By chance, the royal maiden was in the same chamber; she, by physical union, discovered him to be a man.
§1.699Viribus illa quidem victa est, ita credere oportet: §1.700Sed voluit vinci viribus illa tamen.
She indeed was conquered by force, so one must believe: yet she still wished to be conquered by force.
§1.701Saepe 'mane!' dixit, cum iam properaret Achilles; §1.702Fortia nam posita sumpserat arma colo.
Often she said "Stay!", when Achilles was already hastening; for he had taken up strong arms, his distaff laid aside.
Where is that force now? Why with sweet voice do you delay the author of your defilement, Deidamia?
To be sure, just as it is a shame to have begun first, so it is pleasing to endure when another begins.
Ah! too great is a youth's confidence in his own beauty, if anyone waits until she asks first.
Let the man approach first, let the man speak entreating words: she will kindly receive his sweet prayers.
That you may possess her, ask: she only desires to be asked; give the cause and the beginning of your desire.
Jupiter used to go as a suppliant to ancient heroines: no maiden seduced the great Jupiter.
If, however, you perceive that from your prayers proud disdain grows, spare your undertaking and retreat.
What flees, many women desire; they hate what presses hard; remove your offensiveness by pressing more gently.
Nor is the hope of love always to be declared by the asker: let love enter covered under the name of friendship.
By this approach I have seen a strict girl deceived: he who had been a companion had become a lover.
§1.723Candidus in nauta turpis color, aequoris unda §1.724Debet et a radiis sideris esse niger: §1.725Turpis et agricolae, qui vomere semper adunco §1.726Et gravibus rastris sub Iove versat humum.
A pale color is shameful in a sailor, he ought to be black from the sea-wave and the rays of the sun: shameful too in a farmer, who always turns the soil with the curved plow and heavy rakes under the sky.
And for you, who seek the glory of the crown of Pallas, if your body is white, you will be unsightly.
§1.729Palleat omnis amans: hic est color aptus amanti; §1.730Hoc decet, hoc stulti non valuisse putant.
Let every lover be pale: this is the color fit for a lover; this is becoming, though fools think this is of no avail.
Pale did Orion wander in the woods for Side, pale was Daphnis for the cold Naiad.
Let thinness also prove your mind: nor think it shameful to have put a hood over your shining hair.
Sleepless nights, care, and the pain which arises in a great love, thin the bodies of young men.
§1.737Ut voto potiare tuo, miserabilis esto, §1.738Ut qui te videat, dicere possit 'amas. ' §1.739Conquerar, an moneam mixtum fas omne nefasque?
That you may gain your wish, be miserable, so that whoever sees you may be able to say, "You are in love." Shall I lament, or advise that all right and wrong is mixed?
§1.740Nomen amicitia est, nomen inane fides.
Friendship is but a name, trust is an empty name.
§1.741Ei mihi, non tutum est, quod ames, laudare sodali; §1.742Cum tibi laudanti credidit, ipse subit.
Ah me, it is not safe to praise the one you love to a companion; when he believes your praises, he himself steps in.
Yet the son of Actor did not defile the bed of Achilles: as far as Pirithous was concerned, Phaedra was chaste.
§1.745Hermionam Pylades quo Pallada Phoebus, amabat, §1.746Quodque tibi geminus, Tyndari, Castor, erat.
Pylades loved Hermione as Phoebus loved Pallas, and as twin Castor was to you, daughter of Tyndareus.
If anyone hopes for the same, let him hope that tamarisks will bear apples, and let him seek honey from the middle of the river.
§1.749Nil nisi turpe iuvat: curae sua cuique voluptas: §1.750Haec quoque ab alterius grata dolore venit.
Nothing pleases but what is base: each has his own pleasure as his care: this too comes pleasant from another's pain.
§1.751Heu facinus! non est hostis metuendus amanti;
Alas, the crime!
§1.752Quos credis fidos, effuge, tutus eris.
A lover has no enemy to fear; flee those whom you believe faithful, and you will be safe.
Beware of kinsman, brother, and dear companion: this crowd will provide you with true fears.
I was about to finish, but women's hearts are diverse: capture a thousand minds in a thousand ways.
Nor does the same earth produce all things; this land is suited for vines, that for olives; in this one, grain grows green and well.
§1.759Pectoribus mores tot sunt, quot in ore figurae; §1.760Qui sapit, innumeris moribus aptus erit, §1.761Utque leves Proteus modo se tenuabit in undas, §1.762Nunc leo, nunc arbor, nunc erit hirtus aper.
There are as many characters in minds as there are shapes in faces; he who is wise will adapt himself to countless characters, and just as Proteus will now thin himself into light waves, now be a lion, now a tree, now a bristly boar.
Some fish are caught by the spear, others by hooks: others the hollow nets draw with tight rope.
Nor will one method suit you for all ages: an old hind will see the snare from further off.
If you seem learned to the simple, or bold to the modest, she will immediately distrust herself, poor thing.
Hence it happens that she who feared to commit herself to an honorable man, goes to the cheap embraces of an inferior.
§1.771Pars superat coepti, pars est exhausta laboris.
Part of the undertaken task remains, part is exhausted.
§1.772Hic teneat nostras ancora iacta rates.
Here let the cast anchor hold our ship.