Letter 3018: Item ad eundem de opusculis suis
XVIII
Item ad eundem de opusculis suis
Ardua suscepi missis epigrammata chartis
atque cothurnato verba rotata sofo.
percurrens tumido spumantia carmina versu
credidi in undoso me dare vela freto:
plana procellosos ructavit pagina fluctus
et velut Oceanas fonte refudit aquas.
vix modo tam nitido pomposa poemata cultu
audit Traiano Roma verenda foro.
quid si tale decus recitasses in aure senatus?
stravissent plantis aurea fila tuis;
per loca, per populos, per compita cuncta videres
currere versiculos plebe favente tuos.
sed tamen in vestro quaedam sermone notavi
carmine de veteri furta novella loqui;
ex quibus in paucis superaddita syllaba fregit
et pede laesa suo musica cloda gemit.
nunc, venerande pater, prece voto voce saluto,
commendans animum supplice corde meum.
sit tua vita diu, cuius modulante Camena
cogimur optatis reddere verba iocis.
Related Letters
Ad Hilarium
A ship has been sent carrying supplies for the support of a monastery.
1. You can imagine what I felt, and in what state of mind I was, when I came to Dazimon and found that you had left a few days before my arrival. From my boyhood I have held you in admiration, and, therefore, ever since our old school days, have placed a high value on intercourse with you.
Ad cives Turonicos de Gregorio episcopo
Ad Placidinam