Poem 20: Translation

Question 1

Cynthia prima suis miserum me cepit ocellis, contactum nullis ante cupidinibus. (1-2)

Answer 1

Cynthia was the first to capture me - miserable me - with her eyes me who previous was untouched/uninfected by love.

Question 2

tum mihi constantis deiecit lumina fastus et caput impositis pressit Amor pedibus, (3-4)

Answer 2

Then Love cast down my gaze of steady arrogance and with his feet planted firmly pressed down on my head,

Question 3

donec me docuit castas odisse puellas improbus, et nullo vivere consilio. (5-6)

Answer 3

Until he - impudently - taught me to hate faithful girls and to live my life by no plan.

Question 4

ei mihi, iam toto furor hic non deficit anno, cum tamen adversos cogor habere deos. (7-8)

Answer 4

Alas for me - this madness has not faded for a whole year since despite everything I am forced to have the gods against me.

Question 5

Milanion nullos fugiendo, Tulle, labores saevitiam durae contudit Iasidos. (9-10)

Answer 5

Tullus, in the case of Milanion, it was by not avoiding hard effort that he crushed the ferocity of the harsh daughter of Iasus.

Question 6

nam modo Partheniis amens errabat in antris, rusus in hirsutas ibat et ille feras; (11-12)

Answer 6

For, when he was wandering in his madness through the caves of Parthenia, he went again to face the hairy wild animals;

Question 7

ille etiam Hylaei percussus vulnerability rami saucius Arcadiis rupibus ingemuit. (13-14)

Answer 7

He struck by a wound caused by Hylaeus’s club he groaned, wounded, in Arcadia’s rocks.

Question 8

ergo velocem potuit domuisse puellam: tantum in amore fides et benefacta valent. (15-16)

Answer 8

Therefore he was able to tame the swift girl: loyalty and good deeds can have success in love.

Question 9

in me tardus Amor non ullas cogitat artes, nec meminit notas, ut prius, ire vias. (17-18)

Answer 9

In the case of me, Love is slow and does not think up any plan of action nor does it remember to go along well-known routes, as before.

Question 10

ENGLISH (19-24)

Answer 10

But you whose trick it is to lure the moon from heaven, and task to solemnize rites in magic altar-fire, come change my mistress’ mind and make her face blanche paler than my own! — then I shall believe that you can draw the stars and rivers with Colchian spells.

Question 11

ENGLISH (25-30)

Answer 11

And, friends that call me back from decline, seek out the reminders for unsound hearts: I shall bear with fortitude cauterization and knife, if only I’m free to speak as my anger wants. Carry me through the farthest peoples and seas, where never a woman can follow my spoor.

Question 12

ENGLISH (31-38)

Answer 12

Stay, to whom the god inclines a compliant ear: be always newly matched in a safe love. Our Venus plies bitter nights against me, and at no time does Love either rest or cease. Be warned, avoid me woe. Let each be held by his own suit, don’t change the seat of accustomed love! But if anyone heeds my warning too late, alas, how grievously he will recall my words.