Delphi Complete Works of Tibullus

by Tibullus

Quid faciam, nisi et ipse fores in amore puellae?

  Sed precor exemplo sit levis illa tuo. 40

  O quotiens, verbis ne quisquam conscius esset,

  Ipse comes multa lumina nocte tuli!

  Saepe insperanti venit tibi munere nostro

  Et latuit clausas post adoperta fores.

  Tum miser interii, stulte confisus amari: 45

  Nam poteram ad laqueos cautior esse tuos.

  Quin etiam adtonita laudes tibi mente canebam,

  Et me nunc nostri Pieridumque pudet.

  Illa velim rapida Volcanus carmina flamma

  Torreat et liquida deleat amnis aqua. 50

  Tu procul hinc absis, cui formam vendere cura est

  Et pretium plena grande referre manu.

  39 What should I have done hadst thou not thyself been in love with a maid? May she be fickle — fickle, I pray, taking pattern by thee. Oh, how oft in the late night, that none should be privy to thy wooing, did I myself attend thee with the light in my hand! Often, when thou didst not hope for her, she came through my good offices, and stood hid, a veiled figure, behind the fast shut door. Then, poor wretch, was my undoing; I fondly trusted to Love: I might have been warier of thy snares. Nay, in my craze of mind I made verses in thy honour; but now I am ashamed for myself and the Muses. May the Fire-god shrivel those verses with devouring flame, or the river wash them out in its running waters. Go thou far hence whose aim is to sell thy beauty and to return with a great wage filling thy hand.

  At te, qui puerum donis corrumpere es ausus,

  Rideat adsiduis uxor inulta dolis,

  Et cum furtivo iuvenem lassaverit usu, 55

  Tecum interposita languida veste cubet.

  Semper sint externa tuo vestigia lecto,

  Et pateat cupidis semper aperta domus;

  Nec lasciva soror dicatur plura bibisse

  Pocula vel plures emeruisse viros. 60

  Illam saepe ferunt convivia ducere Baccho,

  Dum rota Luciferi provocet orta diem.

  Illa nulla queat melius consumere noctem

  Aut operum varias disposuisse vices.

  53 And thou who durst corrupt the boy with thy gifts, may thy wife unpunished make a constant jest of thee by her intrigues; and when the gallant is spent with her furtive dalliance, let her lie by thee lax with the coverlet between. Let there be always stranger tracks upon thy bed, and thy house be always free and open to the amorous. Nor let it be said that her wanton sister can drain more cups or exhaust more gallants. She, folk say, prolongs her wine-bibbing revels till the wheels of the Light-bringer rise to summon forth the day. Than she could none lay out the night hours better, or arrange the different modes of love.

  At tua perdidicit, nec tu, stultissime, sentis, 65

  Cum tibi non solita corpus ab arte movet.

  Tune putas illam pro te disponere crines

  Aut tenues denso pectere dente comas?

  Ista haec persuadet facies, auroque lacertos

  Vinciat et Tyrio prodeat apta sinu? 70

  Non tibi, sed iuveni cuidam volt bella videri,

  Devoveat pro quo remque domumque tuam.

  Nec facit hoc vitio, sed corpora foeda podagra

  Et senis amplexus culta puella fugit.

  65 But thy spouse has learned it all, and yet thou, poor fool, dost notice naught when she moves her limbs with an unaccustomed art. Dost thou think that it is for thee that she arranges her hair and through her fine tresses passes the close-toothed comb? Is it thy beauty prompts her to clasp gold on her arms and come forth arrayed in Tyrian drapery? Not thee, but a certain youth would she have find her charming. For him she would consign to ruin thee and all thy house. Nor does she this out of depravity; but the dainty girl shrinks from limbs that gout disfigures and an old man’s arms.

  Huic tamen adcubuit noster puer: hunc ego credam 75

  Cum trucibus venerem iungere posse feris.

  Blanditiasne meas aliis tu vendere es ausus?

  Tune aliis demens oscula ferre mea?

  Tum flebis, cum me vinctum puer alter habebit

  Et geret in regno regna superba tuo. 80

  75 Yet by him has my own lad lain. I could believe that he would mate with a savage beast. Didst thou dare, mad youth, to sell caresses that belonged to me and to take to others the kisses that were mine? Thou wilt weep, then, when another lad has made me his captive and shall proudly reign in thy realm.

  At tua tum me poena iuvet, Venerique merenti

  Fixa notet casus aurea palma meos:

  ‘Hanc tibi fallaci resolutus amore Tibullus

  Dedicat et grata sis, dea, mente rogat’.

  81 In that hour of thy punishment I shall rejoice, and a golden palm-branch shall be put up to Venus for her goodness, with this record of my fortunes:

  TIBULLUS WHOM FROM TREACHEROUS LOVE, GODDESS, THOU DIDST UNBIND OFFERS THEE THIS AND BEGS THEE KEEP FOR HIM A THANKFUL MIND.

  X

  Against War

  Quis fuit, horrendos primus qui protulit enses?

  Quam ferus et vere ferreus ille fuit!

  Tum caedes hominum generi, tum proelia nata,

  Tum brevior dirae mortis aperta via est.

  1 WHO was the first discoverer of the horrible sword? How savage was he and literally iron! Then slaughter and battles were born into the world of men: then to grisly death a shorter road was opened.

  An nihil ille miser meruit, nos ad mala nostra 5

  Vertimus, in saevas quod dedit ille feras?

  Divitis hoc vitium est auri, nec bella fuerunt,

  Faginus adstabat cum scyphus ante dapes.

  Non arces, non vallus erat, somnumque petebat

  Securus sparsas dux gregis inter oves. 10

  5 But perhaps, poor wretch, he is to blame in nothing, but we turn to our mischief what he gave us to use against the savage wild beast. This is the curse of precious gold; nor were there wars when the cup of beech wood stood beside men’s food. There were no citadels, no palisades, and void of care the flock’s commander courted sleep with his sheep of divers hue around him.

  Tunc mihi vita foret, volgi nec tristia nossem

  Arma nec audissem corde micante tubam;

  Nunc ad bella trahor, et iam quis forsitan hostis

  Haesura in nostro tela gerit latere.

  11 In that age would I have lived nor known grim warfare or heard the trumpet-call with beating heart. Now am I dragged to war; and some foeman, maybe, already bears the weapon that is to be buried in my side.

  Sed patrii servate Lares: aluistis et idem, 15

  Cursarem vestros cum tener ante pedes.

  Neu pudeat prisco vos esse e stipite factos:

  Sic veteris sedes incoluistis avi.

  Tum melius tenuere fidem, cum paupere cultu

  Stabat in exigua ligneus aede deus. 20

  Hic placatus erat, seu quis libaverat uva,

  Seu dederat sanctae spicea serta comae,

  Atque aliquis voti compos liba ipse ferebat

  Postque comes purum filia parva favum.

  15 Yet save me, Lares of my fathers! Ye too did rear me when I ran, a little child, before your feet. And feel it not a shame that ye are made of but an ancient tree-stock. Such were ye when ye dwelt in the home of my grandsire long ago. Then faith was better kept, when a wooden god stood poorly garbed in a harrow shrine. His favour was won when a man had offered a bunch of grapes as first fruits, or laid the spiky garland on the holy hair. And one who had gained his prayer would with his own hands bring the honey-cake, his little daughter following with the pure honeycomb in hers.

  At nobis aerata, Lares, depellite tela, 25

  * * * 25a

  * * * 25b

  Hostiaque e plena rustica porcus hara.

  Hanc pura cum veste sequar myrtoque canistra

  Vincta geram, myrto vinctus et ipse caput.

  Sic placeam vobis: alius sit fortis in armis

  Sternat et adversos Marte favente duces, 30

  Ut mihi potanti possit sua dicere f
acta

  Miles et in mensa pingere castra mero.

  25 O Lares, turn the bronze javelins away from me [and as thankoffering for my safe return shall fall...] and a hog from the full sty, a farmer’s victim. With it will I follow in clean apparel, and bear the basket bound with myrtle, even as the myrtle binds my hair. Thus may I find favour in your eyes. Let another be stout in war and, Mars to aid him, lay the hostile chieftains low, that, while I drink, he may tell me of his feats in fighting and draw the camp in wine upon the table.

  Quis furor est atram bellis accersere mortem?

  Inminet et tacito clam venit illa pede.

  Non seges est infra, non vinea culta, sed audax 35

  Cerberus et Stygiae navita turpis aquae;

  Illic percussisque genis ustoque capillo

  Errat ad obscuros pallida turba lacus.

  33 What madness is it to call black Death to us by warfare! It is ever close upon us: it comes unseen on silent feet. Below there are neither corn-lands nor well-kept vineyards; only wild Cerberus and the ill-favoured mariner of the stream of Styx. There wanders a sallow throng beside the dusky pools with eyeless sockets and fire-ravaged hair.

  Quam potius laudandus hic est, quem prole parata

  Occupat in parva pigra senecta casa. 40

  Ipse suas sectatur oves, at filius agnos,

  Et calidam fesso conparat uxor aquam.

  Sic ego sim, liceatque caput candescere canis,

  Temporis et prisci facta referre senem.

  Interea pax arva colat. pax candida primum 45

  Duxit araturos sub iuga curva boves,

  Pax aluit vites et sucos condidit uvae,

  Funderet ut nato testa paterna merum,

  Pace bidens vomerque nitent — at tristia duri

  Militis in tenebris occupat arma situs — 50

  39 Nay, the hero is he whom, when his children are begotten, old age’s torpor overtakes in his humble cottage. He follows his sheep, his son the lambs, while the good wife heats the water for his weary limbs. So let me live till the white hairs glisten on my head and I tell in old man’s fashion of the days gone by. Let Peace in the meantime tend our fields. Bright Peace first led the oxen under curved yoke to plough. Peace made the vine plants grow and stored the grape juice that from the father’s jars might pour wine for the son. In peace shine hoe and ploughshare; but the grisly arms of the rugged soldier rust preys on in the dark.

  Rusticus e lucoque vehit, male sobrius ipse,

  Uxorem plaustro progeniemque domum.

  51 Then the yeoman drives back from the grove, himself half sober, with wife and offspring in his wain.

  Sed Veneris tum bella calent, scissosque capillos

  Femina perfractas conqueriturque fores.

  Flet teneras subtusa genas, sed victor et ipse 55

  Flet sibi dementes tam valuisse manus.

  At lascivus Amor rixae mala verba ministrat,

  Inter et iratum lentus utrumque sedet.

  A, lapis est ferrumque, suam quicumque puellam

  Verberat: e caelo deripit ille deos. 60

  Sit satis e membris tenuem rescindere vestem,

  Sit satis ornatus dissoluisse comae,

  Sit lacrimas movisse satis: quater ille beatus,

  Quo tenera irato flere puella potest.

  Sed manibus qui saevus erit, scutumque sudemque 65

  Is gerat et miti sit procul a Venere.

  53 Then love’s war rages hotly; and women lament that hair is torn and doors are broken. The fair weeps for the buffets on her tender cheek; but the conqueror weeps too that his mad hands were so strong; while freakish Love feeds the feud with bitter speeches, and sits in unconcern between the angry pair. Ah, he is stone and iron who would beat his lass: this is to drag the gods down from the sky. Be it enough to tear the light robe from her limbs, and to disorder the fair arrangement of her hair: enough to cause her tears to flow. Thrice happy he whose anger can make a soft lass weep! But he whose hands are cruel should carry shield and stake and keep afar from gentle Venus.

  At nobis, Pax alma, veni spicamque teneto,

  Perfluat et pomis candidus ante sinus.

  67 Then come to us, gracious Peace; grasp the cornspike in thy hand, and from the bosom of thy white robe let fruits pour out before thee.

  LIBER SECVNDVS — BOOK II

  I

  The Country Festival

  Quisquis adest, faveat: fruges lustramus et agros,

  Ritus ut a prisco traditus extat avo.

  Bacche, veni, dulcisque tuis e cornibus uva

  Pendeat, et spicis tempora cinge, Ceres.

  1 ALL present hush. We purify the crops and lands in the fashion handed down from our ancestors of old. Come to us, Bacchus, with the sweet grape cluster hanging from thy horns, and, Ceres, wreathe thy temples with the corn-ears.

  Luce sacra requiescat humus, requiescat arator, 5

  Et grave suspenso vomere cesset opus.

  Solvite vincla iugis: nunc ad praesepia debent

  Plena coronato stare boves capite.

  Omnia sint operata deo: non audeat ulla

  Lanificam pensis inposuisse manum. 10

  Vos quoque abesse procul iubeo, discedat ab aris,

  Cui tulit hesterna gaudia nocte Venus.

  Casta placent superis: pura cum veste venite

  Et manibus puris sumite fontis aquam.

  Cernite, fulgentes ut eat sacer agnus ad aras 15

  Vinctaque post olea candida turba comas.

  5 Upon this holy day let earth, let ploughman rest. Hang up the share and let the heavy labour cease. Loose from the yokes their straps; now by the well-filled manger must the oxen stand with garlands round their heads. Let all things be at the service of the god; let no spinner choose to set her hand to the task of wool. Ye too I bid stand far away — let none be nigh the altar to whom Love’s goddess gave her pleasures yesternight. The powers above ask purity. Clean be the raiment that ye come in, and clean the hands to take the waters from the spring. Mark how to the shining altar goes the holy lamb, and behind the white procession; the olive binds their hair.

  Di patrii, purgamus agros, purgamus agrestes:

  Vos mala de nostris pellite limitibus,

  Neu seges eludat messem fallacibus herbis,

  Neu timeat celeres tardior agna lupos. 20

  Tunc nitidus plenis confisus rusticus agris

  Ingeret ardenti grandia ligna foco,

  Turbaque vernarum, saturi bona signa coloni,

  Ludet et ex virgis exstruet ante casas.

  Eventura precor: viden ut felicibus extis 25

  Significet placidos nuntia fibra deos?

  17 Gods of our sires, we cleanse the farms, we cleanse the farming folk. Do ye outside our boundaries drive all evil things. Let not our sown fields mock the reaping with defaulting blade. Let not our slow lambs fear the swifter wolves. Then the sleek rustic, full of trust in his teeming fields, will heap huge logs upon his blazing hearth; and a young troop of home-born slaves, fair signs that show a lusty yeoman, will play about and build them huts of sticks before the fire. My prayers are heard. See in the favouring entrails how the liver-markings bear a message that the gods are gracious.

  Nunc mihi fumosos veteris proferte Falernos

  Consulis et Chio solvite vincla cado.

  Vina diem celebrent: non festa luce madere

  Est rubor, errantes et male ferre pedes. 30

  Sed «bene Messallam» sua quisque ad pocula dicat,

  Nomen et absentis singula verba sonent.

  27 Now from the old bin bring me out the smoked Falernians and loose the bands of the Chian jar. Let drinking be the order of the day. Now we keep holiday, and to be tipsy is no shame, nor to carry ill our unsteady feet. But let each one, as he drinks, cry, “Health to Messalla!” and in every utterance be the name of the absent heard.

  Gentis Aquitanae celeber Messalla triumpho

  Et magna intonsis gloria victor avis,

  Huc ades adspiraque mihi, dum carmine nostro 35<
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  Redditur agricolis gratia caelitibus.

  33 Messalla, now the talk of all for thy triumph over the race of Aquitaine, whose victories cover thy unshorn ancestors with glory, hither come and breathe upon me while with my song I pay thanksgiving to the powers that tend the fields.

  Rura cano rurisque deos. his vita magistris

  Desuevit querna pellere glande famem;

  Illi conpositis primum docuere tigillis

  Exiguam viridi fronde operire domum, 40

  Illi etiam tauros primi docuisse feruntur

  Servitium et plaustro subposuisse rotam.

  Tum victus abiere feri, tum consita pomus,

  Tum bibit inriguas fertilis hortus aquas,

  Aurea tum pressos pedibus dedit uva liquores, 45

  Mixtaque securo est sobria lympha mero.

  Rura ferunt messes, calidi cum sideris aestu

  Deponit flavas annua terra comas.

  Rure levis verno flores apis ingerit alveo,

  Conpleat ut dulci sedula melle favos. 50

  37 I sing the country and the country’s gods. They were the guides when man first ceased to chase his hunger with the acorns from the oak. They taught him first to put the planks together and cover his humble dwelling with green leaves. They too, ’tis told, trained bulls to be his slaves, and placed the wheel beneath the wain. Then savage habits passed away; then was the fruit-tree planted, and the thriving garden drank the water from the rills. Then the golden grapes gave up their juices to the trampling feet, and sober water was mixed with cheering wine. From the country comes our harvest, when in heaven’s glowing beat the earth is yearly shorn of her shock of yellow hair. Through the country flits the bee in spring-time, heaping the hive with flowers in her zeal to fill the combs with the honey sweet.

  Agricola adsiduo primum satiatus aratro

  Cantavit certo rustica verba pede

  Et satur arenti primum est modulatus avena

  Carmen, ut ornatos diceret ante deos;

  Agricola et minio subfusus, Bacche, rubenti 55

  Primus inexperta duxit ab arte choros.

  Huic datus a pleno, memorabile munus, ovili

  Dux pecoris hircus: duxerat hircus oves.

  51 Then first the countryman, sated with ploughing without cease, sang rustic words in time and tune; and, full of meat, first composed a song on the dry oat-pipes to chaunt before the gods that his hands had dressed. And, Bacchus, it was a countryman that first dyed his skin with red vermilion and wound through the dance with unpractised art. It was he too that, offering from all his fold a gift to tell about, the lie-goat, leader of the flock, gained increase for his scanty wealth.