Epistle IV. — Ausonius to Axius Paulus the Rhetorician, Greeting

At last, having struggled free from delay's seductive toils, I have left Bordeaux's soft enticements and on a neighbouring farm dwell nigh the town of Saintes: if this pleases you, friend Paulus, give me proof of it. Let horn-hoofed mules whirl hither a harnessed four-wheeled car, or, if you please, jump in a three-horse gig,'- or mount a cob, or else a back-broken hack, if only you come quickly; for approaching Easter's rites summon me back, nor am I free to linger idly here. Bring over on your jaunt thrice a thousand lyrics or the feigned cases ' which your pupils weave. With me you will find none, for I have left yonder the old remnants of my trifles together with my wit.