§1.8.1Est quaedam — quicumque volet cognoscere lenam, §1.8.2Audiat! — est quaedam nomine Dipsas anus.
There is a certain woman — whoever wishes to know a procuress, let him listen! — there is a certain old woman named Dipsas.
She has her name from the reality — she has never seen the parent of black Memnon on her rose-colored horses while being sober.
§1.8.5Illa magas artes Aeaeaque carmina novit §1.8.6Inque caput liquidas arte recurvat aquas; §1.8.7Scit bene, quid gramen, quid torto concita rhombo §1.8.8Licia, quid valeat virus amantis equae.
She knows magic arts and Aeaean spells, and by her art she bends back running waters to their source; she knows well what herbs can do, what threads set in motion by a twisted wheel, and what the secretion of a mare in heat can do.
When she wishes, clouds gather in the whole sky; when she wishes, the sun shines in a clear sky.
I have seen (if there is any faith) stars dripping with blood; the face of the Moon was purple with blood.
I suspect that she, transformed, flies through the nocturnal shadows, and that her old woman's body is covered with feathers.
§1.8.15Suspicor, et fama est.
I suspect it, and such is the rumor.
oculis quoque pupula duplex §1.8.16Fulminat, et gemino lumen ab orbe venit.
In her eyes also a double pupil flashes, and light comes from a twin orb.
She summons ancestors and great-great-grandfathers from ancient graves, and splits the solid earth with a long spell.
§1.8.19Haec sibi proposuit thalamos temerare pudicos; §1.8.20Nec tamen eloquio lingua nocente caret.
She has set it as her purpose to defile chaste marriages; nor does her tongue lack a harmful eloquence.
§1.8.21Fors me sermoni testem dedit; illa monebat §1.8.22Talia — me duplices occuluere fores: §1.8.23'Scis here te, mea lux, iuveni placuisse beato?
Chance made me a witness to her speech; she was giving such advice — the double doors hid me: 'Do you know, my light, that yesterday you pleased a wealthy youth?
§1.8.24Haesit et in vultu constitit usque tuo.
He was transfixed and stood continually looking at your face.
§1.8.25Et cur non placeas? nulli tua forma secunda est;
And why should you not please?
§1.8.26Me miseram, dignus corpore cultus abest!
Your beauty is second to none; alas, poor me, the adornment worthy of your body is lacking!
I would wish that you were as fortunate as you are most beautiful — I will not be poor once you are made rich.
§1.8.29Stella tibi oppositi nocuit contraria Martis.
The opposing star of hostile Mars was hurting you.
§1.8.30Mars abiit; signo nunc Venus apta suo.
Mars has departed; now Venus is favorable in her own sign.
§1.8.31Prosit ut adveniens, en adspice! dives amator
Behold! See how her arrival may benefit you!
§1.8.32Te cupiit; curae, quid tibi desit, habet.
A wealthy lover has desired you; he cares about what you lack.
§1.8.33Est etiam facies, qua se tibi conparet, illi; §1.8.34Si te non emptam vellet, emendus erat. ' §1.8.35Erubuit.
He also has a face with which he may compare himself to you; if he did not wish to buy you, he himself would be worthy of being bought.' She blushed.
'decet alba quidem pudor ora, sed iste, §1.8.36Si simules, prodest; verus obesse solet.
'Blushing indeed becomes fair faces, but that blushing, if you simulate it, is useful; a real one is usually harmful.
§1.8.37Cum bene deiectis gremium spectabis ocellis, §1.8.38Quantum quisque ferat, respiciendus erit.
When you look at your lap with your eyes cast down, each man must be regarded according to how much he brings.
§1.8.39Forsitan inmundae Tatio regnante Sabinae §1.8.40Noluerint habiles pluribus esse viris; §1.8.41Nunc Mars externis animos exercet in armis, §1.8.42At Venus Aeneae regnat in urbe sui.
Perhaps during the reign of Tatius the filthy Sabine women did not wish to be compliant to several men; now Mars exercises minds in external arms, but Venus reigns in the city of her own Aeneas.
§1.8.43Ludunt formosae; casta est, quam nemo rogavit — §1.8.44Aut, si rusticitas non vetat, ipsa rogat.
Beautiful women play; she is chaste whom no one has asked — or, if rusticity does not forbid, she herself asks.
§1.8.45Has quoque, quae frontis rugas in vertice portant, §1.8.46Excute; de rugis crimina multa cadent.
Shake out those women also who carry wrinkles on the top of their forehead; from the wrinkles many crimes will fall.
Penelope was testing the strength of the youths with a bow; the bow of horn was that which would prove their vigor.
Fleeting time glides away secretly and deceives us, just as a swift river glides with its released waters.
§1.8.51Aera nitent usu, vestis bona quaerit haberi, §1.8.52Canescunt turpi tecta relicta situ — §1.8.53Forma, nisi admittas, nullo exercente senescit.
Bronzes shine with use, a good dress seeks to be worn, abandoned houses grow white with shameful neglect — beauty, unless you allow it, grows old with no one exercising it.
§1.8.54Nec satis effectus unus et alter habent; §1.8.55Certior e multis nec tam invidiosa rapina est.
Nor are one or two achievements enough; plunder from many is more secure and not so hateful.
§1.8.56Plena venit canis de grege praeda lupis.
Plentiful prey comes to old wolves from the flock.