Amores II.2

You whose trust is the guarding of your mistress, attend, Bagoas, while I say a few words, but apt. Yesterday I saw the fair one walking in the portico — the one that has the train of Danaus. Forthwith — for I was smitten — I sent and asked her favours in a note. She wrote back with trembling hand : " It is not possible! " and when I asked why "it was not possible," gave this reason, that your guard of your mistress was too strict.

If you are wise, good guardian, cease, believe me, to merit hate; whom each man fears, he longs to see destroyed. Her husband, too, is anything but wise; for why take pains to watch over that from which, even did you not guard, nothing would be lost? But let him, mad fool, do as his passion prompts him, and let him think she can be chaste who takes the eye of many; be you the means of giving her stolen liberty, that she may render back to you the freedom you gave to her. Be willing to conspire with her — the mistress is bound to the slave; fear you to conspire — you can pretend. She will read a missive by herself — think that her mother sent it! One comes not known to you — in a moment you will know him well! She will go to a sick friend, who will not be ill — let her go to see her; let the friend be ill in your judgment! Is she late in coming back, you need not let long waiting tire you out, but may lay your head in your lap and snore. And make it not your business to ask into what happens at linen-clad Isis' temple, nor concern yourself about the curving theatre! The accomplice in a secret will reap continual reward — and what is less labour, too, than keeping silence? He is one favoured, and rules in the house, and feels no blows; he is one with power — the rest, a mean crowd, are at his feet. For the husband empty reasons are fashioned to keep the true ones hid; and both master and mistress approve what the mistress alone approves. After her lord has put on a scowling face and bent his brows, he does what the wheedling wife has willed shall be done.

But let her sometimes none the less cross words with you, too, and feign to weep, and call you executioner. You, in turn, will charge her with what she can safely explain away; by false accusation take away faith in the true. In this way will your honour ever increase, in this way your pile of savings grow high. Do this, in short time you will be free.

Do you note that tellers of tales wear chains tied round their necks? The squalid dungeon is the home of hearts barren of faith. Tantalus seeks for water in the midst of waters and catches at ever escaping fruits — that was the fate he got for his garrulous tongue. Juno's watchman, guarding lo too intently, falls before his time; she — becomes a goddess! I have seen in shackles the livid legs of a man who had forced a husband to know himself a cuckold. The punishment was less than he deserved. His evil tongue brought harm to two; the husband suffered grief, the wife the loss of her good name. Believe me, accusations are welcome to no husband, nor do they please him, even though he hear. If he is cool, you bring your traitorous tales to careless ears; if he loves, your service only makes him wretched.

Nor is a fault, however manifest, an easy thing to prove; the wife comes off unharmed, safe in the favour of her judge. Though he himself have seen, he will yet believe when she denies, accuse his own eyes, and give himself the lie. Let him but look on his lady's tears, and he himself, too, will begin to wail, and say : " The gabbler that slandered you shall pay for it! " Why enter on a contest with odds against you? You will lose and get a flogging in the end, while she will look on from the lap of her judge

'Tis no crime we are entering on; we are not coming together to mingle poisons; no drawn sword flashes in our hands. What we ask is that you will give us the means to love in safety. What can be more modest than our prayers?