Book 3, Chapter 41

LIBER III

CAPUT XLI

Quintus carmina facit - Quintus composes poems

Quintus was now receiving enough money so that he could live modestly; he was enjoying enough leisure that he could compose poems. He thus passed two years in contentment. He was often meeting Marcus Cicero, who knew that he was composing poems; who asked him to recite the poems to him. When he had heard them, he said that Quintus was a very good poet. He used to say to his friends that he had found a new poet; who used to want to hear these poems. Thus, Quintus' fame was gradually spreading. Quintus was hoping that he would soon finish an entire book of poetry.

We insert here one of these poems, in which he praises the life of a country farmer:

"Blessed is he, who far from business,

      like the ancient race of mortal men,
Works the ancestral farm with his oxen,
      Unbounded by any debt.

Neither as the soldier is he woken
      — by trumpet harsh.
Nor is he in dread
      — of the angry sea.

And while he shuns the market;
      So too does he avoid,
The haughty doorways,
      Of mightier persons.

Either he gazes upon a vale secluded,
      At wandering flocks braying;
Or gathers he up pressed honey,
      Into cleanly jars.

Or he shears his enfeebled sheep,
     As it pleases him to lay,
Now 'neath an ancient tree of oak,
     Now upon the clinging grass.

As meanwhile streams of water,
     Do flow, up high;
The birds upon the branches,
     Singing their complaint.

The fountains murmur,
     With flowing waters.
A thing which does invite,
     Dreams that are light."

                   [...]

So spoke Alfius the money-lender:

      "Now, now will I be a farmer!"

All the money he received on the fifteenth day,

      He seeks now to lend on the first.

     

Vergilius amicitiam Quinti petit - Virgil asks for Quintus' friendship

On a certain day Quintus, when he had left the treasury, was sitting in the shop under a tree, when a young man, unknown to him, approached. "Hello, Horace," he said, "I've been looking for you for a long time. I am Publius Vergilius Maro. A certain friend said to me that you are composing poems. I've been wanting to know you for a long time." Quintus got up and greeted him; he answered that he had read Virgil's poems and greatly admired them.

Virgil smiled at him; "I am glad," he said, "that you approve of my poems. But what are you going to do today? Or are you at leisure? Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"

Quintus was pleased that Virgil was seeking his own friendship, and followed him home. They were sitting in the garden until late at night, chatting amongst themselves. Quintus recited for him a poem that he had recently written about Alfius.

Virgil laughed and said, "I also have been trying to compose a poem about rustic matters. The things which you treat of satirically, I am exhibiting seriously; for I sing about the labours of the farmers, the beauty of the country, about the innocent and tranquil life of country folk." Quintus asked him to recite some of this poem of his, but he said that he would not recite it: "I have barely finished anything," he said, "I will recite them to nobody until they have been perfected." At last, Quintus arose and said that had to return home. Virgil, when he had bidden farewell to Quintus, said that he had greatly enjoyed his conversation: "I hope," he said, "that you shall often come here and shall recite your poems for me."

Exercise 41.1

(a) do

present active infinitive = dare

present passive infinitive = dari

perfect active infinitive = dedisse

perfect passive infinitive = datus esse

future active infinitive = daturus esse

(b) mitto 

present active infinitive = mittere

present passive infinitive = mitti

perfect active infinitive = misisse

perfect passive infinitive = missus esse

future active infinitive = missurus esse

Exercise 41.2

1. Quintus learns that his parents have left Venusia.

2. He hopes that he will find them on the road.

3. Gaius denies that he has seen them.

4. He believes they have set off to Capua.

5. Apollo promises that he will take care of Quintus.

6. Quintus finally realises that he will never see his parents hereafter.

7. Marcus says that Octavian has granted him pardon.

8. Quintus rejoices that he has been made a secretary of the treasury.

Exercise 41.3

1. Quintus learned that his parents had left Venusia.

2. He hoped that he would see them on the road.

3. Gaius said that he was going to travel to Capua.

4. Quintus answered that he would follow Gaius.

5. Those whom Quintus met on the road denied having seen his parents.

6.  The friends for whom Quintus had recited his poems were saying that they were very good.

7. Quintus was rejoicing that Virgil was seeking his friendship.

8. He was hoping that Virgil would approve of his poems.

9. Virgil said that he had been delighted by the poems of Quintus.

10. Quintus answered that Virgil's poems were very admired by himself.

Exercise 41.4

1. dixit magistrum iratum esse.

2. dixit Quintum in Italiam redisse.

3. dixit Quintum parentes eius quaesivisse.

4. dixit colonos ab agris expulsos esse.

5. negavit Quintum parentes eius Venusiae inventurum esse.

Exercise 41.5 

1. Marcus dixit se Quintum adiuturum esse.

2. dixit se quaestorem aerarii factum esse.

3. speravit Quintum se adiuturum esse.

4. Quintus gavisus est Marcum se credidisse.

5. Quintus cognovit officia gravia non futura esse.

6. speravit se carmina multa scripturum esse.

7. amicos narravit se carmina pauca scripsisse. 

8. amici dixerunt carmina eorum optima esse.

9. Quinto contentus et negavit se semper tam laetum esse