Thessalian Laodamia sends health, and lovingly prays that it may go whither it is sent, to her Thessalian husband.
§13.3Aulide te fama est vento retinente morari.
There is a rumor that you are delaying at Aulis, because the wind holds you back.
§13.4At me cum fugeres, hic ubi ventus erat?
But when you were fleeing from me, where was this wind?
Then the seas ought to have opposed your oars; that was the useful time for the cruel waters.
I would have given more kisses and more instructions to my husband; and there are many things which I wanted to say to you.
§13.9Raptus es hinc praeceps, et qui tua vela vocaret, §13.10Quem cuperent nautae, non ego, ventus erat; §13.11Ventus erat nautis aptus, non aptus amanti.
You were snatched hence headlong, and there was a wind to call your sails, which the sailors desired, not I; It was a wind suitable for sailors, not suitable for one who loves.
§13.12Solvor ab amplexu, Protesilae, tuo, §13.13Linguaque mandantis verba inperfecta reliquit; §13.14Vix illud potui dicere triste 'vale!' §13.15Incubuit Boreas abreptaque vela tetendit, §13.16Iamque meus longe Protesilaus erat.
I am torn from your embrace, Protesilaus, and the tongue of her who gave her charges left her words unfinished; scarcely was I able to say that sad "farewell!" Boreas fell upon them and stretched the snatched-away sails, and already my Protesilaus was far away.
§13.17Dum potui spectare virum, spectare iuvabat, §13.18Sumque tuos oculos usque secuta meis; §13.19Ut te non poteram, poteram tua vela videre, §13.20Vela diu vultus detinuere meos.
While I could look at my husband, it was a joy to look, and I followed your eyes continuously with my own; when I could no longer see you, I could see your sails; the sails for a long time held my gaze.
§13.21At postquam nec te nec vela fugacia vidi, §13.22Et quod spectarem nil nisi pontus erat, §13.23Lux quoque tecum abiit, tenebrisque exanguis obortis §13.24Succiduo dicor procubuisse genu.
But after I saw neither you nor the fleeing sails, and there was nothing to look at except the sea, light also departed with you, and, pale as darkness rose, I am said to have fallen on sinking knee.
§13.25Vix socer Iphiclus, vix me grandaevus Acastus, §13.26Vix mater gelida maesta refecit aqua; §13.27Officium fecere pium, sed inutile nobis.
Scarcely did my father-in-law Iphiclus, scarcely aged Acastus, scarcely my sorrowing mother revive me with cold water; they performed a loving duty, but useless to me.
§13.28Indignor miserae non licuisse mori!
I am indignant that it was not permitted for wretched me to die!
§13.29Ut rediit animus, pariter rediere dolores.
As my mind returned, equally returned my pains.
§13.30Pectora legitimus casta momordit amor.
Lawful love bit my chaste breast.
I have no care to offer my hair to be combed, nor is it pleasing for my body to be covered with golden garments.
Like those whom the Two-horned god is believed to have touched with his vine-clad spear, I go hither and thither, wherever madness drives.
§13.35Conveniunt matres Phylaceides et mihi clamant: §13.36'Indue regales, Laudamia, sinus!' §13.37Scilicet ipsa geram saturatas murice lanas, §13.38Bella sub Iliacis moenibus ille geret?
The matrons of Phylace assemble and cry out to me: "Put on your royal robes, Laodamia!" Am I myself to wear wools saturated with purple dye, while he wages war under the walls of Ilium?
§13.39Ipsa comas pectar, galea caput ille premetur?
Am I to have my hair combed, while his head is pressed by a helmet?
§13.40Ipsa novas vestes, dura vir arma feret?
Am I to wear new clothes, while my husband bears hard armor?
In what way I can, imitating your labors by my unkempt state, let me be spoken of, and I will spend these times of war in sadness.
Ill-starred Paris, son of Priam, beautiful to the ruin of your people, may you be as cowardly an enemy as you were a bad guest!
Would that you had disliked the face of the Spartan bride, or that your own had displeased her!
You, Menelaus, who toil too much for her who was snatched away, alas to me, how tearful an avenger you will be to so many!
Gods, I pray, remove the ill omen from us, and let my husband dedicate his arms to Jupiter of Return!
But I fear, whenever that wretched war comes to mind; my tears flow like snow melting in the sun.
Ilium, and Tenedos, and Simois, and Xanthus, and Ida — these are names to be feared almost by their very sound.
Nor would that guest have dared to snatch her, unless he could defend himself; he was a guest, and he knew his own strength.
§13.57Venerat, ut fama est, multo spectabilis auro §13.58Quique suo Phrygias corpore ferret opes, §13.59Classe virisque potens, per quae fera bella geruntur — §13.60Et sequitur regni pars quotacumque sui?
He had come, as the rumor is, conspicuous with much gold, and as one who bore Phrygian wealth on his very person, powerful in fleet and men, by which fierce wars are waged — and did only some small fraction of his kingdom follow him?
By these things, daughter of Leda and sister to the twins, I suspect you were conquered; these things, I think, are able to harm the Greeks.
Hector, whoever he is, if I am a care to you, beware of him; keep his name engraved on your mindful heart!
§13.67Hunc ubi vitaris, alios vitare memento §13.68Et multos illic Hectoras esse puta; §13.69Et facito dicas, quotiens pugnare parabis: §13.70'Parcere me iussit Laodamia sibi. ' §13.71Si cadere Argolico fas est sub milite Troiam, §13.72Te quoque non ullum vulnus habente cadet.
When you have avoided him, remember to avoid others, and believe that there are many Hectors there; and see that you say, whenever you prepare to fight: "Laodamia commanded me to spare myself for her." If it is fated that Troy fall under the Argive soldier, it will fall even with you receiving no wound.
Let Menelaus fight and press against the opposing enemies; the bride must be sought by her husband from the midst of the enemies.
Your cause is different; fight only that you may live, and be able to return to the devoted bosom of your mistress.
Trojans, I pray, spare one out of so many enemies, lest my blood flow from that body!
§13.81Non est quem deceat nudo concurrere ferro, §13.82Saevaque in oppositos pectora ferre viros; §13.83Fortius ille potest multo, quam pugnat, amare.
He is not one whom it becomes to clash with naked iron, or to bear a fierce breast against opposing men; he is able to love much more strongly than he fights.
§13.84Bella gerant alii; Protesilaus amet!
Let others wage wars; let Protesilaus love!