Lygdamus 3.3

Question 1

Quid prodest caelum uotis implesse, Neaera,

blandaque cum multa tura dedisse prece,

Answer 1

What help, Naeara, to have glutted the heavens with vows,

and to have offered winning incense with many a prayer,

Question 2

non ut marmorei prodirem e limine tecti,

insignis clara conspicuusque domo,

Answer 2

Not that I might step forth from the threshold of a marble dwelling,
Illustrious and famed for my resplendent house,

Question 3

aut ut multa mei renouarent iugera tauri

et magnas messes terra benigna daret,

Answer 3

Or that bulls of mine plough anew many an acre

and the kindly earth bestow grand harvests

Question 4

sed tecum ut longae sociarem gaudia uitae

inque tuo caderet nostra senecta sinu,

Answer 4

But that I might share with you the joys of a long life

and in your lap my old age fall to end

Question 5

tum cum permenso defunctus tempore lucis

nudus Lethaea cogerer ire rate?

Answer 5

Then, when with the completion of my light’s full time,

Naked I’d have to travel on Lethe’s boat.

Question 6

Nam graue quid prodest pondus mihi diuitis auri,

aruaque si findant pinguia mille boues?

Answer 6

What help to me is gold’s heavy weight of riches,

Or a thousand oxen furrowing fertile fields?

Question 7

Quidue domus prodest Phrygiis innixa columnis,

Taenare siue tuis, siue Caryste tuis,

Answer 7

What held a house supported on Phrygian columns,

Or, Taenarus, yours, or yours, Carystus, too,

Question 8

et nemora in domibus sacros imitantia lucos

aurataeque trabes marmoreumque solum?

Answer 8

and within my dwelling woods that resemble sacred groves,

And gilded beams, and a pavement made of marble?

Question 9

Quidue in Erythraeo legitur quae litore concha

tinctaque Sidonio murice lana iuuat,

Answer 9

What help the pearl shell gathered on Erythraea’s shore,

Or wool soaked in Sidon’s purple dye,

Question 10

et quae praeterea populus miratur? In illis

inuidia est: falso plurima uulgus amat.

Answer 10

and whatever else the crowd admires? This way lies envy.

The mob errs in most of what it loves.

Question 11

Non opibus mentes hominum curaeque leuantur

nec Fortuna sua tempora lege regit.

Answer 11

Men’s schemes and worries are not relieved by wealth;

For Fortuna rules their lives by her own law.

Question 12

Sit mihi paupertas tecum iucunda, Neaera:

at sine te regum munera nulla uolo.

Answer 12

With you, Naeara, poverty would be sweet for me.

Without you I do not want the opulence of kings.

Question 13

O niueam quae te poterit mihi reddere lucem!

O mihi felicem terque quaterque diem!

Answer 13

Oh, snow-bright morning that can return you back to me!

Oh, day, happy for me, threefold, fourfold!

Question 14

At si, pro dulci reditu quaecumque uouentur,

audiat auersa non meus aure deus,

Answer 14

But if a hostile God should fail to hear, ear ill disposed,

whatever I have vowed for your sweet return,

Question 15

nec me regna iuuant nec Lydius aurifer amnis

nec quas terrarum sustinet orbis opes.

Answer 15

Neither kingdoms please me, nor Lydia’s gold-filled stream,

Nor the wealth the circle of the world supports.

Question 16

Haec alii cupiant; liceat mihi paupere cultu

securo cara coniuge posse frui.

Answer 16

Let others yearn for these. Let me but live in poor man’s style,
To enjoy without worry the dearness of my wife.

Question 17

Adsis et timidis faueas, Saturnia, uotis,

et faueas concha, Cypria, uecta tua.

Answer 17

Stay near, Saturnia, kindly to my fearful prayers,

And kindly, too, Cypria, traveling on your shell.

Question 18

Aut si fata negant reditum tristesque sorores,

stamina quae ducunt quaeque futura neunt,

Answer 18

But if the Fates deny your return, and the drear sisters

who draw out our threads and spin our destiny,

Question 19

me uocet in uastos amnes nigramque paludem

diues in ignaua luridus Orcus aqua.

Answer 19

May wan Orcus, rich with languorous waters, summon me

Toward his dreary streams and dusky mere.