§18.149Nec sequor aut Helicen, aut, qua Tyros utitur, Arcton; §18.150Publica non curat sidera noster amor.
I follow neither Helice, nor the Arctos which Tyros uses; our love does not care for public stars.
§18.151Andromedan alius spectet claramque Coronam, §18.152Quaeque micat gelido Parrhasis Ursa polo; §18.153At mihi, quod Perseus et cum Iove Liber amarunt, §18.154Indicium dubiae non placet esse viae.
Let another gaze upon Andromeda and the bright Crown, and the Parrhasian Bear which gleams in the icy pole; but for me, those whom Perseus, and, along with Jupiter, Liber loved, do not please to be the guide of a doubtful way.
§18.155Est aliud lumen, multo mihi certius istis, §18.156Non errat tenebris quo duce noster amor; §18.157Hoc ego dum spectem, Colchos et in ultima Ponti, §18.158Quaque viam fecit Thessala pinus, eam, §18.159Et iuvenem possim superare Palaemona nando §18.160Morsaque quem subito reddidit herba deum.
There is another light, far more certain for me than those, with which as a guide our love does not wander in the darkness; as long as I gaze on this, I could go to the Colchians and to the furthest parts of Pontus, and along that path which the Thessalian pine made, and I could surpass in swimming the young Palaemon, and him whom the bitten herb suddenly made a god.
§18.161Saepe per adsiduos languent mea bracchia motus, §18.162Vixque per inmensas fessa trahuntur aquas.
Often my arms grow languid through constant movement, and weary, they are scarcely dragged through the boundless waters.
§18.163His ego cum dixi: 'pretium non vile laboris, §18.164Iam dominae vobis colla tenenda dabo,' §18.165Protinus illa valent, atque ad sua praemia tendunt, §18.166Ut celer Eleo carcere missus equus.
When I have said to these: "No cheap reward of your labor, now I will give you the neck of your mistress to be held," straightway they grow strong, and stretch toward their rewards, like a swift horse released from the Elean starting-gate.
Therefore, I myself preserve my love, by which I am burned, and follow you, a girl more worthy of heaven.
§18.169Digna quidem caelo es — sed adhuc tellure morare, §18.170Aut dic, ad superos et mihi qua sit iter!
You are indeed worthy of heaven — but tarry yet on earth, or tell me by what way there is a path for me too to the gods above!
You are here, yet you touch your wretched lover but scantily, and when the seas become troubled along with my mind.
§18.173Quid mihi, quod lato non separor aequore, prodest?
What does it profit me that I am not separated by a wide sea?
§18.174Num minus haec nobis tam brevis obstat aqua?
Does this so brief water hinder us any less?
Whether I should prefer, I doubt, removed far from the whole world, to have my mistress far away, and my hope far away as well.
§18.177Quo propius nunc es, flamma propiore calesco, §18.178Et res non semper, spes mihi semper adest.
The nearer you are now, the more I glow with a nearer flame, and reality is not always present to me, but hope is always.
§18.179Paene manu quod amo, tanta est vicinia, tango; §18.180Saepe sed, heu, lacrimas hoc mihi 'paene' movet!
I touch almost with my hand what I love, so great is the proximity; but often, alas, this "almost" moves me to tears!
What else is wishing than to try to grasp fleeing apples, to follow with one's mouth the hope of the retreating river?
§18.183Ergo ego te numquam, nisi cum volet unda, tenebo, §18.184Et me felicem nulla videbit hiemps, §18.185Cumque minus firmum nil sit quam ventus et unda, §18.186In ventis et aqua spes mea semper erit?
Shall I then never hold you, except when the wave wills, and will no winter see me happy, and since nothing is less firm than wind and wave, will my hope always be in the winds and the water?
§18.187Aestus adhuc tamen est.
Yet there is still heat.
quid, cum mihi laeserit aequor §18.188Plias et Arctophylax Oleniumque pecus?
What of when the sea is harmed by the Pleiad, and Arctophylax, and the Olenian beast?
§18.189Aut ego non novi, quam sim temerarius, aut me §18.190In freta non cautus tum quoque mittet amor; §18.191Neve putes id me, quod abest, promittere, tempus, §18.192Pignora polliciti non tibi tarda dabo.
Either I do not know how rash I am, or even then an incautious love will send me into the straits; and lest you think that I promise that time which is far off, I will give you no slow pledges of my promise.
§18.193Sit tumidum paucis etiamnunc noctibus aequor, §18.194Ire per invitas experiemur aquas; §18.195Aut mihi continget felix audacia salvo, §18.196Aut mors solliciti finis amoris erit!
Let the sea be swollen even now for a few nights, we shall try to go through the unwilling waters; either a happy boldness will befall me safe, or death will be the end of my anxious love!
§18.197Optabo tamen ut partis expellar in illas, §18.198Et teneant portus naufraga membra tuos; §18.199Flebis enim tactuque meum dignabere corpus §18.200Et 'mortis,' dices, 'huic ego causa fui!' §18.201Scilicet interitus offenderis omine nostri, §18.202Litteraque invisa est hac mea parte tibi.
Yet I shall wish to be cast upon those parts, and that my shipwrecked limbs may reach your ports; for you will weep, and deign to touch my body, and say, "I was the cause of death for this man!" Doubtless you are offended by the omen of our destruction, and this part of my letter is hateful to you.
§18.203Desino — parce queri! sed uti mare finiat iram,
I cease — spare your complaints!
§18.204Accedant, quaeso, fac tua vota meis.
But that the sea may end its wrath, join, I pray, make your vows with mine.
§18.205Pace brevi nobis opus est, dum transferor isto; §18.206Cum tua contigero litora, perstet hiemps!
We have need of a brief peace, while I am carried over to you; when I have touched your shores, let the winter rage on!
There is the fitting dockyard for our ship, and in no other water does my vessel stand better.
§18.209Illic me claudat Boreas, ubi dulce morari est!
There let Boreas shut me in, where it is sweet to linger!
§18.210Tunc piger ad nandum, tunc ego cautus ero, §18.211Nec faciam surdis convicia fluctibus ulla, §18.212Triste nataturo nec querar esse fretum.
Then I shall be sluggish to swim, then I shall be cautious, nor shall I utter any reproaches to the deaf waves, nor complain that the sea is harsh for one who is about to swim.
Let the winds and your soft arms hold me equally, and let me be hindered there by two causes!
When the winter permits, I shall use the oars of my body; only keep the light always in your sight!