§2.11.1Prima malas docuit mirantibus aequoris undis §2.11.2Peliaco pinus vertice caesa vias, §2.11.3Quae concurrentis inter temeraria cautes §2.11.4Conspicuam fulvo vellere vexit ovem.
The pine cut down on the Pelian peak first taught evil paths to the wondering waves of the sea, which, reckless among the clashing rocks, carried the conspicuous sheep with the golden fleece.
O would that, so that no one might move the distant seas with an oar, the Argo, crushed, had drunk the fatal waters!
Look, Corinna flees her familiar bed and the friendly Penates, and prepares to go on treacherous ways.
How much for you, miserable me, shall I fear the West winds and East winds, and the cold North wind and the lukewarm South wind!
There you will not admire cities, nor will you admire forests; the blue form of the unjust sea is uniform.
§2.11.13Nec medius tenuis conchas pictosque lapillos §2.11.14Pontus habet; bibuli litoris illa mora est.
Nor does the middle of the deep possess delicate shells or painted pebbles; those are the amusement of the water-absorbing shore.
§2.11.15Litora marmoreis pedibus signate, puellae; §2.11.16Hactenus est tutum — cetera caeca via est.
Mark the shores with your marble feet, girls; thus far is safe — the rest of the way is blind.
§2.11.17Et vobis alii ventorum proelia narrent; §2.11.18Quas Scylla infestet, quasve Charybdis aquas; §2.11.19Et quibus emineant violenta Ceraunia saxis; §2.11.20Quo lateant Syrtes magna minorque sinu.
And let others tell you of the battles of the winds, what waters Scylla infests, or what waters Charybdis; and with what rocks the violent Ceraunian mountains stand out, and in what bay the great and lesser Syrtes lie hidden.
§2.11.21Haec alii referant ad vos; quod quisque loquetur,
Let others report these things to you; whatever each one says, believe it!
§2.11.22Credite! credenti nulla procella nocet.
No tempest harms the believer.
§2.11.23Sero respicitur tellus, ubi fune soluto §2.11.24Currit in inmensum panda carina salum; §2.11.25Navita sollicitus cum ventos horret iniquos §2.11.26Et prope tam letum, quam prope cernit aquam.
Too late is the land looked back upon, when, the cable loosed, the curved keel runs into the immense deep; when the anxious sailor dreads the hostile winds and sees death almost as close as he sees the water.
But if Triton should stir up the shaken waves, how there would be no color in your entire face!
§2.11.29Tum generosa voces fecundae sidera Ledae §2.11.30Et 'felix,' dicas 'quem sua terra tenet!' §2.11.31Tutius est fovisse torum, legisse libellos, §2.11.32Threiciam digitis increpuisse lyram.
Then you would call upon the noble stars of fertile Leda and say, 'Happy is he whom his own land holds!' It is safer to have kept the bed warm, to have read little books, and to have struck the Thracian lyre with your fingers.
§2.11.33At, si vana ferunt volucres mea dicta procellae, §2.11.34Aequa tamen puppi sit Galatea tuae!
But, if the swift tempests carry my empty words away, yet let Galatea be favorable to your ship!
The loss of such a girl will be your crime, Nereid goddesses and the father of the Nereids.
Go, mindful of us, destined to return with a favorable wind; let that stronger breeze fill your sails!
§2.11.39Tum mare in haec magnus proclinet litora Nereus; §2.11.40Huc venti spirent, huc agat aestus aquas!
Then let great Nereus tilt the sea toward these shores; hither let the winds blow, hither let the tide drive the waters!
May you yourself ask that the West winds come full into the sails, may you yourself move the swollen sails with your hand!
§2.11.43Primus ego adspiciam notam de litore puppim, §2.11.44Et dicam: 'nostros advehit illa deos!' §2.11.45Excipiamque umeris et multa sine ordine carpam §2.11.46Oscula.
I shall be the first to see the familiar ship from the shore, and say: 'She brings our gods!' And I shall receive her on my shoulders and snatch many kisses without order.
pro reditu victima vota cadet; §2.11.47Inque tori formam molles sternentur harenae, §2.11.48Et cumulus mensae quilibet esse potest.
The promised victim will fall for your return; and the soft sands will be spread in the form of a bed, and any mound of sand can be a table.
§2.11.49Illic adposito narrabis multa Lyaeo — §2.11.50Paene sit ut mediis obruta navis aquis; §2.11.51Dumque ad me properas, neque iniquae tempora noctis §2.11.52Nec te praecipites extimuisse Notos.
There, with wine placed nearby, you will tell many things — how the ship was almost overwhelmed in the middle of the waters; and how, while you were hastening to me, you feared neither the hours of the hostile night nor the precipitous South winds.
I shall believe everything as true, though it be made up — why should I not flatter my own wishes?