§1.8.57Ecce, quid iste tuus praeter nova carmina vates
Behold, what does that poet of yours, besides his new poems, give you?
§1.8.58Donat? amatoris milia multa leges.
You will read many thousands of sesterces from a wealthy lover.
Even the god of poets himself, conspicuous in his golden cloak, strikes the harmonious strings of his gilded lyre.
Let him who will give be greater to you than the great Homer; believe me, to give is an ingenious thing.
Nor should you, if anyone has been ransomed by the price of his head, despise him; that is an empty reproach of a chalked foot.
§1.8.65Nec te decipiant veteres circum atria cerae.
Nor let the old wax masks around the atrium deceive you.
§1.8.66Tolle tuos tecum, pauper amator, avos!
Take your ancestors with you, poor lover!
§1.8.67Qui, quia pulcher erit, poscet sine munere noctem, §1.8.68Quod det, amatorem flagitet ante suum!
He who, because he is handsome, demands a night without a gift, let him first beg his own lover for something to give!
Demand your price more sparingly while you are stretching your nets, lest they flee; once they are caught, burn them with your laws!
§1.8.71Nec nocuit simulatus amor; sine, credat amari, §1.8.72Et cave ne gratis hic tibi constet amor!
Nor does simulated love do harm; let him believe he is loved, and take care lest this love cost you nothing!
§1.8.73Saepe nega noctes.
Often deny nights.
capitis modo finge dolorem, §1.8.74Et modo, quae causas praebeat, Isis erit.
At one time feign a headache, and at another time, Isis will be the one to provide the reasons.
Soon receive him back, lest he gather any habit of enduring, and lest love, often repulsed, grow cold.
§1.8.77Surda sit oranti tua ianua, laxa ferenti; §1.8.78Audiat exclusi verba receptus amans; §1.8.79Et, quasi laesa prior, nonnumquam irascere laeso — §1.8.80Vanescit culpa culpa repensa tua.
Let your door be deaf to the one who entreats, but loose to the one who brings; let the admitted lover hear the words of the excluded one; and, as if you were the injured party first, sometimes get angry at the injured one — your own guilt vanishes when repaid by your false accusation.
But never give a spacious time for anger; prolonged anger often breeds serious enmities.
§1.8.83Quin etiam discant oculi lacrimare coacti, §1.8.84Et faciant udas illa vel ille genas; §1.8.85Nec, siquem falles, tu periurare timeto — §1.8.86Commodat in lusus numina surda Venus.
Nay, let your eyes even learn to weep by force, and let her or he make their cheeks wet; nor, if you deceive anyone, should you fear to perjure yourself — Venus lends deaf divinities to these lovers' games.
§1.8.87Servus et ad partes sollers ancilla parentur, §1.8.88Qui doceant, apte quid tibi possit emi; §1.8.89Et sibi pauca rogent — multos si pauca rogabunt, §1.8.90Postmodo de stipula grandis acervus erit.
Let a clever slave and an adroit maid be prepared for your role, who may instruct him what can be bought suitably for you; and let them ask a few things for themselves — if they ask a few things from many, afterwards there will be a huge heap from chaff.
§1.8.91Et soror et mater, nutrix quoque carpat amantem; §1.8.92Fit cito per multas praeda petita manus.
Let both sister and mother, and the nurse also, pluck the lover; a prey sought by many hands is quickly gathered.
When reasons for asking for gifts fail you, testify to your birthday with a sacrificial cake!
Take care lest he love securely with no rival; love does not last well if you take away the battles.
Let him see the traces of a man all over the bed, and your neck made black and blue with passionate marks.
§1.8.99Munera praecipue videat, quae miserit alter.
Let him especially see the gifts which another has sent.
§1.8.100Si dederit nemo, Sacra roganda Via est.
If no one has given any, the Sacred Way must be asked for a false one.
§1.8.101Cum multa abstuleris, ut non tamen omnia donet, §1.8.102Quod numquam reddas, commodet, ipsa roga!
When you have taken many things, so that he still does not give everything, ask him yourself to lend what you may never return!
§1.8.103Lingua iuvet mentemque tegat — blandire noceque; §1.8.104Inpia sub dulci melle venena latent.
Let your tongue assist and cover your mind — flatter and do harm; wicked poisons lie hidden beneath sweet honey.
§1.8.105Haec si praestiteris usu mihi cognita longo, §1.8.106Nec tulerint voces ventus et aura meas, §1.8.107Saepe mihi dices vivae bene, saepe rogabis, §1.8.108Ut mea defunctae molliter ossa cubent. ' §1.8.109Vox erat in cursu, cum me mea prodidit umbra, §1.8.110At nostrae vix se continuere manus, §1.8.111Quin albam raramque comam lacrimosaque vino §1.8.112Lumina rugosas distraherentque genas.
If you perform these things, known to me by long experience, and the wind and breeze do not carry away my words, you will often speak well of me while I live, and often pray that my bones may rest softly when I am dead.' Her voice was still in progress when my shadow betrayed me, and my hands scarcely restrained themselves from tearing her sparse white hair, her eyes tearful with wine, and her wrinkled cheeks.