Days with Books and Writers

Once, P. Ovidius Naso, a pleasing Roman poet at the time, prepared to read a poem. P. Caecillus Rufus, the father of Publius, knew the friend of the poet; and so, Rufus proceeded with his friend and with his son and Furianus to the building, in which lived Ovidius. The enthusiasm of Publius and Furianus was great; in fact, they saw and displayed many poems of Ovidius in the shop of the Sosii, and often desired to see Ovidius himself. In the street, Rufus and the friend talked about many poets.

“Ovidius is the best of the poets of Rome,” shouts the friend. “When men will have forgotten the names of all the other poets who now are out of memory, the name of Ovidius will remain.”

“It is good, but not better than Vergilius and Horatius, whom the boys were listening to. Better than them, Rome has neither seen, nor heard.”

“Surely, surely, he did not write the Aneid, the Secular Hymn; The Amores and other books are pleasing, but not extraordinary. But I heard much about his new book, which is named Transformations.”

“Has Augustus seen his book?”

“I don’t know. Ovidius on the other hand is not very pleasing to be seen for Augustus. Augustus holds Horatius and Vergil in his memory.”

They arrived to the building in which Ovidius lived, and Ovidius recited to them the new book. He read the poem about Orpheus and his wife. Publius and Furianus listened with great zeal. Having read the poem, they slowly withdrew from the building.

“He is without doubt a poet!” was the word of Publius.