§76Carminis et medicae, Phoebe, repertor opis.
O Phoebus, discoverer of song and of medical help.
Do you help equally the poet, and equally the healer: both cares are subjected to your protection.
While it is allowed, and moderate emotions touch the heart, if it displeases you, stop your foot on the very first threshold.
Suppress the evil seeds of sudden disease while they are new, and let your horse halt as it begins to go.
For delay gives strength; delay ripens tender grapes, and makes what was a green blade into strong crops.
§85Quae praebet latas arbor spatiantibus umbras, §86Quo posita est primum tempore virga fuit; §87Tum poterat manibus summa tellure revelli: §88Nunc stat in inmensum viribus aucta suis.
The tree which provides broad shades for those walking, was a twig at the time when it was first planted; then it could be torn from the surface of the earth by hands: now it stands, grown to an immense size by its own strength.
Look around with a swift mind at what sort of thing that is which you love, and withdraw your neck from the yoke that is about to hurt you.
Resist the beginnings; too late is medicine prepared when the evils have grown strong through long delays.
§93Sed propera, nec te venturas differ in horas; §94Qui non est hodie, cras minus aptus erit: §95Verba dat omnis amor, reperitque alimenta morando; §96Optima vindictae proxima quaeque dies.
But hasten, and do not defer yourself to coming hours; he who is not ready today, will be less ready tomorrow: every love gives false words and finds nourishment by delaying; the very next day is always the best for deliverance.
You see few rivers rising from great springs: very many are multiplied by gathered waters.
If you had perceived quickly, how great a sin you were preparing to commit, you would not, Myrrha, have covered your face with bark.
I myself saw a wound, which had been curable at first, delayed, and bring the damages of long neglect.
§103Sed quia delectat Veneris decerpere fructum, §104Dicimus adsidue 'cras quoque fiet idem. ' §105Interea tacitae serpunt in viscera flammae, §106Et mala radices altius arbor agit.
But because it pleases to pluck the fruit of Venus, we say constantly 'tomorrow also the same will happen.' Meanwhile quiet flames creep into the vitals, and the evil tree drives its roots deeper.
§107Si tamen auxilii perierunt tempora primi, §108Et vetus in capto pectore sedit amor, §109Maius opus superest: sed non, quia serior aegro §110Advocor, ille mihi destituendus erit.
Yet if the times of the first help have perished, and old love has settled in the captured breast, a greater work remains; but not because I am called late to the sick man, must he be abandoned by me.
§111Quam laesus fuerat, partem Poeantius heros §112Certa debuerat praesecuisse manu; §113Post tamen hic multos sanatus creditur annos §114Supremam bellis imposuisse manum.
The Poeantian hero ought to have cut off with a certain hand the part which had been wounded; yet afterwards he is believed, healed after many years, to have put the finishing hand to the wars.
I who just now was hastening to expel the rising diseases, now, lingering, slowly bring a late help to you.
§117Aut nova, si possis, sedare incendia temptes, §118Aut ubi per vires procubuere suas: §119Dum furor in cursu est, currenti cede furori; §120Difficiles aditus impetus omnis habet.
Either try to soothe the fresh fires, if you can, or when they have collapsed by their own strength: while madness is in its course, yield to the running madness; every onset has difficult access.
He is foolish as a swimmer who, when he can descend obliquely, fights to go against the opposing waters.
An impatient mind, not yet manageable, rejects art and holds the words of the advisor in hatred.
I shall approach better then, when he finally allows his wounds to be touched, and will be ready for true words.
§127Quis matrem, nisi mentis inops, in funere nati
Who, unless out of his mind, would forbid a mother to weep at the funeral of her son?
§128Flere vetet? non hoc illa monenda loco est.
She is not to be advised in this place.
When she has given her tears and filled her sick soul, that grief will have to be moderated by words.
Medicine is mostly an art of time: given in time they help, and wines given at an unsuitable time do harm.
Nay, you would even inflame vices and irritate by forbidding, if you should not approach at your own proper times.
Therefore, when you seem curable by our art, make sure to flee leisure first according to my warnings.
These make you love; these protect what they have made; these are the cause and food of the sweet evil.
If you take away leisure, Cupido's bows are perished, and his despised torches lie without light.
§141Quam platanus vino gaudet, quam populus unda, §142Et quam limosa canna palustris humo, §143Tam Venus otia amat; qui finem quaeris amoris, §144Cedit amor rebus: res age, tutus eris.
As much as the plane tree rejoices in wine, as the poplar in water, and as the marshy reed in muddy soil, so much Venus loves leisure; you who seek an end of love, love yields to business: do business, and you will be safe.
§145Languor, et inmodici sub nullo vindice somni, §146Aleaque, et multo tempora quassa mero §147Eripiunt omnes animo sine vulnere nervos: §148Adfluit incautis insidiosus Amor.
Sloth, and excessive sleep under no guardian, and dice, and temples shaken by much pure wine take away all strength from the mind without a wound: insidious Amor flows into the incautious.