§1.10.1Qualis ab Eurota Phrygiis avecta carinis §1.10.2Coniugibus belli causa duobus erat, §1.10.3Qualis erat Lede, quam plumis abditus albis §1.10.4Callidus in falsa lusit adulter ave, §1.10.5Qualis Amymone siccis erravit in agris, §1.10.6Cum premeret summi verticis urna comas — §1.10.7Talis eras; aquilamque in te taurumque timebam, §1.10.8Et quidquid magno de Iove fecit amor.
Just as she who, carried away from the Eurotas by Phrygian ships, was the cause of war for her two husbands, just as was Leda, whom, hidden in white feathers, a clever adulterer fooled in the guise of a false bird, just as Amymone wandered in the dry fields, when the urn placed on the very top of her head pressed down her hair — such were you; and I used to fear the eagle and the bull on your account, and whatever form love made great Jove take.
§1.10.9Nunc timor omnis abest, animique resanuit error, §1.10.10Nec facies oculos iam capit ista meos.
Now all fear is gone, and the error of my mind has healed, and that beauty of yours no longer captures my eyes.
§1.10.11Cur sim mutatus, quaeris? quia munera poscis.
Do you ask why I have changed? Because you demand gifts.
§1.10.12Haec te non patitur causa placere mihi.
This cause does not allow you to please me.
§1.10.13Donec eras simplex, animum cum corpore amavi; §1.10.14Nunc mentis vitio laesa figura tua est.
As long as you were simple, I loved your mind along with your body; now your beauty is damaged by the defect of your mind.
§1.10.15Et puer est et nudus Amor; sine sordibus annos §1.10.16Et nullas vestes, ut sit apertus, habet.
Love is both a boy and naked; he has years without blemish and no clothes, so that he may be open.
§1.10.17Quid puerum Veneris pretio prostare iubetis?
Why do you order the boy of Venus to stand for sale for a price?
§1.10.18Quo pretium condat, non habet ille sinum!
He has no fold in his garment in which to hide the price!
§1.10.19Nec Venus apta feris Veneris nec filius armis — §1.10.20Non decet inbelles aera merere deos.
Neither Venus nor the son of Venus is suited for fierce arms — it is not fitting for peaceful gods to earn military pay.
§1.10.21Stat meretrix certo cuivis mercabilis aere, §1.10.22Et miseras iusso corpore quaerit opes; §1.10.23Devovet imperium tamen haec lenonis avari §1.10.24Et, quod vos facitis sponte, coacta facit.
A prostitute stands purchasable by anyone for a fixed sum of money, and seeks wretched wealth with her body at command; yet even she curses the rule of the greedy pimp and does under compulsion what you do of your own free will.
§1.10.25Sumite in exemplum pecudes ratione carentes; §1.10.26Turpe erit, ingenium mitius esse feris.
Take as an example the beasts that lack reason; it will be shameful for the nature of wild beasts to be gentler than yours.
§1.10.27Non equa munus equum, non taurum vacca poposcit; §1.10.28Non aries placitam munere captat ovem.
No mare demands a gift from a horse, no cow from a bull; no ram wins over the ewe he fancies with a gift.
§1.10.29Sola viro mulier spoliis exultat ademptis, §1.10.30Sola locat noctes, sola licenda venit, §1.10.31Et vendit quod utrumque iuvat quod uterque petebat, §1.10.32Et pretium, quanti gaudeat ipsa, facit.
Only woman exults in the spoils snatched from man; she alone rents out her nights, she alone comes to be bid for, and sells what delights both and what both were seeking, and sets the price according to how much she herself enjoys it.
§1.10.33Quae Venus ex aequo ventura est grata duobus, §1.10.34Altera cur illam vendit et alter emit?
Since the lovemaking is to come as a pleasure equally to two people, why does the one sell it and the other buy it?
§1.10.35Cur mihi sit damno, tibi sit lucrosa voluptas, §1.10.36Quam socio motu femina virque ferunt?
Why should pleasure be a loss to me and lucrative to you, which woman and man bring about with shared movement?
Witnesses hired for a price do not sell their false oaths well, nor does the strongbox of a chosen judge stand open well.
§1.10.39Turpe reos empta miseros defendere lingua; §1.10.40Quod faciat magni, turpe tribunal, opes; §1.10.41Turpe tori reditu census augere paternos, §1.10.42Et faciem lucro prostituisse suam.
It is shameful to defend wretched defendants with a bought tongue; it is a shameful tribunal that makes great wealth; it is shameful to increase paternal property by the income of the bed, and to have prostituted one's beauty for profit.
Gratitude is deservedly owed for things unbought; no gratitude is due for an ill-hired bed.
The hirer pays for everything; once the fee is paid, he does not remain a debtor to your kindness.
§1.10.47Parcite, formosae, pretium pro nocte pacisci; §1.10.48Non habet eventus sordida praeda bonos.
Spare, beautiful ones, to bargain a price for the night; dirty gain does not have good outcomes.
§1.10.49Non fuit armillas tanti pepigisse Sabinas, §1.10.50Ut premerent sacrae virginis arma caput; §1.10.51E quibus exierat, traiecit viscera ferro §1.10.52Filius, et poenae causa monile fuit.
It was not worth so much to have bargained for the Sabine bracelets that the arms of the sacred virgin should crush her head; her son pierced with iron the womb from which he had come, and a necklace was the cause of the punishment.
§1.10.53Nec tamen indignum est a divite praemia posci; §1.10.54Munera poscenti quod dare possit, habet.
And yet, it is not unworthy for rewards to be asked from a rich man; he has what he can give to the one who asks for gifts.
Pluck the hanging grapes from the full vines; let the generous field of Alcinous offer fruit!
§1.10.57Officium pauper numeret studiumque fidemque; §1.10.58Quod quis habet, dominae conferat omne suae.
Let the poor man count out his service, his zeal, and his loyalty; whatever each has, let him contribute it all to his mistress.
§1.10.59Est quoque carminibus meritas celebrare puellas §1.10.60Dos mea; quam volui, nota fit arte mea.
It is also my dowry to celebrate deserving girls in song; whomever I have wished, let her become famous by my art.