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Epistles (P. Ovidius Naso)
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Epistles

Author: P. Ovidius Naso
Translator: J. Nunn, R. Priestly, R. Lea, J. Rodwell
20
Acontius Cydippae
Pone
metum
!
nihil
hic
iterum
iurabis
amanti
;
Promissam
satis
est
te
semel
esse
mihi
.
Perlege
!
discedat
sic
corpore
languor
ab
isto
,
Quod
meus
est
ulla
parte
dolere
dolor
!
Quid
pudor
ante
subit
?
nam
,
sicut
in
aede
Dianae
,
Suspicor
ingenuas
erubuisse
genas
.
Coniugium
pactamque
fidem
,
non
crimina
posco
;
Debitus
ut
coniunx
,
non
ut
adulter
amo
.
Verba
licet
repetas
,
quae
demptus
ab
arbore
fetus

Pertulit
ad
castas
me
iaciente
manus
;
Invenies
illic
,
id
te
spondere
,
quod
opto

Te
potius
,
virgo
,
quam
meminisse
deam
.
Nunc
quoque
avemus
idem
,
sed
idem
tamen
acrius
illud
;
Adsumpsit
vires
auctaque
flamma
mora
est
,
Quique
fuit
numquam
parvus
,
nunc
tempore
longo

Et
spe
,
quam
dederas
tu
mihi
,
crevit
amor
.
Spem
mihi
tu
dederas
,
meus
hic
tibi
credidit
ardor
.
Non
potes
hoc
factum
teste
negare
dea
.
Adfuit
et
,
praesens
ut
erat
,
tua
verba
notavit

Et
visa
est
mota
dicta
tulisse
coma
.
Deceptam
dicas
nostra
te
fraude
licebit
,
Dum
fraudis
nostrae
causa
feratur
amor
.
Fraus
mea
quid
petiit
,
nisi
uti
tibi
iungerer
,
unum
?
Id
te
,
quod
quereris
,
conciliare
potest
.
Non
ego
natura
nec
sum
tam
callidus
usu
;
Sollertem
tu
me
,
crede
,
puella
,
facis
.
Te
mihi
conpositis
siquid
tamen
egimus
a
me

Adstrinxit
verbis
ingeniosus
Amor
.
Dictatis
ab
eo
feci
sponsalia
verbis
,
Consultoque
fui
iuris
Amore
vafer
.
Sit
fraus
huic
facto
nomen
,
dicarque
dolosus
,
Si
tamen
est
,
quod
ames
,
velle
tenere
dolus
!
En
,
iterum
scribo
mittoque
rogantia
verba
!
Altera
fraus
haec
est
,
quodque
queraris
habes
.
Si
noceo
,
quod
amo
,
fateor
,
sine
fine
nocebo
,
Teque
,
peti
caveas
tu
licet
,
usque
petam
.
Per
gladios
alii
placitas
rapuere
puellas
;
Scripta
mihi
caute
littera
crimen
erit
?
Di
faciant
,
possim
plures
inponere
nodos
,
Ut
tua
sit
nulla
libera
parte
fides
!
Mille
doli
restant
clivo
sudamus
in
imo
;
Ardor
inexpertum
nil
sinet
esse
meus
.
Sit
dubium
,
possisne
capi
;
captabere
certe
.
Exitus
in
dis
est
,
sed
capiere
tamen
.
Ut
partem
effugias
,
non
omnia
retia
falles
,
Quae
tibi
,
quam
credis
,
plura
tetendit
Amor
.
Si
non
proficient
artes
,
veniemus
ad
arma
,
Inque
tui
cupido
rapta
ferere
sinu
.
Non
sum
,
qui
soleam
Paridis
reprehendere
factum
,
Nec
quemquam
,
qui
vir
,
posset
ut
esse
,
fuit
.
Nos
quoque
sed
taceo
!
mors
huius
poena
rapinae

Ut
sit
,
erit
,
quam
te
non
habuisse
,
minor
.
Aut
esses
formosa
minus
,
peterere
modeste
;
Audaces
facie
cogimur
esse
tua
.
Tu
facis
hoc
oculique
tui
,
quibus
ignea
cedunt

Sidera
,
qui
flammae
causa
fuere
meae
;
Hoc
faciunt
flavi
crines
et
eburnea
cervix
,
Quaeque
,
precor
,
veniant
in
mea
colla
manus
,
Et
decor
et
vultus
sine
rusticitate
pudentes
,
Et
,
Thetidis
qualis
vix
rear
esse
,
pedes
.
Cetera
si
possem
laudare
,
beatior
essem
,
Nec
dubito
,
totum
quin
sibi
par
sit
opus
.
Hac
ego
conpulsus
,
non
est
mirabile
,
forma

Si
pignus
volui
vocis
habere
tuae
.
Denique
,
dum
captam
tu
te
cogare
fateri
,
Insidiis
esto
capta
puella
meis
.
Invidiam
patiar
;
passo
sua
praemia
dentur
.
Cur
suus
a
tanto
crimine
fructus
abest
?
Hesionen
Telamon
,
Briseida
cepit
Achilles
;
Utraque
victorem
nempe
secuta
virum
.
Quamlibet
accuses
et
sis
irata
licebit
,
Irata
liceat
dum
mihi
posse
frui
.
Idem
,
qui
facimus
,
factam
tenuabimus
iram
,
Copia
placandi
sit
modo
parva
tui
.
Ante
tuos
liceat
flentem
consistere
vultus

Et
liceat
lacrimis
addere
verba
suis
,
Utque
solent
famuli
,
cum
verbera
saeva
verentur
,
Tendere
submissas
ad
tua
crura
manus
!
Ignoras
tua
iura
;
voca
!
cur
arguor
absens
?
Iamdudum
dominae
more
venire
iube
.
Ipsa
meos
scindas
licet
imperiosa
capillos
,
Oraque
sint
digitis
livida
nostra
tuis
.
Omnia
perpetiar
;
tantum
fortasse
timebo
,
Corpore
laedatur
ne
manus
ista
meo
.
Sed
neque
conpedibus
nec
me
conpesce
catenis

Servabor
firmo
vinctus
amore
tui
!
Cum
bene
se
quantumque
voles
satiaverit
ira
,
Ipsa
tibi
dices
: '
quam
patienter
amat
! '
Ipsa
tibi
dices
,
ubi
videris
omnia
ferri
:
'
Tam
bene
qui
servit
,
serviat
iste
mihi
! '
Nunc
reus
infelix
absens
agor
,
et
mea
,
cum
sit

Optima
,
non
ullo
causa
tuente
perit
.
Hoc
quoque
quantumvis
sit
scriptum
iniuria
nostrum
,
Quod
de
me
solo
,
nempe
,
queraris
,
habes
.
Non
meruit
falli
mecum
quoque
Delia
;
si
non

Vis
mihi
promissum
reddere
,
redde
deae
.
Adfuit
et
vidit
,
cum
tu
decepta
rubebas
,
Et
vocem
memori
condidit
aure
tuam
.
Omina
re
careant
!
nihil
est
violentius
illa
,
Cum
sua
,
quod
nolim
,
numina
laesa
videt
.
Testis
erit
Calydonis
aper
,
sic
saevus
,
ut
illo

Sit
magis
in
natum
saeva
reperta
parens
.
Testis
et
Actaeon
,
quondam
fera
creditus
illis
,
Ipse
dedit
leto
cum
quibus
ante
feras
;
Quaeque
superba
parens
saxo
per
corpus
oborto

Nunc
quoque
Mygdonia
flebilis
adstat
humo
.
Ei
mihi
!
Cydippe
,
timeo
tibi
dicere
verum
,
Ne
videar
causa
falsa
monere
mea
;
Dicendum
tamen
est
.
hoc
est
,
mihi
crede
,
quod
aegra

Ipso
nubendi
tempore
saepe
iaces
.
Consulit
ipsa
tibi
,
neu
sis
periura
,
laborat
,
Et
salvam
salva
te
cupit
esse
fide
.
Inde
fit
ut
,
quotiens
existere
perfida
temptas
,
Peccatum
totiens
corrigat
illa
tuum
.
Parce
movere
feros
animosae
virginis
arcus
;
Mitis
adhuc
fieri
,
si
patiare
,
potest
.
Parce
,
precor
,
teneros
corrumpere
febribus
artus
;
Servetur
facies
ista
fruenda
mihi
.
Serventur
vultus
ad
nostra
incendia
nati
,
Quique
subest
niveo
lenis
in
ore
rubor
.
Hostibus
et
siquis
,
ne
fias
nostra
,
repugnat
,
Sic
sit
ut
invalida
te
solet
esse
mihi
!
Torqueor
ex
aequo
vel
te
nubente
vel
aegra

Dicere
nec
possum
,
quid
minus
ipse
velim
;
Maceror
interdum
,
quod
sim
tibi
causa
dolendi

Teque
mea
laedi
calliditate
puto
.
In
caput
ut
nostrum
dominae
periuria
quaeso

Eveniant
;
poena
tuta
sit
illa
mea
!
Ne
tamen
ignorem
,
quid
agas
,
ad
limina
crebro

Anxius
huc
illuc
dissimulanter
eo
;
Subsequor
ancillam
furtim
famulumque
,
requirens

Profuerint
somni
quid
tibi
quidve
cibi
.
Me
miserum
,
quod
non
medicorum
iussa
ministro
,
Effingoque
manus
,
adsideoque
toro
!
Et
rursus
miserum
,
quod
me
procul
inde
remoto
,
Quem
minime
vellem
,
forsitan
alter
adest
!
Ille
manus
istas
effingit
,
et
adsidet
aegrae

Invisus
superis
cum
superisque
mihi
,
Dumque
suo
temptat
salientem
pollice
venam
,
Candida
per
causam
bracchia
saepe
tenet
,
Contrectatque
sinus
,
et
forsitan
oscula
iungit
.
Officio
merces
plenior
ista
suo
est
!
Quis
tibi
permisit
nostras
praecerpere
messes
?
Ad
saepem
alterius
quis
tibi
fecit
iter
?
Iste
sinus
meus
est
!
mea
turpiter
oscula
sumis
!
A
mihi
promisso
corpore
tolle
manus
!
Inprobe
,
tolle
manus
!
quam
tangis
,
nostra
futura
est
;
Postmodo
si
facies
istud
,
adulter
eris
.
Elige
de
vacuis
quam
non
sibi
vindicet
alter
;
Si
nescis
,
dominum
res
habet
ista
suum
.
Nec
mihi
credideris
recitetur
formula
pacti
;
Neu
falsam
dicas
esse
,
fac
ipsa
legat
!
Alterius
thalamo
,
tibi
nos
,
tibi
dicimus
,
exi
!
Quid
facis
hic
?
exi
!
non
vacat
iste
torus
!
Nam
quod
habes
et
tu
gemini
verba
altera
pacti
,
Non
erit
idcirco
par
tua
causa
meae
.
Haec
mihi
se
pepigit
,
pater
hanc
tibi
,
primus
ab
illa
;
Sed
propior
certe
quam
pater
ipsa
sibi
est
.
Promisit
pater
hanc
,
haec
se
iuravit
amanti
;
Ille
homines
,
haec
est
testificata
deam
.
Hic
metuit
mendax
,
haec
et
periura
vocari
;
An
dubitas
,
hic
sit
maior
an
ille
metus
?
Denique
,
ut
amborum
conferre
pericula
possis
,
Respice
ad
eventus
haec
cubat
,
ille
valet
.
Nos
quoque
dissimili
certamina
mente
subimus
;
Nec
spes
par
nobis
nec
timor
aequus
adest
.
Tu
petis
ex
tuto
;
gravior
mihi
morte
repulsa
est
,
Idque
ego
iam
,
quod
tu
forsan
amabis
,
amo
.
Si
tibi
iustitiae
,
si
recti
cura
fuisset
,
Cedere
debueras
ignibus
ipse
meis
.
Nunc
,
quoniam
ferus
hic
pro
causa
pugnat
iniqua
,
Ad
quid
,
Cydippe
,
littera
nostra
redit
?
Hic
facit
ut
iaceas
et
sis
suspecta
Dianae
;
Hunc
tu
,
si
sapias
,
limen
adire
vetes
.
Hoc
faciente
subis
tam
saeva
pericula
vitae

Atque
utinam
pro
te
,
qui
movet
illa
,
cadat
!
Quem
si
reppuleris
,
nec
,
quem
dea
damnat
,
amaris
,
Tu
tunc
continuo
,
certe
ego
salvus
ero
.
Siste
metum
,
virgo
!
stabili
potiere
salute
,
Fac
modo
polliciti
conscia
templa
colas
;
Non
bove
mactato
caelestia
numina
gaudent
,
Sed
,
quae
praestanda
est
et
sine
teste
,
fide
.
Ut
valeant
aliae
,
ferrum
patiuntur
et
ignes
,
Fert
aliis
tristem
sucus
amarus
opem
.
Nil
opus
est
istis
;
tantum
periuria
vita

Teque
simul
serva
meque
datamque
fidem
!
Praeteritae
veniam
dabit
ignorantia
culpae

Exciderant
animo
foedera
lecta
tuo
.
Admonita
es
modo
voce
mea
cum
casibus
istis
,
Quos
,
quotiens
temptas
fallere
,
ferre
soles
.
His
quoque
vitatis
in
partu
nempe
rogabis
,
Ut
tibi
luciferas
adferat
illa
manus
?
Audiet
et
repetens
quae
sunt
audita
requiret
,
Iste
tibi
de
quo
coniuge
partus
eat
.
Promittes
votum
scit
te
promittere
falso
;
Iurabis
scit
te
fallere
posse
deos
!
Non
agitur
de
me
;
cura
maiore
laboro
.
Anxia
sunt
causa
pectora
nostra
tua
.
Cur
modo
te
dubiam
pavidi
flevere
parentes
,
Ignaros
culpae
quos
facis
esse
tuae
?
Et
cur
ignorent
?
matri
licet
omnia
narres
.
Nil
tua
,
Cydippe
,
facta
ruboris
habent
.
Ordine
fac
referas
ut
sis
mihi
cognita
primum

Sacra
pharetratae
dum
facit
ipsa
deae
;
Ut
te
conspecta
subito
,
si
forte
notasti
,
Restiterim
fixis
in
tua
membra
genis
;
Et
,
te
dum
nimium
miror
,
nota
certa
furoris
,
Deciderint
umero
pallia
lapsa
meo
;
Postmodo
nescio
qua
venisse
volubile
malum
,
Verba
ferens
doctis
insidiosa
notis
,
Quod
quia
sit
lectum
sancta
praesente
Diana
,
Esse
tuam
vinctam
numine
teste
fidem

Ne
tamen
ignoret
,
scripti
sententia
quae
sit
,
Lecta
tibi
quondam
nunc
quoque
verba
refer
.
'
Nube
,
precor
, '
dicet
, '
cui
te
bona
numina
iungunt
;
Quem
fore
iurasti
,
sit
gener
ille
mihi
.
Quisquis
is
est
,
placeat
,
quoniam
placet
ante
Dianae
! '
Talis
erit
mater
,
si
modo
mater
erit
.
Sed
tamen
ut
quaerat
quis
sim
qualisque
,
videto
.
Inveniet
vobis
consuluisse
deam
.
Insula
,
Coryciis
quondam
celeberrima
nymphis
,
Cingitur
Aegaeo
,
nomine
Cea
,
mari
.
Illa
mihi
patria
est
;
nec
,
si
generosa
probatis

Nomina
,
despectis
arguor
ortus
avis
.
Sunt
et
opes
nobis
,
sunt
et
sine
crimine
mores
;
Amplius
utque
nihil
,
me
tibi
iungit
Amor
.
Appeteres
talem
vel
non
iurata
maritum
;
Iuratae
vel
non
talis
habendus
eram
.
Haec
tibi
me
in
somnis
iaculatrix
scribere
Phoebe
;
Haec
tibi
me
vigilem
scribere
iussit
Amor
;
E
quibus
alterius
mihi
iam
nocuere
sagittae
,
Alterius
noceant
ne
tibi
tela
,
cave
!
Iuncta
salus
nostra
est
miserere
meique
tuique
;
Quid
dubitas
unam
ferre
duobus
opem
?
Quod
si
contigerit
,
cum
iam
data
signa
sonabunt
,
Tinctaque
votivo
sanguine
Delos
erit
,
Aurea
ponetur
mali
felicis
imago
,
Causaque
versiculis
scripta
duobus
erit
:
Effigie
pomi
testatur
Acontius
huius

Quae
fuerint
in
eo
scripta
fuisse
rata
.
Longior
infirmum
ne
lasset
epistula
corpus

Clausaque
consueto
sit
sibi
fine
:
vale
!

Acontius to Cydippe
BANISH all fear: you shall not here again swear in favor of your lover; it is enough that you have once solemnly vowed yourself to me. Read: so may that painful illness which spreads over all your joints, and racks my soul with a thousand fears, leave every affected part. Why does the blush kindle in your check? For I fancy I see your color change, as in the temple of Diana. I demand nothing criminal; I only ask that affinity and allegiance which you promised in the temple of Diana; I love you as a lawful husband, not an infamous adulterer. Ah! only repeat to yourself those binding words, which the unthinking fruit thrown by my hands presented to your chaste eyes. There you will find yourself to be bound by that vow, which I could wish you had rather remembered than the Goddess. But now I tremble even for that, while this hope has already gathered strength, and my flame increases every moment. For that love, which was always violent, is now increased by tedious delays, and by the hope you have cherished in my breast. You gave me hope; my love rested upon this foundation; nor can you deny a thing that was done in the presence of the Goddess. She was present, and overheard your vow; and her statue was seen to give a nod of approbation. I allow you to accuse me of having deceived you by an artful management, if, at the same time, you own it was love that prompted me to the ingenious deceit. What did all my artifice aim at, but to be joined to you alone? What you complain of, should render me rahter doubly dear to you. My ingenuity came neither from nature, nor from long practice; it is only you, dear girl, that can make me thus inventive. Love, fertile in expedients, turnished the form of words by which I bound you so close to myself; it indeed I really bound you. I inscribed a marriage-contract in words dictated by him; it was by following his suggestions, that I became so expert in the law. Let this stratagem then bear the name of fraud; let me be called cunning and deceitful, if it can be called a fraud to aim at the possession of what we love. See! I write a second time, and send you my prayers and entreaties. This too, no doubt, is a fraud; you have in this also a ground of complaint. If it is a crime to love, I own it, and must still be guilty without end. I must still pursue you, should even you yourself avoid my cager hopes. Others have carried away by force the virgin whom they loved; and can it be a crime in me to write a few words with artifice? How earnestly do I wish I could bind you by a thousand other ties, that no liberty might remain to plight your faith to another! A thousand stratagems are still left: I struggle hard to mount the difficult steep; nor will my ardent flame leave any expedient unessayed. It is uncertain, perhaps, whether you can be gained; but assuredly you shall. True; the event belongs to Heaven; still you shall be mine. Should you escape some, it will be impossible to elude all my snares; Love has spread more than you are well aware of. If artifice be unsuccessful, recourse must be had to violence, and you shall be borne by force into the arms of your eager admirer. I am none of those who blame the brave attempt of Paris, or of any who have shewn themselves men of steadiness and courage. I also will — But I am silent. Were death to be the punishment of the daring rape, yet that is still less than to be deprived of you. Were you moderately fair, you would be pursued with a moderate impatience; but a form so enchanting, makes us rash and resolute. You and your deluding eyes do ail this; those eyes that eclipse the sparkling stars, and have raised the flame that rages in my breast. Why lay you not the blame upon your golden locks and ivory neck, and those fair hands, which, Oh how happy, were they fondly circled round my neck? Why not upon your comely looks, and that enchanting face, where modesty shines without rusticity; your feet, which I can scarcely imagine are equaled by those of Thetis? Where I able to commend the rest also, I should be much happier; nor do I question that the whole frame is uniformly beautiful. What wonder then, if, overruled by so many powerful charms, I was anxious to have your promise, as a pledge of your love? Let it be so then; provided you are forced to own that you are deceived. I shall grant likewise that you were deceived by my address. Let me bear the envy; but let not the sufferer go without his reward. Why do I not reap the harvest of so great a crime? Telamon forced away Hesione, and Achilles Briseis: each captive followed her conqueror. Blame me as much as you will; I allow you even to be angry with me, if, though angry, I may be yet permitted to call you mine. I, who have raised this storm, will do all in my power to appease it; let me only have some opportunity of softening and quieting your resentment. Let me stand before you drowned in tears, and second my tears with the language they will naturally dictate; and, as is usual with slaves when they are afraid of the whip, let me clasp my suppliant hands round your knees. You seem not to know the right you have over me; summon me before you: why am I accused in my absence? Command me to appear in the right of one that has been long my mistress. Though full of resentment you tear my hair, and disfigure my face with your nails, I will patiently suffer all. I may indeed perhaps be apprehensive that those fair hands may be hurt in taking revenge. It will be needless to secure me with chains and fetters: love is a bond that will retain me beyond the power of an escape. When your resentment is fully satiated, you will be forced to sax, How patiently he loves! When you observe me submissively endure all, surely you cannot avoid saying, Who serves so well, let him continue to serve. Now I am accused in my absence; and my cause, though highly just, is lost for want of an advocate. But if it be allowed that the words I wrote, induced by love, are an injury, you have cause of complaint only against me. Does Diana also deserve to be deceived? If you will not perform the promise made to me, perform your promise to the Goddess. She was present, and saw your blushes on finding yourself deceived; she treasured up your words with a recollective car. May all the omens vanish in air: yet it is certain that no one takes a severer revenge, when (which Heaven forbid should be your case) she thinks the homage due to her neglected. As an instance of this, the Calydonian boar may be mentioned; for we know that a mother was found more barbarous towards her son, than even the savage beast. Other examples may be found in Actæon, who appeared a savage to those very dogs, with which he had formerly hunted down savages; and in that haughty mother turned into a stone, who now stands disconsolate in the Mygdonian plains. Alas! Cydippe, I am afraid to speak the truth, lest you should think I admonish you falsely for my own sake. Yet I must speak: it is on this account (believe me) that you are so often seized with sickness, when preparing to wed. Diana herself wishes you guiltless, and strives to hinder you from running into perjury; she desires, that, with faith unstained, you may avoid giving offence. Hence, as often as you are in danger of being perfidious, the Goddess prevents the fatal crime. Cease then to provoke the deadly bow of the implacable Goddess; she may yet be softened, if you will not obstinately persist. Forbear, amiable nymph, to enfecble your tender limbs by preying fevers; preserve that blooming face for the sake of Acontius; preserve those enchanting looks formed to raise a flame in my breast, and the lively bloom that varies your snow-white face. If any enemy interpose to obstruct my happiness, may he feel the same torments under which I languish, when sickness threatens you. I am equally upon the rack whether I hear of your intended marriage or illness; nor is it easy to determine which apprehension gives most anxiety. Sometimes I am distracted to think that I should be the unhappy cause of your grief, and fear that my innocent artifice may have fatal effects. Grant, Heaven, that Cydippe's perjurics may be upon the head of her lover, and that the punishment may be transferred to me alone. Yet always restless till I know how it is with you, I creep silently to your gate full of anxiety. There whispering privately to some one of the slaves, I enquire whether you have been relieved by gentle slumbers, or refreshing food. O were I blest, as the physician, to reach out the cordial draughts, press your soft hand or lean gently upon the bed! But how hard, and yet more than wretched is my fate; to be thus banished from your presence, while he whom most I fear sits perhaps close by you. Hated alike by the Gods and me, he is yet allowed gently to squeeze your hand, and lean over your fading cheeks. Fond of every pretence to feed the beating vein, he slides his daring hand along your snowy arm, hides it in your bosom, and snatches the fragrant kisses, a roward too great for his officious care. What right have you to reap the harvest of my bliss? Or how are you empowered to encroach upon another's bounds? I hat bosom is mine; you basely rob na or my kisses. Take off your hand from a body promised to me. Traitor, take off your hands; you touch a bosom that will soon be mine; in doing this hereafter, you will become an intamous adulterer Choose from among others, where no prior right is claimed; for know, that another lore commands that breast: nor trust to my testimony; read the form by which she engaged herself; and, to prevent a possibility of deceit, make even Cydippe repeat the binding vow. Again then I say, Depart from another's bed. What brings you here? He gone; this bed is already possessed: for, even if it be allowed that you also have a promise of the beauteous prize, yet the justice of your claim comes-far short of mine. I rely upon a promise made by herself you claim the promise of a father. Surely she is to herself in a degree nearer than that of father. Her father barely promised; she hath vowed herself to her lover: he called men to witness, but she bound herself in the presence of a Geddess. He fears a breach of promise, she dreads the guilt of perjury: can you doubt, after this, which has the juster ground of concern? In fine, that you may be the better able to compare the danger on both sides, reflect only upon the events that threaten each; he enjoys perfect health, she lies in hazard of her life. We also enter the lists unequally matched; neither our hopes nor our fears are alike. You unconcernedly solicit the fair; to me a repulse is more insupportable than death. I am at present deeply enamored of what you perhaps may love some time hence. If you have any regard to right and justice, you ought frankly to yield to my superior flame. And now, when he inhumanly contends in an unrighteous cause, be attentive, Cydippe, to the counsel my epistle gives you. It is he that brings on your present iliness, and makes you suspected by Diana; forbid him therefore, it you are wise, any more to appreach your gate. It is your compliance in this case, that subjects you to these painful calamities of life. Why is not he who occasions all these disasters punished in your stead? Banish him only from you, nor show an affection to one disapproved by the Goddess; you will instantly recover your health, and restore me to myself and happiness. Banish therefore fear, amiable maid; you shall enjoy an established health; only neglect not the temple, conscious to your sacred vow. The heavenly powers are not appeased by slaughtered beasts; truth only, and a faithful regard to our vows, can avert their anger. Let others to recover health run through fire and sword: let them hope for relief from bitter draughts. You have no need of these: avoid only the guilt of perjury, perform the promised vow, and preserve both yourself and me. The not knowing that you were in fault, will excuse what is past; the form by which you bound yourself may have slipped out of your mind. But now you are fully admonished, both by my words, and those fetters, which, as often as you endeavour to break from them, bind you the faster. But could you get happily clear of even these, still remember that you must invoke her aid in the pressing hours of child-bed. She will attend; and, calling to mind the promise you made, enquire to what husband the birth belongs. If then you make a vow for your recovery, the Goddess will disregard it, knowing you to be false; if you confirm it by an oath, she still knows you can forget your engagements to the Gods themselves. I am not so much concerned for my own fate: a still greater care burthens my mind, and fills me with fear and anxiety for your life. Why do your trembling parents mourn your doubtful fate, while you keep them in ignorance of your daring crime? And why are they kept in ignorance? It is proper that you disclose all to your mother. There is nothing, Cydippe, of which you need be ashamed. Repeat all to her in order; say that I first saw you as you were engaged in the solemnities of the buskined Goddess. Tell her that, as soon as I saw you, (if perhaps you gave any attention to what I then did,) my eyes were immoveably fixed upon every limb and feature; that, while I was thus lost in admiration, (the sure sign of a growing love,) my cloak insensibly dropped from my shoulders; and that afterwards you perceived an apple, uncertain whence, come rolling towards you, but cunningly marked with ensnaring words; which, as they were read in the sacred presence of Diana, made the Goddess a witness that your faith is tied down to me. But that she may not be ignorant of what was contained in the writing, repeat to her the words you at that time read in the temple. Marry without hesitation, will she say, the youth to whom the gracious Gods have joined you: let him only be my son-in-law, whom you have solemnly sworn to accept in that character. Whoever he may be, as he has already made himself agreeable to Diana, he is agreeable also to me. Such will be your mother's behaviour, if she really acts the part of a mother to you. Yet you may admonish her to enquire who and what I am; nor will she find the Goddess to have been wholly regardless of your happiness. An isle, by name Ceos, formerly ennobled by the Corycian nymphs, is surrounded by the Ægean sea. This is my native country: and, if you are pleased with illustrious names, my ancestors will not fall below your hopes. I have also riches; my morals are without reproach; and, if no other recommendations existed, love makes you mine by the justest claim. You might even be pleased with such a husband, had no vow passed your lips; such an one might be acceptable, did no prior engagement intervene. These words the illustrious huntress dictated to me in my sleep; these too wakeful love commanded me boldly to write. I am already deeply wounded by Cupid's darts; it is yours, fair nymph, to beware of being pierced by the arrows of Diana. Our welfare is inseparable; have compassion both on me and yourself. Why do you delay the only cure that remains for both? If I should accomplish this object, I will, when the sacred solemnity begins, and Delos is sprinkledwith votive blood, consecrate a golden image of the happy apple, and upon it inscribe our fates in the following distich: "Acontius proclaims, by the consecrated image of this apple, that the inscription engraven upon it, was fulfilled to his desire." But not to fatigue you, already too much exhausted by a long epistle, and to end all in the usual terms of concluding, Farewell.