§2.522Isse foras, et te falsa videre puta.
Think that she has gone out, and think that you see false things.
If the promised door has been closed to you at night: endure even to place your body on the dirty ground.
§2.525Forsitan et vultu mendax ancilla superbo §2.526Dicet 'quid nostras obsidet iste fores?' §2.527Postibus et durae supplex blandire puellae, §2.528Et capiti demptas in fore pone rosas.
Perhaps even a lying maid with a proud face will say: "Why is that man besieging our doors?" Flatter the doorposts and the hard girl as a suppliant, and place the roses taken from your head on the door.
When she wishes, you will approach; when she avoids you, you will depart; it is unbecoming for free-born men to bear the tediousness of themselves.
§2.531'Effugere hunc non est' quare tibi possit amica
Why should your girlfriend be able to say to you, "There is no escaping this man"?
§2.532Dicere? non omni tempore sensus obest.
Good sense does not always stand in the way.
Do not think it shameful to bear the curses or the blows of a girl, nor to bring kisses to her tender feet.
§2.535Quid moror in parvis? Animus maioribus instat;
Why do I linger on small things?
§2.536Magna canam: toto pectore, vulgus, ades.
My mind presses on to greater matters; I will sing of great things: be present with all your heart, O crowd.
We attempt arduous things, but there is no virtue unless it is arduous: a difficult labor is demanded by our art.
Tolerate a rival patiently, and victory will stand with you: you will be the victor in the citadel of great Jove.
§2.541Haec tibi non hominem, sed quercus crede Pelasgas §2.542Dicere: nil istis ars mea maius habet.
Believe that not a man, but the Pelasgian oaks are telling these things to you: my art has nothing greater than these.
§2.543Innuet illa, feras; scribet, ne tange tabellas: §2.544Unde volet, veniat; quoque libebit, eat.
If she winks, endure it; if she writes, do not touch the tablets: let her come from where she wishes, let her go where she pleases.
Husbands grant this to a lawful wife, when you, gentle sleep, also come to their aid.
§2.547Hac ego, confiteor, non sum perfectus in arte; §2.548Quid faciam? monitis sum minor ipse meis.
In this art, I confess, I am not perfect; what should I do? I myself am inferior to my own advice.
Shall anyone openly give signs to my girl, and shall I endure it, and will anger not carry me wherever it pleases?
§2.551Oscula vir dederat, memini, suus: oscula questus §2.552Sum data; barbaria noster abundat amor.
Her own husband had given her kisses, I remember: I complained of those kisses; our love is full of barbarity.
This fault has harmed me more than once: more learned is he through whose conciliation other men come.
But it was better not to have known: let secrets be covered, lest shame, confessed from a feigned face, should flee.
§2.557Quo magis, o iuvenes, deprendere parcite vestras: §2.558Peccent, peccantes verba dedisse putent.
Therefore, O young men, spare to catch your women: let them sin, and let them think they have deceived you while sinning.
Love increases for those who are caught; when the fortune of the two is equal, each persists in the cause of their own ruin.
A story most famous in all heaven is told, of Mars and Venus caught by the tricks of Mulciber.
Father Mars, troubled by the insane love of Venus, had become a lover from a terrible general.
Nor was Venus rude and difficult to the pleading Gradivus (for indeed no goddess is more gentle).
Ah, how often the wanton girl is said to have laughed at the feet of her husband, and at his hands hardened by fire or art.
In front of Mars she imitated Vulcan; it became her, and much grace was mixed with her beauty.
§2.571Sed bene concubitus primos celare solebant.
But they used to conceal their first unions well.
§2.572Plena verecundi culpa pudoris erat.
Their fault was full of modest shame.
By the evidence of the Sun (who could deceive the Sun?) the deeds of his wife became known to Vulcan.
§2.575Quam mala, Sol, exempla moves! Pete munus ab ipsa
What bad examples you set, O Sun!
§2.576Et tibi, si taceas, quod dare possit, habet.
Seek a gift from her, and she has something she can give you if you keep silent.
Mulciber arranges hidden snares around and over the bed: the work deceives the eyes.
He feigns a journey to Lemnos; the lovers come to their covenant: both lie naked, entangled in the snares.
He summons the gods; the captives present a spectacle: they think Venus could scarcely restrain her tears.
They cannot cover their faces, nor can they at last oppose their hands to their obscene parts.
§2.585Hic aliquis ridens 'in me, fortissime Mavors, §2.586Si tibi sunt oneri, vincula transfer!' ait. §2.587Vix precibus, Neptune, tuis captiva resolvit §2.588Corpora: Mars Thracen occupat, illa Paphon.
Here someone laughing says: "O most brave Mars, if those bonds are a burden to you, transfer them to me!" Scarcely at your prayers, Neptune, does he release the captive bodies: Mars occupies Thrace, she occupies Paphos.
§2.589Hoc tibi pro facto, Vulcane: quod ante tegebant, §2.590Liberius faciunt, ut pudor omnis abest: §2.591Saepe tamen demens stulte fecisse fateris, §2.592Teque ferunt artis paenituisse tuae.
This you got for your deed, Vulcan: what they previously hid, they now do more freely, since all shame is absent: yet often, madman, you confess that you acted foolishly, and they say you repented of your art.
Be forbidden this, you all; detected Dione forbids to set those traps which she herself bore.