§21.1Pertimui, scriptumque tuum sine murmure legi, §21.2Iuraret ne quos inscia lingua deos. §21.3Et, puto, captasses iterum, nisi, ut ipse fateris, §21.4Promissam scires me satis esse semel. §21.5Nec lectura fui, sed, si tibi dura fuissem, §21.6Aucta foret saevae forsitan ira deae. §21.7Omnia cum faciam, cum dem pia tura Dianae, §21.8Illa tamen iusta plus tibi parte favet, §21.9Utque cupis credi, memori te vindicat ira; §21.10Talis in Hippolyto vix fuit illa suo. §21.11At melius virgo favisset virginis annis, §21.12Quos vereor paucos ne velit esse mihi. §21.13Languor enim causis non apparentibus haeret; §21.14Adiuvor et nulla fessa medentis ope. §21.15Quam tibi nunc gracilem vix haec rescribere quamque §21.16Pallida vix cubito membra levare putas? §21.17Nunc timor accedit, ne quis nisi conscia nutrix §21.18Colloquii nobis sentiat esse vices. §21.19Ante fores sedet haec quid agamque rogantibus intus, §21.20Ut possim tuto scribere, 'dormit,' ait. §21.21Mox, ubi, secreti longi causa optima, somnus §21.22Credibilis tarda desinit esse mora, §21.23Iamque venire videt quos non admittere durum est, §21.24Excreat et dicta dat mihi signa nota. §21.25Sicut erant, properans verba inperfecta relinquo, §21.26Et tegitur trepido littera coepta sinu. §21.27Inde meos digitos iterum repetita fatigat; §21.28Quantus sis nobis adspicis ipse labor. §21.29Quo peream si dignus eras, ut vera loquamur; §21.30Sed melior iusto quamque mereris ego. §21.31Ergo te propter totiens incerta salutis §21.32Commentis poenas doque dedique tuis? §21.33Haec nobis formae te laudatore superbae §21.34Contingit merces? et placuisse nocet? §21.35Si tibi deformis, quod mallem, visa fuissem, §21.36Culpatum nulla corpus egeret ope; §21.37Nunc laudata gemo, nunc me certamine vestro §21.38Perditis, et proprio vulneror ipsa bono. §21.39Dum neque tu cedis, nec se putat ille secundum, §21.40Tu votis obstas illius, ille tuis. §21.41Ipsa velut navis iactor quam certus in altum §21.42Propellit Boreas, aestus et unda refert, §21.43Cumque dies caris optata parentibus instat, §21.44Inmodicus pariter corporis ardor adest — §21.45Ei mihi, coniugii tempus crudelis ad ipsum §21.46Persephone nostras pulsat acerba fores! §21.47Iam pudet, et timeo, quamvis mihi conscia non sim, §21.48Offensos videar ne meruisse deos. §21.49Accidere haec aliquis casu contendit, at alter §21.50Acceptum superis hunc negat esse virum; §21.51Neve nihil credas in te quoque dicere famam, §21.52Facta veneficiis pars putat ista tuis. §21.53Causa latet, mala nostra patent; vos pace movetis §21.54Aspera submota proelia, plector ego! §21.55Dic age nunc, solitoque tibi ne decipe more: §21.56Quid facies odio, sic ubi amore noces? §21.57Si laedis, quod amas, hostem sapienter amabis — §21.58Me, precor, ut serves, perdere, dire, velis! §21.59Aut tibi iam nulla est speratae cura puellae, §21.60Quam ferus indigna tabe perire sinis, §21.61Aut, dea si frustra pro me tibi saeva rogatur, §21.62Qua mihi te iactes, gratia nulla tua est. §21.63Elige, quid fingas: non vis placare Dianam — §21.64Inmemor es nostri; non potes — illa tui est! §21.65Vel numquam mallem vel non mihi tempore in illo §21.66Esset in Aegaeis cognita Delos aquis! §21.67Tunc mea difficili deducta est aequore navis, §21.68Et fuit ad coeptas hora sinistra vias.
was greatly afraid, and I read your letter without a whisper, my unwitting tongue should swear by any gods., I think, you would have tried to trap me again, unless, as you yourself admit, knew that my having been promised once was enough. was I going to read it; but if I had been hard towards you, wrath of the cruel goddess would perhaps have been increased. I do everything, though I offer pious incense to Diana, she favors you more than is just; as you wish to be believed, she champions you with mindful wrath; was scarcely such toward her own Hippolytus. the virgin goddess would better have favored a virgin's years, I fear she may wish to be few for me. a languor clings to me from no apparent causes;, exhausted, I am helped by no aid of the physician. frail do you think I am now who write this back to you, and how do you think I lift my limbs from my elbow with difficulty? fear is added, lest anyone except my accomplice nurse perceive the turns of our conversation. sits before the doors, and to those inside asking what I am doing, says "She is sleeping," so that I may write in safety., when sleep, the best excuse for a long secret, to be believable because of the long delay, now she sees coming those whom it is hard not to admit, clears her throat and gives me the agreed-upon sign. as they were, hurrying, I leave my unfinished words, the begun letter is hidden in my trembling bosom., taken up again, it tires my fingers; yourself see how great a labor you are to us. speak the truth, were you worth my dying for? I am better than is just, and than you deserve. it then on your account that, so often uncertain of health, pay and have paid penalties for your deceits? this the reward that falls to us for the beauty you praise? does it hurt to have pleased? I had seemed ugly to you, which I would have preferred, criticized body would need no aid; praised, I groan; now you two destroy me by your struggle, I myself am wounded by my own good. neither do you yield, nor does he think himself second, block his wishes, and he blocks yours. myself am tossed like a ship which a steady North Wind into the deep, and the tide and wave bring back, when the day desired by my dear parents draws near, immoderate heat of the body is likewise present — me, at the very time of the marriage cruel knocks at our doors! I am ashamed, and I fear, although I am not conscious of any guilt, I should seem to have deserved the offended gods. contends that these things happen by chance, but another that this husband is accepted by the gods; lest you believe that rumor says nothing of you too, part thinks those things were done by your poisonings. cause is hidden, our ills are plain; you, with peace removed, up sharp battles, and I am punished!, speak now, and do not deceive in your accustomed manner: will you do in hate, when you hurt thus in love? you hurt what you love, you will wisely love an enemy — pray, dire one, that you would wish to destroy me, so that you may preserve me! you now have no care for the hoped-for girl,, wild man, you allow to perish by an undeserved wasting,, if the cruel goddess is petitioned for me by you in vain, is no favor of yours for which you may boast to me. what you would feign: you do not wish to appease Diana — are unmindful of us; you cannot — she is yours! would either never, or not at that time, had been known to me in Aegean waters! was my ship drawn down into the difficult sea, the hour was sinister for the begun paths. what foot did I advance!
§21.69Quo pede processi! quo me pede limine movi! §21.70Picta citae tetigi quo pede texta ratis! §21.71Bis tamen adverso redierunt carbasa vento — §21.72Mentior, a demens! ille secundus erat!
With what foot did I move myself from the threshold! what foot did I touch the painted decks of the swift vessel! twice the sails returned because of an opposing wind — lie, ah mad one!
§21.73Ille secundus erat qui me referebat euntem, §21.74Quique parum felix inpediebat iter. §21.75Atque utinam constans contra mea vela fuisset — §21.76Sed stultum est venti de levitate queri. §21.77Mota loci fama properabam visere Delon §21.78Et facere ignava puppe videbar iter. §21.79Quam saepe ut tardis feci convicia remis, §21.80Questaque sum vento lintea parca dari!
That wind was favorable! wind was favorable which brought me back as I was going, which hindered my too little fortunate journey. would that it had been constant against my sails — it is foolish to complain of the lightness of the wind. by the fame of the place, I was hastening to visit Delos, seemed to make my journey on a sluggish ship. often did I make reproaches to the slow oars as if they were too tardy, complained that scanty sails were given to the wind!