§1.1.65siquis erit, qui te, quia sis meus, esse legendum §1.1.66non putet, e gremio reiciatque suo, §1.1.67inspice
dic ‘titulum, non sum praeceptor amoris;
If there is anyone who, because you are mine, thinks you should not be read, and casts you away from his bosom, say: "Look at the title.
§1.1.68quas meruit, poenas iam dedit illud opus. §1.1.69forsitan expectes, an in alta Palatia missum §1.1.70scandere te iubeam Caesareamque domum.
I am not the teacher of love; that work has already paid the penalty it deserved." Perhaps you are waiting to see whether I shall command you, sent to the high Palatine, to ascend, and to the Caesarean house.
§1.1.71ignoscant augusta mihi loca dique locorum!
May the august places and the gods of those places forgive me!
§1.1.72venit in hoc illa fulmen ab arce caput.
From that citadel came the lightning onto this head.
Indeed, I remember that in those dwellings there are most gentle divinities, but I fear the gods who have harmed me.
The dove is terrified by the slightest rustle of a wing, having been wounded, hawk, by your talons.
Nor does the lamb dare to depart far from the folds, if any has been snatched from the teeth of a greedy wolf.
Phaethon would avoid the sky, if he were alive, and would not wish to touch the horses which he had foolishly desired.
§1.1.81me quoque, quae sensi, fateor Iovis arma timere: §1.1.82me reor infesto, cum tonat, igne peti.
I too confess that I fear the weapons of Jupiter which I have felt; when it thunders, I think I am being aimed at by hostile fire.
§1.1.83quicumque Argolica de classe Capherea fugit, §1.1.84semper ab Euboicis vela retorsit aquis; §1.1.85et mea cumba semel vasta percussa procella §1.1.86illum, quo laesa est, horret adire locum,
Whoever from the Greek fleet escaped Caphereus, always turned his sails away from the Euboean waters; and my boat, having once been struck by a vast storm, dreads to approach that place where it was damaged.
Therefore, beware, book, and look around with a timid mind, so that it may be enough for you to be read by the ordinary people.
While seeking too lofty things with weak wings, Icarus gave his name to the waters of the sea.
§1.1.91difficile est tamen hinc, remis utaris an aura, §1.1.92dicere: consilium resque locusque dabunt,
Yet it is difficult from here to say whether you should use oars or the breeze: the circumstances and the place will give counsel.
§1.1.93si poteris vacuo tradi, si cuncta videbis §1.1.94mitia, si vires fregerit ira suas, §1.1.95siquis erit, qui te dubitantem et adire timentem §1.1.96tradat, et ante tamen pauca loquatur, adi.
If you can be handed over when he is at leisure, if you see everything gentle, if his anger has broken its own strength, if there is anyone who will hand you over as you hesitate and fear to approach, and yet says a few words beforehand, go.
May you arrive there on a good day and, happier than your master himself, lighten our misfortunes.
For either no one, or only he who made the wounds on me, can remove them in the manner of Achilles.
§1.1.101tantum ne noceas, dum vis prodesse, videto— §1.1.102nam spes est animi nostra timore minor— §1.1.103quaeque quiescebat, ne mota resaeviat ira §1.1.104et poenae tu sis altera causa, cave!
Only make sure you do not harm while wishing to be of benefit— for the hope of our mind is less than its fear— beware lest the anger which was resting, once stirred up, rages again, and you become a second cause of my punishment!
§1.1.105cum tamen in nostrum fueris penetrale receptus, §1.1.106contigerisque tuam, scrinia curva, domum, §1.1.107aspicies illic positos ex ordine fratres, §1.1.108quos studium cunctos evigilavit idem.
Yet, when you have been received into our inner chamber, and have reached your home, the curved book-boxes, you will see there your brothers arranged in order, all of whom the same devotion has kept awake to produce.
§1.1.109cetera turba palam titulos ostendet apertos, §1.1.110et sua detecta nomina fronte geret; §1.1.111tres procul obscura latitantes parte videbis,— §1.1.112sic quoque, quod nemo nescit, amare docent.
The rest of the crowd will openly display their open titles, and bear their names on their uncovered foreheads; you will see three hiding far off in a dark part,— even thus they teach how to love, which no one is ignorant of.
You should either flee from these, or, if you have enough impudence, make sure to call them Oedipuses and Telegonuses.
§1.1.115deque tribus, moneo, si qua est tibi cura parentis, §1.1.116ne quemquam, quamvis ipse docebit, ames.
And of the three, I warn you, if you have any care for your parent, do not love any of them, although it will teach you itself.
§1.1.117sunt quoque mutatae, ter quinque volumina, formae, §1.1.118nuper ab exequiis carmina rapta meis.
There are also changed forms, fifteen volumes, poems recently snatched from my funeral.
To these I command you to say, that among the changed bodies the face of my fortune can be counted.
§1.1.121namque ea dissimilis subito est effecta priori, §1.1.122flendaque nunc, aliquo tempore laeta fuit.
For it was suddenly made unlike what it was before, and now to be wept for, though it was happy at some time.
§1.1.123plura quidem mandare tibi, si quaeris, habebam, §1.1.124sed vereor tardae causa fuisse morae; §1.1.125et si quae subeunt, tecum, liber, omnia ferres, §1.1.126sarcina laturo magna futurus eras.
Indeed, if you ask, I had more things to command you, but I fear to have been the cause of slow delay; and if you carried with you, book, all things that come to mind, you were going to be a great burden to the one who will carry you.
§1.1.127longa via est, propera! nobis habitabitur orbis
The way is long, hasten!
§1.1.128ultimus, a terra terra remota mea. ’
We shall inhabit the furthest part of the world, a land remote from my own land.