§214bonis qui hunc adulescentem evortisset suis.
as one who had ruined this young man of his own goods.
I, from the words of those gossips, without knowing, rushed forth to chastise my innocent friend.
§217quod si exquiratur usque ab stirpe auctoritas, §218unde quídquid auditum dicant, nisi id appareat, §219famigeratori res sit cum damno et malo, §220hoc ita si fiat, publico fiat bono, §221pauci sint faxim qui sciant quod nesciunt, §222occlusioremque habeant stultiloquentiam.
But if the authority were searched out all the way from the root, whence they say whatever is heard, unless that should appear, the gossip would have to deal with loss and trouble, if this were so done, it would be for the public good, I would guarantee there would be few who know what they do not know, and they would keep their foolish talking more shut up.
— §223Multás res simítu in meó corde vórso, §224multum ín cogitándo dolórem indipíscor: §225egomét me coquo ét macero ét defetígo, §226magíster mihi éxercitór animus núnc est.
I turn many things over in my heart at the same time, and obtain much pain in thinking: I myself cook, torment, and weary myself, my mind is now my teacher and trainer.
§227sed hóc non liquét neque satís cogitátumst, §228utrám potius hárum mihi ártem expetéssam, §229utram aétati agúndae arbitrér firmiórem: §230amórin med án rei opsequí potius pár sit, §231utra ín parte plús sit volúptatis vítae §232ad aetatem agundam.
But this is not clear, nor is it sufficiently thought out, which of these two arts I should rather seek for myself, which I should think more secure for spending my life: whether it is more fitting for me to devote myself to love or to business, in which part there is more pleasure of life for passing my life.
§233de hac ré mihi satis haú liquet; nisi hóc sic faciam, opínor, §234ut utrámque rem simul éxputem, iudéx sim reusque ad eám rem.
About this matter it is not clear enough to me; unless, I think, I do it thus, that I reckon up both matters at once, and be both judge and defendant for this case.
So I will do, so it pleases me; first of all, I will declare how the ways of Love turn out.
§237numquam Ámor quemquam nisi cúpidum hominem §238postulát se in plagas conícere: §238aeos cúpit, eos consectátur; §239súbdole ab re cónsulit, §239ablandíloquentulus, harpagó, mendax, §240cuppés, avarus, élegans, despoliator, §240alatebrícolarum hominum córruptor, §241inops célatum indagátor.
Love never demands that anyone except a desirous man cast himself into his nets: he desires them, he pursues them; he advises craftily against one's interest, sweet-talking, a grappling-hook, a liar, dainty, greedy, refined, a plunderer, a corrupter of men who seek hiding-places, a needy investigator of hidden things.
§241anam quí amat quod amat quom éxtemplo §242saviís sagittatis pérculsust, §243ílico rés foras lábitur, líquitur.
For as soon as he who loves is struck by arrow-like kisses from what he loves, immediately his property slips out, melts away.
§244dá mihi hoc, mél meum, sí me amas, si aúdes
. §245ibi ille cuculus: “ocelle mi, fiat: §246ét istuc et si ámplius vís dari, dábitur. ” §247ibi ílla pendentém ferit: iam amplius orat; §248nón satis id ést mali, ni ámplius étiam, §249quód ecbibit, quód comest, quód facit súmpti.
'Give me this, my honey, if you love me, if you please.' Then that cuckoo: 'My little eye, let it be done: both that, and if you wish more to be given, it shall be given.' Then she strikes him while he is hanging; now she asks for more; that is not enough of evil, unless there is still more, what he drinks up, what he eats up, what expense he makes.
§250nóx datur: dúcitur fámilia tóta, §251véstiplica, unctor, auri custos, flabelliferae, sandaligerulae, §252cantrices, cistellatrices, nuntii, renuntii, §253raptóres panis et peni; §254fit ípse, dum illis comis est, inóps amator.
A night is granted: the whole household is brought along, the clothes-folder, the anointer, the guardian of gold, the fan-bearers, the sandal-carriers, singing-girls, casket-keepers, messengers, back-and-forth messengers, plunderers of bread and provisions; the lover himself, while he is polite to them, becomes destitute.
§255haec égo quom ago cúm meo animo ét recolo, §256ubi quí eget, quam preti sít parvi: §257apagé te, Amor, nón places níl te utor; §258quamquam íllud est dúlce, esse ét bibere, §259Amór amara dát tamen, satis quod aegre sit: §260fugit fórum, fugitat suos cógnatos, §261fugat ípsus se ab suo cóntutu, §262neque eúm sibi amicum vólunt dici.
When I turn these things over in my mind and recall them, where one who is in need, of how little value he is: Away with you, Love, you do not please me, I have no use for you; although that is sweet, to eat and to drink, yet Love gives bitter things, enough to cause pain: he flees the forum, he avoids his own kinsmen, he banishes himself from his own sight, nor do they wish him to be called their friend.
§263millé modis, Amor, ignórandu's, §264procul abhibendu's atque abstandu's, §265nam qui ín amorem praecípitavit, §266peiús perit quasi saxó saliat: §267apagé te, Amor, tuas res tíbi habeto, §268Amor, míhi amicus ne fúas umquam; §269sunt támen quos miseros máleque habeas, §270quos tíbi obnoxios fecísti.
In a thousand ways, Love, you must be ignored, you must be kept at a distance and stood away from, for he who has plunged headlong into love, perishes worse than if he leapt from a cliff: Away with you, Love, keep your things to yourself, Love, may you never be a friend to me; yet there are some whom you hold in misery and treat badly, whom you have made subject to yourself.
It is resolved to apply my mind to thrift, although a great labor is undertaken there.
Good men seek these things for themselves: property, credit, honor, glory, and gratitude: this is the reward for the upright.
Therefore, it pleases me more to live with the upright rather than with wicked, lying men.
§276Quo illíc homo foras se pénetravit ex §277aedíbus? §277bPater, adsum, imperá quidvis, §278neque tíbi ero in mora neque látebrose §279me abs tuó conspectu occúltabo.
Where has that man made his way out of the Father, I am here, command whatever you wish, nor will I be a delay to you, nor stealthily will I hide myself from your sight.
You will have acted in accordance with your other deeds, if you honor your father through filial piety.
§282nólo ego cum ímprobis té viris, gnáte mi, §283neque ín via, neque ín foro necúllum sermonem éxsequi §284nóvi ego hoc saeculum móribus quíbus siet: §285malús bonum malum ésse volt, ut sít sui similis; §286turbánt, miscent morés mali: rapáx avarus ínvidus §287sacrúm profanum, públicum privátum habent, hiúlca gens.
I do not wish you, my son, to hold any conversation with wicked men, either in the street, or in the forum; I know this age, what morals it has: the bad man wants the good man to be bad, so that he may be like himself; bad morals disturb and mix up everything: the greedy, avaricious, envious man, hold sacred as profane, public as private—an insatiable race.