Wednesday, February 06, 2013

 

Sic Iuvat Vivere

Junius Naucellius, in Epigrammata Bobiensia, no. 5 (p. 55 Munari; my translation):
A frugal lover of wealth, a despiser of seductive honors,
    here I pursue my studies and leisure dear to the Muses,
I, Junius, acclaimed warbler of Ausonian song.
    From here I take and enjoy whatever delights me:
the countryside, my house, gardens watered by natural springs,        5
    and charming statues of the odd-numbered Muses.
Thus it is pleasing to live, and to extend my quiet old age,
    reading the learned writings of men long dead.

Parcus amator opum, blandorum victor honorum
    hic studia et Musis otia amica colo
Iunius Ausoniae notus testudinis ales,
    quodque voluptati est, hinc capio atque fruor:
rura, domus, rigui genuinis fontibus horti        5
    dulciaque imparium marmora Pieridum.
Vivere sic placidamque iuvat proferre senectam,
    docta revolventem scripta virum veterum.

1 brandorum cod.: blandorum Munari
2 etiam cod.: otia Munari
Munari explains victor honorum (line 1) as contemptor, non avidus neque appetens magistratuum. With imparium...Pieridum (line 6) he compares Horace, Odes 3.19.13 Musas...imparis: the Muses are nine in number.

Parcus amator opum (line 1) reminds me of Horace's parcus deorum cultor et infrequens, the first line of Odes 1.34 (parcus + nomen agentis + genitive plural), and vivere sic...iuvat (line 9) recalls Martial 12.18.26 (sic me vivere, sic iuvat perire).

Thanks to Karl Maurer for comments on my translation.



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