§17.135Ergo ego sum virtus, ego sum tibi nobile regnum!
Therefore, I am your virtue, I am your noble kingdom!
§17.136Ferrea sim, si non hoc ego pectus amem.
I would be made of iron, if I did not love this heart.
Trust me, I am not made of iron; but I struggle against loving him whom I think can scarcely become mine.
§17.139Quid bibulum curvo proscindere litus aratro, §17.140Spemque sequi coner quam locus ipse negat?
Why should I attempt to plow the thirsty shore with a curved plow, and pursue a hope which the place itself denies?
§17.141Sum rudis ad Veneris furtum, nullaque fidelem — §17.142Di mihi sunt testes — lusimus arte virum.
I am inexperienced in the thefts of Venus, and I have never deceived a faithful husband by any art — the gods are my witnesses.
§17.143Nunc quoque, quod tacito mando mea verba libello, §17.144Fungitur officio littera nostra novo.
Even now, in committing my words to a silent letter, my writing performs a novel task.
Happy are those who have experience! I, ignorant of such matters, suspect that the path of fault is difficult.
§17.147Ipse malo metus est; iam nunc confundor, et omnes §17.148In nostris oculos vultibus esse reor.
Fear itself is an evil; already now I am confused, and I think all eyes are upon my face.
Nor do I think this falsely; I have sensed the evil murmurs of the crowd, and Aethra has reported certain remarks to me.
§17.151At tu dissimula, nisi si desistere mavis!
But you, disguise it, unless indeed you prefer to desist!
§17.152Sed cur desistas? dissimulare potes.
But why should you desist? You can disguise it.
Play, but secretly! A greater, though not the greatest, liberty has been given to us because Menelaus is away.
§17.155Ille quidem procul est, ita re cogente, profectus; §17.156Magna fuit subitae iustaque causa viae — §17.157Aut mihi sic visum est.
He indeed has set out far away, as circumstances compelled; great and just was the cause of his sudden journey — or so it seemed to me.
ego, cum dubitaret an iret, §17.158'Quam primum,' dixi, 'fac rediturus eas!' §17.159Omine laetatus dedit oscula, 'res' que 'domusque §17.160Et tibi sit curae Troicus hospes,' ait. §17.161Vix tenui risum, quem dum conpescere luctor, §17.162Nil illi potui dicere praeter 'erit. ' §17.163Vela quidem Creten ventis dedit ille secundis;
When he was doubting whether to go, I said: "Make sure you go, intending to return as soon as possible!" Rejoiced by the omen, he gave me kisses and said: "Let our property, our home, and the Trojan guest be your care." I could scarcely hold back my laughter, and while I struggled to suppress it, I could say nothing to him except "It shall be." He indeed gave his sails to the favorable winds for Crete; but do not think for that reason that everything is allowed!
§17.164Sed tu non ideo cuncta licere puta! §17.165Sic meus hinc vir abest ut me custodiat absens — §17.166An nescis longas regibus esse manus?
My husband is absent from here in such a way that he guards me while absent — or do you not know that kings have long hands?
Beauty is also a burden; for the more constantly we are praised by your mouth, the more justly he fears.
§17.169Quae iuvat, ut nunc est, eadem mihi gloria damno est, §17.170Et melius famae verba dedisse fuit.
The same glory which pleases me, as things are now, is a detriment to me, and it would have been better to have deceived my reputation.
Nor wonder that he is absent, leaving me here with you; he trusted in my character and my life.
He fears for my face, he confides in my life; and my honesty makes him secure, my beauty makes him fear.
You urge that the times offered of their own accord should not perish, and that we should use the convenience of a simple husband.
§17.177Et libet et timeo, nec adhuc exacta voluntas §17.178Est satis; in dubio pectora nostra labant.
I both wish to and I fear, nor is my will yet sufficiently determined; in doubt my heart wavers.
§17.179Et vir abest nobis, et tu sine coniuge dormis, §17.180Inque vicem tua me, te mea forma capit; §17.181Et longae noctes, et iam sermone coimus, §17.182Et tu, me miseram! blandus, et una domus.
And my husband is absent from us, and you sleep without a wife, and in turn your beauty captures me, and mine captures you; and the nights are long, and already we meet in speech, and you — ah, wretched me! — are flattering, and there is one house.
And may I perish if all things do not invite fault; yet I myself am held back by some unknown fear!
§17.185Quod male persuades, utinam bene cogere posses!
What you badly persuade, would that you could well compel!
§17.186Vi mea rusticitas excutienda fuit.
By force my rustic modesty should have been shaken off.
§17.187Utilis interdum est ipsis iniuria passis.
Injury is sometimes useful to the sufferers themselves.
§17.188Sic certe felix esse coacta forem.
Thus indeed, being compelled, I would have been happy.
§17.189Dum novus est, potius coepto pugnemus amori!
While it is new, let us rather fight against the love we have begun!
§17.190Flamma recens parva sparsa residit aqua.
A fresh flame subsides when sprinkled with a little water.
§17.191Certus in hospitibus non est amor; errat, ut ipsi, §17.192Cumque nihil speres firmius esse, fugit.
Love in guests is not certain; it wanders, like they themselves, and when you hope nothing is firmer, it flees.
Hypsipyle is a witness, the Minoan maiden is a witness, each deceived in unprovided marriage beds.
You also, faithless one, are said to have abandoned your Oenone, beloved through many years.
Nor yet do you deny it yourself; and to inquire into everything about you, if you do not know it, was my greatest care.
§17.199Adde, quod, ut cupias constans in amore manere,
Add, that, though you should desire to remain constant in love,