§1.312Fertur, ut Aonio concita Baccha deo.
She is said to go, like a Bacchant excited by the Aonian god.
Ah, how often she looked at a heifer with a hostile countenance, and said, "Why does that one please my master?
§1.315Aspice, ut ante ipsum teneris exultet in herbis: §1.316Nec dubito, quin se stulta decere putet. ' §1.317Dixit, et ingenti iamdudum de grege duci §1.318Iussit et inmeritam sub iuga curva trahi, §1.319Aut cadere ante aras commentaque sacra coegit, §1.320Et tenuit laeta paelicis exta manu.
Look, how she leaps about in the tender grass before him: and I do not doubt but that the foolish creature thinks it becomes her." She spoke, and ordered her to be led from the huge herd at once, and the undeserving heifer to be dragged under the curved yoke, or forced her to fall before the altars and feigned sacrifices, and held the entrails of her rival in her joyful hand.
§1.321Paelicibus quotiens placavit numina caesis, §1.322Atque ait, exta tenens 'ite, placete meo!' §1.323Et modo se Europen fieri, modo postulat Io, §1.324Altera quod bos est, altera vecta bove.
How often she appeased the gods by slaughtering her rivals, and said, holding the entrails, "Go, please my master!" And now she demands that she become Europa, now Io: because one was a cow, and the other was carried by a bull.
Yet the leader of the herd, deceived by a maple heifer, filled her, and the father was betrayed by the birth.
§1.327Cressa Thyesteo si se abstinuisset amore §1.328(Et quantum est uno posse carere viro?), §1.329Non medium rupisset iter, curruque retorto §1.330Auroram versis Phoebus adisset equis.
If the Cretan woman had abstained from love for Thyestes (and how great a thing is it to be able to do without one man?), Phoebus would not have broken off his journey in the midst, and turning back his chariot, approached Aurora with reversed horses.
The daughter who stole Nisus' purple hair presses rabid dogs upon her groin and loins.
He who escaped Mars on land, Neptune in the waves, the son of Atreus, was the dire victim of his wife.
By whom has the flame of Ephyrean Creusa not been wept for, and the mother bloodstained by the slaughter of her children?
Phoenix, the son of Amyntor, wept through his empty eyes: frightened horses tore you apart, Hippolytus.
§1.339Quid fodis inmeritis, Phineu, sua lumina natis?
Why do you gouge out their own eyes from your undeserving sons, Phineus?
§1.340Poena reversura est in caput ista tuum.
That punishment will return upon your own head.
All those things were set in motion by female lust; it is fiercer than ours, and has more madness.
Therefore come, do not hesitate to hope for all girls; out of many, there will scarcely be one who says no to you.
§1.345Quae dant quaeque negant, gaudent tamen esse rogatae: §1.346Ut iam fallaris, tuta repulsa tua est.
Whether they give or deny, they still rejoice in being asked: Even if you should be mistaken, your rejection is safe.
But why should you be mistaken, since new pleasure is welcome, and other people's things captivate minds more than their own?
The harvest is always more fertile in another's fields, and the neighbor's herd has a larger udder.
But let it first be your care to know the maid of the girl to be captured: she will soften your approaches.
See to it that she is closest to her mistress's counsels, and a faithful confidante of her secret pleasures.
§1.355Hanc tu pollicitis, hanc tu corrumpe rogando: §1.356Quod petis, ex facili, si volet illa, feres.
Corrupt her with promises, corrupt her with entreaties: what you seek, you will obtain easily, if she wills it.
§1.357Illa leget tempus (medici quoque tempora servant) §1.358Quo facilis dominae mens sit et apta capi.
She will choose the time (physicians also observe times) when her mistress's mind is easy and fit to be captured.
The mind will be fit to be captured then, when, most joyful with circumstances, like a harvest in rich soil, it luxuriates.
§1.361Pectora dum gaudent nec sunt adstricta dolore, §1.362Ipsa patent, blanda tum subit arte Venus.
While hearts rejoice and are not constrained by grief, they lie open, then Venus enters with charming art.
When Ilium was sad, it was defended by arms: joyful, it received the horse pregnant with soldiers.
§1.365Tum quoque temptanda est, cum paelice laesa dolebit: §1.366Tum facies opera, ne sit inulta, tua.
Then also she should be tried, when she grieves, hurt by a rival: then see to it by your effort that she does not go unavenged.
§1.367Hanc matutinos pectens ancilla capillos §1.368Incitet, et velo remigis addat opem, §1.369Et secum tenui suspirans murmure dicat §1.370'At, puto, non poteras ipsa referre vicem. ' §1.371Tum de te narret, tum persuadentia verba §1.372Addat, et insano iuret amore mori.
Let the maid, combing her morning hair, incite her, and add the aid of an oar to the sail, and say to herself, sighing with a low murmur: "But, I think, you yourself could not pay him back in kind." Then let her speak of you, then let her add persuasive words, and swear that you are dying of a mad love.
But hasten, lest the sails fall and the breezes subside: like fragile ice, anger perishes with delay.
§1.375Quaeris, an hanc ipsam prosit violare ministram?
Do you ask whether it is useful to seduce this maid herself?
§1.376Talibus admissis alea grandis inest.
In such undertakings there is a great gamble.
This one becomes diligent from intercourse, that one slower, this one prepares you as a gift for her mistress, that one for herself.
The outcome is a matter of chance: although chance may favor the daring, yet my advice is to have abstained.
I will not go along precipices and sharp peaks, nor shall any of the youths be captured under my leadership.
§1.383Si tamen illa tibi, dum dat recipitque tabellas, §1.384Corpore, non tantum sedulitate placet, §1.385Fac domina potiare prius, comes illa sequatur: §1.386Non tibi ab ancilla est incipienda venus.
Yet if she pleases you, while she gives and receives tablets, by her body, and not only by her diligence, see to it that you possess the mistress first, let the maid follow as a companion: love must not be begun by you from the maid.