Humanitext Reader

Ovid · Sorrows §2.1.328-2.1.410

Inaptitude for Epic and the Tradition of Love in Literature

Passage 18 of 60 · Latin

Summary

Ovid argues that his talent is suited for lighter love poetry rather than heavy epic themes. He then demonstrates through numerous classical examples that both Greek and Roman literature, including tragedy, have always featured love and passion as primary subjects.

§2.1.328illud erat magnae fertilitatis opus.
That was a work of great fertility.
§2.1.329non ideo debet pelago se credere, siqua §2.1.330audet in exiguo ludere cumba lacu.
If any skiff dares to play in a tiny lake, it ought not on that account to trust itself to the deep sea.
§2.1.331forsan—et hoc dubitem—numeris levioribus aptus §2.1.332sim satis, in parvos sufficiamque modos: §2.1.333at si me iubeas domitos Iovis igne Gigantes §2.1.334dicere, conantem debilitabit onus
Perhaps—and I might doubt even this—I am suited enough for lighter numbers, and may suffice for small measures: but if you should order me to tell of the Giants subdued by Jupiter's fire, the heavy task will weaken me as I attempt it.
§2.1.335divitis ingenii est immania Caesaris acta §2.1.336condere, materia ne superetur opus.
It is the part of a rich talent to write of Caesar's immense deeds, lest the work be overwhelmed by the material.
§2.1.337et tamen ausus eram; sed detrectare videbar, §2.1.338quodque nefas, damno viribus esse tuis.
And yet I had dared; but I seemed to detract from them, and, what is a sin, to be a detriment to your strengths.
§2.1.339ad leve rursus opus, iuvenalia carmina, veni, §2.1.340et falso movi pectus amore meum.
I returned again to light work, the songs of youth, and moved my heart with a false love.
§2.1.341non equidem vellem, sed me mea fata trahebant, §2.1.342inque meas poenas ingeniosus eram.
Indeed I would not have wished it, but my fates were drawing me, and I was clever toward my own punishment.
§2.1.343ei mihi, quod didici! cur me docuere parentes §2.1.344litteraque est oculos ulla morata meos?
Ah me, that I learned! Why did my parents teach me, and why did any letter detain my eyes?
§2.1.345haec tibi me invisum lascivia fecit, ob artes, §2.1.346quis ratus es vetitos sollicitare toros.
This playfulness made me hateful to you, on account of the arts by which you believed that forbidden marriage beds were solicited.
§2.1.347sed neque me nuptae didicerunt furta magistro, §2.1.348quodque parum novit, nemo docere potest,
But neither did brides learn secret affairs with me as their teacher, and no one can teach what he knows too little.
§2.1.349sic ego delicias et mollia carmina feci, §2.1.350strinxerit ut nomen fabula nulla meum.
Thus I made pleasantries and soft verses, so that no scandal has grazed my name.
§2.1.351nec quisquam est adeo media de plebe maritus, §2.1.352ut dubius vitio sit pater ille meo,
Nor is there any husband, even from the midst of the plebeians, who is doubtful of his fatherhood because of my fault.
§2.1.353crede mihi, distant mores a carmine nostro— §2.1.354vita verecunda est, Musa iocosa mea— §2.1.355magnaque pars mendax operum est et ficta meorum: §2.1.356plus sibi permisit compositore suo.
Believe me, my character is far removed from my song— my life is modest, my Muse is playful— and a great part of my works is mendacious and fictitious: it has allowed itself more than its creator did.
§2.1.357nec liber indicium est animi, sed honesta voluntas §2.1.358plurima mulcendis auribus apta ferens.
Nor is a book an index of the mind, but an honest goodwill bringing very many things suited to soothe the ears.
§2.1.359Accius esset atrox, conviva Terentius esset, §2.1.360essent pugnaces qui fera bella canunt.
Accius would be ferocious, Terence a banquet-guest, and those who sing of fierce wars would be combative.
§2.1.361denique composui teneros non solus amores: §2.1.362composito poenas solus amore dedi.
After all, I am not the only one who has composed tender loves: but I alone have paid the penalty for love composed.
§2.1.363quid, nisi cum multo Venerem confundere vino §2.1.364praecepit lyrici Teia Musa senis?
What did the Teian Muse of the old lyric poet teach, except to mix Venus with plenty of wine?
§2.1.365Lesbia quid docuit Sappho, nisi amare, puellas?
What did Lesbian Sappho teach her girls, except to love?
§2.1.366tuta tamen Sappho, tutus et ille fuit.
Yet Sappho was safe, and he too was safe.
§2.1.367nec tibi, Battiade, nocuit, quod saepe legenti §2.1.368delicias versu fassus es ipse tuas.
Nor did it harm you, son of Battus, that you yourself often confessed your own pleasures in verse.
§2.1.369fabula iucundi nulla est sine amore Menandri, §2.1.370et solet hic pueris virginibusque legi.
No play of the delightful Menander is without love, and he is customarily read by boys and virgins.
§2.1.371Ilias ipsa quid est aliud nisi adultera, de qua §2.1.372inter amatorem pugna virumque fuit?
What is the Iliad itself other than an adulteress, concerning whom there was a fight between her lover and her husband?
§2.1.373quid prius est illi flamma Briseidos, utque §2.1.374fecerit iratos rapta puella duces?
What comes earlier in it than the flame for Briseis, and how the snatched girl made the leaders angry?
§2.1.375aut quid Odyssea est nisi femina propter amorem, §2.1.376dum vir abest, multis una petita procis?
Or what is the Odyssey but a woman, because of love, sought by many suitors while her husband was away?
§2.1.377quis nisi Maeonides, Venerem Martemque ligatos §2.1.378narrat, in obsceno corpora prensa toro?.
Who but the Maeonian tells of Venus and Mars bound, their bodies caught in an obscene bed?
§2.1.379unde nisi indicio magni sciremus Homeri §2.1.380hospitis igne duas incaluissedeas?
Whence but from the report of great Homer should we know that two goddesses warmed to the fire of a guest?
§2.1.381omne genus scripti gravitate tragoedia vinci.
Tragedy surpasses every kind of writing in gravity.
§2.1.382haec quoque materiam semper amoris habet,
Yet this too always has the material of love.
§2.1.383num quid in Hippolyto, nisi caecae flamma novercae?
Is there anything in 'Hippolytus' except the flame of a blind stepmother?
§2.1.384nobilis est Canace fratris amore sui.
Canace is famous for the love of her own brother.
§2.1.385quid? non Tantalides, agitante Cupidine currus, §2.1.386Pisaeam Phrygiis vexit eburnus equis?
What? Did not the grandson of Tantalus, Cupid driving the chariot, carry away the Pisaean maiden with Phrygian horses?
§2.1.387tingueret ut ferrum natorum sanguine mater, §2.1.388concitus a laeso
That a mother should stain the sword with her children's blood, pain aroused by injured love brought it about.
§2.1.389fecit amore dolor, fecit amor subitas volucres cum paelice regem, §2.1.390quaeque suum luget nunc quoque mater Ityn.
Love made the king and his mistress sudden birds, and the mother who even now laments her own Itys.
§2.1.391si non Aëropen frater sceleratus amasset, §2.1.392aversos Solis non legeremus equos.
If the wicked brother had not loved Aerope, we would not read of the turned-back horses of the Sun.
§2.1.393impia nec tragicos tetigisset Scylla cothurnos, §2.1.394ni patrium crinem desecuisset amor.
Nor would impious Scylla have touched the tragic buskins, if love had not cut off her father's hair.
§2.1.395qui legis Electran et egentem mentis Oresten, §2.1.396Aegisthi crimen Tyndaridosque legis.
You who read of Electra and Orestes deprived of his mind, read of the crime of Aegisthus and the daughter of Tyndareus.
§2.1.397nam quid de tetrico referam domitore Chimaerae, §2.1.398quem leto fallax hospita paene dedit?
For what shall I say of the stern tamer of the Chimaera, whom a deceitful hostess almost gave over to death?
§2.1.399quid loquar Hermionen, quid te, Schoeneïa virgo, §2.1.400teque, Mycenaeo Phoebas amata duci.
Why should I speak of Hermione, why of you, daughter of Schoeneus, and you, prophetess loved by the Mycenaean leader.
§2.1.401quid Danaen Danaesque nurum matremque Lyaei §2.1.402Haemonaque et noctes cui coiere duae?
Why of Danae, and the daughter-in-law of Danae, and the mother of Lyaeus, and Haemon, and her for whom two nights joined into one?
§2.1.403quid Peliae generum, quid Thesea, quique Pelasgum §2.1.404Iliacam tetigit de rate primus humum?
Why of the son-in-law of Pelias, why of Theseus, and him of the Pelasgians who first touched the Trojan soil from the ship?
§2.1.405huc Iole Pyrrhique parens, huc Herculis uxor, §2.1.406huc accedat Hylas Iliacusque puer.
Add to these Iole, and the mother of Pyrrhus, and the wife of Hercules, add Hylas and the Trojan boy.
§2.1.407tempore deficiar, tragicos si persequar ignes, §2.1.408vixque meus capiet nomina nuda Uber.
Time would fail me, if I should pursue tragic loves, and my book will scarcely contain their bare names.
§2.1.409est et in obscenos commixta tragoedia risus, §2.1.410multaque praeteriti verba pudoris habet;
Tragedy too is mixed with obscene laughter, and has many words of lost modesty;

Notes

  1. §2.1.331et hoc dubitem — The present subjunctive `dubitem` functions as a potential or concessive subjunctive, expressing a modest hesitation. Alongside `sim` in the main clause, it emphasizes the poet's humility regarding his own abilities.
  2. §2.1.335divitis ingenii est — `divitis ingenii` is a genitive of characteristic (or quality), used here with the third-person singular `est` to mean "it is the part of [or characteristic of] a rich talent."
  3. §2.1.347me magistro — This is an ablative absolute constructed of the pronoun `me` and the noun `magistro` without a participle, meaning "with me as teacher" or "under my instruction."
  4. §2.1.357mulcendis auribus — The gerundive `mulcendis` agrees with the noun `auribus` in the dative plural, depending on the adjective `apta` ("suited for soothing the ears").
  5. §2.1.407tempore deficiar, tragicos si persequar ignes — A future less vivid condition (or "should-would" condition) employing the present subjunctive in both the protasis (`si persequar`) and the apodosis (`deficiar`), expressing a potential hypothesis.

Cite this passage

Ovid, Sorrows §2.1.328-2.1.410. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi008.humanitext-lat2:2.1.328-2.1.410

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.