An old woman saw lying on the ground an empty amphora which, because of the bottom of Falerno wine still remaining in its noble clay, diffused a delicious perfume around it. After having inhaled it greedily with all the strength of her nostrils, she exclaimed: "O sweet spirit! Who knows how good you were before, if such are remains!"
To what here is alluded to, those who know me, will tell.
[ Anus iacere vidit epotam amphoram,
Adhuc Falerna faece e testa nobili
Odorem quae iocundum late spargeret.
Hunc postquam totis avida traxit naribus:
«O suavis anima! quale te dicam bonum
Antehac fuisse, tales cum sint reliquiae?»
Hoc quo pertineat, dicet qui me noverit.]
To what here is alluded to, those who know me, will tell.
[ Anus iacere vidit epotam amphoram,
Adhuc Falerna faece e testa nobili
Odorem quae iocundum late spargeret.
Hunc postquam totis avida traxit naribus:
«O suavis anima! quale te dicam bonum
Antehac fuisse, tales cum sint reliquiae?»
Hoc quo pertineat, dicet qui me noverit.]
