Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

RUTIT.IUSNAMATIANUSBut. friiiging; its own deep-water domain, the tallsea-weed is like to do no damage to a ship thatstrikes it without shoek ; and yet in giving way itentangles the furious waves and lets no huge rollersurge in from the deep.A clear South-east wind had brought again themoment for sailing ; but I was eager to pay a visitto Protadius : " whoever perchance may wish torecognise him by sure signs should think in hisheart that he is looking upon a model of goodnessno painting will ever give a truer portrait of him incolour than will the image that comes from hisblended excellences. His prudence marked bysteady look is evident even to a distant eye ; theexpression of fair-mindedness shines out, commandingrespect. This tribute might perhaps be lessenedwere it merely that Gaul was praising a fellowcountryman; but Rome can bear witness to herformer prefect. Umbria ^ replaced his ancestralhome with but a humble abode : his virtue tookeither lot as equal. The man's unvanquished mindregards small things as great ; for to his spirit greatthings once had been but small. A petty farm usedto contain the conquerors of kings, and a few acresyielded men like Cincinnatus.^ Such contentmentin our view is deemed to fall not short of Serranus'plough and Fabricius' hearth.^'learned ofticial, he was the son of an eminent rhetoricianpraised by Ausonius for his lectures in Constantinople, Romeand Bordeaux,**Either Protadius had some property in Umbria proper,or •'Umbria " here includes the part of Etruria round Pisa.•^For the story see Val. Max. 1V\ iv. 7.•*Rutilius here echoes Virg. Aen. \'l. .S44.813