Epistle XXIV. — Ausonius to Paulinus sends hearty Greeting

To Paulinus, Ausonius. Metre so bids, placing you before me and setting your name in front of mine. And yet before mine comes your name in our annals, and at Rome your curule chair of ivory has precedence of mine, and in poetry your palm is long since decked with ribbons which my palm lacks. 'Tis in the glory of prolonged old age alone I have the advantage — what matters that. The crow is not therein above the swan, nor, because he lives a thousand years, does the bird of Ganges surpass the kingly peacock with his hundred eyes. I am beneath you in genius as far as I am above you in age; my homely Muse rises in deference to yours.

Live, keep well, and in the time to come link New Year to New Year as oft as did your father or mine.