Letter 1009: For some time now the silent Lucrine waters have been longing for you, and the smooth bay of Baiae, and Puteoli...
lamdudum vestri cupiunt Lucrina tacita et liquida Baiana et Puteoli adhuc cele- 30
bres et Bauli magnum silentes. vos apud Coram rusticam vel apud steriles Formias
nam om. F 12 in laude F 14 deos] F, deum V 15 Oatiense] F, offense V 16 datur F
scribes V 24 poUuant] VF, pellant M 26 dilationis] VT^, dUacione M Itineri demitur]
Seioppius, itineris redemitur VF^, itineris d^linquitur M 27 repensatur] Vr^, recompensabitur M
silentes] FM, flentes V
desidetis. tandem, si operae pretium est, contendite viam atqne animadvertite meliora VMF
terramm; nbi alte tnrbis qniescitnr, nbi fmendis feriis modns nnllus est,
nbi coraiger Lyaeus
operit snpema Ganri,
5 Volcanus aestuosis
medium coqnit cavemis.
tenet ima pisce mnlto
Thetis et Baiae sorores.
calet nnda, friget aethra;
10 simul innatat choreis
Amathnsium renidens,
salis arbitra et vaporis,
flos sidemm, Dione.
nnm vobis videor quasi multae luxuriae ebrius mentis insipere atque ideo in poetas
15 Domen dedisse? nihil moror hanc litteraturam : loci potius quam ingenii mei munus
exercui. sed si invitantia loquor, gradum tollite, ut et vos sitis laeti praesentium, et
Dobis potiundi, quae volnmus, fortuna succedat. vale.
VIUI ante a. 376.
Related Letters
This is a letter where the social gap between us actually shapes what we write.
The proverb says You are not proclaiming war, and, let me add, out of the comedy, O messenger of golden words. Come then; prove this in act, and hasten to me. You will come as friend to friend.
What was expected has come to pass.
Our friendship is on everyone's lips, and the fame of your horses has reached distant places.
1. I am doubly alarmed to the very bottom of my heart, and you are the cause. I am either the victim of some unkindly prepossession, and so am driven to make an unbrotherly charge; or, with every wish to feel for you, and to deal gently with your troubles, I am forced to take a different and an unfriendly attitude.