§8.58Omnia vel medium fiant mare: vivite, silvae!
Let all things even become mid-ocean: farewell, woods!
Headlong from the lookout of a lofty mountain into the waves I shall be cast down; have this last gift of one who is dying.
§8.61desine Maenalios, iam desine, tibia, versus.
Cease, my pipe, now cease Maenalian verses.
§8.62Haec Damon: vos, quae responderit Alphesiboeus, §8.63dicite, Pierides; non omnia possumus omnes.
Thus Damon: you, what Alphesiboeus answered, sing, Muses of Pieria; we cannot all do all things.
§8.64Effer aquam, et molli cinge haec altaria vitta, §8.65verbenasque adole pinguis et mascula tura, §8.66coniugis ut magicis sanos avertere sacris §8.67experiar sensus nihil hic nisi carmina desunt.
Bring out water, and bind these altars with a soft fillet, and burn rich boughs and male frankincense, that I may try by magic rites to turn away the sane senses of my husband: nothing here but charms is wanting.
§8.68Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
§8.69Carmina vel caelo possunt deducere Lunam; §8.70carminibus Circe socios mutavit Ulixi; §8.71frigidus in pratia cantando rumpitur anguis.
Charms can even draw down the Moon from heaven; by charms Circe changed the companions of Ulysses; the cold snake in the meadows is burst by chanting.
§8.72Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
§8.73terna tibi haec primum triplici diversa colore §8.74licia circumdo, terque haec altaria circum §8.75effigiem duco: numero deus impare gaudet.
These three threads first, distinct with three-fold color, I wind around you, and three times around these altars I lead your image: the god delights in an uneven number.
§8.76Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
§8.77Necte tribus nodis ternos, Amarylli, colores, §8.78necte, Amarylli, modo, et “Veneris” dic “vincula necto. ” §8.79Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
Bind with three knots, Amaryllis, the three colors, bind them now, Amaryllis, and say: 'I bind the bonds of Venus.' Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
§8.80Limus ut hic durescit et haec ut cera liquescit §8.81uno eodemque igni, sic nostro Daphnis amore.
As this clay hardens, and as this wax melts under one and the same fire, so let Daphnis do by our love.
§8.82Sparge molam, et fragilis incende bitumine laurus.
Scatter the salted meal, and burn brittle laurel with bitumen.
§8.83Daphnis me malus urit, ego hanc in Daphnide laurum.
Cruel Daphnis burns me, I burn this laurel on Daphnis.
§8.84Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
§8.85Talis amor Daphnim, qualis cum fessa iuvencum §8.86per nemora atque altos quaerendo bucula lucos §8.87propter aquae rivum viridi procumbit in ulva, §8.88perdita, nec serae meminit decedere nocti, §8.89talis amor teneat, nec sit mihi cura mederi.
May such love possess Daphnis, as when a weary heifer, seeking her steer through groves and deep forests, lies down in the green sedge beside a stream of water, lost, and remembers not to depart before the late night; may such love hold him, nor let it be my care to heal him.
§8.90Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
§8.91Has olim exuvias mihi perfidus ille reliquit, §8.92pignora cara sui, quae nunc ego limine in ipso, §8.93terra, tibi mando; debent haec pignora Daphnim.
These relics that faithless man once left with me, dear pledges of himself, which now on the very threshold, O earth, I entrust to you; these pledges owe me Daphnis.
§8.94Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
These herbs and these poisons gathered in Pontus Moeris himself gave me; many grow in Pontus.
§8.97His ego saepe lupum fieri et se condere silvis §8.98Moerim, saepe animas imis excire sepulcris, §8.99atque satas alio vidi traducere messis. §8.100Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
By these I have often seen Moeris become a wolf and hide in the woods, often call forth souls from the bottom of graves, Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
§8.101Fer cineres, Amarylli, foras, rivoque fluenti §8.102transque caput iace, nec respexeris: his ego Daphnim §8.103adgrediar, nihil ille deos, nil carmina curat.
Carry the ashes outside, Amaryllis, and into the running stream throw them over your head, and do not look back: with these I Daphnis will assail; he cares nothing for gods, nothing for charms.
§8.104Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina, ducite Daphnim.
Lead home from the city, my charms, lead Daphnis home.
§8.105Aspice, corripuit tremulis altaria flammis
Look!
§8.106sponte sua, dum ferre moror, cinis ipse: bonum sit!
The ash itself has seized the altars with trembling flames of its own accord, while I delay to carry it: may it be a good sign!
§8.107Nescio quid certe est, et Hylas in limine latrat.
Something surely is happening, and Hylas is barking at the threshold.
§8.108Credimus, an, qui amant, ipsi sibi somnia fingunt?
Do we believe it, or do those who love fashion dreams for themselves?
§8.109Parcite, ab urbe venit, iam carmina, parcite, Daphnis.
Cease, my charms, now cease, Daphnis is coming from the city.