Sources of Ancient Healing Thermalism

Ausonius Mosella 335–348

Way of Transmission
Literature
Datation
371–372 CE
Language
Latin
Literary Genre
Travel
Canonical Reference
Auson. Mos. 335–348
Thermal Spa Related
Baiae

335Atria quid memorem viridantibus assita pratis
innumerisque super nitentia tecta columnis?
Quid quae fluminea substructa crepidine fumant
balnea, ferventi cum Mulciber haustus operto
volvit anhelatas tectoria per cava flammas,
340inclusum glomerans aestu exspirante vaporem?
Vidi ego defessos multo sudore lavacri
fastidisse lacus et frigora piscinarum,
ut vivis fruerentur aquis, mox amne refotos
plaudenti gelidum flumen pepulisse natatu.
345Quod si Cumanis huc afforet hospes ab oris,
crederet Euboicas simulacra exilia Baias
his donasse locis: tantus cultusque nitorque
allicit et nullum parit oblectatio luxum.

335What need to make mention of their courts set beside verdant meadows, of their trim roofs resting upon countless pillars? What of their baths, contrived low down on the verge of the bank, which smoke when Vulcan, drawn by the glowing flue, pants forth his flames and whirls them up through the channelled walls, 340rolling in masses the imprisoned smoke before the scorching blast! I myself have seen some, exhausted by the intense heat of the baths, scorn the pools and cold plunge-baths, preferring to enjoy running water, and, straightway refreshed by the river, buffet the cool stream, threshing it with their strokes. 345But if a stranger were to arrive here from the shores of Cumae, he would believe that Euboean Baiae had bestowed on this region a miniature copy of its own delights: so great is the charm of its refinement and distinction, while its pleasures breed no excess.

335¿He de recordar los atrios sembrados de verdes prados
y los tejados resplandecientes sobre innúmeras co­lumnas?
¿Los baños cuyos suelos humean por sus regue­ros,
cuando Múlciber, sacado de su ardiente profundidad,
hace rodar sus llamas deseadas a través de las tuberías de estuco,
340acumulando el vapor encerrado por el calor que se despide?
Vi yo mismo cómo gentes cansadas de los muchos sudores dei baño,
desdeñaban los estan­ques y los fríos de las piscinas
para disfrutar de las aguas vivas; luego, reanimados por la corriente,
golpeaban el helado río con su ruidoso nadar.
345Porque si llegase aquí un forastero desde las costas de Cumas,
creería que la euboica Bayas había regalado copias pobres
a estos lugares: tanto refinamiento y tanta elegancia
seducen, mas el deleite no se excede en lujo ninguno.

Commentary

Comentario sobre los excesivos calores o cambios de temperaturas de otras zonas, frente a la calidad y tempura de la zona de Bayas.

Indica que aunque a él no le gusta el intenso calor de los baños, cualquier extranjero que llegue a Cumas pensará que está ante una copia de las delicias de Bayas, sin tanto exceso.

Related Sources

Related Sources

Cicero ad Atticum 353.2

Cicero, after describing how he recieved Caesar at his villa in Puteoli, on the first day of Saturnalia, explains that the dictator was going to spend one day in Puteoli

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Cicero ad Atticum 217.6

After the death of Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, Cicero says that he had planned to recieve a property in Baiae as a reward for staying on Pompey’s faction.

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