Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

RUTILIUS NAMATIANLSown he was; whom Rome linked to me as successorin office," in whc^se person my civil jurisdictionwas continued. His merit outweighed years whichhad not been waited for ^: a lad in the bloom ofyouth, he had the worth of age. Mutual respectjoined our kindred characters, and regard grew fromthe friendship of one for the other. He preferredthat I should hold the reins of power, although hemight have surpassed me : yet his affection for hispredecessor has made him a greater man.We find time to inspect the salt-pans lying nearthe mansion : it is on this score that value is setupon the salt marsh, where the sea-water, runningdown through channels in the land, makes entry,and a little trench floods the many-parted ponds.But after the Dog-star has advanced his blazing fires,Avhen grass turns pale, w^hen all the land is athirst,then the sea is shut out by the barrier-sluices, sothat the parched ground may solidify the imprisonedwaters. The natural incrustations catch the penetratingsun, and in the summer heat the heavy crustof salt cakes, just as when the wild Danube stiffenswith ice and carries huge wains upon its frostboundstream. Let him who is given to weighnatural causes examine and investigate the different'^effect worked in the same material : frost-boundstreams melt on catching the sun, and on the otherhand liquid waters can be hardened ^ in the sun."^fomcs " touchwood " is here " matter," " material," orelement " ; and virtually " cause " in relation to opus ="working," " effect." {Cf. note on opus in Aetna, 337, suprap. 391.)**by i.e. evaporation salt can be secured from brine.Compare Lucretius' lines on the baking and the thawing actionof heat, VI. 962-969.807