quem penes est dominam servandi cura, Bagoa,

dum perago tecum pauca, sed apta, vaca.

hesterna vidi spatiantem luce puellam

illa, quae Danai porticus agmen habet.

protinus, ut placuit, misi scriptoque rogavi. 5

rescripsit trepida ‘non licet!’ illa manu;

et, cur non liceat, quaerenti reddita causa est,

quod nimium dominae cura molesta tua est.

si sapis, o custos, odium, mihi crede, mereri

desine; quem metuit quisque, perisse cupit. 10

vir quoque non sapiens; quid enim servare laboret,

unde nihil, quamvis non tueare, perit?

sed gerat ille suo morem furiosus amori

et castum, multis quod placet, esse putet;

huic furtiva tuo libertas munere detur, 15

quam dederis illi, reddat ut illa tibi.

conscius esse velis — domina est obnoxia servo;

conscius esse times — dissimulare licet.

scripta leget secum — matrem misisse putato!

venerit ignotus — postmodo notus erit. 20

ibit ad adfectam, quae non languebit, amicam:

visat! iudiciis aegra sit illa tuis.

si faciet tarde, ne te mora longa fatiget,

inposita gremio stertere fronte potes.

nec tu, linigeram fieri quid possit ad Isim, 25

quaesieris nec tu curva theatra time!

conscius adsiduos commissi tollet honores —

quis minor est autem quam tacuisse labor?

ille placet versatque domum neque verbera sentit;

ille potens — alii, sordida turba, iacent. 30

huic, verae ut lateant causae, finguntur inanes;

atque ambo domini, quod probat una, probant.

cum bene vir traxit vultum rugasque coegit,

quod voluit fieri blanda puella, facit.

sed tamen interdum tecum quoque iurgia nectat, 35

et simulet lacrimas carnificemque vocet.

tu contra obiciens, quae tuto diluat illa,

et veris falso crimine deme fidem.

sic tibi semper honos, sic alta peculia crescent.

haec fac, in exiguo tempore liber eris. 40

adspicis indicibus nexas per colla catenas?

squalidus orba fide pectora carcer habet.

quaerit aquas in aquis et poma fugacia captat

Tantalus — hoc illi garrula lingua dedit.

dum nimium servat custos Iunonius Io, 45

ante suos annos occidit; illa dea est!

vidi ego conpedibus liventia crura gerentem,

unde vir incestum scire coactus erat.

poena minor merito. nocuit mala lingua duobus;

vir doluit, famae damna puella tulit. 50

crede mihi, nulli sunt crimina grata marito,

nec quemquam, quamvis audiat, illa iuvant.

seu tepet, indicium securas prodis ad aures;

sive amat, officio fit miser ille tuo.

culpa nec ex facili quamvis manifesta probatur; 55

iudicis illa sui tuta favore venit.

viderit ipse licet, credet tamen ille neganti

damnabitque oculos et sibi verba dabit.

adspiciat dominae lacrimas, plorabit et ipse,

et dicet: ‘poenas garrulus iste dabit!’ 60

quid dispar certamen inis? tibi verbera victo

adsunt, in gremio iudicis illa sedet.

non scelus adgredimur, non ad miscenda coimus

toxica, non stricto fulminat ense manus.

quaerimus, ut tuto per te possimus amare. 65

quid precibus nostris mollius esse potest?

quem penes est dominam servandi cura, Bagoa,
It’s down to you the duty of guarding your mistress, Bagoas,

dum perago tecum pauca, sed apta, vaca.
while I go over a few, but relevant, things, listen up.

hesterna vidi spatiantem luce puellam
In yesterday’s daylight I saw a girl wandering

illa, quae Danai porticus agmen habet.
there, where the colonnade holds the march of the Danaids.

protinus, ut placuit, misi scriptoque rogavi. 5
Immediately, since she pleased, I sent and propositioned in writing.

rescripsit trepida ‘non licet!’ illa manu;
She wrote back, with a nervous hand: “It is not allowed!”

et, cur non liceat, quaerenti reddita causa est,
And the reason given to me, as I was querying why it was not allowed:

quod nimium dominae cura molesta tua est.
that your guardianship of your mistress is too much of a nuisance.

si sapis, o custos, odium, mihi crede, mereri
If you have sense, o guardian, trust me, cease from deserving

desine; quem metuit quisque, perisse cupit. 10
hatred; everyone wants (the person) whom he feared to be dead.

vir quoque non sapiens; quid enim servare laboret,
Also, her husband is not clever; for why should he strive to protect,

unde nihil, quamvis non tueare, perit?
when nothing is lost even if you do not guard?

sed gerat ille suo morem furiosus amori
But let him behave, raging, in his version of love

et castum, multis quod placet, esse putet;
and let him think that what is pleasing to many is chaste;

huic furtiva tuo libertas munere detur, 15
secret freedom may be given to her as your gift,

quam dederis illi, reddat ut illa tibi.
so that she may return to you (the freedom) which you gave to her.

conscius esse velis — domina est obnoxia servo;
You would like to be in the know – the mistress is indebted to the servant;

conscius esse times — dissimulare licet.
you are afraid to know – it is okay to pretend (not to);

scripta leget secum — matrem misisse putato!
she reads a note to herself – imagine that her mother sent it!

venerit ignotus — postmodo notus erit. 20
An unknown comes – he will be well-known soon.

ibit ad adfectam, quae non languebit, amicam:
She will go to a poorly friend, who is not ill:

visat! iudiciis aegra sit illa tuis.
let her visit! In your judgement, let her be ill.

si faciet tarde, ne te mora longa fatiget,
If she gets in late, don’t tire yourself out with long delay,

inposita gremio stertere fronte potes.
you can snore with your head positioned in your lap.

nec tu, linigeram fieri quid possit ad Isim, 25
Neither ask what can happen at (the temple of) linen-clad

quaesieris nec tu curva theatra time!
Isis, nor fear the curved theatres!

conscius adsiduos commissi tollet honores —
Knowing of the crime will raise constant rewards –

quis minor est autem quam tacuisse labor?
what task is smaller, however, than to have kept quiet?

ille placet versatque domum neque verbera sentit;
That (slave) pleases and runs the household, nor does he feel the lash;

ille potens — alii, sordida turba, iacent. 30
He is powerful – others, a filthy crowd, lie prostrate.

huic, verae ut lateant causae, finguntur inanes;
For the husband, lies are invented so the real reasons lie hidden.

atque ambo domini, quod probat una, probant.
And both masters approve of what the mistress alone approves.

cum bene vir traxit vultum rugasque coegit,
Though the husband has pulled a face well and forced a frown,

quod voluit fieri blanda puella, facit.
he does what his flattering girl wanted to be done.

sed tamen interdum tecum quoque iurgia nectat, 35
But yet sometimes let her also contrive arguments with you,

et simulet lacrimas carnificemque vocet.
and let her fake tears and call you a villain.

tu contra obiciens, quae tuto diluat illa,
You, while counterarguing (with things) which she may safely wash away,

et veris falso crimine deme fidem.
remove too, with a false charge, the credibility of the real one.

sic tibi semper honos, sic alta peculia crescent.
Thus for you always a reward, thus your savings will grow high.

haec fac, in exiguo tempore liber eris. 40
Do this and you’ll be free in no time.

adspicis indicibus nexas per colla catenas?
Do you see the chains fastened around the necks of the informers?

squalidus orba fide pectora carcer habet.
A dirty prison holds hearts deprived of loyalty.

quaerit aquas in aquis et poma fugacia captat
Tantalus seeks waters in waters and clasps at fleeing

Tantalus — hoc illi garrula lingua dedit.
apples – a chatty tongue gave this to him.

dum nimium servat custos Iunonius Io, 45
While Juno’s guard watches over Io excessively,

ante suos annos occidit; illa dea est!
he dies before his time; she is a goddess!

vidi ego conpedibus liventia crura gerentem,
I saw (a slave) sporting legs bruised by shackles,

unde vir incestum scire coactus erat.
from which a husband had been forced to know about adultery.

poena minor merito. nocuit mala lingua duobus;
The punishment (was) less than deserved. The evil tongue harmed two;

vir doluit, famae damna puella tulit. 50
the husband hurt, the girl bore the loss of her reputation.

crede mihi, nulli sunt crimina grata marito,
Believe me, accusations are welcome to no husband,

nec quemquam, quamvis audiat, illa iuvant.
and, although he may listen, they help no one.

seu tepet, indicium securas prodis ad aures;
If he is lukewarm, you leak information to inflexible ears;

sive amat, officio fit miser ille tuo.
if he is in love, he becomes sad at your commitment to duty.

culpa nec ex facili quamvis manifesta probatur; 55
Nor is crime easily proven, however blatant;

iudicis illa sui tuta favore venit.
she comes off safe due to the support of his judgement.

viderit ipse licet, credet tamen ille neganti
Although he sees, he believes her as she denies it

damnabitque oculos et sibi verba dabit.
and he will condemn his eyes and convince himself.

adspiciat dominae lacrimas, plorabit et ipse,
He will see the mistress’ tears, and he will weep himself,

et dicet: ‘poenas garrulus iste dabit!’ 60
and he’ll say: ’That informer will pay the price!’

quid dispar certamen inis? tibi verbera victo
Why do you enter an unfair contest? Although you have won there are

adsunt, in gremio iudicis illa sedet.
beatings for you, she sits in the lap of the judge.

non scelus adgredimur, non ad miscenda coimus
We are not undertaking a crime, we are not coming together to mix

toxica, non stricto fulminat ense manus.
poisons, the hand does not flash with a drawn sword.

quaerimus, ut tuto per te possimus amare. 65
We ask that we may be able to love safely through you.

quid precibus nostris mollius esse potest?
What can be softer than our prayers?

It’s down to you the duty of guarding your mistress, Bagoas,

while I go over a few, but relevant, things, listen up.

In yesterday’s daylight I saw a girl wandering

there, where the colonnade holds the march of the Danaids.

Immediately, since she was pleasing, I sent and propositioned in writing. 5

She wrote back, with a nervous hand: “It is not allowed!”

And the reason given to me, as I was querying why it was not allowed:

that your guardianship of your mistress is too much of a nuisance.

If you have sense, o guardian, trust me, cease from deserving

hatred; everyone wants (the person) whom he feared to be dead. 10

Also, her husband is not clever; for why should he strive to protect,

when nothing is lost even if you do not guard?

But let him behave, raging, in his version of love

and let him think that what is pleasing to many is chaste;

secret freedom may be given to her as your gift, 15

so that she may return to you (the freedom) which you gave to her.

You would like to be in the know – the mistress is indebted to the servant;

you are afraid to know – it is okay to pretend (not to);

she reads a note to herself – imagine that her mother sent it!

An unknown comes – he will be well-known soon. 20

She will go to a poorly friend, who is not ill:

let her visit! In your judgement, let her be ill.

If she gets in late, don’t tire yourself out with long delay,

you can snore with your head positioned in your lap.

Neither ask what can happen at (the temple of) linen-clad 25

Isis, nor fear the curved theatres!

Knowing of the crime will raise constant rewards –

what task is smaller, however, than to have kept quiet?

That (slave) pleases and runs the household, nor does he feel the lash;

He is powerful – others, a filthy crowd, lie prostrate. 30

For the husband, lies are invented so the real reasons lie hidden.

And both masters approve of what the mistress alone approves.

Though the husband has pulled a face well and forced a frown,

he does what his flattering girl wanted to be done.

But yet sometimes let her also contrive arguments with you, 35

and let her fake tears and call you a villain.

You, while counterarguing (with things) which she may safely wash away,

remove too, with a false charge, the credibility of the real one.

Thus for you always a reward, thus your savings will grow high.

Do this and you’ll be free in no time. 40

Do you see the chains fastened around the necks of the informers?

A dirty prison holds hearts deprived of loyalty.

Tantalus seeks waters in waters and clasps at fleeing

apples – a chatty tongue gave this to him.

While Juno’s guard watches over Io excessively, 45

he dies before his time; she is a goddess!

I saw (a slave) sporting legs bruised by shackles,

from which a husband had been forced to know about adultery.

The punishment (was) less than deserved. The evil tongue harmed two;

the husband hurt, the girl bore the loss of her reputation. 50

Believe me, accusations are welcome to no husband,

and, although he may listen, they help no one.

If he is lukewarm, you leak information to inflexible ears;

if he is in love, he becomes sad at your commitment to duty.

Nor is crime easily proven, however blatant; 55

she comes off safe due to the support of his judgement.

Although he sees, he believes her as she denies it

and he will condemn his eyes and convince himself.

He will see the mistress’ tears, and he will weep himself,

and he’ll say: ’That informer will pay the price!’ 60

Why do you enter an unfair contest? Although you have won there are

beatings for you, she sits in the lap of the judge.

We are not undertaking a crime, we are not coming together to mix

poisons, the hand does not flash with a drawn sword.

We ask that we may be able to love safely through you. 65

What can be softer than our prayers?

non ego mendosos ausim defendere mores

falsaque pro vitiis arma movere meis.

confiteor — siquid prodest delicta fateri;

in mea nunc demens crimina fassus eo.

odi, nec possum, cupiens, non esse quod odi; 5

heu, quam quae studeas ponere ferre grave est!

nam desunt vires ad me mihi iusque regendum;

auferor ut rapida concita puppis aqua.

non est certa meos quae forma invitet amores —

centum sunt causae, cur ego semper amem. 10

sive aliqua est oculos in humum deiecta modestos,

uror, et insidiae sunt pudor ille meae;

sive procax aliqua est, capior, quia rustica non est,

spemque dat in molli mobilis esse toro.

aspera si visa est rigidasque imitata Sabinas, 15

velle, sed ex alto dissimulare puto.

sive es docta, places raras dotata per artes;

sive rudis, placita es simplicitate tua.

est, quae Callimachi prae nostris rustica dicat

carmina — cui placeo, protinus ipsa placet. 20

est etiam, quae me vatem et mea carmina culpet —

culpantis cupiam sustinuisse femur.

molliter incedit — motu capit; altera dura est —

at poterit tacto mollior esse viro.

haec quia dulce canit flectitque facillima vocem, 25

oscula cantanti rapta dedisse velim;

haec querulas habili percurrit pollice chordas —

tam doctas quis non possit amare manus?

illa placet gestu numerosaque bracchia ducit

et tenerum molli torquet ab arte latus — 30

ut taceam de me, qui causa tangor ab omni,

illic Hippolytum pone, Priapus erit!

tu, quia tam longa es, veteres heroidas aequas

et potes in toto multa iacere toro.

haec habilis brevitate sua est. corrumpor utraque; 35

conveniunt voto longa brevisque meo.

non est culta — subit, quid cultae accedere possit;

ornata est — dotes exhibet ipsa suas.

candida me capiet, capiet me flava puella,

est etiam in fusco grata colore Venus. 40

seu pendent nivea pulli cervice capilli,

Leda fuit nigra conspicienda coma;

seu flavent, placuit croceis Aurora capillis.

omnibus historiis se meus aptat amor.

me nova sollicitat, me tangit serior aetas; 45

haec melior specie, moribus illa placet.

denique quas tota quisquam probet urbe puellas,

noster in has omnis ambitiosus amor.

non ego mendosos ausim defendere mores
I would not dare to defend faulty morals

falsaque pro vitiis arma movere meis.
and take up false arms on behalf of my own vices.

confiteor — siquid prodest delicta fateri;
I confess – if confessing sins is any advantage;

in mea nunc demens crimina fassus eo.
having confessed, now I am furiously bringing charges against myself.

odi, nec possum, cupiens, non esse quod odi; 5
I hate, nor can I not be what I hate, despite my desire;

heu, quam quae studeas ponere ferre grave est!
alas, how difficult it is to bear what you are keen to put down!

nam desunt vires ad me mihi iusque regendum;
For the strength and power to control myself are lacking for me;

auferor ut rapida concita puppis aqua.
I am carried away like a fast ship stirred up by rapid water.

non est certa meos quae forma invitet amores —
There is not a fixed beauty which invites my passions –

centum sunt causae, cur ego semper amem. 10
there are a hundred reasons why I am always in love.

sive aliqua est oculos in humum deiecta modestos,
If some girl has cast down her eyes modestly to the ground,

uror, et insidiae sunt pudor ille meae;
I burn, and my pitfall is that modesty;

sive procax aliqua est, capior, quia rustica non est,
or if she is pushy, I am taken, because she is not unsophisticated,

spemque dat in molli mobilis esse toro.
and she gives the hope that she is nimble on a soft bed.

aspera si visa est rigidasque imitata Sabinas, 15
If she appears severe and resembles the stern Sabines,

velle, sed ex alto dissimulare puto.
I think she wants it deep down, but is pretending not to.

sive es docta, places raras dotata per artes;
If you are educated, you please, endowed with exceptional skills;

sive rudis, placita es simplicitate tua.
or if uneducated, you are pleasing due to your simplicity.

est, quae Callimachi prae nostris rustica dicat
There’s the one who says the poems of Callimachus are crude next to

carmina — cui placeo, protinus ipsa placet. 20
mine – she whom I please very soon pleases me.

est etiam, quae me vatem et mea carmina culpet —
There is even the one who criticises me as a poet and my poems –

culpantis cupiam sustinuisse femur.
I’d like to support the thigh of the critic.

molliter incedit — motu capit; altera dura est —
A girl walks gracefully – she charms with her movement; another is stiff –

at poterit tacto mollior esse viro.
but she can be more supple at the touch of a man.

haec quia dulce canit flectitque facillima vocem, 25
This one, because she sings sweetly and modulates her voice very skilfully,

oscula cantanti rapta dedisse velim;
I would like to give snatched kisses to the singer;

haec querulas habili percurrit pollice chordas —
this one strokes the plaintive strings with her skilful thumb –

tam doctas quis non possit amare manus?
who could not love such trained hands?

illa placet gestu numerosaque bracchia ducit
That one pleases with her movement and moves her rhythmic arms

et tenerum molli torquet ab arte latus — 30
and twists her slender side with her gentle art –

ut taceam de me, qui causa tangor ab omni,
although I am quiet about myself, who am touched by every case,

illic Hippolytum pone, Priapus erit!
put Hippolytus there, he will be Priapus!

tu, quia tam longa es, veteres heroidas aequas
You, because you are so tall, equal the heroines of antiquity

et potes in toto multa iacere toro.
and are able to lie down fully on the whole bed.

haec habilis brevitate sua est. corrumpor utraque; 35
This one is manageable due to her short size. I am corrupted by both;

conveniunt voto longa brevisque meo.
the tall and the short are suitable for my desire.

non est culta — subit, quid cultae accedere possit;
She is not well-groomed – it occurs what could be added if she was done up;

ornata est — dotes exhibet ipsa suas.
she is dolled up – she shows off her assets.

candida me capiet, capiet me flava puella,
A fair one will ensnare me, a golden one will ensnare me,

est etiam in fusco grata colore Venus. 40
Love is also welcome with a dark complexion.

seu pendent nivea pulli cervice capilli,
If dark hairs hang from a snowy peak,

Leda fuit nigra conspicienda coma;
Leda was noticeable due to her black hair;

seu flavent, placuit croceis Aurora capillis.
If they are auburn-haired, Dawn pleases with her saffron hair.

omnibus historiis se meus aptat amor.
To every myth my love adapts itself.

me nova sollicitat, me tangit serior aetas; 45
A young one arouses me, older age touches me;

haec melior specie, moribus illa placet.
the former is better looking, the latter pleases with her character.

denique quas tota quisquam probet urbe puellas,
In summary, whichever girls anyone in the whole city approves of,

noster in has omnis ambitiosus amor.
my love is keen on them all.

I would not dare to defend faulty morals

and take up false arms on behalf of my own vices.

I confess – if confessing sins is any advantage;

having confessed, now I am furiously bringing charges against myself.

I hate, nor can I not be what I hate, despite my desire;5

alas, how difficult it is to bear what you are keen to put down!

For the strength and power to control myself are lacking for me;

I am carried away like a fast ship stirred up by rapid water.

There is not a fixed beauty which invites my passions –

there are a hundred reasons why I am always in love.10

If some girl has cast down her eyes modestly to the ground,

I burn, and my pitfall is that modesty;

or if she is pushy, I am taken, because she is not unsophisticated,

and she gives the hope that she is nimble on a soft bed.

If she appears severe and resembles the stern Sabines,15

I think she wants it deep down, but is pretending not to.

If you are educated, you please, endowed with exceptional skills;

or if uneducated, you are pleasing due to your simplicity.

There’s the one who says the poems of Callimachus are crude next to

mine – she whom I please very soon pleases me.20

There is even the one who criticises me as a poet and my poems –

I’d like to support the thigh of the critic.

A girl walks gracefully – she charms with her movement; another is stiff –

but she can be more supple at the touch of a man.

This one, because she sings sweetly and modulates her voice very skilfully,25

I would like to give snatched kisses to the singer;

this one strokes the plaintive strings with her skilful thumb –

who could not love such trained hands?

That one pleases with her movement and moves her rhythmic arms

and twists her slender side with her gentle art –30

although I am quiet about myself, who am touched by every case,

put Hippolytus there, he will be Priapus!

You, because you are so tall, equal the heroines of antiquity

and are able to lie down fully on the whole bed.

This one is manageable due to her short size. I am corrupted by both;35

the tall and the short are suitable for my desire.

She is not well-groomed – it occurs what could be added if she was done up;

she is dolled up – she shows off her assets.

A fair one will ensnare me, a golden one will ensnare me,

Love is also welcome with a dark complexion.40

If dark hairs hang from a snowy peak,

Leda was noticeable due to her black hair;

If they are auburn-haired, Dawn pleases with her saffron hair.

To every myth my love adapts itself.

A young one arouses me, older age touches me;45

the former is better looking, the latter pleases with her character.

In summary, whichever girls anyone in the whole city approves of,

my love is keen on them all.

psittacus, Eois imitatrix ales ab Indis,

occidit — exequias ite frequenter, aves!

ite, piae volucres, et plangite pectora pinnis

et rigido teneras ungue notate genas;

horrida pro maestis lanietur pluma capillis,5

pro longa resonent carmina vestra tuba!

quod scelus Ismarii quereris, Philomela, tyranni,

expleta est annis ista querela suis;

alitis in rarae miserum devertere funus —

magna, sed antiqua est causa doloris Itys.10

omnes, quae liquido libratis in aere cursus,

tu tamen ante alios, turtur amice, dole!

plena fuit vobis omni concordia vita,

et stetit ad finem longa tenaxque fides.

quod fuit Argolico iuvenis Phoceus Orestae,15

hoc tibi, dum licuit, psittace, turtur erat.

quid tamen ista fides, quid rari forma coloris,

quid vox mutandis ingeniosa sonis,

quid iuvat, ut datus es, nostrae placuisse puellae? —

infelix, avium gloria, nempe iaces!20

tu poteras fragiles pinnis hebetare zmaragdos

tincta gerens rubro Punica rostra croco.

non fuit in terris vocum simulantior ales —

reddebas blaeso tam bene verba sono!

raptus es invidia — non tu fera bella movebas;25

garrulus et placidae pacis amator eras.

ecce, coturnices inter sua proelia vivunt;

forsitan et fiunt inde frequenter anus.

plenus eras minimo, nec prae sermonis amore

in multos poteras ora vacare cibos.30

nux erat esca tibi, causaeque papavera somni,

pellebatque sitim simplicis umor aquae.

vivit edax vultur ducensque per aera gyros

miluus et pluviae graculus auctor aquae;

vivit et armiferae cornix invisa Minervae —35

illa quidem saeclis vix moritura novem;

occidit illa loquax humanae vocis imago,

psittacus, extremo munus ab orbe datum!

optima prima fere manibus rapiuntur avaris;

inplentur numeris deteriora suis.40

tristia Phylacidae Thersites funera vidit,

iamque cinis vivis fratribus Hector erat.

quid referam timidae pro te pia vota puellae —

vota procelloso per mare rapta Noto?

septima lux venit non exhibitura sequentem,45

et stabat vacuo iam tibi Parca colo.

nec tamen ignavo stupuerunt verba palato;

clamavit moriens lingua: ‘Corinna, vale!’

colle sub Elysio nigra nemus ilice frondet,

udaque perpetuo gramine terra viret.50

siqua fides dubiis, volucrum locus ille piarum

dicitur, obscenae quo prohibentur aves.

illic innocui late pascuntur olores

et vivax phoenix, unica semper avis;

explicat ipsa suas ales Iunonia pinnas, 55

oscula dat cupido blanda columba mari.

psittacus has inter nemorali sede receptus

convertit volucres in sua verba pias.

ossa tegit tumulus — tumulus pro corpore magnus —

quo lapis exiguus par sibi carmen habet:60

colligor ex ipso dominae placuisse sepulcro.

ora fuere mihi plus ave docta loqui.

tu mihi, tu certe, memini, Graecine, negabas

uno posse aliquem tempore amare duas.

per te ego decipior, per te deprensus inermis —

ecce, duas uno tempore turpis amo!

utraque formosa est, operosae cultibus ambae;5

artibus in dubio est haec sit an illa prior.

pulchrior hac illa est, haec est quoque pulchrior illa;

et magis haec nobis, et magis illa placet!

erro, velut ventis discordibus acta phaselos,

dividuumque tenent alter et alter amor.10

quid geminas, Erycina, meos sine fine dolores?

non erat in curas una puella satis?

quid folia arboribus, quid pleno sidera caelo,

in freta collectas alta quid addis aquas?

sed tamen hoc melius, quam si sine amore iacerem –15

hostibus eveniat vita severa meis!

hostibus eveniat viduo dormire cubili

et medio laxe ponere membra toro!

at mihi saevus amor somnos abrumpat inertes,

simque mei lecti non ego solus onus!20

me mea disperdat nullo prohibente puella —

si satis una potest, si minus una, duae!

sufficiam — graciles, non sunt sine viribus artus;

pondere, non nervis corpora nostra carent;

et lateri dabit in vires alimenta voluptas.25

decepta est opera nulla puella mea;

saepe ego lascive consumpsi tempora noctis,

utilis et forti corpore mane fui.

felix, quem Veneris certamina mutua perdunt!

di faciant, leti causa sit ista mei!30

induat adversis contraria pectora telis

miles et aeternum sanguine nomen emat.

quaerat avarus opes et, quae lassarit arando,

aequora periuro naufragus ore bibat.

at mihi contingat Veneris languescere motu,35

cum moriar, medium solvar et inter opus;

atque aliquis nostro lacrimans in funere dicat:

‘conveniens vitae mors fuit ista tuae!’

ite triumphales circum mea tempora laurus!

vicimus: in nostro est, ecce, Corinna sinu,

quam vir, quam custos, quam ianua firma, tot hostes,

servabant, nequa posset ab arte capi!

haec est praecipuo victoria digna triumpho,5

in qua, quaecumque est, sanguine praeda caret.

non humiles muri, non parvis oppida fossis

cincta, sed est ductu capta puella meo!

Pergama cum caderent bello superata bilustri,

ex tot in Atridis pars quota laudis erat?10

at mea seposita est et ab omni milite dissors

gloria, nec titulum muneris alter habet.

me duce ad hanc voti finem, me milite veni;

ipse eques, ipse pedes, signifer ipse fui.

nec casum fortuna meis inmiscuit actis —15

huc ades, o cura parte triumphe mea!

nec belli est nova causa mei. nisi rapta fuisset

Tyndaris, Europae pax Asiaeque foret.

femina silvestris Lapithas populumque biformem

turpiter adposito vertit in arma mero;20

femina Troianos iterum nova bella movere

inpulit in regno, iuste Latine, tuo;

femina Romanis etiamnunc urbe recenti

inmisit soceros armaque saeva dedit.

vidi ego pro nivea pugnantes coniuge tauros;25

spectatrix animos ipsa iuvenca dabat.

me quoque, qui multos, sed me sine caede, Cupido

iussit militiae signa movere suae.