Amores III.3

Go, believe there are gods — she swore and has failed her oath, and still her face is fair, as 'twas before! She has» hair as Long since she insulted the gods, as she had still un forsworn. Before, she was dazzling fair, and her fairness was mingled with rosy red' — the rosy red still glows in her snowy cheeks. Her foot was small — her foot is still of daintiest form. She was tall and handsome — tall and handsome she remains. She had sparkling eyes — like stars still beam the eyes by which she has often falsely lied to me. Surely, the gods, too. indulge the fair in eternal swearing false, and beaut v has its privilege divine. By her own eyes not long ago she swore, I mind me, and by mine — and mine have been the ones to smart!

Say, O ye gods, if she deceived you and has gone unpunished, why have I borne the pains for another's desert? Or is Cepheus '.daughter no reproach to you — she whom you hade to die for her mother's ill-starred beauty? Is it not enough that I have found your witness without weight, and that unpunished she makes the gods her mirth as well as me? That she may redeem her perjuries, am I to suffer, and, though deceived, be victim to my deceiver? Either God is a name without substance and feared for naught, moving peoples through stupid trustfulness, or, if there is a god, he is in love with the tender fair, and too quick to ordain that they a lout may do all things. 'Tis against us men that Mars girds on death-dealing sword; 'tis we are the target for the spear from unconquered Pallas' hand. For us are bent Apollo's flexile bows; on us descends the bolt from Jove's upraised right hand. Fair women the gods on high fear to offend even when wronged, and stand in awe themselves of those who have felt no awe of them. And does anyone care to place pious incense on their altars? Surely, there should be more courage in men!

Jove hurls his own lightning on sacred groves and citadels, and forbids his bolts to strike the fair forsworn. So many have deserved his stroke — hapless Semele alone has burned! Her own complaisance brought the penalty upon her; yet, had she shunned the coming lover, the father would not have filled the mother's office in Bacchus' birth.

Why complain I, and scold in the face of all heaven? Gods, too, have eyes, gods, too, have hearts! Were I myself divine, unharmed might women cheat my godhead with lying lips. I myself would swear that womankind swore true, nor let myself be called a god of the austere sort. Yet you, my lady, make more measured use of their gift — or spare, at least, my eyes!