I have given weapons to the Greeks against the Amazons; weapons remain, which I may give to you, Penthesilea, and to your troop.
Go into battle as equals; let them win, whom nurturing Dione has favored, and the boy who flies in the whole world.
It was not fair for unarmed women to clash with armed men; thus also for you, men, to win is shameful.
§3.7Dixerit e multis aliquis 'quid virus in angues §3.8Adicis, et rabidae tradis ovile lupae?' §3.9Parcite paucarum diffundere crimen in omnes; §3.10Spectetur meritis quaeque puella suis.
Someone from the crowd might say: "Why do you add venom to snakes, and betray the sheepfold to a rabid she-wolf?" Spare to spread the crime of a few onto all; let each girl be judged by her own merits.
§3.11Si minor Atrides Helenen, Helenesque sororem §3.12Quo premat Atrides crimine maior habet, §3.13Si scelere Oeclides Talaioniae Eriphylae §3.14Vivus et in vivis ad Styga venit equis, §3.15Est pia Penelope lustris errante duobus §3.16Et totidem lustris bella gerente viro.
If the younger Atrides has Helen [to charge], and Helen's sister the elder Atrides has a crime with which to press, if by the crime of Eriphyle, daughter of Talaus, the son of Oecles came alive and with living horses to the Styx, Penelope is loyal, while her husband wandered for two lustra and waged war for just as many lustra.
Look at the descendant of Phylacus and her who is said to have gone as a companion to her husband and to have died before her years.
The Pagasaean wife redeemed the fate of the son of Pheres: and in place of her husband, the wife was carried out in her husband's funeral.
§3.21'Accipe me, Capaneu! cineres miscebimus' inquit
"Receive me, Capaneus!
§3.22Iphias, in medios desiluitque rogos.
We shall mix our ashes," said the daughter of Iphis, and she leapt into the midst of the pyre.
Virtue herself is also a woman both in garb and in name: no wonder if she pleases her own people.
Yet these minds are not demanded by my art: smaller sails suit my skiff.
Nothing except playful loves are learned through me; I shall instruct a woman in what manner she must be loved.
Woman does not brandish flames nor cruel bows; more rarely do I see these weapons harm men.
§3.31Saepe viri fallunt: tenerae non saepe puellae, §3.32Paucaque, si quaeras, crimina fraudis habent.
Often men deceive; tender girls not often, and, if you inquire, they have few crimes of deceit.
The deceitful Jason has already dismissed the Phasian mother: another bride came into the Aesonian embrace.
How greatly, as far as lay in you, Theseus, did Ariadne feed the marine birds, left alone in an unknown place!
Inquire why one way is called 'Nine Ways', and hear that the woods, having shed their leaves, wept for Phyllis.
And he has the reputation of piety, yet as a guest he also provided the sword and the cause of your death, Elissa.
§3.41Quid vos perdiderit, dicam? nescistis amare:
Shall I say what destroyed you?
§3.42Defuit ars vobis; arte perennat amor.
You did not know how to love: art was lacking to you; by art love endures.
Now also they would not know; but Cytherea ordered me to teach [them], and she herself stood before my eyes.
§3.45Tum mihi 'Quid miserae' dixit 'meruere puellae?
Then she said to me: "What have the wretched girls deserved?
§3.46Traditur armatis vulgus inerme viris.
An unarmed crowd is handed over to armed men.
Those men two little books made skilled; this part also must be educated by your advice.
He who had previously spoken insults of the Therapnaeam wife, soon sang her praises with a more favorable lyre.
§3.51Si bene te novi (cultas ne laede puellas!) §3.52Gratia, dum vives, ista petenda tibi est. ' §3.53Dixit, et e myrto (myrto nam vincta capillos §3.54Constiterat) folium granaque pauca dedit; §3.55Sensimus acceptis numen quoque: purior aether §3.56Fulsit, et e toto pectore cessit onus.
If I know you well (do not harm elegant girls!), that favor must be sought by you as long as you live." She spoke, and from her myrtle (for she had stood with her hair bound with myrtle) she gave a leaf and a few berries; we felt also the divinity upon receiving them: a purer air shone, and the burden departed from my whole breast.
§3.57Dum facit ingenium, petite hinc praecepta, puellae, §3.58Quas pudor et leges et sua iura sinunt.
While my talent is active, seek precepts from here, girls, whom modesty and the laws and your own rights permit.
Be mindful even now of the old age that is to come: thus no time will slip away from you idle.
§3.61Dum licet, et vernos etiamnum educitis annos, §3.62Ludite: eunt anni more fluentis aquae; §3.63Nec quae praeteriit, iterum revocabitur unda, §3.64Nec quae praeteriit, hora redire potest.
While it is permitted, and you still lead your spring years, play: the years go in the manner of flowing water; neither will the wave which has passed be recalled again, nor can the hour which has passed return.
One must use one's age: age slips away with a swift foot, nor is what follows as good as the first was good.
These bushes, which are now white, I saw as violet beds: from this thorn a pleasing crown was given to me.
§3.69Tempus erit, quo tu, quae nunc excludis amantes, §3.70Frigida deserta nocte iacebis anus, §3.71Nec tua frangetur nocturna ianua rixa, §3.72Sparsa nec invenies limina mane rosa.
There will be a time when you, who now shut out your lovers, will lie as a cold old woman in a deserted night, nor will your door be broken in a nightly brawl, nor will you find your threshold sprinkled with roses in the morning.
How quickly (wretched me!) bodies are loosened by wrinkles, and the color which was in a bright face perishes.
And the hairs which you swear have been white from your maidenhood, will suddenly be scattered as gray through your whole head.