§21.165Proicit ipse sua deductas fronte coronas, §21.166Spissaque de nitidis tergit amoma comis; §21.169At mihi, vae miserae! torrentur febribus artus §21.170Et gravius iusto pallia pondus habent, §21.171Nostraque plorantes video super ora parentes, §21.172Et face pro thalami fax mihi mortis adest.
He himself throws away the wreaths taken down from his own brow, and wipes the thick balsam from his shining hair; But as for me, alas, wretched me! my limbs are parched with fevers, and the coverlets have a weight heavier than is normal, and I see my weeping parents over my face, and instead of the torch of the bridal chamber, the torch of death is present to me.
Spare one who is suffering, goddess who rejoices in the painted quiver, and give me now the health-bringing aid of your brother.
It is shameful for you that he drives away the causes of death, while you, on the contrary, hold the credit for my death.
§21.177Numquid, in umbroso cum velles fonte lavari, §21.178Inprudens vultus ad tua labra tuli, §21.179Praeteriive tuas de tot caelestibus aras, §21.180Ave mea spreta est vestra parente parens?
Surely I did not, when you wished to bathe in a shady spring, imprudently turn my gaze to your bath, or did I pass by your altars among those of so many heavenly gods, or was my mother despised by your mother?
I have sinned in nothing, except that I read words of perjury and was instructed in a poem too little auspicious.
§21.183Tu quoque pro nobis, si non mentiris amorem, §21.184Tura feras; prosint, quae nocuere, manus!
You also, on my behalf, if you do not lie about your love, bring incense; let the hands which harmed be of benefit!
§21.185Cur, qui succenses quod adhuc tibi pacta puella §21.186Non tua sit, fieri ne tua possit, agis?
Why, you who are angry because the girl betrothed to you is not yet yours, do you act so that she cannot become yours?
Everything is to be hoped for by you from a living girl; why does the cruel goddess take away life from me, and the hope of me from you?
And do not believe that he, to whom I am destined as wife, cherishes my sick limbs with his hand placed upon them.
§21.191Adsidet ille quidem, quantum permittitur, ipse §21.192Sed meminit nostrum virginis esse torum.
Indeed he himself sits by my side, as much as is permitted, but he remembers that my bed is that of a virgin.
§21.193Iam quoque nescio quid de me sensisse videtur; §21.194Nam lacrimae causa saepe latente cadunt, §21.195Et minus audacter blanditur et oscula rara §21.196Applicat et timido me vocat ore suam.
Now also he seems to have perceived I know not what about me; for tears often fall, though the cause is hidden, and he coaxes less boldly, and bestows rare kisses, and calls me his own with a timid mouth.
§21.197Nec miror sensisse, notis cum prodar apertis; §21.198In dextrum versor, cum venit ille, latus, §21.199Nec loquor, et tecto simulatur lumine somnus, §21.200Captantem tactus reicioque manum.
And do not wonder that he has perceived, since I am betrayed by open signs; when he comes, I turn onto my right side, and do not speak, and sleep is feigned with closed eyes, and I reject his hand that seeks to touch me.
He groans and sighs in his silent breast, and holds me as offended, although he does not deserve it.
§21.203Ei mihi, quod gaudes, et te iuvat ista voluntas!
Ah me, that you rejoice, and that inclination of mine pleases you!
§21.204Ei mihi, quod sensus sum tibi fassa meos!
Ah me, that I have confessed my feelings to you!
But if there were any anger in me, you were more justly worthy of our anger, you who were setting nets for me.
§21.207Scribis, ut invalidum liceat tibi visere corpus.
You write, that you may be allowed to visit my weak body.
§21.208Es procul a nobis, et tamen inde noces.
You are far from us, and yet you do harm from there.
I used to wonder why your name was Acontius; you have a sharp point that inflicts a wound from afar.
Certainly I have not yet recovered from such a wound, as if struck from afar by a javelin, by your writings.
§21.213Quid tamen huc venias? sane miserabile corpus,
Yet why should you come here?
§21.214Ingenii videas magna tropaea tui!
You would see, to be sure, a pitiable body, the great trophies of your cleverness!
§21.215Concidimus macie; color est sine sanguine, qualem §21.216In pomo refero mente fuisse tuo, §21.217Candida nec mixto sublucent ora rubore.
I have wasted away with thinness; my color is without blood, such as I recall to have been on your apple, nor does my pale face shine with any mingled redness.
§21.218Forma novi talis marmoris esse solet; §21.219Argenti color est inter convivia talis, §21.220Quod tactum gelidae frigore pallet aquae.
Such is accustomed to be the appearance of new marble; such is the color of silver at banquets, which grows pale when touched by the cold of icy water.
§21.221Si me nunc videas, visam prius esse negabis, §21.222'Arte nec est,' dices, 'ista petita mea,' §21.223Promissique fidem, ne sim tibi iuncta, remittes, §21.224Et cupies illud non meminisse deam.
If you should see me now, you will deny that I am the one seen before, and you will say, "she was not sought by my art," and you will release the pledge of my promise, so that I might not be joined to you, and you will desire that the goddess not remember that.
Perhaps also you will make it so that I swear the opposite again, and will send me other words for me to read.
§21.227Sed tamen adsideas utinam, quod et ipse rogabas, §21.228Et videas sponsae languida membra tuae!
But yet, would that you sat by my side, which you yourself also were asking for, and saw the weak limbs of your betrothed!
So that, though your breast be already harder than iron, Acontius, you yourself would beg pardon for our words.
Yet lest you be ignorant by what aid I can recover, it is being asked of the god who sings fates at Delphi.
§21.233Is quoque nescio quam, nunc ut vaga fama susurrat, §21.234Neclectam queritur teste sorore fidem.
He too complains that some pledge has been neglected, as now a wandering rumor whispers, with his sister as witness.
This the god, this the prophets, this the uttered verses say — Ah! no deities are lacking to your vow!
§21.237Unde tibi favor hic? nisi si nova forte reperta est
Whence to you this favor?
§21.238Quae capiat magnos littera lecta deos.
Unless by chance some new letter has been discovered which, being read, captures the great gods.
§21.239Teque tenente deos numen sequor ipsa deorum, §21.240Doque libens victas in tua vota manus; §21.241Fassaque sum matri deceptae foedera linguae §21.242Lumina fixa tenens plena pudoris humo.
And since you hold the gods, I myself follow the divine power of the gods, and I willingly give my conquered hands to your vows; And I have confessed to my mother the covenants of my deceived tongue, keeping my eyes full of shame fixed on the ground.
§21.243Cetera cura tua est; plus hoc quoque virgine factum, §21.244Non timuit tecum quod mea charta loqui.
The rest is your care; and this too was done more than is fitting for a virgin, that my paper was not afraid to speak with you.
Now we have tired enough our weak limbs with the pen, and my sick hand refuses its duty any longer.