Sulmo, a third part of the Paelignian countryside, holds me — a small region, but healthy with its well-watered streams.
§2.16.3Sol licet admoto tellurem sidere findat, §2.16.4Et micet Icarii stella proterva canis, §2.16.5Arva pererrantur Paeligna liquentibus undis, §2.16.6Et viret in tenero fertilis herba solo.
Although the sun cleaves the earth with the star brought near, and the bold star of the Icarian dog shines, the Paelignian fields are traversed by flowing waters, and the fertile grass is green in the soft soil.
§2.16.7Terra ferax Cereris multoque feracior uvis; §2.16.8Dat quoque baciferam Pallada rarus ager; §2.16.9Perque resurgentes rivis labentibus herbas §2.16.10Gramineus madidam caespes obumbrat humum.
A land fertile in grain and much more fertile in grapes; here and there a field also gives berry-bearing Pallas; and through the grass rising again with sliding streams, the grassy turf shades the wet ground.
§2.16.11At meus ignis abest.
But my fire is absent.
verbo peccavimus uno! — §2.16.12Quae movet ardores est procul; ardor adest.
In one word I have erred! — She who moves my passion is far away; the passion is here.
Even if I were placed between Pollux and Castor, I would not wish to be in that part of heaven without you.
§2.16.15Solliciti iaceant terraque premantur iniqua, §2.16.16In longas orbem qui secuere vias! — §2.16.17Aut iuvenum comites iussissent ire puellas, §2.16.18Si fuit in longas terra secanda vias!
Let them lie anxious and be pressed down by the hostile earth, who cut the world into long roads! — Or they should have ordered girls to go as companions to young men, if the earth had to be cut into long roads!
§2.16.19Tum mihi, si premerem ventosas horridus Alpes, §2.16.20Dummodo cum domina, molle fuisset iter.
Then for me, even if I, shivering, were treading the windy Alps, as long as I were with my mistress, the journey would have been soft.
With my mistress I would dare to break through the Libyan Syrtes and dare to give my sails to be borne by hostile South winds.
§2.16.23Non quae virgineo portenta sub inguine latrant, §2.16.24Nec timeam vestros, curva Malea, sinus; §2.16.25Non quae submersis ratibus saturata Charybdis §2.16.26Fundit et effusas ore receptat aquas.
Neither would I fear the monsters that bark beneath the virgin's groin, nor would I fear your bays, curved Malea; nor Charybdis, sated with sunken rafts, which pours forth and receives back in its mouth the spilled waters.
§2.16.27Quod si Neptuni ventosa potentia vincat, §2.16.28Et subventuros auferat unda deos, §2.16.29Tu nostris niveos umeris inpone lacertos; §2.16.30Corpore nos facili dulce feremus onus.
But if Neptune's windy power should conquer, and the wave should sweep away the gods who would have come to help, do you place your snow-white arms upon my shoulders; I will bear the sweet burden with an easy body.
§2.16.31Saepe petens Hero iuvenis transnaverat undas; §2.16.32Tum quoque transnasset, sed via caeca fuit.
Often the youth, seeking Hero, had swum across the waves; then too he would have swum across, but the way was blind.
§2.16.33At sine te, quamvis operosi vitibus agri §2.16.34Me teneant, quamvis amnibus arva natent, §2.16.35Et vocet in rivos currentem rusticus undam, §2.16.36Frigidaque arboreas mulceat aura comas, §2.16.37Non ego Paelignos videor celebrare salubres, §2.16.38Non ego natalem, rura paterna, locum — §2.16.39Sed Scythiam Cilicasque feros viridesque Britannos, §2.16.40Quaeque Prometheo saxa cruore rubent.
But without you, though fields busy with grapevines hold me, though the fields swim with rivers, and the peasant calls the running water into the brooks, and a cool breeze caresses the trees' leafy hair, I do not seem to be dwelling in the healthy Paelignian country, nor in my birthplace, my paternal countryside — but rather in Scythia, and among the fierce Cilicians and green Britons, and those rocks which are red with Prometheus' blood.
The elm loves the vine, the vine does not desert the elm; why am I so often separated from my mistress?
§2.16.43At mihi te comitem iuraras usque futuram — §2.16.44Per me perque oculos, sidera nostra, tuos!
Yet you had sworn to me that you would always be my companion — by me and by your eyes, our stars!
§2.16.45Verba puellarum, foliis leviora caducis, §2.16.46Inrita, qua visum est, ventus et unda ferunt.
The words of girls, lighter than falling leaves, the wind and the wave carry away, useless, wherever they please.
§2.16.47Siqua mei tamen est in te pia cura relicti, §2.16.48Incipe pollicitis addere facta tuis, §2.16.49Parvaque quamprimum rapientibus esseda mannis §2.16.50Ipsa per admissas concute lora iubas!
Yet if there is any affectionate care in you for me, left behind, begin to add deeds to your promises, and as soon as possible, with swift ponies drawing the small carriage, shake the reins yourself over their swift-galloping manes!