I have found every kind of wild beast more gentle than you; I was entrusted to no one worse than to you.
§10.3Quae legis, ex illo, Theseu, tibi litore mitto §10.4Unde tuam sine me vela tulere ratem, §10.5In quo me somnusque meus male prodidit et tu, §10.6Per facinus somnis insidiate meis.
Theseus, I send you what you are reading from that shore from which the sails carried your ship away without me, where both my sleep and you badly betrayed me, you who plotted against my sleep with crime.
It was the time when the earth is first sprinkled with glassy frost, and the birds, hidden by leaves, begin to complain.
§10.9Incertum vigilans ac somno languida movi §10.10Thesea prensuras semisupina manus — §10.11Nullus erat! referoque manus iterumque retempto,
Half-awake and languid with sleep, I moved my hands as I lay half-turned, about to grasp Theseus— he was not there!
§10.12Perque torum moveo bracchia — nullus erat!
I draw back my hands and try again, and move my arms across the bed—he was not there!
Fear shook off sleep; terrified, I rise, and my limbs were thrown headlong from the widowed bed.
Immediately, my chest resounded with my hands striking it, and my hair, as it was disheveled from sleep, was torn.
§10.17Luna fuit; specto, siquid nisi litora cernam.
There was a moon; I look to see if I can discern anything but shores.
§10.18Quod videant oculi, nil nisi litus habent.
My eyes have nothing to see except the shore.
§10.19Nunc huc, nunc illuc, et utroque sine ordine, curro; §10.20Alta puellares tardat harena pedes.
I run now here, now there, and to both sides without order; the deep sand delays my girlish feet.
§10.21Interea toto clamavi in litore 'Theseu!': §10.22Reddebant nomen concava saxa tuum, §10.23Et quotiens ego te, totiens locus ipse vocabat.
Meanwhile, I cried 'Theseus!' along the whole shore; the hollow rocks returned your name, and as often as I called you, the place itself called you.
§10.24Ipse locus miserae ferre volebat opem.
The place itself wished to bring help to the wretched woman.
§10.25Mons fuit — apparent frutices in vertice rari; §10.26Hinc scopulus raucis pendet adesus aquis.
There was a mountain—a few shrubs appear on its summit; from here a rock hangs, eaten away by the hoarse waves.
I ascend—my mind gave me strength—and thus, far and wide, I measure the deep seas with my gaze.
From there—for I also experienced cruel winds— I saw the sails stretched by the headlong South wind.
When I saw what I did not think was worthy of my seeing, I became colder than ice and half-dead.
Nor does pain allow me to languish long; I am aroused by it, I am aroused and call Theseus with the loudest voice.
§10.35'Quo fugis?' exclamo; 'scelerate revertere Theseu!
'Whither do you flee?' I exclaim; 'wicked Theseus, return!
§10.36Flecte ratem! numerum non habet illa suum!'
Turn back your ship!
It does not have its full number!' Thus I cried; what was lacking in my voice, I filled with beating; blows were mixed with my words.
§10.39Si non audires, ut saltem cernere posses, §10.40Iactatae late signa dedere manus; §10.41Candidaque inposui longae velamina virgae — §10.42Scilicet oblitos admonitura mei!
Even if you could not hear, so that at least you could see, my hands, tossed far and wide, gave signals; and I placed a white veil on a long pole, surely to remind those who had forgotten me!
§10.43Iamque oculis ereptus eras.
And already you had been snatched from my eyes.
tum denique flevi; §10.44Torpuerant molles ante dolore genae.
Then at last I wept; my soft cheeks had previously grown numb with pain.
What else could my eyes do but weep for myself, after I had ceased to see your sails?
§10.47Aut ego diffusis erravi sola capillis, §10.48Qualis ab Ogygio concita Baccha deo, §10.49Aut mare prospiciens in saxo frigida sedi, §10.50Quamque lapis sedes, tam lapis ipsa fui.
Either I wandered alone with disheveled hair, like a Bacchant aroused by the Ogygian god, or looking out at the sea, I sat cold on the rock, and I was as much a stone myself as the stone seat.
§10.51Saepe torum repeto, qui nos acceperat ambos, §10.52Sed non acceptos exhibiturus erat, §10.53Et tua, quae possum pro te, vestigia tango §10.54Strataque quae membris intepuere tuis.
Often I return to the bed that had received us both, but which was not going to show those whom it had received, and I touch your footprints, which is all I can do instead of you, and the blankets that grew warm from your limbs.
I lie upon them, and as the bed is wet with my shed tears, I exclaim: 'We two pressed you—return the two of us!
§10.57Venimus huc ambo; cur non discedimus ambo?
We both came here; why do we not both depart?
§10.58Perfide, pars nostri, lectule, maior ubi est?'
Treacherous little bed, where is the greater part of us?' What shall I do?
§10.59Quid faciam? quo sola ferar? vacat insula cultu.
Whither shall I be carried alone? The island is devoid of cultivation.
§10.60Non hominum video, non ego facta boum.
I see no works of men, nor of oxen.
The sea surrounds every side of the land; there is no sailor, no ship about to go through the doubtful paths.
§10.63Finge dari comitesque mihi ventosque ratemque —
Suppose companions, winds, and a ship were given to me— what shall I follow?
§10.64Quid sequar? accessus terra paterna negat.
My paternal land denies me access.
Even if I should glide through peaceful seas on a fortunate ship, even if Aeolus should calm the winds—I shall be an exile!
§10.67Non ego te, Crete centum digesta per urbes, §10.68Adspiciam, puero cognita terra Iovi, §10.69Ut pater et tellus iusto regnata parenti §10.70Prodita sunt facto, nomina cara, meo.
I shall not see you, Crete, divided into a hundred cities, the land known to infant Jupiter, since my father and the land ruled by my just parent were betrayed by my deed—dear names.
§10.71Cum tibi, ne victor tecto morerere recurvo, §10.72Quae regerent passus, pro duce fila dedi, §10.73Tum mihi dicebas: 'per ego ipsa pericula iuro, §10.74Te fore, dum nostrum vivet uterque, meam. '
When, so that you would not die as victor in the winding house, I gave you the thread as a guide to rule your steps, then you said to me: 'I swear by these very dangers that you will be mine as long as both of us live.'