hortensius, rich in wealth, made famous, who stood against the man of Arpinum in eloquence. Here Acindynus as consul prolonged a renowned age, and Orfitus, who gave laws to the sons of Aeneas. Among these, with youthful grace yet senior in honor, lofty with twice-six fasces, Symmachus, you are renowned. But the not-yet-slack leisures of Bauli do not yet seek you; let public care keep the young man ever watchful.' No doubt you are laughing, because I have proclaimed certain things about myself more indulgently than is just? This is a true and fitting reproach. For all display is not free from the suspicion of falsehood, since whatever is taken on is not thought to be one's own; furthermore, because boastfulness, greedy for praise, boils away much of one's modesty. I might say, if any outside listener should creep in, that the little verses are mine [to deny], so that praise issuing from another might fall upon us with modesty. But I see that the little work is not to be repented of. Thus the doubtful and uncertain matter holds me in suspense, as to whether one ought rather to dread beforehand the hazard to modesty or to glory. To you, therefore, who excel the rest in prudence, I delegate the duty of making the best choice. What use should be made of it, you yourself will see; for I have not unwisely chosen as the confidant of both my childishness and my imprudence one who is its father. Farewell. [II. A.D. 375. THE FATHER TO SYMMACHUS.] This is a gift in which Campania alone cannot boast: [but, with all the past surpassed,] Rome or Athens, if a tongue of this kind were turned into the Greek glory of speech. For what is more elegant than your letter, which I received recently? What is more delightful than the admixture of verses? I will tell you truly, it was brought to an end too quickly for those who wished to read more. Would that some perception of those men survived, by whose images we see the epigrams set above inscribed! Such successors to their labors would easily win praise, who have illumined the brilliance of the painting with verses more beautiful still. And so I too rejoice that not so much your belly has been sated with oysters and clams as your breast with eloquence; and since you yourself, by making the beginning, have loosed my reserve, from us also receive the eulogies of good men of my own age, lately composed. For since there is nothing I am doing, and if I do nothing, the wretched recollection of my misfortunes steals upon me, I have found something we can add to those little books which I lately dictated. You know that Terentius -- not the comic poet, but that man of Reate, the parent of Roman learning -- composed his books of 'Hebdomades' with the addition of epigrams. That work we, if chance allows, attempt to imitate. But of those which I first put together, I have for now sent a few, beseeching you by God that, if anything in them shall displease, you correct it. This is no shame to me; for whether something of mine or something of yours shall please, the praise is mine, and I do not shun a partnership in which I do not blush at such a partner. ARRADIUS RUFINUS. First in genius, first by fortune's gift, Rufinus, of your age, you to whom admirable glory matched every prosperous thing to your deeds. The one love of all and the protection of the fearful, among the princes in whose time you flourished, learned either to apply spurs to the good or reins to tyrants. VALERIUS PROCULUS. Among the foremost, whom the glory of their fathers did not burden, we shall set Proculus, in the grace of life and character never at all unworthy of the great Publicolae. To him belonged always love of truth and steadfastness, a pure worship of the heaven-dwellers. You could not despise that man, and although he was to be revered, you would not on that account fear him. ANICIUS IULIANUS. Whose wealth or nobility or power so great, that Amnius alone would not outshine the man who yielded to him? Keen of genius and likewise accommodating to all, this man was also dear, ready to confer benefits and to help; for, rich, then exalted in offices, and yet greater than they, he filled Rome with his eternal name. PETRONIUS PROBIANUS. Let Fortune vaunt herself to others, whom, with no judge, her own license alone has raised to the light of Romulus; you, Probianus, modesty aided, you a happy grace, and you Italic simplicity of character and skill. Therefore, constantly known to the Augusti and their guest, you have, deserving, carried off the rewards of great honors. VERINUS. Should I, Verinus, rather marvel at your valor in arms, when as a leader in the East you were subduing the Armenians with slaughter, or more at your eloquence and the charm of your character and life, and -- except in your duties, as often as the public good was your care -- that you have held your life joyful among harmless fields? There is no further work of valor, for if there were, you would have it. For the eighty persons I shall perhaps be alone in meeting the task, and therefore for our father-in-law and uncle we delegate the epigrams to you. For the books of Varro too are marked with the names of various authors. [III. A.D. 375.]

dam; nam praeter aequum censet, qui inter dispares obsequium par requirit. itaque vester sermo ex beneficio proficiscitur , noster ex debito. haec me atque alia huius- modi oppido perpulerunt scribendi munus insuper non habere. nunc vobis actuum 2 to nostrorum ordo pandendus est: libet enim non minus otii quam negotii praestare rationem. Baulos Lucrina sede mutavimus; non quod eius deversorii satias ceperimuS) quod cum diutius visitur, plus amatur, sed quod metus fuit, ne- si Baulorum mihi inolevisset adfectio, cetera, quae visenda sunt^ displicerent. ibi Acindyno conditori eiusque maioribus emmetra verba libavi et picturae licentiam, quae vestitum disparem 15 singulis tribuit, in rationem coegi. protelarem te paululum, ni vererer, ne dilatione expectatio nutriatur. quare elaboratam soloci filo accipe cantilenam: Attica palla tegit socerum, toga picta parentem: 3 praefnit iste sacris, hic dixit iura Quiritis: at mihi castrensem quod mordet fibula vestem, 20 Aurorae in popuUs regum praetoria rexi. sed fasces pictura tacet: tu respice fastus. 10 Cato ap. Cic. pro Planc. 27, 66. sed cf. Maer, 8ai, VJI, 12, 21 cur qni aaidius norant, facilins satias capiant 13 inoliaisset [PP) sant oisenda F acyndino F, acinodo F 14 eius qnae /^, eiu^ qaae 7, eias qai F emmetra] Seioppius^ eminetra T, eminet rara VF 15 distribait F 16 flUo solacii F 18 Mc dixit] F, indixit V{r^) qairitl (F) Q. Atulits Stmmacbts. 1 2 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE VF 4 scio te, simul atque haec legeris, actutum poetica plecti'a moturum. nullus feceris, ne mei periculo gloriere ! ego te nostri vatis exemplo quasi quadam lege convenio: liceat inter olores canoros anserem strepere. silentium mihi, nisi praestiteris, imperabis. quam nihil abs te metuam, vis probare? en tibi aliud alucinationis meae prodo secre- tum, adhuc sollicitus de priore. audi versus ad Baulorum historiam pertinentes: & 5 ' Huc deus Alcides stabulanda armenta coegit eruta Geryonae de lare tergemini. inde recens aetas corrupta boaulia Baulos nuncupat occulto nominis indicio. ab divo ad proceres dominos fortuna cucurrit, lo fama loci obscuros ne pateretur heros. hanc celebrayit opum felix Hortensius aulam, contra Arpinatem qui stetit eloquio. hic consul clarum produxit Acindjnius aeyum quique dedit leges Orfitus Aeneadis. i& hos inter iuvenile decus, sed honore senili, bis seno celsus, Symmache, fasce cluis. sed te Baulorum necdum lenta otia quaerunt; cura habeat iuvenem publica pervigilem. 6 Nempe derides, quod de me aliqua iusto indulgentius praedicavi? est haec vera et ^o digna reprehensio. omnis quippe ostentatio non caret suspicione mendacii, quia quid- quid adsumitur, proprium non putatur ; dehinc quod iactantia avara laudis multum de- coquit de pudore. f possem dicere, si quis inrepserit extemus auditor, meos esse versi- culos diffi/er/, ut verecunde in nos cadat ab altero profecta laudatio. sed video opus- culum non esse paenitendum. ita res crepera atque anceps dubium me habet, utrum 25 verecundiae praemetuendum sit discrimen an gloriae. tibi igitur, qui prudentia antistas ceteris, optipnis huius delego provinciam. quid facto usus sit, ipse videris; ego et infantiae et inprudentiae meae patrem conscium non inprudenterelegi. vale. II a. 375. Vr PATER SYMMACHO. 30 Hoc est munus, quo se non sola possit iactare Campania: fsed praeteritis Roma aut Athenae, si in Graecum loquendi honorem huiusmodi lingua vertatur. quid enim concinnius epistula tua^ quam nuper accepi? quid versuum admixtione iucundins ? vere dicam tibi, plura legere volentibus celeriter terminata est. quod utinam sensus aliquis eorum supersit, quorum iraaginibus praescripta videmus epigrammata ! facile laudabunt ^^ tales successores laborum suorum, qui picturae nitorem pulchrioribus versibus inlumi- narmt. et ego igitur gratulor non magis ostreis et peloridibus abdomen quam pectus 2 Verg. Eclog. IX 36. 6 Serv. ad Aen. VI 107; VU 662. boalia F 12 ortensius V 14 acbyndinus V, acynodus F 20 et] atque F 22 quod otn. F 23 possem eligere Mommsenj posse me dices ego 24 difflteri] Scioppiusj difflcere /^, diffldere Vy effl- cere F nt uerecnnde in nos cadat] Scioppiusy ut uerecnnde innoscad et F, ut uerecunde ignoscat et ^, ut uerecondiae ignoscat et F, ut uerecundiae ignoscat si esset F profecta laudatlo] /^F, profectae lau- dationi V 27 et om, F 28 impudentiae (r) impudenter (r) inlnminarint et] Riiterahus.^ inluminarent et F^ illuminarent et (rent e in rai. 2 m.) V 37 peluridibus F I l \ ■ I i I I / / EIBER I. 3 tibi eloquio esBe satiatum; et qaoniam pudorem meum ipse ordiendo solvisti, a nobis 2 VF quoque aceipe bonorum aetatis meae exarata nuper elogia. nam quia nihil est, quod agam, et si nil agam, subit me malorum meorum misera recordatio; inveni, quod illis libellis, quos nuper dictaveram, possimus adicere. scis Terentium, non comicum, 5 sed Reatinum illum Romanae eruditionis parentem, hebdomadon libros epigrammatum adiectione condisse. illud nos, si fors tulerit, conamur imitari. sed quae prima con- pegi, interim pauca misi, obtestatus te per deum, ut si quid in his displicebit, emen-* des. quod mihi pudendum non est; nam sive quid ex me sive ex te placuerit, mea laus est, nec vito consortium, in quo talem non erubesco consortem. 10 AiiADIVS RVFim^S. 3 Princeps ingenio, fortunae munere princeps aetatis, Rufine, tuae, cui prospera quaeque admiranda tuis aequabat gloria rebus. unus amor cunctis et praesidium trepidorum. 15 principibus, quorum viguisti tempore, doctus aut calcaria ferre bonis aut frena tyrannis. VALERIVS PROCVLVS. t" Cum primis, quos non oneravit gloria patrum, ' ponemus Proculum, vitae morumque decore \ 20 haud umquam indignum magnorum Publicolarum I olli semper amor veri et constantia, simplex caelicolum cultus. non illum spemere posses, • et qnamquam reverendus erat^ non inde timeres. 25 30 n ANICIVS IVLIANVS. Cuius opes aut nobilitas aut tanta potestas, cedenti cui non praeluxerit Amnius unus? acer ab ingenio cunctisque adcommodus idem hic et carus erat, conferre iuvare paratus; nam dives, tum celsus honoribus, et tamen illis grandior, aetemo conplebat nomine Romam. PETRONIVS PROBIANVS. lactet se Fortuna aliis, quos iudice nullo lucem ad Romuleam sua sola licentia vexit; te, Probiane, pudor, te felix gratia teque Itala simplicitas morum et sollertia iuvit. adsidue quocirca, Augustis notus et hospes, praemia magnomm tetulisti dignus honorum. ^eram] V<Pj dicaueram /*, fort, dictaaeras 5 ebdomadon V 6 conpigi F 8 ex me siue] inser. Mommsen 9 eonsortem. uale VF epigrammata ita in V scripia «tint, ut unum quidque novam cpistulam tffieere videatur 10 Aradius Buflnus] JuretuSf arcadius ruftlnus F, om, V 13 admiranda. tuis] V, tristi- tiam tua mirandis AP aequali ac /* 15 principibus quibus F 16 tyrannis uale V 17 Vale- I rins Proculas] F, om, V 18 honorauit F 19 decore] Wingendorp, decorem VF 22 posses] \ luretus, posBls VF 23 erat] Juretusy eris F, om, F^ non deinde r*P timeres] ego, timeris VF I 30 aetema F, aeternam Seioppius 31 Petronlus Probianus] Fj om. V 32 quos] Lectius^ quod VF i 4 SYMMACm EPISTVLAE Vr 7 VERINVS. Virtutem , Verine , tuam plus mirer in armis , E008 dux Armenios cum caede domares, an magis eloquium monim vitaeque leporem, et — nisi in officiis, quotiens tibi publica curae — quod vitam innocuis tenuisti laetus in agris? nullum ultra est virtutis opus, nam si esset, haberes. 8 Octoginta personis nescio an solus occurram, et ideo in socerum atque avunculum nostros tibi delegamus epigrammata. nam et Varronis libri diversis notantur auctoribus. III a. 375. 10