Nor does it harm the author, who made Achilles soft, to have weakened his brave deeds with his own measures.
Aristides joined Milesian stories with himself, yet Aristides was not expelled from his own city.
§2.1.415nec qui descripsit corrumpi semina matrum, §2.1.416Eubius, impurae conditor historiae, §2.1.417nec qui composuit nuper Sybaritica, fugit, §2.1.418nec qui concubitus non tacuere suos.
Nor did he who described how the seeds of mothers are corrupted, Eubius, the composer of an impure history, flee, nor did he who recently composed the 'Sybaritica' flee, nor those who did not keep silent about their own couplings.
§2.1.419suntque ea doctorum monumentis mixta virorum, §2.1.420muneribusque ducum publica facta patent.
And those things are mingled with the monuments of learned men, and lie open to the public through the gifts of leaders.
§2.1.421neve peregrinis tantum defendar ab armis, §2.1.422et Romanus habet multa iocosa liber, §2.1.423utque suo Martem cecinit gravis §2.1.424Ennius ore—Ennius ingenio maximus, arte rudis— §2.1.425explicat ut causas rapidi Lucretius ignis, §2.1.426casurumque triplex vaticinatur opus, §2.1.427sic sua lascivo cantata est saepe Catullo §2.1.428femina, cui falsum Lesbia nomen erat; §2.1.429nec contentus ea, multos vulgavit amores, §2.1.430in quibus ipse suum fassus adulterium est.
And lest I be defended only by foreign arms, even Roman books contain many playful things: Just as grave Ennius sang of Mars with his own mouth— Ennius, greatest in talent, rude in art— and as Lucretius explains the causes of rapid fire, and prophesies that the triple work is destined to fall, so his own woman was often sung by playful Catullus, to whom Lesbia was a false name; nor content with her, he published many loves, in which he himself confessed his own adultery.
Equal and similar was the license of little Calvus, who revealed his own secret intrigues in various measures.
§2.1.433quid referam Ticidae, quid Memmi carmen, apud quos §2.1.434rebus adest nomen nominibusque pudor?
Why should I relate the song of Ticida, why of Memmius, in whose works a name is present for things, and shame for the names?
§2.1.435Cinna quoque his comes est, Cinnaque procacior Anser, §2.1.436et leve Cornifiei parque Catonis opus.
Cinna too is their companion, and Anser more petulant than Cinna, and the light work of Cornificius, and the like work of Cato.
§2.1.437et quorum libris modo dissimulata Perillae, §2.1.438nomine, nunc legitur dicta, Metelle, tuo.
And those in whose books she who was lately disguised under the name of Perilla is now read, Metellus, called by your name.
§2.1.439is quoque, Phasiacas Argon qui duxit in undas, §2.1.440non potuit Veneris furta tacere suae.
He too, who guided the Argo into the Phasian waves, could not keep silent about the secret affairs of his Venus.
§2.1.441nec minus Hortensi, nec sunt minus improba Servi §2.1.442carmina, quis dubitet nomina Planta sequi?
Nor are the poems of Hortensius, nor those of Servius less shameless; who would doubt that the name of Planta follows them?
Sisenna translated Aristides, nor did it harm him to have inserted shameful jests into his history.
It was not a disgrace for Gallus to have celebrated Lycoris, but rather to have not held his tongue because of too much unmixed wine.
Tibullus thinks it is hard to believe her when she swears, because she also denies her relations with him to her husband.
The same poet confesses that he taught how to deceive guardians, and now says that he, wretched man, is pressed by his own art.
§2.1.451saepe, velut gemmam dominae signumve probaret, §2.1.452per causam meminit se tetigisse manum; §2.1.453utque refert, digitis saepe est nutuque locutus, §2.1.454et tacitam mensae duxit in orbe notam
Often, as if he were approving a gem or a signet of his mistress, he remembers that he touched her hand under a pretext; and as he relates, he often spoke with his fingers and a nod, and drew a silent sign on the round of the table.
And he teaches from what juices the bruise may depart from the body, which is accustomed to be made by an impressed mouth.
§2.1.457denique ab incauto nimium petit ille marito, §2.1.458se quoque uti servet, peccet ut illa minus, §2.1.459scit, cui latretur, cum solus obambulet, ipsas §2.1.460cur totiens clausas exercet ante fores,
Indeed, he begs too much of the careless husband, to keep watch over himself too, so that she may sin less, He knows for whom the dog barks when he walks about alone, why he so often haunts the closed doors themselves.
§2.1.461multaque dat furti talis praecepta docetque §2.1.462qua nuptae possint fallere ab arte viros,
And he gives many precepts of such intrigue, and teaches by what art brides may deceive their husbands.
§2.1.463non fuit hoc illi fraudi, legiturque Tibullus §2.1.464et placet, et iam te principe notus erat.
This was not a detriment to him, and Tibullus is read and is pleasing, and was already known when you were prince.
§2.1.465invenies eadem blandi praecepta Properti: §2.1.466destrictus minima nec tamen ille nota est.
You will find the same precepts in flattering Propertius; yet he was not branded even with the slightest mark of censure.
I succeeded them, since fairness commands to conceal the excellent names of the living.
I confess, I did not fear lest, where so many barks have gone, mine alone should make shipwreck while all others were safe.
§2.1.471sunt aliis scriptae, quibus alea luditur, artes:— §2.1.472hoc est ad nostros non leve crimen avos—— §2.1.473quid valeant tali, quo possis plurima iactu §2.1.474figere, damnosos effugiasque canes; §2.1.475tessera quos habeat numeros, distante vocato §2.1.476mittere quo deceat, quo dare missa modo; §2.1.477discolor ut recto grassetur limite miles, §2.1.478eum medius gemino calculus hoste perit, §2.1.479ut bellare sequens sciat et revocare priorem, §2.1.480nec tuto fugiens incomitatus eat, §2.1.481parva sit ut ternis instructa tabella lapillis, §2.1.482in qua vicisse est continuasse suos, §2.1.483quique alii lusus—neque enim nunc persequar omnes— §2.1.484perdere, rem caram, tempora nostra solent.
There are arts written by others, by which dice are played:— this was no light crime to our ancestors—— what power the knuckle-bones have, by what throw you can win the most, and escape the ruinous 'dogs'; what numbers the die has, when the desired one is called far off, how it is fitting to throw, and in what manner to play the throws; how the soldier of different color marches in a straight path, when a stone dies caught between two enemies; how the pursuer knows how to battle and recall the former one, so that fleeing he may not go unaccompanied without safety; how a small board is furnished with three pebbles on each side, in which to win is to have kept one's own in a line; and what other games—for indeed I shall not now pursue all— are accustomed to waste our time, a precious thing.
Behold, another sings of the forms and joy of balls, this one teaches the art of swimming, that one of the hoop.
§2.1.487composita est aliis fucandi cura coloris, §2.1.488hic epulis leges hospitioque dedit; §2.1.489alter humum, de qua fingantur pocula, monstrat, §2.1.490quaeque, docet, liquido testa sit apta mero.
By others, the care of applying cosmetics is composed, this one gave laws for banquets and hospitality; another shows the clay from which cups may be fashioned, and teaches what vessel is fit for unmixed wine.
Such games are played in smoky December, and to have composed them was a detriment to none.