Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

RUTILIUS NAMATIANUStliroiigh many ortices," he used to tell, I ean recall,that his £fovernorship of Tuseaiiy had been more toliis liking- than any : for neither the management ofthe Sacred Largesses, important though it he, northe authority of a quaestor had brought him morepleasure. His affection, inclining more towardsthe Tuscans, did not hesitate to give an inferiorplace, if piety lets it be said, even to his prefecturein Rome.^ Nor was he mistaken, being an equalfavourite with those whom he esteemed : theirmutual regard inscribes in verse undying gratitude, '^and old men who can remember him make knownto their sons how firm of purpose he was and at thesame time how kindly. They are glad that I myselfhave not fallen off from my parent's honours, andeagerly give me a warm welcome for his sake andfor my own. Often as I traversed the lands nearthe Flaminian Way ^ I have found the same proof ofmy father's renown ; the whole of Lydia ^ worshipsLachanius'/ fame like some divinity among thenatives of her soil. A favourite with the good, thisprovince keeps its old-world ways and deservesalways to have good governors, like Decius, thenoble offspring of Lucillus,^ who among the peoplesof Corytus rules o'er these happy lands. Small''wonder it is that the sire, reproduced in the characterof his great son, feels blest in a descendant so like^ The fact that the name Lachanius does not occur elsewhereis not enough to justify Burman's substitution of Laecanius.^ Rutilius is our sole source of information about Decius,who was Consularis Ttisciae et Umbriae in a.d. 41(5, and abouthis father, whose satiric powers are compared to those ofJuvenal and Turnus.* Corytus or Corythus (now Cortona) is here used for Etruria,as being one of its ancient towns.3g817