Roman Elegies III

Beloved, don’t fret that you gave yourself so quickly! Believe me, I don’t think badly or wrongly of you. The arrows of Love are various: some scratch us, And our hearts suffer for years from their slow poison. But others strong-feathered with freshly sharpened points Pierce to the marrow, and quickly inflame the blood. In the heroic ages, when gods and goddesses loved, Desire followed a look, and joy followed desire. Do you think the Goddess of Love was calm for long Once Anchises attracted her in the groves of Ida? If Luna had waited to kiss her beautiful sleeper, Ah, then envious Dawn would have woken him swiftly. Hero saw her Leander at a loud feast, at once Her hot lover leapt out into the midnight flood. Rhea Silvia the royal maiden went to the Tiber To draw water, and the God captured her there. So Mars conceived his sons! – And so a she-wolf Suckled twins, so Rome became Queen of the World.