Amores I.10

Such as was she who was carried from the Eurotas in Phrygian keel to be cause of war to her two lords; such as was Leda, whom the cunning lover deceived in guise of the bird with gleaming plumage; such as was Amymone, going through thirsty fields with full urn pressing the locks on her head — such were you; and in my love for you I feared the eagle and the bull, and what other form soever love has caused great Jove to take.

Now my fear is all away, and my heart is healed of straying; those charms of yours no longer take my eyes. Why am I changed, you ask? Because you demand a price. This is the cause that will not let you please me. As long as you were simple, I loved you soul and body; now your beauty is marred by the fault of your heart. Love is both a child and naked : his guileless years and lack of raiment are sign that he is free. Why bid the child of Venus offer himself for gain? He has no pocket where to put away his gain! Neither Venus nor her son is apt at service of cruel arms — it is not meet that unwarlike gods should draw the soldier's pay.

'Tis the harlot stands for sale at the fixed price to anyone soe'er, and wins her wretched gains with body at the call; yet even she calls curses on the power of the greedy pander, and does because compelled what you perform of your own will.

Look for pattern to the beasts of the field, unreasoning though they are; 'twill shame you to find the wild things gentler than yourself. Mare never claimed gift from stallion, nor cow from bull; the ram courts not the favoured ewe with gift. 'Tis only woman glories in the spoil she takes from man, she only hires out her favours, she only comes to be hired, and makes a sale of what is delight to both and what both wished, and sets the price by the measure of her own delight. The love that is to be of equal joy to both — why should the one make sale of it, and the other purchase? Why should my pleasure cause me loss, and yours to you bring gain — the pleasure that man and woman both contribute to?

It is not honour for witnesses to make false oaths for gain, nor for the chosen juror's purse to lie open for the bribe. 'Tis base to defend the wretched culprit with purchased eloquence; the court that makes great gains is base; 'tis base to swell a patrimony with a revenue from love, and to offer one's own beauty for a price. Thanks are due and deserved for boons unbought; no thanks are felt for love that is meanly hired. He who has made the hire pays all; when the price is paid he remains no more a debtor for your favour. Spare, fair ones, to ask a price for your love; a sordid gain can bring no good in the end. 'Twas not worth while for the holy maid to bargain for the Sabine armlets, only that arms should crush her down; a son once pierced with the sword the bosom whence he came, and a necklace was the cause of the mother's pain.

And yet it is no shame to ask for presents from the rich; they have wherefrom to give you when you ask. Pluck from full vines the hanging clusters; let the genial field of Alcinous yield its fruits! He who is poor counts out to you as pay his service, zeal, and faithfulness; the kind of wealth each has, let him bring it all to the mistress of his heart. My dower, too, it is to glorify the deserving fair in song; whoever I have willed is made famous by my art. Gowns will be rent to rags, and gems and gold be broke to fragments; the glory my songs shall give will last for ever. 'Tis not the giving but the asking of a price, that I despise and hate. What I refuse at your demand, cease only to wish, and I will give!