11 Ausonius Quotes on Poetry

Ausonius quotes on poetry

1. Jejunis nil scribo: meum post pocula si quis legerit, hic sapiet. Sed magis hic sapiet, si dormiet: et putet ista somnia missa sibi.

2. Quis color ille vadis, seras cum propulit umbras Hesperus et viridi perfudit monte Mosellam! tota natant crispis iuga motibus et tremit absens pampinus et vitreis vindemia turget in undis.

3. Errantes silva in magna et sub luce maligna inter harundineasque comas gravidumque papaver et tacitos sine labe lacus, sine murmure rivos, quorum per ripas nebuloso lumine marcent fleti, olim regum et puerorum nomina, flores.

4. Tot species, tantosque ortus variosque novatus una dies aperit, conficit ipsa dies.

5. Collige, virgo, rosas, dum flos novus et nova pubes, et memor esto aevum sic properare tuum.

6. Monumenta fatiscunt: mors etiam saxis nominibusque venit.

7. Omne aevum curae; cunctis sua displicet aetas.

8. Multis terribilis timeto multos.

9. Iniurium est de poeta male sobrio lectorem abstemium iudicare.

11. In the history of versification did anyone ever juggle so wildly well with iambics, sapphics, dactylics, anapestics, and all the rest? He fabricated verses most ingeniously, most enthusiastically. His virtuosity is amazing. Almost every line he wrote was a tour de force. And in spite of all this highly self-conscious technical facility he managed occasionally to write poetry.

12. Ausonius must be read to be believed! As poet, no subject is too trivial for him; as courtier, no flattery too excessive.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.