Hence, merely mention the name of Pomponius
And every man of Rome will tell you thus:
“A prudent man was he” . . . Such praise remains my pride,
My best possession (excepting here of course the many favors
Shown me by Him, Augustus, and may he rule
In health and happiness for many years to come!)
’Tis true that health is but a gift of Gods,
And happiness thereof God’s gilded smile
Cast down upon us struggling earthly mortals . . .
But health and happiness must prudence have
To make man’s life an enviable lot.
For health and happiness are like two fiery steeds,
By prudence held in check and safely guided
To one’s set goals . . . .
The gift of prudence
Faithfully was given both to Augustus
And to Pomponius. (That I dare link my name
Boldly to Caesar’s is not a mere bravado
Or empty flattery. The noble one himself
From time to time discusses my life’s journey
And thoughtfully he speaks of by-gone days,
And praises me . . . contending oft and on
That my deep friendship was one among the jewels
Of his own life.)
My friends, my Comrades!
From time to time, when by-sone days I travel,
The days that seem so endless-distant now,
Not by their length of time, but by the number
Of incidents that lie between us now . . . .
(Why even Cicero and the son of Marius
Were once my class-mates . . . and Catallina too
I knew, and Sulla-Felix, he who thought me highly
Above all other mortals!) My friends . . .
If you but gaze into those by-gone days
You realize that I have sailed my life
Through stormy seas of deeds . . . . always with prudence.
About the time when Sulla and Cinna together
Angrily thinned out their ranks of friends,
I went to Athens, did not commit myself,
(Not knowing the outcome of their fearful anger).
Then prudently and at the proper moment
I sold my home, and disposed of all possessions:
140
