Epistle XVI. — Ausonius to Theon

I, Ausonius, send greeting to my dear Theon, here setting out in verse my wishes and complaints.

Thrice hath Luna renewed her cloven-footed heifers, since thou, sweet friend, dost avoid my house. Ninety days without thee have I dragged out, my dearest comrade; add further, summer days: this makes them nearly twice as long for me. Wouldst have me say that nine times ten days or ten times nine are gone? A fourth part of the year is passed away. Sixty hours and two thousand and a hundred beside without thee have I spent — without whom even an hour hangs heavy. Miles twice nine hundred the laws' appointment bids men accused traverse to full reckoning in so many days. By this time could I have gone afoot to Rome, and afoot returned, since the time when a few miles have parted thee from me. Has a thatched cot at Dumnitonus such charms for a bard. My villa Pauliacos would not weigh so with me. Or because by bond drawn up hard and fast money is owed to me, dost thou keep from me lest I claim it back? Those twice seven gleaming Philippes d'or of royal mintage, Theon, I had rather lose — they would not be worth so much — than that thou, who art so closely twined about my heart, shouldst desert me over this long stretch of time. So either send back now forthwith the aforesaid louis and buy back thy freedom slothfully to linger, or I will freely give as many more besides, provided I behold the face of one so dear, however poor he be.

Haste hither, sped by boat, and spread the bellying canvas of thy sail: the breath of the south wind from Medoc will waft thee reclining beneath an awning and stretched upon a couch, that the bulk of so great a body be not shaken. One tide will bear thee from the shore of Dumnitonus right to the harbour of Condate, if only thou makest good haste, and in place of sail, whene'er thy favouring breezes die away, biddest the bark speed straight on propelled with oars. Thou shalt find ready a four-wheeled car with team of mules: soon wilt thou gain the Lucani- villa -acus. Thou shalt learn to make verse with such split nouns: thus shalt thou be a copier of the bard Lucilius.