ITER AD BRUNDISIUM
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EGRESSUM – text
Having – pony
Mighty – translation
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EGRESSUM MAGNA ME ACCEPIT ARICIA ROMA
Having left great Rome, Aricia took me
Mighty Rome behind me, I found a modest inn in Aricia.
HOSPITIO MODICO: RHETOR COMES HELIODORUS,
into a modest inn: my companion, the rhetorician Heliodorus
Heliodorus the Rhetorician, by far the most learned
GRAECORUM LONGE DOCTISSIMUS; INDE FORUM APPI,
of the Greeks far the most learned; from there Forum Appi,
of the Greeks, was my companion. From there we went
DIFFERTUM NAUTIS, CAUPONISBUS ATQUE MALIGNIS.
full [with] boatmen, and perfidious innkeepers.
to Forum Appi, teeming with boatmen, perfidious innkeepers.
HOC ITER IGNAUI DIUISIMUS, ALTIUS AC NOS
This route out of laziness we cut in two, higher than us
From laziness we cut this leg of the trip in two.
PRAECINCTIS UNUM; MINUS EST GRAUIS APPIA TARDIS.
make it in one; is less heavy, the Appian, slowly.
The hearty make it in a day. The Appian is best taken slow.
HIC EGO PROPTER AQUAM, QUOD ERAT DETERRIMA, UENTRI
Here I because of water, which was putrid, to my stomach
Because of putrid water, I declared truce with my stomach,
INDICO BELLUM, CENANTIS HAUD ANIMO AEQUO
declared war, the dining companions not with calm mind
and waited, none too patiently, for my companions to leave table.
EXSPECTANS COMITES. IAM NOX INDUCERE TERRIS
waiting. Already night spreading on the earth
Night was already spreading shadows over the land
VMBRAS ET CAELO DIFFUNDERE SIGNA PARABAT;
shadows and on the sky scattered signs was preparing;
and scattering constellations in the sky
TUM PUERI NAUTIS, PUERIS CONUICIA NAUTAE
then from slaves to boatmen, to slaves from boatmen a clammer
when a clammer arose of boatmen insulting slaves rose up.
INGERERE: HÆC APPELLE! — TRECENTOS INSERIS! — OHE
rose up: “Here tie up! — Three hundred you put in! — Whoa!
Tie up over here! You put 300 on board!
IAM SATIS EST. DUM AES EXIGITUR, DUM MULA LIGATUR
Enough is enough!” While fares collected, while mules are tied,
Whoa! Enough is enough!” A whole hour goes by collecting fares
TOTA ABIT HORA. MALI CULICES RANAEQUE PALUSTRES
A whole hour goes by. Cursed mosquitoes and frogs of swamp and hitching the mules. Cursed mosquitoes and a concert of frogs
AUERTUNT SOMNOS; ABSENTEM UT CANTAT AMICAM
avert sleep; and about absent lover he sings
keep sleep away while the muleteeer and a drunk,
MULTA PROLUTUS UAPPA NAUTA ATQUE UIATOR
soaked in much spoiled wine, boatman and traveller
soused in rotgut, warble about their absent lovers,
CERTATIM, TANDEM FESSUS DORMIRE UIATOR
vying with one another, until, tired, to sleep the traveller
vying one with the another until, exhausted, the traveler
IMCIPIT, AC MISSAE PASTUM RETINACULA MULAE
begins, and put to graze the reins of the mule
dozes off, and the lazy boatman turns the mule out to graze,
NAUTA PIGER SAXO RELIGAT STERTITQUE SUPINUS
a lazy boatman to a rock ties and snores on his back.
ties its reins to a rock and passes out snoring on his back.
IAMQUE DIES ADERAT, NIL CUM PROCEDERE LINTREM
Already day comes, nothing while proceeding the bark
Day breaks before we feel the bark’s stopped moving.
SENTIMUS, DONEC CEREBROSUS PROSILIT UNUS
we feel, until hot-headed one steps forward
Then a hot-head among us steps forward
AC MULAE NAUTAEQUE CAPUT LUMBOSQUE SALIGNO
and mules and boatmen head and sides with willow
and lays a willow switch to both the mule and the boatman.
FUSTE DOLAT; QUARTA UIX DEMUM EXPONIMUR HORA.
stick hits; fourth watch hardly only we disembark.
Not until 10 AM do we disembark
ORA MANUSQUE TUA LAUIMUS, FERONIA, LYMPHA.
Face and hands we wash, Feronia, in your waters.
to wash our face and hands in your waters, O Feronia.
MILIA TUM PRANSI TRIA REPIMUS ATQUE SUBIMUS
Miles then having lunched three we crawl and come
Then, having lunched, we crawl three more miles to the foot
INPOSITUM SAXIS LATE CANDENTIBUS ANXUR.
set upon rocks far away glistening Anxur.
of Anxur, set upon rocks which glisten from afar.
HUC UENTURUS ERAT MAECENAS OPTIMUS ATQUE
There was come worthy Maecenas as well as
There worthy Maecenas as well as Cocceius
COCCEIUS, MISSI MAGNIS DE REBUS UTERQUE
Cocceius sent great things both of them
were to join us, both ambassadors
LEGATI, AUERSOS SOLITI CONPONERE AMICOS.
legates, accustomed to bring together adversaries/friends.
of powerful men and skilled mediators.
HIC OCULIS EGO NIGRA MEIS COLLYRIA LIPPUS 30
Here my eyes I dark collyrium “pink eye”
Here I had a bout of pink eye, and had to salve
INLINERE; INTEREA MAECENAS ADUENIT ATQUE
salve; meanwhile Maecenas arrived as well as
my eyes with ointment; wherewith Maecenas arrived
COCCEIUS, CAPITOQUE SIMUL FONTEIUS, AD UNQUEM
Cocceius and Fonteius Capitus too, to the nail
with Cocceius and Fonteius Capitus as well,
FACTUS HOMO, ANTONI NON UT MAGIS ALTER AMICUS.
a man made, none other a great friend of Antony.
a total man, Antony’s right hand.
FUNDOS AUFIDIO LUSCO PRAETORE LIBENTER
Fundos, whose praefect is Aufidius Luscus, gladly
We gladly leave Fundos behind, mocking the prefect there,
LINQUIMUS, INSANI RIDENTES PRAEMIA SCRIBAE,
we leave, laughing at ridiculous prerogatives of this scribe
one Aufidius Luscus, a former scribe, absurd in ceremony,
PRAETEXTAM ET LATUM CLAUOM PRUNAEQUE UATILLUM.
his “pretext,” his stripes and his brazier with shovel.
gown, decorations and ciborium.
IN MAMURRARUM LASSI DEINDE URBE MANEMUS,
Of the Mamurrassians fatigued then the city we halt.
Next, exhausted, we pause in the town of the Mamurrassians,
MURENA PRAEBENTE DOMUM, CAPITONE CULINAM.
Murena provided housing, Capitonus kitchen.
where Murena had arranged room, Capitonus board.
POSTERA LUX ORITUR, MULTO GRATISSIMA; NAMQUE
The next day light rose most felicitously; for
Fate smiled upon us with the next day’s light.
PLOTINUS ET VARIUS SINUESSAE VERGILIUSQUE
Plotius and Varius at Sinuessae and Vergil
At Sinuessa Plotius, Varius and Vergil
OCCURRENT, ANIMAE QUALIS NEQUE CANDIDIORES
join us, souls such that no more candid
join us, more refined souls cannot be found
TERRA TULIT NEQUE QUIS ME SIT DEUINCTIOR ALTER.
earth bore no whom to me there be more attached other.
on earth, nor others to whom I am more devoted.
O QUI CONPLEXUS ET GAUDIA QUANTA FUERUNT!
Oh what confusion and what joys there were!
O what a commotion! What a time we had!
NIL EGO CONTULERIM IUCUNDO SANUS AMICO.
Nothing I sane would prefer to the charm of friends.
Sound of mind, I would prefer friendship to any charms.
PROXUMA CAMPANO PONTI QUAE UILLULA TECTUM
Near to Campanian Bridge little village roof
A little village near the bridge at Campania provided us
PRAEBUIT ET PAROCHI QUAE DEBENT LIGNA SALEMQUE.
offered and local merchant that was due of wood and salt.
with roof, and local hawkers the firewood and salt we needed.
HINC MULI CAPUAE CLITELLAS TEMPORE PONUNT.
Then mules at Capua baskets in due time put down.
At Capua our mules were relieved of their saddle-bags.
LUSUM IT MAECENAS, DORMITUM EGO VERGILIUSQUE;
To play went Maecenas, to sleep I and Vergil;
Maecenas went to exercise, Vergil and I to nap.
NAMQUE PILA LIPPIS INIMICUM ET LUDERE CRUDIS.
For hand-ball to pink-eye inimical and play to indigestion.
Handball is bad for weary eyes, sport no good for a hang-over.
HINC NOS COCCEI RECIPIT PLENISSIMA UILLA, 50
Next Cocceius received us in a complete villa,
Next Cocceius took us into his splendid villa,
QUAE SUPER EST CAUDI CAUPONAS. NUNC MIHI PAUCIS
that above is the hotels of Caudium. Now to me few words
set high above the hotels of Caudium. O Muse,
SARMENTI SCURRAE PUGNAM MESSIQUE CICIRRI,
of Sarmenus the clown the battle and Messius Cicirrus
I would like you to tell now of the battle
MUSA, UELIM MEMORES, ET QUO PATRE NATUS UTERQUE
Muse, I would like you speak, and by which father born each
between that idiot Sarmenus and Messius Cicirrus,
CONTULERIT LITIS. MESSI CLARUM GENUS OSCI;
brought conflict. Of Messius of the noble race of the Osci;
and of their “noble” lineage. Messius descends from the Osci;
SARMENTI DOMINA EXTAT; AB HIS MAIORIBUS ORTI 55
Of Sarmentus the mistress is extant; from these born
Sarmentus was once a slave: with such credentials
AD PUGNAM UENERE. PRIOR SARMENTUS: “EQUI TE
to battle come. First Sarmentus: “Horse you
they come to battle. Sarmentus leads out: “To my eye
ESSE FERI SIMILEM DICO. ÆRIDEMUS, ET IPSE
to be wild the same I say.” We all laugh, and himself
We laugh, and himself you look like a unicorn.”
MESSIUS: “ACCIPIOÆ CAPUT ET MOUET. O TUA CORNU
Messius: “I accept,” and nods his head. “But if your horn
laughs with us. But Sarmentus insists: “The horn
NI FORET EXSECTO FRONSÆINQUIT, “QUID FACERES, CUM
had not been cut out,” he asks, “what would you do, while
you had has been cut out. Already so mutilated
SIC MUTILUS MINITARIS? ÆAT ILLI FOEDA CICATRIX
so mutilated you threaten?” But whom disgusting scar
why risk provoking me now?” There was a horrible scar
SAETOSAM LAEUI FRONTEM TURPAUERAT ORIS.
hairy left forehead horrified the side.
running along the left side of Messius’s face.
CAMPANUM IN MORBUM, IN FACIEM PERMULTA IOCATUS,
Of Campinians the disease, of his face multifold laughed,
Having over and over mocked Messius’complexion and face,
PASTOREM SALTARET UTI CYCLOPA ROGABAT;
the shepherd that he dance Cyclops asked him;
Sarmentus dared him to dance Cyclops the Shepherd’s dance;
NIL ILLI LARUA AUT TRAGICIS OPUS ESSE COTURNIS.
nothing to him masks nor tragical cothurna were needed.
after all, that freak had no need of masks or make-up.
MULTA CIRCIRRUS AD HAEC. DONASSET IAMNE CATENAM.
Much Cirirrus to this. If he had given his chains
Circirrus was upset. He asked if Messius had
EX UOTO LARIBUS, QUAERABAT: SCRIBA QUOD ESSET,
to the cult of the Lares, he asked; scribe he had been
not perhaps cut a deal with someone for be free; for lackey
NILO DETERIUS DOMINAE IUS ESSE; ROGABAT
nothing to lesser of his mistress the rights were; he asked
and scribe he was born and would always be.
DENIQUE CUR UMQUAM FUGISSET, CUI SATIS UNA
then why one day did you flee, to whom sufficient a
“Are you not some kind of escapee, you to whom
FARRIS LIBRA FORET, GRACILI SIC TAMQUE PUSILLO.
of wheat a pound be, so slight and skinny you are.
a mere pound of bread suffices, such a runt you are!”
PRORSUS IUCUNDE CENAM PRODUCIMUS ILLAM.
Forthright with charm dinner we proceed.
This is the kind of table-talk we put up with there.
TENDIMUS HINC RECTA BENEUENTUM, UBI SEDULUS HOSPES
We go straight to Beneventum, where an assiduous host
With some relief we set off for Beneventum, where a rabid host
PAENE MACROS ARSIT DUM TURDOS UERSAT IN INGI;
almost meager burned while game-birds turning over the fire;
nearly set fire to the house roasting emaciated quail for us.
NAM UAGA PER UETEREM DILAPSO FLAMMA CULINAM
for errant flames spilled across the ancient kitchen
Flames ripped across the greasy kitchen.
VOLCANO SUMMUM PROPERABAT LAMBERE TECTUM.
Vulcan high advanced to lick ceiling.
Vulcan’s flames advanced to lick the high ceiling.
CONUIUAS AUIDOS CENAM SERUOSQUE TIMENTIS
Guests avid dinner and frightened slaves
You would have loved it: the startled guests and quaking
TUM RAPERE ATQUE OMNIS RESTINGUERE UELLE UIDERE
while to carry away and all extinguish would want you see.
slaves all rushing to save the food and put out the fire.
INCIPIT EX ILLO MONTIS APULIA NOTOS
Begins from there mountains Apulia known
From there on Apulia begins to show the mountains
OSTENTARE MIHI, QUOS TORRET ATABULUS ET QUOS
to show to me, which dry Atabulus and which
so well known to me, drained by the River Atabulus
NUNQUAM EREPSSEMUS, NISI NOS UICINA TRIUICI
never would climb if not us village of Trivicum
and which we would never have climbed were it not
UILLA RECEPISSET LACRIMOSO NON SINE FUMO,
“villa” had received in tears not without smoke
for a rustic cottage near Trivicum, whose welcome brought tears
UDOS COM FOLIIS RAMOS URENTE CAMINO.
wet with leaves brances burning in the hearth.
to my eyes–wet branches were burning in the hearth!
HIC EGO MENDACEM STULTISSIMUS USQUE PUELLAM
Here I mendacious most stupid one until girl
Here, fool that I am, I was stood up and waited
AD MEDIAM NOCTEM EXPECTO; SOMNUS TAMEN AUFERT
to the middle of the night I wait; sleep however took me
past midnight for a lover before sleep overtook me
INTENTUM UENERI; TUM INMUNDO SOMNIA UISU
tensed with Venus; while improper dreams seen
stiff with lust. While I slept supine, salacious
NOCTURNAM UESTEM MACULANT UENTREMQUE SUPINUM. 85
night shirt stain and stomach supine.
dreams spilled out their substance, stained my sheets.
QUATTUOR HINC RAPIMUR UIGINTI ET MILIA RAEDIS,
Four there we were taken twenty and miles by chariot,
From there a chariot carried us twenty-four miles,
MANSURI OPPIDULO, QUOD UERSU DICERE NON EST,
in order to wait little town, that in verse to say not is.
before stopping in some hole whose name won’t fit into verse,
SIGNIS PERFACILE EST; UENIT UILLISSIMA RERUM
by signs easy is; is sold the most common of things
but is known by all. The commonest of things must be sold here–
HIC AQUA, SED PANIS LONGE PULCHERRIMUS, ULTRA
here water, but bread by far the most beautiful, beyond
water–but the bread is most excellent, and the well-advised
CALLIDUS UT SOLEAT UMERIS PORTARE UIATOR.
that is accustomed on shoulder to carry traveler.
traveler usually buys here and carries it on with him,
NAM CANUSI LAPIDOSUS, AQUAE NON DITIOR URNA
For at Canusium hard as a rock, water not more abundant urne
for farther at Canusium bread is hard as rock, and water no more
QUI LOCUS A FORTI DIOMEDE EST CONDITUS OLIM.
which place at valiant Diomedes was founded formerly.
easy to find in this site founded by valiant Diomedes,
FLENTIBUS HINC VARIUS DISCEDIT MAESTUS AMICIS.
In tears here Varius left sadly friends.
and where Varius tearfully took leave of us, his dear friends.
INDE RUBOS FESSI PERUENIMUS, UTPOTE LONGUM
Then to Rubos exhausted we arrive, since long
Finally we make our way to Rubos, exhausted,
CARPENTES ITER ET FACTUM CORRUPTIUS IMBRI.
having taken a route and made more degraded by rain.
for we had taken a route rains made almost impassable.
POSTERA TEMPESTAS MELIOR, UIA PEIOR AD USQUE
Next day the weather better, but the road bad to
The weather was better the next day, but the road
BARI MOENIA PISCOSI. DEIN GNATIA LYMPHIS
of Barium the walls fishy. Next Egnatia nymphs
to fishing port of Barium worse. Finally Egnatia, built
IRATIS EXTRUCTA DEDIT RISUSQUE IOCOSQUE,
irate extracted gave us laughter and amusement.
despite the anger of nymphs, provided many jibes and laughs,
DUM FLAMMA SINE TURA LIQUESCERE LIMINE SACRO
for flame without incense melts on the sill sacred
for the locals try to convince visitors incense can dissolve
PERSUADERE CUPIT. CREDAT IUDAEUS APELLA,
to persuade desires. Believes the Jew Apella
on the sacred altars without flame. Maybe Apella the Jew
NON EGO; NAMQUE DEOS DIDICI SECURUM AGERE AEUON,
not I; for the gods I have learned secure move with time
believes that, not I. For the gods wile away their time
NEC, SIQUID MIRI FACIAT NATURA, DEOS ID
not, if miracles be made by nature, gods it
in eternal play, and if nature manages some miracle,
TRISTIS EX ALTO CAELI DEMITTERE TECTO.
sad from above heavens send down ceiling.
it is not bored gods who send it down from on high.
BRUNDISIUM LONGAE FINIS CHARTAEQUE UIA EQUEST.
Brindisi long end and papyrus and trip.
Brindisi marks the end of this text and this trip.
NOTES
Topos of the crowded port: the multitude of boatmen and hucksters. From here led a paludal canal along which mules dragged one’s bark overnight, if one were so inclined, to save one day’s journey.
Montezuma’s revenge threatens. “Don’t drink the water,” in this case of the swamps. On the other hand, the wine is excellent here, according to Lejay: “Sur la colline qui dominait Forum Appi se récoltait le Setinum, vin préféré d’Auguste et de ses successeurs” (149).
See l. 83: expecto.
This is a satire. Levels are deliberately mixeds, the epic portrayl of the constellations contrasts with the vulgar clammer of the harbour.
Chiasmus– sailors : slaves :: slaves : sailors.
According to Villeneuve, these frogs are proof (like the leanness of the woodcock in l. 72 and Horace’s need for a nightshirt in l. 85) that it is early to mid spring. A subtle logging of season.
A litle like Horace himself will do in l. 85. Supinus/supinum: no better example of Jakobson’s tenet: “The poetic function projects the principle of equivalence from the axis of selection into the axis of combination.”
Lejay: “Au printemps la quatriäme heure du jour tombait entre 9 et 10 heures du matin” (181).
Cf. l. 97: lymphis. The fountain was devoted to Feronia, a local divinity, the protectress of freed slaves, and was confused with Juno.
My dictionary defines lippus as “qui a les yeux malades par la débauche.” Maybe Horace was merely rubbing them too much.
Jusqu’aux bouts des ongles. Villeneuve defines this stock metaphor as having come from sculptors, “qui promenaient leur ongle sur le marbre pour s’assurer qu’il n’y restait aucune aspÇritÇ.” I prefer to think that this Fonteius was perfectly manicured.
Maecenas and Cocceius Nerva negotiated the peace of Brindisi between Octavius and Antony in 40 B.C. Anthony got the East; Octavius, the West; Lepidus, Africa. Lejay gives us 37 B.C. as date for this journey. Octavius knew by Maecenas that Antony was supposed to show up in Brindisi in the spring. He sent along the two emissaries in l. 31-32. Somehow these diplomats and bag-men managed to arrange the presence of three great Roman poets, Horace, Vergil and Varius– though the poets were apparently debauched throughout most of the two week trip.
These artefacts of Roman authority should be familiar to Catholics and students of Baudelaire– ciboire!
According to our scholars, this is the topos of the borrowed apartment, for Licinius Varro Murena was not around.
Let us call this topos “the meeting of like minds,” and note in passing the Horatian theme of friendship.
They got there earlier than foreseen, hence time to play, or time to snooze. Maecenas is into aerobics, but Horace and Vergil prefer to steal away and siesta. After all, tennis (“pila”=ball=”pelote,” etc.) is bad for weary eyes and queasy indigestion. The cr_dus of which Horace writes has a contemporary counterpart in Mexican cruda, hangover.
A scathing pun here, for “osci” or “obscus” (“peasant’) leads to “obscene”; in other words not breeding at all. This is mock-heroic epic.
Very Latin and endless, this business of the horns.
The quintessential satirical figure, half-god, half-beast. All of this is miming; saltare was common usage for actor’s mincing. According to Lejay (161) pantomine was not full-blown until a decade or two later (ca. 22 B.C.), but this kind of provocation and teasing is ageless, starts on the playground.
Implicit mockery of gladiators throughout, but Horace chooses to pass lightly over it, like some wry table-talk. What are the conventions of table-talk (neither politics nor religion…)? Domestic table-talk is rarely transcribed. What is is our talk around tables we travel to, restaurants.
This means it is in fact spring; for why else would game-bird be lean?
Others’ kitchens usually look pretty grim and insalubrious. As does foreign food. A realm of study: the food others eat, and foreign food cookbooks.
This is an elaborate chiasmus (Durcheinander) in which the distinction between guests and slaves, their respective attitudes and the vocabulary to express these differences criss-cross in a ballet-pantomine.
For some reason Lejay (165) imagines around the word camin_s, “hearth,” that the unobtained sex-object in the next passage must have been attending the fire.
Another logging of season. Why else the night-shirt, unless it is still chilly?
Buy bottled water, or beer. Don’t drink from wells.
This callidius (“hardened”) and this soleat (“accustomed”) are core figures of travel guides and newspaper travel sections. The knowledgeable traveler who knows in advance is the ultimate reader. What better recipient of the writer’s desire than one who follows carefully plotted footsteps, comparing sensations word by word?
Satiren, Erklärt von Adolf Liessling, erneuernt und besorgt von Richard Heinze (Dublin/Zürich: Weidmann, 1968), p. 90.
ITINERARY OF THE “ITER”
DAY PLACE MILEAGE
I Aricia XVI
II Forum Appi (Night on XXVII, the canal)
III Lucus Feroniae-Tarracina XIX
IV Fundi-Formiae XXVI
V Sinuenssa-Pons Campnus XXVII
VI Capua XVII
VII Villa near Caudium XXI
VIII Beneventum XI
IX Villa near Trivicum XV [?]
X Ausculum XXIV
XI Canusium XXXV
XII Rubi XXIII
XIII Barium XXIII
XIV Gnatia XXXVII
XV Brundisium XXXIX
[One mile = 1480 meters/ 1609 modern meters per mile]