gladly perished in gyves of love, that they have borne so long, and, when earth laps me round, let me be one of these. Nature has not fitted me for glory or for arms; Love's is the only warfare for which the Fates design me. 31 But thou, whether thy steps be cast where soft Ionia spreads its shores, or where Pactolus' stream steeps Lydia's ploughlands, whether thou rangest the land on foot or goest forth to lash the sea with oars, and makest one of those that rule and are loved by them they rule—then shalt thou be sure, if e'er a moment comes with memories of me, that I still live beneath a baleful star. VII WHILST thou singest, Ponticus, of Cadmean Thebes, and the bitter warfare of fraternal strife, and so may heaven smile on me, as I speak truth-dost rival Homer for crown of song (if only the Fates be kind to thy verse), I, as is my wont, still ply my loves, and seek for some device to o'ercome my mistress' cruelty. I am constrained rather to serve my sorrow than my wit and to bemoan the hardship that my youth endures. 9 Thus is my whole life passed: this is my glory this is the title to fame I claim for my song. Let my only praise be this, that I pleased the heart of a learned maid, and oft endured her unjust threatenings. Henceforth let neglected lovers read diligently my words, and let it profit them to learn what woes were mine. Thou too, should the boy strike thee with unerring shaft-but may the gods I serve ordain 1 thee other doom-shalt weep in misery 1 evoluisse; lit., unroll. longe castra tibi, longe miser agmina septem flebis in aeterno surda iacere situ; et frustra cupies mollem componere versum, nec tibi subiciet carmina serus Amor. tum me non humilem mirabere saepe poetam, tunc ego Romanis praeferar ingeniis ; nec poterunt iuvenes nostro reticere sepulcro "Ardoris nostri magne poeta, iaces." tu cave nostra tuo contemnas carmina fastu: saepe venit magno faenore tardus Amor. VIII TVNE igitur demens, nec te mea cura moratur ? et tibi iam tanti, quicumque est, iste videtur, nec tibi Tyrrhena solvatur funis harena, neve inimica meas elevet aura preces! atque ego non videam tales subsidere ventos, cum tibi provectas auferet unda rates, 1 pruinas 5: ruinas NAF. 20 10 that thy seven leaguered hosts are cast aside and lie dumb in everlasting neglect, and in vain shalt thou desire to write soft songs of passion; Love come so late shall ne'er inspire thy song. 21 Then shalt thou marvel at me as no mean singer; then shalt thou rank me above the bards of Rome; and youths perforce will cry above my tomb: "Mighty singer of our passion, dost thou lie so low?" Beware then lest in thy pride thou spurn Love that comes late oft claims a heavy my song. toll. ART thou then mad? VIII Does no care for me stay thy going? Am I of less account to thee than chill Illyria ?1 And esteemest thou that wretch, whoe'er he be, so highly that thou art ready to leave me and fly to his arms on any wind that blows? Canst thou bear unmoved the roar of the raging deep? canst thou make thy couch on the hard ship's-bench? or press with tender feet the fallen hoar-frost? or endure, my Cynthia, the unfamiliar snows? Ah, would that the wintry season's storms were doubled, and the Pleiads' rising delayed, that the sailor might tarry idle and the cables ne'er be loosed from the Tyrrhene strand nor the cruel breeze make light of my prayers to thee; and yet may I never see such winds subside, when thy bark puts out to sea and the wave bears it 1 Cp. II. XVI. ut 1 me defixum vacua patiatur in ora 20 VIIIA 5 Hic erat hic iurata manet! rumpantur iniqui! destitit ire novas Cynthia nostra vias. illi carus ego et per me carissima Roma dicitur, et sine me dulcia regna negat. illa vel angusto mecum requiescere lecto et quocumque modo maluit esse mea, quam sibi dotatae regnum vetus Hippodamiae, et quas Elis opes ante pararat equis. 1 ut Rothstein: et NAF. 2 utere codd. Par. 7989, Voss. 117: ut te NAF. 3 acerba Scaliger: verba NAF. 4 Artaciis Palmer: atraciis et similia O. 30 5 The MSS. mark no break; the separation is due to Lipsius.. afar, leaving me rooted on the shore, shaking clenched hands and crying out upon thy cruelty. 17 Yet, faithless one, whate'er thou deserve of me, may Galatea smile upon thy path. Pass the Ceraunian cliffs with prosperous oarage and may Oricos at last receive thee in its calm haven. For never shall the love of any maid lure me from uttering at thy threshold my bitter complaint against thee, light of my life; nor will I cease to question the mariners as they hurry by: "Tell me in what port has my love found shelter?" and I will cry: 66 Though she abide on Artacia's shores, or where the Hylaei dwell, yet shall she be mine!" VIIIA SHE never went! She has sworn and she remains! Let those that wish me ill burst for envy! We have conquered! She turned a deaf ear to his persistent prayer! Now let their greedy jealousy lay aside its joy! My Cynthia has ceased to tread new paths and strange. She loves me, and for my sake loves she Rome most of cities, and cries: "Apart from thee a kingdom were not sweet." She has preferred to lie in my embrace, though the couch be poor and narrow, and to be mine, whate'er the cost, rather than enjoy the ancient realm that was Hippodamia's dower and all the wealth that Elis won by its steeds. Great |