Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 2

Nulla enim res aeque adiuvat cursum quam summa pars veli; illinc maxime navis urgetur. Itaque quotiens ventus increbruit maiorque est quam expedit, antemna summittitur; minus habet virium flatus ex humili. Cum intravere Capreas et promunturium, ex quo Alta procelloso speculatur vertice Pallas, ceterae velo iubentur esse contentae; siparum Alexandrinarum insigne est.

Rien en effet ne facilite la course comme les hautes voiles : c’est de là que le bâtiment reçoit sa plus forte impulsion. Aussi, quand le vent augmente et devient plus grand qu’il ne faut, on baisse l’antenne : le souffle a moins de force quand il donne par le bas. Lorsque les vaisseaux sont dans les eaux de Caprée et de l’orageux promontoire

D’où Pallas voit au loin les flots se balancer,

la règle est qu’ils se contentent de la grande voile ; ceux d’Alexandrie ont seuls le siparum pour insigne.

because nothing sends a ship along so well as its upper canvas; that is where most of the speed is obtained. So when the breeze has stiffened and becomes stronger than is comfortable, they set their yards lower; for the wind has less force near the surface of the water. Accordingly, when they have made Capreae and the headland whence Tall Pallas watches on the stormy peak, all other vessels are bidden to be content with the mainsail, and the topsail stands out conspicuously on the “Alexandrian” mail-boats.