We men are badly exposed, and our hair, snatched away by age, falls like leaves when Boreas shakes them down.
A woman dyes her gray hair with Germanic herbs, and a better color than the true one is sought by art.
A woman goes forth very thick with bought hair, and for money she makes another's hair her own instead of her own.
Nor is there any shame in having bought it; we see them openly for sale before the eyes of Hercules and the virgin choir.
§3.169Quid de veste loquar? Nec vos, segmenta, requiro §3.170Nec te, quae Tyrio murice, lana, rubes.
What shall I say of clothing? I do not demand borders, nor you, wool, who blush with Tyrian purple.
Since so many colors go forth at a lighter price, what madness it is to carry one's own fortune on one's body!
§3.173Aëris, ecce, color, tum cum sine nubibus aër, §3.174Nec tepidus pluvias concitat auster aquas:
Behold, the color of the sky, at that time when the sky is without clouds, nor does the warm south wind stir up rainy waters.
Behold, a color similar to you, who once are said to have snatched Phrixus and Helle from the treachery of Ino.
§3.177Hic undas imitatur, habet quoque nomen ab undis:
This one imitates waves, and also has its name from waves.
§3.178Crediderim nymphas hac ego veste tegi.
I would believe that nymphs are covered with this garment.
That one simulates saffron: she is veiled in a saffron cloak, when the dewy goddess yokes her light-bringing horses.
This one simulates Paphian myrtles, this one purple amethysts, or white roses, or the Thracian crane.
Neither your acorns, Amaryllis, nor almonds are lacking; and wax has given its own name to fleeces.
§3.185Quot nova terra parit flores, cum vere tepenti §3.186Vitis agit gemmas pigraque fugit hiemps, §3.187Lana tot aut plures sucos bibit; elige certos: §3.188Nam non conveniens omnibus omnis erit.
As many flowers as the new earth produces, when in warm spring the vine puts forth buds and sluggish winter flees, wool drinks as many or more juices; choose certain ones, for not every color will be suitable for everyone.
§3.189Pulla decent niveas: Briseïda pulla decebant: §3.190Cum rapta est, pulla tum quoque veste fuit.
Dark colors become snow-white women: dark became Briseis; when she was snatched away, she was then also in dark clothing.
White becomes dark women: in white, daughter of Cepheus, you pleased; thus dressed, Seriphos was trodden by you.
How nearly I warned you, lest a wild goat should go into your armpits, or lest your legs should be rough with hard hairs!
But I do not teach girls from the Caucasian rock, or those who drink your waters, Mysian Caicus.
What if I should command that neglect not blacken your teeth, and that your mouth be washed in the morning with drawn water?
You know also how to seek whiteness by applying chalk; she who does not blush with true blood, blushes by art.
By art you fill up the bare borders of the eyebrow, and a small patch of leather covers your unblemished cheeks.
Nor is there any shame in marking the eyes with thin ash, or with saffron born near you, bright Cydnus.
§3.205Est mihi, quo dixi vestrae medicamina formae, §3.206Parvus, sed cura grande, libellus, opus; §3.207Hinc quoque praesidium laesae petitote figurae; §3.208Non est pro vestris ars mea rebus iners.
I have a small book, but a work great in care, in which I spoke of the cosmetics for your beauty; from here also seek protection for your damaged appearance; my art is not inactive for your affairs.
Yet let no lover find the cosmetic boxes exposed on the table: concealed art helps the face.
Whom would the dregs smeared over the whole face not offend, when sliding down by weight they flow into warm breasts?
How bad oesypum smells! although the juice of the sheep taken from the dirty fleece is sent from Athens.
§3.215Nec coram mixtas cervae sumpsisse medullas, §3.216Nec coram dentes defricuisse probem; §3.217Ista dabunt formam, sed erunt deformia visu: §3.218Multaque, dum fiunt, turpia, facta placent;
Nor would I approve of taking mixed deer's marrow in public, nor of rubbing teeth in public; those things will give beauty, but they will be ugly to look at: and many things, while they are being done, are shameful, but when done, they please.
The statues of industrious Myron which now have a name, once were an inactive weight and a hard mass.
In order that a ring may be made, gold is first beaten; the clothes you wear were dirty wool.
§3.223Cum fieret, lapis asper erat: nunc, nobile signum, §3.224Nuda Venus madidas exprimit imbre comas.
While it was being made, it was a rough stone; now, a noble statue, naked Venus squeezes her wet hair from the rain.
You too, while you are being groomed, let us think you are asleep; you will be seen more fittingly from the final hand.
§3.227Cur mihi nota tuo causa est candoris in ore?
Why is the cause of whiteness on your face known to me?
§3.228Claude forem thalami! quid rude prodis opus?
Close the chamber door! Why do you bring forth unfinished work?
It is fitting for men to be ignorant of many things; a very great part of things would offend, if you did not hide the inside.
The golden statues which shine in the decorated theater, look at them closely, you will despise them: gold leaf covers wood.
§3.233Sed neque ad illa licet populo, nisi facta, venire, §3.234Nec nisi summotis forma paranda viris.
But neither is it allowed for the public to come to them, unless finished, nor is beauty to be prepared except with men removed.
Yet I do not forbid you to offer your hair to be combed in public, so that it may lie flowing over your back.
Beware especially of being morose at that time, nor often untie your fallen hair.
Let the hair-dresser be safe; I hate her who scratches faces with her nails and pricks arms with a snatched needle.
§3.241Devovet, ut tangit, dominae caput illa, simulque
She curses her mistress's head as she touches it, and at the same time...