Translation:Amores/1.15

by Ovid

Literal English Translation	Original Latin	Line
Devouring Envy, why do you reproach me with idle years     And call my poetry the work of a feeble talent, [Saying] that I do not follow the dusty rewards of campaigns     With the custom of forefathers while vigorous age sustains me, Nor learn by heart wordy laws or     Prostitute my voice in the ungrateful Forum? What you ask of me are mortal things; my occupation is seeking everlasting fame for myself,     So that always I may be celebrated in poetry in the whole world. Maeonia’s son will live, while Tenedos and Ida stand,     While Simois rolls its swift waters to the sea; The poet from Ascra will live too, while the unfermented grapes swell,     While the Corn cut back by the curved sickle falls; The son of Battus always will be celebrated in poetry in the whole world:     Though he is not worthy in talent, he is worthy in art; No loss will come to the buskin of Sophocles;     Aratus will forever be with the sun and moon; While the deceitful slave, stern father, shameless brothel-keeper     And alluring courtesan live, Menander will be; Ennius lacking affectation, and Accius of the ardent tongue     Have a name that will never decay with time; What age will not know Varro and the first raft     And the golden fleece sought by the chief, the son of Aeson? The poems of exalted Lucretius will then perish,     When one day will give the land to ruin; Tityrus and the crops and the arms/weapons of Aeneas shall be read/gathered,     While Rome will be the capital of the conquered world; As long as the torch and the bow are weapons of Cupid,     Your poetry, elegant Tibullus, will be learnt; Gallus, famous both in the West and the East,     And with Gallus will his Lycoris be famed. So although the boulders with the tooth of the patient plough     Perish with time, poetry is without death: Let kings and the triumphs of kings yield to poetry,     Let the bountiful banks of gold-bearing Tagus yield. Let the common people admire common things; to me may golden-haired Apollo     Serve cups filled with Castalian water, And may I wear myrtle on my hair that fears the frost     And be much read by anxious lovers. Envy feasts on the living; after death it is silent,     When each man’s fame protects him as he deserves: So, even when the final flame has consumed me,     I shall live, and a considerable part of me will survive.	Quid mihi Livor edax, ignavos obicis annos     ingeniique vocas carmen inertis opus, non me more patrum, dum strenua sustinet aetas,     praemia militiae pulverulenta sequi nec me verbosas leges ediscere nec me     ingrato vocem prostituisse foro? mortale est, quod quaeris, opus. mihi fama perennis     quaeritur, in toto semper ut orbe canar. vivet Maeonides, Tenedos dum stabit et Ide,     dum rapidas Simois in mare volvet aquas; vivet et Ascraeus, dum mustis uva tumebit,     dum cadet incurva falce resecta Ceres; Battiades semper toto cantabitur orbe:     quamvis ingenio non valet, arte valet; nulla Sophocleo veniet iactura cothurno;     cum sole et luna semper Aratus erit; dum fallax servus, durus pater, inproba lena     vivent et meretrix blanda, Menandros erit; Ennius arte carens animosique Accius oris     casurum nullo tempore nomen habent; Varronem primamque ratem quae nesciet aetas     aureaque Aesonio terga petita duci? carmina sublimis tunc sunt peritura Lucreti,     exitio terras cum dabit una dies; Tityrus et segetes Aeneiaque arma legentur,     Roma triumphati dum caput orbis erit; donec erunt ignes arcusque Cupidinis arma,     discentur numeri, culte Tibulle, tui; Gallus et Hesperiis et Gallus notus Eois,     et sua cum Gallo nota Lycoris erit. ergo, cum silices, cum dens patientis aratri     depereant aevo, carmina morte carent: cedant carminibus reges regumque triumphi,     cedat et auriferi ripa benigna Tagi. vilia miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo     pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua, sustineamque coma metuentem frigora myrtum     atque a sollicito multus amante legar. pascitur in vivis Livor; post fata quiescit,     cum suus ex merito quemque tuetur honos: ergo etiam cum me supremus adederit ignis,     vivam, parsque mei multa superstes erit.	1.15.1 1.15.2 1.15.3 1.15.4 1.15.5 1.15.6 1.15.7 1.15.8 1.15.9 1.15.10 1.15.11 1.15.12 1.15.13 1.15.14 1.15.15 1.15.16 1.15.17 1.15.18 1.15.19 1.15.20 1.15.21 1.15.22 1.15.23 1.15.24 1.15.25 1.15.26 1.15.27 1.15.28 1.15.29 1.15.30 1.15.31 1.15.32 1.15.33 1.15.34 1.15.35 1.15.36 1.15.37 1.15.38 1.15.39 1.15.40 1.15.41 1.15.42