§664Horrebant saevis omnia verba minis.
All words were bristling with cruel threats.
And now, about to summon her to court, he said: 'Let her come forth from the litter.' She had come forth: at the sight of his mistress, he was mute.
§667Et manus et manibus duplices cecidere tabellae, §668Venit in amplexus, atque 'ita vincis' ait. §669Tutius est aptumque magis discedere pace, §670Nec petere a thalamis litigiosa fora.
Both his hands fell, and from his hands the double tablets fell, he came into her embraces, and said: 'Thus you win.' It is safer and more fitting to depart in peace, and not to seek litigious forums from the bedchamber.
Command that she keep the gifts you had given, without lawsuit: losses are wont to be smaller than a great good.
But if some chance brings you together into one place, hold fast, mindful with your whole heart, the weapons which we give.
Now there is need of weapons; here, O most brave one, fight: Penthesilea must be conquered by your weapon.
Now let a rival, now a hard threshold to the lover, now fruitless words sworn in the presence of the gods come to your mind.
Do not arrange your hair because you are about to go to her, nor let your toga with loose fold be conspicuous.
Let there be no care to please a girl who is now another's; make sure now that she is to you one out of many.
But what chiefly stands in the way of our endeavors I will declare, with his own example teaching everyone.
We cease to love slowly because we hope to be loved: while each one pleases himself, we are a credulous crowd.
But do you neither believe her words (for what is more deceitful than they?), nor believe that the eternal gods have weight.
And take care lest you be moved by the tears of girls: they have instructed their eyes to weep.
The mind of lovers is assaulted by innumerable arts, like a stone beaten on all sides by sea waters.
Nor open the reasons why you prefer separation: nor say what you grieve at: nevertheless grieve secretly all the while.
Nor relate her faults, lest she explain them away: you yourself will favor her, so that her cause may be better than yours.
He who is silent is firm; he who speaks many reproaches to a girl, demands that satisfaction be made to him.
§699Non ego Dulichio furari more sagittas, §700Nec raptas ausim tinguere in amne faces: §701Nec nos purpureas pueri resecabimus alas, §702Nec sacer arte mea laxior arcus erit.
I would not dare to steal arrows in the Dulichian manner, nor dare to dip snatched torches in the river: nor shall we cut back the purple wings of the boy, nor will the sacred bow be looser by my art.
§703Consilium est, quodcumque cano: parete canenti, §704Tuque, favens coeptis, Phoebe saluber, ades.
Whatever I sing is advice: obey the singer, and you, O healing Phoebus, favoring our undertakings, be present.
Phoebus is present: the lyres sounded, the quivers sounded; I recognize the signs of the god by his own: Phoebus is present.
§707Confer Amyclaeis medicatum vellus aënis §708Murice cum Tyrio; turpius illud erit: §709Vos quoque formosis vestras conferte puellas; §710Incipiet dominae quemque pudere suae: §711Utraque formosae Paridi potuere videri, §712Sed sibi conlatam vicit utramque Venus.
Compare the fleece dyed in Amyclaean cauldrons with Tyrian purple; the former will be more ugly: do you also compare your girls with beautiful ones; each one will begin to be ashamed of his own mistress: Each of the two could seem beautiful to Paris, but Venus conquered each of them compared to herself.
Nor compare the face alone, compare also manners and arts: only let not your love hinder your judgment.
It is a small thing that I shall sing next; but that small thing profited many: among whom I myself was.
Take care lest you reread the letters preserved of the coaxing girl: reread letters move constant minds.
§719Omnia pone feros (pones invitus) in ignes, §720Et dic 'ardoris sit rogus iste mei. ' §721Thestias absentem succendit stipite natum: §722Tu timide flammae perfida verba dabis?
Put them all into fierce fires (you will put them unwillingly), and say: 'Let that be the pyre of my passion.' The daughter of Thestius burned her absent son with a brand: will you, timidly, give her treacherous words to the flame?
If you can, remove also the wax images: why are you worn away by a silent image? In this manner Laodamia perished.
And places often harm; flee the places conscious of your lying together; they hold the causes of grief.
§727'Hic fuit, hic cubuit; thalamo dormivimus illo: §728Hic mihi lasciva gaudia nocte dedit. ' §729Admonitu refricatur amor, vulnusque novatum §730Scinditur: infirmis culpa pusilla nocet.
'Here she was, here she lay; we slept in that bedchamber: here she gave me wanton joys in the playful night.' Love is rubbed again by reminding, and the renewed wound is torn open: a tiny fault harms the weak.
§731Ut, paene extinctum cinerem si sulpure tangas, §732Vivet et e minimo maximus ignis erit, §733Sic, nisi vitaris quidquid renovabit amorem, §734Flamma redardescet, quae modo nulla fuit.
Just as, if you touch almost extinguished ashes with sulfur, it will live and from the smallest there will be a very great fire, so, unless you avoid whatever will renew love, the flame will burn again, which just now was none.
Argive ships would wish to have fled Caphereus, and you, O old man, who avenged your griefs with fires.
The cautious sailor rejoices when the daughter of Nisus has been passed: do you avoid the places which were too pleasing.
§739Haec tibi sint Syrtes: haec Acroceraunia vita:
Let these be Syrtes to you: shun these Acroceraunia.