Humanitext Reader

Ovid · The Loves §2.7.1-2.7.28

Denial of an Affair with the Maid Cypassis

Passage 24 of 53 · Latin

Summary

The poet protests against his mistress's constant, jealous accusations and strongly asserts his innocence regarding the new charge of having an affair with her hairdresser maid, Cypassis, by pointing out the maid's low status and the risk of being exposed.

§2.7.1Ergo sufficiam reus in nova crimina semper?
Shall I then always suffice as the accused against new charges?
§2.7.2Ut vincam, totiens dimicuisse piget.
Even if I should win, it irks me to have fought so many times.
§2.7.3Sive ego marmorei respexi summa theatri, §2.7.4Eligis e multis, unde dolere velis; §2.7.5Candida seu tacito vidit me femina vultu, §2.7.6In vultu tacitas arguis esse notas.
Whether I have looked back at the top of the marble theater, you choose from many a one from whom you wish to feel pain; or if a fair woman has looked at me with a silent countenance, you declare that there are silent signals in her countenance.
§2.7.7Siquam laudavi, misero petis ungue capillos; §2.7.8Si culpo, crimen dissimulare putas.
If I have praised any woman, you claw at my wretched hair with your nails; if I find fault, you think I am trying to conceal a crime.
§2.7.9Sive bonus color est, in te quoque frigidus esse, §2.7.10Seu malus, alterius dicor amore mori.
Whether my color is good, I am said to be cold towards you too, or bad, I am said to be dying of love for another.
§2.7.11Atque ego peccati vellem mihi conscius essem!
And indeed I wish I were conscious of some sin!
§2.7.12Aequo animo poenam, qui meruere, ferunt; §2.7.13Nunc temere insimulas credendoque omnia frustra §2.7.14Ipsa vetas iram pondus habere tuam.
Those who have deserved punishment bear it with a calm mind; now you accuse me blindly, and by believing everything in vain, you yourself forbid your own anger to have weight.
§2.7.15Adspice, ut auritus miserandae sortis asellus §2.7.16Adsiduo domitus verbere lentus eat!
Look how the long-eared donkey of a pitiable lot, tamed by constant whipping, goes slowly along!
§2.7.17Ecce novum crimen! sollers ornare Cypassis
Look, a new charge!
§2.7.18Obicitur dominae contemerasse torum.
Cypassis, skilled at adorning hair, is accused of having defiled her mistress's bed.
§2.7.19Di melius, quam me, si sit peccasse libido, §2.7.20Sordida contemptae sortis amica iuvet!
May the gods grant better than that, if there should be a desire to sin, a low-born mistress of despised rank should please me!
§2.7.21Quis Veneris famulae conubia liber inire §2.7.22Tergaque conplecti verbere secta velit?
What free man would wish to enter into unions with a handmaid of Venus and to embrace a back scarred by the whip?
§2.7.23Adde, quod ornandis illa est operata capillis §2.7.24Et tibi perdocta est grata ministra manu — §2.7.25Scilicet ancillam, quae tam tibi fida, rogarem!
Add to this, that she is employed in adorning hair and is a handmaid pleasing to you for her highly skilled hand — Of course, I would solicit a maid who is so faithful to you!
§2.7.26Quid, nisi ut indicio iuncta repulsa foret?
What indeed, except that rejection would be accompanied by betrayal?
§2.7.27Per Venerem iuro puerique volatilis arcus, §2.7.28Me non admissi criminis esse reum!
I swear by Venus and the bow of her winged boy, that I am accused of a crime I have not committed!

Notes

  1. 2.7.2Ut vincam — The conjunction `ut` with the present subjunctive `vincam` expresses concession ("even if I should win"). Although a purpose interpretation ("in order that I win") is grammatically possible, the concessive sense fits the context better, indicating that the act of constant arguing is painful even when victorious.
  2. 2.7.9in te quoque frigidus esse — This infinitive phrase is part of the nominative-with-infinitive construction governed by `dicor` ("I am said") in the following line (§2.7.10). It stands in parallel with `mori` in §2.7.10, structuring the passage as: "I am said to be cold towards you if my color is good, and to be dying of love for another if my color is bad."
  3. 2.7.11vellem mihi conscius essem — The imperfect subjunctive `vellem` (from `volo`) is followed directly, without the conjunction `ut`, by another imperfect subjunctive `essem`. This expresses an unfulfilled wish in the present/past ("I wish I were conscious of some sin [though I am not]").
  4. 2.7.19Di melius — An idiomatic ellipsis of the verb (such as `faciant` or `duint`), meaning "May the gods grant better!" used to express strong denial or aversion. The comparative conjunction `quam` introduces the following clause with the optative/hortative subjunctive `iuvet` (§2.7.20).
  5. 2.7.26Quid, nisi ut ... foret — The main verb of the clause (such as `sequeretur` or `accideret` meaning "what would follow") is omitted. The entire phrase forms a rhetorical question: "What indeed would happen, except that rejection would be joined with betrayal?"

Cite this passage

Ovid, The Loves §2.7.1-2.7.28. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi001.humanitext-lat2:2.7.1-2.7.28

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