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| ACMEN Septimius suos amores | 1 | Septimius, holding in his arms |
| tenens in gremio 'mea' inquit 'Acme, | 2 | his darling Acme, says, "My Acme, |
| ni te perdite amo atque amare porro | 3 | if I do not love thee to desperation, and if I am not ready |
| omnes sum assidue paratus annos, | 4 | to go on loving th contnually through all my years, |
| quantum qui pote plurimum perire, | 5 | as much and as distractedly as the most distracted of lovers, |
| solus in Libya Indiaque tosta | 6 | may I in Libya or sunburnt India |
| caesio ueniam obuius leoni.' | 7 | meet a green-eyed lion alone |
| hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante | 8 | As he said this, Love on the left, |
| dextra sternuit approbationem. | 9 | as before on the right, sneezed goodwill. |
| at Acme leuiter caput reflectens | 10 | Then Acme, slightly bending back her head, |
| et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos | 11 | kissed with that rosy mouth |
| illo purpureo ore suauiata, | 12 | her love's swimming eyes, |
| 'sic' inquit 'mea uita Septimille, | 13 | and said, "So, my life, my darling Septimius, |
| huic uni domino usque seruiamus, | 14 | so may we ever serve this one master |
| ut multo mihi maior acriorque | 15 | as (I swear) more strongly and fiercely burns in me |
| ignis mollibus ardet in medullis.' | 16 | the flame deep in my melting marrow." |
| hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante | 17 | As she said this, Love, as before on the left, |
| dextra sternuit approbationem. | 18 | now on the right sneezed goodwill. |
| nunc ab auspicio bono profecti | 19 | And now, setting out from a good omen, |
| mutuis animis amant amantur. | 20 | heart in heart they live, loving and loved. |
| unam Septimius misellus Acmen | 21 | Poor Septimius prefers Acme alone |
| mauult quam Syrias Britanniasque: | 22 | to whole Syrias and Britains. |
| uno in Septimio fidelis Acme | 23 | In Septimius, him alone, his faithful Acme |
| facit delicias libidinisque. | 24 | takes her fill of loves and pleasures. |
| quis ullos homines beatiores | 25 | Who ever saw human beings more blest? |
|
uidit, quis Venerem auspicatiorem? |
26 |
Who ever saw a more fortunate love? |