I, the son of Priam, send you, daughter of Leda, this greeting, which can be granted to me only by your giving it to me.
Shall I speak, or is there no need of an indicator for a flame already known, and is my love already more visible than I would wish?
§16.5Ille quidem lateat malim, dum tempora dentur §16.6Laetitiae mixtos non habitura metus, §16.7Sed male dissimulo; quis enim celaverit ignem, §16.8Lumine qui semper proditur ipse suo?
Indeed I would prefer that it lie hidden, until times are given that will not have fears mixed with joy, but I conceal it poorly; for who could hide a fire which is always betrayed by its own light?
Yet if you expect me to add words to the facts also — "I burn!" You have the words that announce my mind.
Forgive, I pray, one who has confessed, nor read the rest with a harsh face, but with one suited to your beauty.
§16.13Iamdudum gratum est, quod epistula nostra recepta §16.14Spem facit, hoc recipi me quoque posse modo.
It has already been a source of gratitude that my letter, having been received, gives hope that I too can be received in this manner.
§16.15Quae rata sit, nec te frustra promiserit, opto, §16.16Hoc mihi quae suasit, mater Amoris, iter; §16.17Namque ego divino monitu — ne nescia pecces — §16.18Advehor, et coepto non leve numen adest.
I pray that this hope may be confirmed, and that she has not promised you to me in vain, she who urged this journey upon me, the mother of Love; For I, by divine counsel — lest you sin in ignorance — am sailing here, and no light divinity is present to my undertaking.
I demand great rewards indeed, but not unearned ones; Cytherea promised you to my marriage bed.
With her as leader, I made my doubtful way from the Sigean shore through long straits on a ship built by Phereclus.
She gave easy breezes and favorable winds — she who rose from the sea surely has power over the sea.
May she persist and, just as she aids the swelling of the sea, so may she aid that of my breast; and may she bring my desires also into their proper harbors.
§16.27Attulimus flammas, non hic invenimus, illas.
I brought my flames with me; I did not find them here.
§16.28Hae mihi tam longae causa fuere viae, §16.29Nam neque tristis hiemps neque nos huc appulit error; §16.30Taenaris est classi terra petita meae.
These were the cause of so long a journey for me, for neither a gloomy winter nor an error drove us hither; the Taenarian land was the goal sought by my fleet.
Do not believe that I cleave the sea with a ship carrying merchandise — may the gods protect the wealth I have!
Nor do I come as a spectator to Greek cities — the towns of my own kingdom are wealthier.
I seek you, whom golden Venus pledged for our marriage bed; I desired you before you were known to me.
I saw your features in my mind before I did with my eyes; the first rumor reporting you brought the wound.
Yet it is no wonder, if, since the bow is so powerful, I love, struck from afar by flying arrows.
So it pleased the fates; lest you try to tear these away, accept these words related with true faith.
I was still held in my mother's womb, with birth delaying; already her womb was heavy with its proper weight.
She seemed to herself, in the image of a dream, to bring forth a huge, flame-bearing torch from her full womb.
Terrified she rises up, and the fearsome vision of the dark night is reported to old Priam; he relates it to the prophets.
The prophet sings that Ilion will burn with the fire of Paris — that torch was the fire of my breast, as it is now!
My beauty and vigor of mind, though I seemed to be of the common people, was proof of hidden nobility.
§16.53Est locus in mediis nemorosae vallibus Idae §16.54Devius et piceis ilicibusque frequens, §16.55Qui nec ovis placidae nec amantis saxa capellae §16.56Nec patulo tardae carpitur ore bovis.
There is a place in the middle valleys of woody Ida, out of the way and crowded with pitch-pines and holm-oaks, which is grazed upon neither by the gentle sheep, nor by the rock-loving goat, nor by the wide mouth of the slow ox.
§16.57Hinc ego Dardaniae muros excelsaque tecta §16.58Et freta prospiciens arbore nixus eram — §16.59Ecce! pedum pulsu visa est mihi terra moveri — §16.60Vera loquar veri vix habitura fidem — §16.61Constitit ante oculos actus velocibus alis §16.62Atlantis magni Pleionesque nepos — §16.63Fas vidisse fuit, fas sit mihi visa referre! — §16.64Inque dei digitis aurea virga fuit; §16.65Tresque simul divae, Venus et cum Pallade Iuno, §16.66Graminibus teneros inposuere pedes.
From here I, looking out at the walls of Dardania and the high roofs and the sea, was leaning against a tree — Behold! by the tread of feet, the earth seemed to me to shake — I shall speak the truth, though it will hardly have the belief of truth — There stood before my eyes, driven on swift wings, the grandson of great Atlas and Pleione — it was permitted to have seen, may it be permitted to me to report what was seen! — and in the fingers of the god was the golden wand; and at the same time three goddesses, Venus, and Juno with Pallas, placed their tender feet upon the grass.
I was amazed, and cold horror had set my hair on end, when the winged messenger said to me, 'Lay aside your fear!
§16.69'Arbiter es formae; certamina siste dearum; §16.70Vincere quae forma digna sit una duas!' §16.71Neve recusarem, verbis Iovis imperat et se §16.72Protinus aetheria tollit in astra via.
You are the judge of beauty; end the contests of the goddesses; which single one is worthy to conquer the other two in beauty!' And lest I should refuse, he commands in the words of Jove, and straightway raises himself on the ethereal path into the stars.
My mind recovered, and suddenly boldness came, nor did I fear to observe each one with my gaze.
§16.75Vincere erant omnes dignae iudexque querebar
All were worthy to conquer, and I, as judge, complained