§444Alterius vires subtrahit alter amor.
One love withdraws the strength of the other.
Great rivers are thinned through many streams, and the fierce flame perishes when the wood is separated.
One anchor does not hold the waxed sterns enough, nor is a single hook enough in clear waters.
He who has long since prepared two consolations for himself, has long since been a victor on the highest citadel.
But as for you, who have been unfortunately entrusted to a single mistress, now at least a new love must be found.
Minos lost his passion for Pasiphae in Procris; the former wife, conquered, yielded to the Idaean spouse.
Lest the brother of Amphilochus should always love the daughter of Phegeus, Callirhoe, received into a share of his bed, brought it about.
And Oenone would have held Paris to his final years, if she had not been harmed by the Oebalian mistress.
The beauty of his wife would have pleased the Odrysian tyrant, but the beauty of the imprisoned sister was better.
§461Quid moror exemplis, quorum me turba fatigat?
Why do I linger on examples, the crowd of which fatigues me?
§462Successore novo vincitur omnis amor.
All love is conquered by a new successor.
§463Fortius e multis mater desiderat unum, §464Quam quem flens clamat 'tu mihi solus eras. ' §465Ac ne forte putes nova me tibi condere iura §466(Atque utinam inventi gloria nostra foret!), §467Vidit ut Atrides (quid enim non ille videret, §468Cuius in arbitrio Graecia tota fuit?) §469Marte suo captam Chryseïda, victor amabat:
A mother grieves for one out of many children more weakly than for the one whom, weeping, she cries out: "You were my only one." And lest by chance you think that I am establishing new laws for you (and would that the glory of the invention were ours!), as the son of Atreus saw (for what indeed would he not see, under whose judgment all Greece lay?) the victor loved Chryseis, captured by his own warfare; but her elderly father foolishly wept everywhere.
Why do you weep, annoying old man?
§472Officio natam laedis, inepte, tuo.
It suits them well; foolishly, you harm your daughter with your duty.
§473Quam postquam reddi Calchas, ope tutus Achillis, §474Iusserat, et patria est illa recepta domo, §475'Est' ait Atrides 'illius proxima forma, §476Et, si prima sinat syllaba, nomen idem:
After Calchas, safe through the help of Achilles, had ordered her to be returned, and she was received by her father's house, the son of Atreus said: "There is one very close in beauty to her, and, if the first syllable would allow, the same name.
Let Achilles, if he is wise, yield her to me of his own accord; if not, let him feel my empire.
But if any of you, Achaeans, censures this deed, it is something to hold sceptres with a strong hand.
§481Nam si rex ego sum, nec mecum dormiat ulla, §482In mea Thersites regna, licebit, eat. ' §483Dixit, et hanc habuit solacia magna prioris, §484Et posita est cura cura repulsa nova.
For if I am king, and no woman sleeps with me, Thersites may go, for all I care, into my kingdom." He spoke, and had her as a great consolation for the former, and the repulsed care was put aside by the new care.
Therefore assume new flames with Agamemnon as your guide, so that your love may be divided at the crossroads.
§487Quaeris, ubi invenias? artes tu perlege nostras:
Do you ask where to find them?
§488Plena puellarum iam tibi navis erit.
Read through our arts: now your ship will be full of girls.
§489Quod siquid praecepta valent mea, siquid Apollo §490Utile mortales perdocet ore meo, §491Quamvis infelix media torreberis Aetna, §492Frigidior glacie fac videare tuae: §493Et sanum simula, ne, siquid forte dolebis, §494Sentiat; et ride, cum tibi flendus eris.
But if my precepts have any strength, if Apollo teaches mortals anything useful through my mouth, although, unhappy, you will be burned in the midst of Etna, make sure you seem colder than ice to your girl: and pretend to be sound, lest, if by chance you grieve at all, she should perceive it; and laugh when you should weep for yourself.
I do not command you to break off your cares in the midst: the commands of my empire are not so harsh.
Pretend to be what you are not, and imitate calmed madnesses: thus you will do in truth what you will have practiced.
§499Saepe ego, ne biberem, volui dormire videri: §500Dum videor, somno lumina victa dedi: §501Deceptum risi, qui se simularat amare, §502In laqueos auceps decideratque suos.
Often I, lest I should drink, wished to seem to sleep: while I seemed so, I gave my conquered eyes to sleep: I laughed at the deceived man, who had pretended to love, and the fowler had fallen into his own snares.
Love enters minds by habit, and is unlearned by habit: he who will be able to feign sanity, will be sane.
Let her say that you should come: come on the agreed night; you will have come, and the door was closed: endure it.
Neither speak sweet words, nor make reproaches to the doorpost, nor place your side upon the hard threshold.
The next day's light will arrive: let your words be free of complaints, and have no signs of a grieving person in your countenance.
Soon she will put aside her pride, when she sees you languid: this gift also you will carry away from our art.
Yet deceive yourself also, nor let an end of loving be set before you: a horse often rebels against the reins.
Let the utility lie hidden; what you do not profess will happen: the bird avoids nets that are too visible.
§517Nec sibi tam placeat, nec te contemnere possit;
Nor let her please herself so much, nor be able to despise you;