Is she adorned with gold? Let her be more precious to you than gold itself; if she has put on a rough cloak, praise the cloak she has put on.
If she stands clad only in a tunic, cry out "You stir up fires," but in a worried voice ask her to beware of the cold.
§2.303Conpositum discrimen erit, discrimina lauda: §2.304Torserit igne comam, torte capille, place. §2.305Brachia saltantis, vocem mirare canentis, §2.306Et, quod desierit, verba querentis habe.
If her hair is parted neatly, praise the parting; if she has curled her hair with heat, say, "Curled hair, you please me." Admire the arms of her dancing, the voice of her singing, and use the words of one complaining that she has stopped.
You may revere the very love-making, the very thing that pleases, and praise with your voice the joys she gives.
Even though she be more violent than grim Medusa, she will become gentle and kind to her lover.
Only make sure that you do not appear a pretender in those words, and do not destroy your words with your expression.
§2.313Si latet, ars prodest: adfert deprensa pudorem, §2.314Atque adimit merito tempus in omne fidem.
If it is hidden, art is useful; when detected, it brings shame and deservedly takes away trust for all time.
§2.315Saepe sub autumnum, cum formosissimus annus, §2.316Plenaque purpureo subrubet uva mero, §2.317Cum modo frigoribus premimur, modo solvimur aestu, §2.318Aëre non certo, corpora languor habet.
Often towards autumn, when the year is most beautiful and the full grape begins to redden with purple wine, when we are now oppressed by cold, now relaxed by heat, under an uncertain climate, a languor possesses our bodies.
§2.319Illa quidem valeat; sed si male firma cubarit, §2.320Et vitium caeli senserit aegra sui, §2.321Tunc amor et pietas tua sit manifesta puellae, §2.322Tum sere, quod plena postmodo falce metas.
Let her indeed be well; but if she should lie ill and weak, and, sick, feel the harm of her variable climate, then let your love and devotion be manifest to the girl; then sow what you may reap later with a full sickle.
Let no disgust for a fretful illness come upon you, and let those things which she herself permits be done by your hands.
And let her see you weeping, nor let it weary you to bring kisses, and let her drink in your tears with her dry lips.
Make many vows, but all openly; and as often as you like, have happy dreams which you may relate to her.
§2.329Et veniat, quae lustret anus lectumque locumque, §2.330Praeferat et tremula sulpur et ova manu.
And let an old woman come to purify both the bed and the room, and let her hold sulfur and eggs before her with a trembling hand.
In all these things there will be traces of welcome care; this path has made a way into wills for many men.
§2.333Nec tamen officiis odium quaeratur ab aegra: §2.334Sit suus in blanda sedulitate modus: §2.335Neve cibo prohibe, nec amari pocula suci §2.336Porrige: rivalis misceat illa tuus.
Yet let not hatred be sought from the sick girl by your attentions; let there be a proper limit in your flattering zeal; do not forbid her food, nor offer her cups of bitter juice: let your rival mix those things.
But you must not use the same wind to which you gave your sails from the shore, when you gain the middle of the sea.
While love wanders new, let it gather strength for itself by habit; if you nourish it well, it will be firm in time.
§2.341Quem taurum metuis, vitulum mulcere solebas: §2.342Sub qua nunc recubas arbore, virga fuit: §2.343Nascitur exiguus, sed opes adquirit eundo, §2.344Quaque venit, multas accipit amnis aquas.
The bull you fear, you used to stroke as a calf; the tree under which you now lie was once a twig; a river is born tiny, but acquires power by moving on, and wherever it goes, it receives many waters.
Make her grow accustomed to you; nothing is greater than habit; until you capture that, avoid no weariness.
Let her always see you, let her always lend you her ears; let night and day display your countenance.
§2.349Cum tibi maior erit fiducia, posse requiri, §2.350Cum procul absenti cura futurus eris, §2.351Da requiem: requietus ager bene credita reddit, §2.352Terraque caelestes arida sorbet aquas.
When you have greater confidence that you can be missed, when in your absence you will be a source of care to her, give her a rest: a rested field returns well what was entrusted to it, and the dry earth drinks up the heavenly waters.
Demophoon, being present, burned Phyllis more moderately; she blazed up more fiercely once his sails were set.
Absent, clever Ulysses tortured Penelope; thy Protesilaus, Laodamia, was far away.
§2.357Sed mora tuta brevis: lentescunt tempore curae, §2.358Vanescitque absens et novus intrat amor.
But a safe delay is short; cares grow cold with time, and the absent one vanishes, and a new love enters.
While Menelaus was away, Helen, lest she should lie alone, was received at night into the warm bosom of her guest.
§2.361Quis stupor hic, Menelaë, fuit? tu solus abibas,
What stupidity was this, Menelaus?
§2.362Isdem sub tectis hospes et uxor erant.
You went away alone; the guest and your wife were under the same roof.
§2.363Accipitri timidas credis, furiose, columbas?
Do you trust timid doves to a hawk, madman?
§2.364Plenum montano credis ovile lupo?
Do you trust a full sheepfold to a mountain wolf?
§2.365Nil Helene peccat, nihil hic committit adulter: §2.366Quod tu, quod faceret quilibet, ille facit.
Helen commits no sin, nor does this adulterer do any wrong; he does what you, what anyone would do.
You compel adultery by giving both time and place; what did the girl do but use your own advice?
§2.369Quid faciat? vir abest, et adest non rusticus hospes,
What should she do?
§2.370Et timet in vacuo sola cubare toro.
Her husband is away, and a polite guest is present, and she is afraid to sleep alone in an empty bed.
Let the son of Atreus see to it; I acquit Helen of crime; she made use of the convenience of a gentle man.