Book II, Elegy 28

Jupiter, at length have pity on my mistress, stricken sore; the death of one so fair will be accounted to thee for a crime. For the season has come when the scorching air seethes with heat and earth begins to glow beneath the parching Dog-star. But 'tis not so much the fault of the heat, nor hath heaven so much the blame for her illness, as that so oft she hath spurned the sanctity of the gods. This is it that undoes hapless girls, aye, and hath undone many; wind and water sweep away their every oath.

Was Venus vexed that thou wast compared with her? She is a jealous goddess to all alike, that vie with her in loveliness. Or didst thou spurn the temple of Pelasgian Juno, or deny that Pallas' eyes were fair? Ye beauties, never have ye learned to spare your words; Cynthia, thou owest this to thine offending tongue and to thy beauty. But anguished as thou hast been through many a deadly peril, at last hath come an hour of greater ease. So Io wore a strange guise and lowed all her earlier years; but now she is a goddess, that once drank Nilus' waters in likeness of a cow. Ino also wandered o'er the earth in her prime; but now she is called Leucothoe, and 'tis on her the hapless sailor calls for aid. Andromeda was doomed to the monsters of the deep, yet even she became the far-famed wife of Perseus. Callisto wandered as a bear over the fields of Arcadia; now with her own star's light she guides the sails of mariners through the dark.

Yet if it chance that the Fates hasten down on thee the eternal rest, the Fates of funeral made blest for thee, thou shalt tell Semele what dangers beauty brings; and she, taught by her own misfortune, will believe thee: and among all the Maeonian heroines thou by consent of all shalt have the foremost place. Now as best thou may, bear thyself reverently towards destiny on thy couch of pain; heaven and the cruel hour of death alike may change. Even Juno, the jealous wife, will forgive thee for thy beauty; even Juno is touched with pity for a maiden's death.

Now cease the wheels whirled to the magic chant, the altar fire is dead and the laurel lies in ashes. Now the moon refuses to descend so oft from heaven, and the bird of night sings ominous of death. One murky boat of destiny shall bear our loves together, setting sail to the pools of Hell. But pity not one only, I pray thee, Jupiter; pity the twain of us. If she lives, I will live; if she dies, I too will die. Wherefore if my prayer be granted I bind myself with this solemn verse, to write: THE MIGHT OF JOVE HATH SAVED MY MISTRESS; and she herself after she hath sacrificed to thee will sit before thy feet, and seated there will tell of the long perils she has passed.

Persephone, may thy mercy endure, nor mayest thou, that hast Persephone for spouse, be over-cruel. There are so many thousand beauties among the dead; let one fair one, if so it may be, abide on earth. With you is Iope, with you snowy Tyro, with you Europe and impious Pasiphae, and all the beauties that Troy and Achaea bore of old, Troy the fallen realm of Phoebus and the old man Priam. And all the fair, that Rome may rank with these, have perished: all these the greedy pyre hath taken for its own. Neither beauty nor fortune abideth everlastingly for any; sooner or later death awaiteth all.

Since then, light of mine eyes, thou hast escaped from mighty peril, render Diana the dance thou owest for offering; and as is due, keep vigil in honour of her who, once a heifer, is now a goddess, and on my behalf pay her ten nights of worship.