Nevertheless, I believe he has reasons to condemn the very fate that forced him to exile Ovid. You're well aware of the regret he expressed in this regard and how hard it was for him to deny your pardon. I must admit, Maecenas, that I fear the banishment of such a brilliant mind may one day tarnish Octavian more than all the exiles handed out during the rule of the Triumvirate. These individuals capable of casting light or shadow over the entire life of a ruler must be deeply feared or loved. Out of kindness or self-interest, they should be revered by all the kings of the world. <hr>
Victors can raise trophies, build triumphal arches, erect statues in public squares, and inscribe grand epitaphs on their tombs to immortalize their fame. However, all these things inevitably crumble, sink into the earth, and fade into oblivion. Their memory will perish with the marble they built. But when a true poet worthy of the name endeavors to safeguard a hero, he can defy envy, time, and fate. Nothing can better sustain his reputation, his protector ruins all his enemies and, from century to century, breathes new life into him and bestows a fresh radiance. The writings of Virgil and Horace will not only make Octavian famous in the literary world but everywhere these authors are admired.<hr>
        Those who read Virgil’s Aeneid with amazement and admiration will find that this prince is worthy of envy by all monarchs, as he was able to earn the praise and friendship of the most talented man of all ages. Those who read the works of Horace will realize how fortunate Octavian was to have earned the good will of a man capable of guiding the spirit towards goodness by scrutinizing vice, and having a more significant place in his lyric poems than in his satires. Whenever I contemplate the benefits and charms of poetry, my passion grows. I enjoy Dido’s virtuous nature less in historical accounts than her weakness and despair in the Aeneid. Judge then, Maecenas, if those who know how to make evil so pleasing cannot also make goodness shine with all its fantasies. What happens when those who excel at persuading others with lies fail to accept the truth?<hr>
       You know, Maecenas, that some are bold enough to assert that the Scamander is just barely more than a brook, and that Troy never existed. However, Homer has found credit among all nations. All the heroes he introduces in his Iliad or Odyssey have their comrades and partisans. And the most accurate history is not as engaging to readers as these two wondrous works. Princes should therefore remember that those capable of immortalizing their fantasies and imagination can also ensure their own legacy when they become worthy of it. It's their duty to sing the victories of their rulers, but it's also up to the rulers to let them enjoy the fruits of these victories.<hr>

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