Florus

Three main sets of works are attributed to Florus (a Roman cognomen): Virgilius orator an poeta, the Epitome of Roman History and a collection of 14 short poems (66 lines in all). As to whether these were composed by the same person, or set of people, is unclear, but the works are variously attributed to:

• Publius Annius Florus, described as a Roman poet and rhetorician.
• Julius Florus, described as an ancient Roman poet, orator, and author who was born around 74 AD and died around 130 AD Florus was born in Africa, but raised in Rome.
• Lucius Annaeus Florus (c. 74 – 130 AD), a Roman historian, who lived in the time of Trajan and Hadrian and was also born in Africa.

Quotes

• Mulier intra pectus omnis celat virus pestilens;
  dulce de labris loquuntur, corde vivunt noxio.
  • Every woman in her bosom hides a poisonous pestilence:
    Though the lips speak ne'er so sweetly, yet the heart contrives offence.
    • De Qualitate Vitae, III (tr. Duff & Duff)

• Quando ponebam novellas arbores mali et piri,
  cortici summae notavi nomen ardoris mei.
  nulla fit exinde finis vel quies cupidinis:
  crescit arbor, gliscit ardor: animus implet litteras.
  • When my young pear-trees I planted, when I planted apple-trees,
    On the bark the name I graved of the sweetheart who is mine.
    Never henceforth will my passion find an end or find its ease.
    As the tree grows, so my zeal glows: love-dreams through each letter shine.
    • De Qualitate Vitae, V (tr. Duff & Duff)

• Cive Romano per orbem nemo vivit rectius:
  quippe malim unum Catonem quam trecentos Socratas.
  • Shun the morals brought across seas; they've a thousand trickeries.
    None in all the world lives straighter than a citizen of Rome.
    Why, I prize one Cato more than fifteen score like Socrates.
    • De Qualitate Vitae, VII, 2 (tr. Duff & Duff)

• Consules fiunt quotannis et novi proconsules;
  solus aut rex aut poeta non quotannis nascitur.
  • Every year we get fresh consuls, every year proconsuls too:
    Only patrons, only poets, are not born each year anew.
    • De Qualitate Vitae, IX (tr. Duff & Duff)
    • Robert Fletcher, "The Poet—Is He Born, not Made?", American Anthropologist, VI, 2 (April 1893), p. 117

• Ne pereant lege mane rosas: cito virgo senescit.
  • At dawn pull roses fresh: maids soon grow old.
    • De Qualitate Vitae, XI, 9 (tr. Duff & Duff)

• Difficilius est provincias obtinere quam facere; viribus parantur, iure retinentur.
  • It is more difficult to retain than to create provinces; they are won by force, they are secured by justice.
    • Epitomae de Tito Livio Bellorum Omnium Annorum, II, xxx, 29 (tr. Forster)

Bibliography

• J. Wright & Arnold M. Duff, eds. Minor Latin Poets, Vol. 2, L434 (1934)
• Edward Seymour Forster, Lucius Annaeus Florus Epitome Of Roman History, L231 (1929)
• Norbert Guterman, A Book of Latin Quotations (1966), p. 336
• The Roman History of Lucius J. Florus made English (London: T.J. for Samuel Speed, 1669)