§197titulum furori numinis falsi addidit. §198natum per omnis scilicet terras vagum §199Erycina mittit, ille per caelum volans §200proterva tenera tela molitur manu §201regnumque tantum minimus e superis habet: §202vana ista demens animus ascivit sibi §203Venerisque numen finxit atque arcus dei. §204quisquis secundis rebus exultat nimis §205fluitque luxu, semper insolita appetit. §206tunc illa magnae dira fortunae comes §207subit libido: non placent suetae dapes, §208non tecta sani moris aut vilis scyphus. §209cur in penates rarius tenues subit §210haec delicatae eligens pestis domos? §211cur sancta parvis habitat in tectis Venus §212mediumque sanos vulgus affectus tenet §213et se coercent modica? contra divites
(lust) has added the title of a false deity to its madness. The goddess of Eryx indeed sends her son to wander through all lands; he, flying through the sky, wields his insolent weapons with tender hand and, though the least of the gods above, holds so great a kingdom. The foolish mind has claimed these vain things for itself, and has feigned the divinity of Venus and the bow of the god. Whoever exults too much in prosperity and flows with luxury, always desires unusual things. Then that dreadful companion of great fortune, lust, steals in: customary feasts no longer please, nor houses of sober custom, nor a cheap cup. Why does this plague more rarely enter humble homes, choosing instead the dwellings of the delicate? Why does holy Venus dwell in small cottages, and why does the common crowd keep healthy feelings, and moderate circumstances restrain themselves?
§214regnoque fulti plura quam fas est petunt? §215quod non potest vult posse qui nimium potest. §216quid deceat alto praeditam solio vides: §217metue ac verere sceptra remeantis viri. §218Amoris in me maximum regnum puto §219reditusque nullos metuo: non umquam amplius §220convexa tetigit supera qui mersus semel §221adiit silentem nocte perpetua domum. §222Ne crede Diti.
While on the contrary, do the rich and those supported by a kingdom seek more than is lawful? He who can do too much wishes to be able to do what he cannot. You see what is fitting for one endowed with a high throne: fear and respect the sceptre of your returning husband. I think Love has the greatest kingdom over me, and I fear no returns: never again does he touch the upper vaults who, once submerged, has entered the silent house in perpetual night. Do not believe Dis.
clauserit regnum licet §223canisque diras Stygius observet fores: §224solus negatas invenit Theseus vias. §225Veniam ille amori forsitan nostro dabit. §226Immitis etiam coniugi castae fuit: §227experta saevam est barbara Antiope manum. §228sed posse flecti coniugem iratum puta: §229quis huius animum flectet intractabilem? §230exosus omne feminae nomen fugit, §231immitis annos caelibi vitae dicat, §232conubia vitat: genus Amazonium scias. §233Hunc in nivosi collis haerentem iugis, §234et aspera agili saxa calcantem pede §235sequi per alta nemora, per montes placet. §236Resistet ille seque mulcendum dabit §237castosque ritus Venere non casta exuet? §238tibi ponet odium, cuius odio forsitan §239persequitur omnes? precibus haud vinci potest. §240Ferus est? amore didicimus vinci feros. §241Fugiet. §241bPer ipsa maria si fugiet, sequar. §242Patris memento. §242bMeminimus matris simul. §243Genus omne profugit. §243bPaelicis careo metu. §244Aderit maritus— §244bNempe Perithoi comes? §245Aderitque genitor, §245bMitis, Ariadnae pater. §246Per has senectae splendidas supplex comas §247fessumque curis pectus et cara ubera §248precor, furorem siste teque ipsa adiuva: §249pars sanitatis velle sanari fuit. §250Non omnis animo cessit ingenuo pudor.
Although he may have closed his kingdom, and the Stygian dog may guard the dreadful gates: Theseus alone has found forbidden ways. He will perhaps grant indulgence to our love. He was harsh even to his chaste wife: the barbarian Antiope experienced his savage hand. But suppose that an angry husband can be bent: who will bend this youth's intractable mind? Detesting the very name of woman, he flees; harsh, he dedicates his years to a celibate life, and avoids marriage: you must know he is of the Amazonian race. To follow him as he clings to the ridges of the snowy hill, and treads upon the rough rocks with agile foot, through the deep forests and over the mountains is my pleasure. Will he resist and yield himself to be softened, and cast off his chaste customs for an unchaste love? Will he lay aside his hatred for you, through hatred of whom perhaps he pursues all women? He can by no means be conquered by prayers. Is he wild? We have learned that the wild are conquered by love. He will flee. Even if he flees through the very seas, I will follow. Remember your father. I remember my mother at the same time. He flees from the whole female race. I am free from the fear of a rival. Your husband will be here— Indeed, the companion of Pirithous? And your father will be here, The mild father of Ariadne. By these bright grey hairs of my old age, and this breast worn out with cares, and these dear breasts I pray you: stop this madness and help yourself; to wish to be healed has been a part of health. Not all shame has departed from my noble mind.
§251paremus, altrix.
Let us obey, nurse.
qui regi non vult amor §252vincatur.
Let love that refuses to be ruled be conquered.
haud te, fama, maculari sinam.
I will by no means allow my reputation to be stained.
§253haec sola ratio est, unicum effugium mali: §254virum sequamur, morte praevertam nefas. §255Moderare, alumna, mentis effrenae impetus,
This is the only way, the sole escape from evil: let us follow our husband; let me forestall crime by death. Moderate, my foster-child, the impulses of your unbridled mind, restrain your feelings.
§256animos coerce, dignam ob hoc vita reor §257quod esse temet autumas dignam nece. §258Decreta mors est: quaeritur fati genus.
For this reason I think you worthy of life, because you deem yourself worthy of death. Death is decreed: the manner of fate is sought.
§259laqueone vitam finiam an ferro incubem?
Shall I end my life with a noose, or fall upon the sword?
Or, cast headlong, shall I fall from the Palladian citadel? Should my old age permit you to perish by a headlong death?
§263perire leto? siste furibundum impetum. §265Prohibere nulla ratio periturum potest: §266ubi qui mori constituit et debet mori. §261proin castitatis vindicem armemus manum. §267Solamen annis unicum fessis, era, §268si tam protervus incubat menti furor, §269contemne famam— fama vix vero favet, §270peius merenti melior et peior bono.
Stop your furious impulse. No reason can restrain one who is about to perish: when he who has resolved to die also ought to die. Therefore let us arm our hand as the avenger of chastity. O mistress, the sole consolation of my weary years, if such insolent madness broods over your mind, despise reputation—reputation rarely favors the truth, being kinder to the worse-deserving and worse to the good.
§271temptemus animum tristem et intractabilem.
Let us test his sad and intractable mind.
§272meus iste labor est aggredi iuvenem ferum §273mentemque saevam flectere immitis viri. §274Diva non miti generata ponto, §275quam vocat matrem geminus Cupido, §277iste lascivus puer et renidens §278tela quam certo moderatur arcu!
It is my task to approach the wild youth and to bend the fierce mind of the harsh man. O Goddess generated from the ungentle sea, whom double Cupid calls mother, how that wanton and smiling boy guides his weapons with such an unerring bow!
The wound inflicted has no broad surface, but devours the marrow hidden deep within.