Humanitext Reader

Ovid · The Loves §2.13.1-2.13.28

Prayer to Isis to Save Corinna After an Abortion

Passage 31 of 53 · Latin

Summary

The poet prays to the goddess Isis and the childbirth goddess Ilithyia to save Corinna, who lies in life-threatening danger after attempting a secret abortion.

§2.13.1Dum labefactat onus gravidi temeraria ventris, §2.13.2In dubio vitae lassa Corinna iacet.
While rashly she undermines the burden of her pregnant womb, weary Corinna lies in danger of her life.
§2.13.3Illa quidem clam me tantum molita pericli §2.13.4Ira digna mea; sed cadit ira metu.
She indeed, having attempted so great a danger secretly from me, is worthy of my anger; but my anger subsides through fear.
§2.13.5Sed tamen aut ex me conceperat — aut ego credo; §2.13.6Est mihi pro facto saepe, quod esse potest.
But yet, either she had conceived from me—or so I believe; to me, what can be is often as a fact.
§2.13.7Isi, Paraetonium genialiaque arva Canopi §2.13.8Quae colis et Memphin palmiferamque Pharon, §2.13.9Quaque celer Nilus lato delapsus in alveo §2.13.10Per septem portus in maris exit aquas, §2.13.11Per tua sistra precor, per Anubidis ora verendi — §2.13.12Sic tua sacra pius semper Osiris amet, §2.13.13Pigraque labatur circa donaria serpens, §2.13.14Et comes in pompa corniger Apis eat! §2.13.15Huc adhibe vultus, et in una parce duobus!
Isis, you who inhabit Paraetonium and the genial fields of Canopus, and Memphis, and palm-bearing Pharos, and where the swift Nile, gliding down in its wide bed, goes out into the waters of the sea through seven mouths, by your sistrums I pray, by the face of revered Anubis— so may pious Osiris always love your sacred rites, and may the sluggish serpent glide around the altar-offerings, and may horned Apis go as companion in the procession!— hither turn your face, and in one spare two!
§2.13.16Nam vitam dominae tu dabis, illa mihi.
For you will give life to my mistress, and she to me.
§2.13.17Saepe tibi sedit certis operata diebus, §2.13.18Qua cingit laurus Gallica turma tuas.
Often she sat, occupied in your service on fixed days, where the Gallic troop surrounds your laurels.
§2.13.19Tuque laborantes utero miserata puellas, §2.13.20Quarum tarda latens corpora tendit onus, §2.13.21Lenis ades precibusque meis fave, Ilithyia!
And you, having pitied girls laboring with the womb, whose slow bodies the hidden burden distends, be present gently and favor my prayers, Ilithyia!
§2.13.22Digna est, quam iubeas muneris esse tui.
She is worthy for you to command her to be of your favor.
§2.13.23Ipse ego tura dabo fumosis candidus aris, §2.13.24Ipse feram ante tuos munera vota pedes.
I myself, in white, will give incense to the smoking altars, I myself will bring the promised gifts before your feet.
§2.13.25Adiciam titulum: 'servata Naso Corinna!' §2.13.26Tu modo fac titulo muneribusque locum.
I will add the inscription: 'Corinna saved, Naso [dedicated this]!' You only make a place for the inscription and the gifts.
§2.13.27Si tamen in tanto fas est monuisse timore, §2.13.28Hac tibi sit pugna dimicuisse satis!
If, however, in so great a fear it is lawful to have warned, let it be enough for you to have fought in this battle!

Notes

  1. 2.13.3clam me tantum molita pericli — The adverb `clam`, functioning prepositionsly, takes the accusative `me` to mean 'secretly from me'. `tantum` acts as the object of `molita [est]`, taking the partitive genitive `pericli` (a syncope of `periculi`) to mean 'so great a danger'. `molita` is a perfect participle of a deponent verb, here functioning as a finite verb with the omission of `est`.
  2. 2.13.12Sic tua sacra pius semper Osiris amet — A hortatory/optative subjunctive (`amet`) introduced by `sic` in a formulaic oath or prayer, meaning 'so may pious Osiris always love your sacred rites' (contingent on the goddess granting the prayer). The subjunctives `labatur` in line 13 and `eat` in line 14 share this same optative syntax.
  3. 2.13.15in una parce duobus — The feminine ablative singular `una` contextually refers to Corinna (`domina`), meaning 'in [saving] one woman'. The verb `parcere` governs the dative (`duobus`), meaning 'spare two'. As explained in the following line (16), saving Corinna is equivalent to saving the poet's own life, hence the 'two'.
  4. 2.13.22Digna est, quam iubeas muneris esse tui — The adjective `digna` is followed by a relative clause of characteristic/result with the subjunctive `iubeas` (`dignus est qui` + subjunctive), meaning 'she is worthy that you should command...'. Within this clause, `muneris esse tui` is a predicate genitive of possession or characteristic, meaning 'to be of your favor/charge'.
  5. 2.13.28Hac tibi sit pugna dimicuisse satis — The subject of the sentence is the perfect infinitive `dimicuisse` ('to have fought/finished fighting'). `satis sit` is a jussive/optative subjunctive meaning 'let it be enough'. `tibi` is a dative of reference ('for you'). `hac pugna` is an ablative of means or place ('in this battle'). This is the poet's warning address to Corinna, pleading that this dangerous ordeal (the abortion) be her last.

Cite this passage

Ovid, The Loves §2.13.1-2.13.28. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi001.humanitext-lat2:2.13.1-2.13.28

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.