Erotica Romana Part 10

But of a horror besides, thinking of which will arouse

Every fiber in me to revulsion. My friends, I confess it:

Great displeasure I take lying alone in my bed.

But it's a horror to fear on the pathways of love you'll discover

Snakes and their venom beneath roses of eager desire--

That at the moment supreme, when I'm yielding to pleasure so fully,

Right at my head as it droops, hissing disease may approach.

That's why Faustina as my companion in bed makes me happy:

Loving she always remains faithful, as I am to her.

Young men are aroused in their pa.s.sions by obstacles and by excitement;

I prefer to go slow, savoring pleasures secure.

Is it not bliss to exchange tender kisses containing no dangers,

Sucking into our lungs, carefree, our partner's own life?

That is the way our long nights of enjoyment are pa.s.sed. We listen,

Breast against breast, to the storm, pouring down rain in the wind

Morning begins to dawn, we expect from these hours approaching

Blossoms that will adorn festive the coming new day.

Quirites, permit me the joy, and may this, of all pleasures on earth the

First and the last, be vouchsafed all of mankind by the G.o.d.

XXII

Ah, to uphold one's respectable name is not easy. The Lady

Fame has an ancient foe: Cupid, my master and lord.

Oh, by the way, have you heard of the cause of their mutual hatred?

It's an old story, I think--Let me just tell it again.

Powerful ever the G.o.ddess, but nevertheless to her fellows

Overbearing and rude, quite unendurable. She

Had by the G.o.ds since time out of mind at their banquets been dreaded,

Yelling with bra.s.siest voice orders to great and to small.

Once, in her arrogance even maintained that she had subjected

To her own will, as her slave, Jove's most ill.u.s.trious son.

"One of these days, O father of deities," cried she in triumph,

"I shall be bringing you my--Hercules, as if new born.

Don't think that Hercules be still that boy whom Alcmene once bore you;

His adulation of me makes him now G.o.d upon earth.

When toward Olympus he gazes, I've no doubt you hope that he's looking

Piously toward your knees. Hardly. He's looking for me.

Worthiest man! O the vision of winning my favor makes easy

Hitherto unexplored paths, under that powerful foot.

I do my part, for I meet him halfway and proclaim his adventures

Praising his name in advance, even before he's begun.

One day you'll wed me to Hercules. Hero who Amazons conquered

That day will overwhelm me. Happily I'll call him: spouse."

All of the G.o.ds kept their counsel, and none would reply to the braggart,

Lest in a pique she devise vengeance against one of them.

Cupid, escaping attention, slipped off to enslave, however, her hero:

Artlessly conquering by--force of a beautiful girl,

Afterward decked out his couple in mute masquerade: lionskin

Over her shoulders, the club leaned (by much toil) at her side;

Wiry stiff hair of the hero larded with blossoms, a distaff