Propertius I.1 Flashcards
Cynthia prima suis miserum me cepit ocellis,
contactum nullis ante cupidinibus.
tum mihi constantis deiecit lumina fastus
et caput impositis pressit Amor pedibus,
Cynthia first captured unhappy me with her little eyes,
Touched by no desires before.
Then Love cast down my look of steadfast pride
And pressed on my head with his imposed feet,
donec me docuit costas odisse puellas
improbus, et nullo vivere consilio.
et mihi iam todo furor hic non deficit anno,
cum tamen adversos cogor habere deos.
Until he taught me wickedly to hate virtuous girls
And to live with no plan.
And already this madness has not weakened in a whole year,
Since yet I am forced to have gods unfriendly to me.
Milanion nullos fugiendo, Tulle, labores
saevitiam durae contudit Iasidos.
nam modo Partheniis amens errabat in antris,
ibat et hirsutas ille videre feras;
By fleeing no labours, Tullus, Milanion
Crushed the savagery of cruel Atalanta.
For he used to wander at times, out of his mind, in the Parthenian caves,
And he would go to see shaggy wild beasts.
ille etiam Hylaei percussus vulnere rami
saucius Arcadiis rupibus ingemuit.
ergo velocem potuit domuisse puellam:
tantum in amore preces et bene facta valent.
He even, struck down with a blow of Hylaeus’ club,
Groaned, wounded, on the Arcadian rocks.
Therefore he could tame the swift girl:
Good deeds and prayers have so much power in love.
in me tardus Amor non ullas cogitat artes,
nec meminit notas, ut prius, ire vias.
at vos, deductae quibus est fallacia lunae
et labor in magicis sacra piare focis,
In my case slow Love thinks out no tricks,
Nor remembers, as in former times, to go on familiar paths.
But you, who know the trick of drawing down the moon
And who have work to sanctify sacred objects at magical hearths,
en agedum dominae mentem convertite nostrae,
et facite illa meo palleat ore magis!
tunc ego crediderim vobis et sidera et amnes
posse Cytinaeis ducere carminibus.
Lo come! Change the mind of my mistress,
And make her grow paler than my face!
Then I would believe you can divert
Both the stars and the rivers with your songs of Cytina.
et vos, qui sero lapsum revocatis, amici,
quaerite non sani pectoris auxilia.
fortiter et ferrum saevos patiemur et ignes,
sit modo libertas quae velit ira loqui.
And you, friends, who call back one who has fallen too late,
Seek help for an unhealthy heart.
Bravely we will endure both sword and fierce fires,
Just let there be freedom to say whatever my anger wishes.
ferte per extremas gentes et ferte per undas,
qua non ulla meum femina norit iter.
vos remanete, quibus facili deus annuit aure,
sitis et in tuto semper amore pares.
Take me through the farthest races and take me through the waves,
Where no woman may know my journey.
You remain, to whom the god has nodded with a ready ear,
And may you always be well-matched in secure love.
in me nostra Venus noctes exercet amaras,
et nullo vacuus tempore defit Amor.
hoc, moneo, vitate malum: sua quemque moretur
cura, neque assueto mutet amore locum.
Our Venus torments me with her bitter nights,
And at no time is empty Love running short.
I warn you, avoid this evil: may each stay with his own beloved,
Nor switch from the place of familiar love.
quod si quis monitis tardas adverterit aures,
heu referet quanto verba dolore mea!
But if anyone turns slow ears to my warnings,
Alas with what great grief he will recall my words!
