ad quam tum properans fertur undique pubes |
101 |
To Troy at that time all the youth of Greece is said to have hastened together, |
Graecae penetralis deseruisse focos, |
102 |
deserting their hearths and homes, |
ne Paris abducta gauisus libera moecha |
103 |
that Paris might not enjoy undisturbed leisure in a peaceful chamber, |
otia pacato degeret in thalamo. |
104 |
rejoicing in the abduction of his paramour. |
quo tibi tum casu, pulcerrima Laudamia, |
105 |
By that sad chance then, fairest Laodamia, |
ereptum est uita dulcius atque anima |
106 |
wast thou bereft of thy husband, sweeter to thee than life and soul; |
coniugium: tanto te absorbens uertice amoris |
107 |
so strong the tide of love, so whelming the eddy that bore thee |
aestus in abruptum detulerat barathrum, |
108 |
into the sheer abyss, deep as that gulf |
quale ferunt Grai Pheneum prope Cylleneum |
109 |
which (say the Greeks) near Cyllenian Pheneus |
siccare emulsa pingue palude solum, |
110 |
drains away the swamp, and dries up the rich soil |
quod quondam caesis montis fodisse medullis |
111 |
which of old the falsefathered son of Amphitryon is said |
audit falsiparens Amphitryoniades, |
112 |
to have dug out, cutting away the heart of the hill, |
tempore quo certa Stymphalia monstra sagitta |
113 |
what time with sure shaft he hit the monsters of Stymphalus |
perculit imperio deterioris eri, |
114 |
at the bidding of a meaner lord, |
pluribus ut caeli tereretur ianua diuis, |
115 |
that the door of heaven might be frequented by more gods, |
Hebe nec longa uirginitate foret. |
116 |
and that Hebe might not long be unmated. |
sed tuus altus amor barathro fuit altior illo, |
117 |
But deeper than that gulf was thy deep love, |
qui tamen indomitam ferre iugum docuit. |
118 |
which taught thee though untamed to bear the yoke. |
nam nec tam carum confecto aetate parenti |
119 |
Not so dear to her agestricken parent |
una caput seri nata nepotis alit, |
120 |
is the head of the lateborn grandchild which his only daughter nurses, |
qui cum diuitiis uix tandem iuuentus auitis |
121 |
who, scarce at length appearing as an heir to ancestral wealth, |
nomen testatas intulit in tabulas, |
122 |
and having his name brought into the witnessed tablets, |
impia derisi gentilis gaudia tollens, |
123 |
puts an end to the unnatural joy of the kinsman, now in his turn derided, |
suscitat a cano uolturium capiti: |
124 |
and drives away the vulture that waits for the hoary head; |
nec tantum niueo gauisa est ulla columbo |
125 |
nor did ever dove delight so much in her snowy mate, |
compar, quae multo dicitur improbius |
126 |
though the dove bites and bills and snatches kisses |
oscula mordenti semper decerpere rostro, |
127 |
more wantonly than any woman, |
quam quae praecipue multiuola est mulier. |
128 |
be she amorous beyond others' measure. |
sed tu horum magnos uicisti sola furores, |
129 |
You alone surpassed the passion of these, |
ut semel es flauo conciliata uiro. |
130 |
when once you were matched with your goldenhaired husband. |
aut nihil aut paulum cui tum concedere digna |
131 |
Even so kind, or but little less, was she, |
lux mea se nostrum contulit in gremium, |
132 |
my bright one, who came into my arms; |
quam circumcursans hinc illinc saepe Cupido |
133 |
and often around her flitting hither and thither Cupid |
fulgebat crocina candidus in tunica. |
134 |
shone fair in vest of saffron hue. |
quae tamen etsi uno non est contenta Catullo, |
135 |
And though she is not content with Catullus alone, |
rara uerecundae furta feremus erae |
136 |
I will bear the faults, for few they are, of my modest mistress, |
ne nimium simus stultorum more molesti. |
137 |
lest we become as tiresome as jealous fools. |
saepe etiam Iuno, maxima caelicolum, |
138 |
Juno, too, greatest of the heavenly ones, |
coniugis in culpa flagrantem concoquit iram, |
139 |
often keeps down her anger for her husband's fault, |
noscens omniuoli plurima furta Iouis. |
140 |
as she learns the many loves of all amorous Jove. |
atqui nec diuis homines componier aequum est, |
141 |
Yet since it is not fit that men should be compared with gods, |
ingratum tremuli tolle parentis onus. |
142 |
away, then, with the hateful severity of an anxious father. |
nec tamen illa mihi dextra deducta paterna |
143 |
And after all she did not come for me led by her father's band |
fragrantem Assyrio uenit odore domum, |
144 |
into a house fragrant with Assyrian odours, |
sed furtiua dedit mira munuscula nocte, |
145 |
but gave me in the wondrous night sweet stolen gifts, |
ipsius ex ipso dempta uiri gremio. |
146 |
taken from the very bosom of her husband himself. |
quare illud satis est, si nobis is datur unis |
147 |
Wherefore it is enough if to me alone is granted |
quem lapide illa dies candidiore notat. |
148 |
the day which she marks with a whiter stone. |
hoc tibi, quod potui, confectum carmine munus |
149 |
This gift -- 'twas all I could -- set forth in verse |
pro multis, Alli, redditur officiis, |
150 |
is returned to you, Allius, for many kind offices; |
ne uestrum scabra tangat rubigine nomen |
151 |
lest this and that day, and another and another |
haec atque illa dies atque alia atque alia. |
152 |
should touch your name with corroding rust. |
huc addent diui quam plurima, quae Themis olim |
153 |
To this the gods will add those countless gifts which Themis of old |
antiquis solita est munera ferre piis. |
154 |
was wont to give to pious men of ancient time. |
sitis felices et tu simul et tua uita, |
155 |
May ye be happy, both you, and with you your dear Life, |
et domus illa in qua lusimus et domina, |
156 |
and the house in which you and I sported, and its mistress, |
et qui principio nobis terram dedit aufert, |
157 |
and he who first [ gave and takes land?] for us, |
a quo sunt primo omnia nata bona, |
158 |
from whom first all those good things had their springing for me. |
et longe ante omnes mihi quae me carior ipso est, |
159 |
And far before all, she who is dearer to me than myself, |
lux mea, qua uiua uiuere dulce mihi est. |
160 |
my Light, whose life alone makes it sweet to me to live. |