(d) Horātiae nūptiae – The Wedding of Horatia

Quīntus ō lim in tabernā trīstis sedēbat cum tabellā rius epistolam eī trā didit
ā patre scrīptam. ille epistolam summō gaudiō acceptam continuō lēgit:

Once Quintus was sitting in a bar dejected when the bar-owner handed him a letter
having gotten written by his father. That guy immediately read the letter accepted with
highest delight:

Flaccus Scintillaque fīliō cā rissimō salū tem plū rimam dīcunt.

Flaccus and Scintilla say a great big hello to their dearest son.

tuam epistolam accēpimus et gaudēmus quod incolumis Athēnā s

aduēnistī et in Acadēmiā studēs. omnēs Venū siae ualēmus. nū ntium magnī
mō mentī tibi mittimus.

We received your letter and we are delighted because you arrived to Athens
unscathed and you are studying at the Academy. We all are fine in Venusia. We are
sending you news of great importance to you.

pater Decimī, ueteris amicī tuī, nū per uēnit ad mē et ‘fīlius meus' inquit
‘fīliam tuam adamā uit et amō re eius perit, ut dīcit. itaque uīsne tū eam
Decimō spondēre, sī illa eum accipiet?’ hoc nō bīs maximē placuit. nam
uir dīues est probā tusque ab omnibus. itaque de dō te disserēbā mus; ille
rem aequē gessit, et mox pactum cō nfēcerā mus. Horā tiam igitur rogā uī
quid sentīret de hō c mā trimō niō ; illa Decimum bene cognō uit et eī nū bēre
cupiēbat. paucīs post diēbus spō nsā lia cō nfēcimus, multī cognā tī amīcīque ad
epulā s uocā tī testēs erant pactī. Decimus Horā tiae ā nulum dedit quem illa in
tertium digitum imposuit.

The father of Decimus, your old friend, recently came to me and said, “My son has
fallen for your daughter and is dying from love of her, so he says. And so do you wish to
betroth her to Decimus, if she will accept him?” This pleased us the mostly. For he is a
rich man and approved by many men. And so we were going on about the dowry; that
guy settled the matter fairly, and soon we had concluded the arrangement. I asked
Horatia, therefore, what she thought about this marriage arrangement; that girl thought
kindly of Decimus and was desiring to marry him. Within a few day later, we threw a
betrothal party. Many relatives and friends, having gotten invited to the feast, were
witnesses of the contract. Decimus gave Horatia a ring which that girl placed on her
third finger.

herī nū ptiā s perfēcimus. primā lū ce Horā tia, ā mā tre excitā ta, sē parā bat.
pū pā s et cētera puerīlia mā trī trā dita ualēre iussit. deinde uestīmenta
nū ptiā lia induit, tunicam candidam et pallam lū team; postrēmō flammeum
in capite induit corō namque flō rum. numquam uirginem pulchriō rem uīdī
quam eam.

Yesterday we held the wedding. At first light, Horatia, having gotten waked by her
mother, was preparing herself. She said goodbye to her dolls and other juvenilia handed
over to her mother. Next she donned her wedding vestments, a gleaming tunic and a
tawny palla; finally put on a flammeum on her head and crown of flowers. I have never
seen a virgin-bride more beautiful than her.

iam aderat Decimus ipse nouam togam indū tus plū rimīs cum amīcīs.
mox auspicēs aduēnērunt et auspicia bona prō nū ntiā uērunt. Horā tia
Decimusque dextrā s manū s rīte cō nseruērunt. omnēs Iū nō nī supplicā uērunt et
conclā mā uērunt ‘bene uerruncet!’ deinde cēnam sū mptuō sam ā mā tre tuā
parā tam ēdimus.

Decimus himself was already present, having dressed in a new toga, with a lot of
friends. Soon the auspice-takers arrived and decreed the auspices good. Horatia and
Decimus duly joined their right hands. Everybody supplicated Juno and proclaimed,
“May it turn out well!” Then we gave a sumptuous dinner having gotten prepared by
your mother.

tandem Hesperus aderat. tempus erat Horā tiae domum suam relinquere.
mā trem ualēre iussit nō n sine plū rimīs lacrimīs. deinde Decimus
eam ad nouam domum dū xit. tībīcinēs pompam dū xērunt iuuenēsque
facēs in manibus tenentēs. chorus puerō rum puellā rumque carmen solitum
canēbant: ‘Hymen ō Hymenaee, Hymen ades ō Hymenaee!’ ubi ad Decimī
aedēs peruēnērunt, Decimus Horā tiam super līmen sustulit dō naque eī obtulit,
ignem et aquam, quod iam Horā tia domina facta erat familiae. sīc omnia
secundum mō rem maiō rum confēcerā mus.

Finally dusk was on hand. It was time for Horatia to leave her home. She bid her
mother farewell not without a lotta tears. Then Decimus led her to her new home. The
flute players led the parade and youths holding torches in their hands. A chorus of boys
and girls were singing the customary song: “Hymn, o Hymenaee, Hymen, be present! o
Hymenaee.” When they arrived at the house of Decimus, Decimus lifted Horatia over the
threshold and offered her gifts, fire and water, because now Horatia had become the
lady of the family. In this way, we had performed all things according to the mos
maiorum.

hic nū ntius sine dubiō tē summō gaudiō afficiet. scrībe igitur ad

Horā tiam grā tulā tiō nemque eī mitte optimī mā trimō nī. curā ut ualeā s.

No doubt this news will affect you with the highest elation. So write to Horatia and
send her congratulations of the best marriage. Take care that you are well.