Ep. II.

I do not like being joked about Tiberina and its mud and its winters, O my friend, who are so free from mud, and who walk on tiptoe, and trample on the plains.  You who have wings and are borne aloft, and fly like the arrows of Abaris, in order that, Cappadocian though you are, you may flee from Cappadocia.  Have we done you an injury, because while you are pale and breathing hard and measuring the sun, we are sleek and well fed and not pressed for room?  Yet this is your condition.  You are luxurious and rich, and go to market.  I do not approve of this.  Either then cease to reproach us with our mud (for you did not build your city, nor we make our winter), or else for our mud we will bring against you your hucksters, and the rest of the crop of nuisances which infest cities.

[2] ΤΩΙ ΑΥΤΩΙ

Οὐ φέρω τὴν Τιβερινὴν ἐγκαλούμενος καὶ τοὺς ἐνταῦθα πηλοὺς καὶ χειμῶνας, ὦ λίαν ἄπηλε σὺ καὶ ἀκρόβαμον καὶ τὰς πλάκας κατακροαίνων, ἢ ὑπόπτερε σὺ καὶ μετάρσιε καὶ τῷ Ἀβάριδος ὀϊστῷ συμφερόμενε, ἵνα καὶ Καππαδόκης ὢν φεύγῃς τὰ Καππαδοκίας. Ἢ ἀδικοῦμεν ὅτι ὑμεῖς μὲν ὠχριᾶτε καὶ στενὸν ἀναπνεῖτε καὶ μετρεῖσθε τὸν ἥλιον: ἡμεῖς δὲ λιπῶμεν καὶ κορεννύμεθα καὶ οὐ περιγεγράμμεθα; Ἀλλ' οὐ ταῦτα ὑμῖν ἐστι. Τρυφᾶτε δὲ καὶ πλουτεῖτε καὶ ἀγοράζετε: τοῦτο οὐκ ἐπαινῶ. Ἢ τοίνυν παῦσαι τοὺς πηλοὺς ὀνειδίζων ἡμῖν (οὔτε γὰρ τὴν πόλιν σὺ δεδημιούργηκας, οὔτε τοὺς χειμῶνας ἡμεῖς): ἢ καὶ ἡμεῖς σοι προσοίσομεν ἀντὶ τῶν πηλῶν τοὺς καπηλοὺς καὶ ὅσα αἱ πόλεις μοχθηρὰ φέρουσιν.