Helen at play

Two more marvels from the ever beguiling Helen. The passages have been reworked from Perseus and Showerman (Loeb) to approach their complexity. Thanks to Peter d'Epiro for his very helpful suggestions.

Utilis interdum est ipsis iniuria passis.

     Sic certe felix esse coacta forem.

Dum novus est, potius coepto pugnemus amori!

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     Flamma recens parva sparsa residit aqua.

Certus in hospitibus non est amor; errat, ut ipsi,

     Cumque nihil speres firmius esse, fugit.

Wrongs can grace those who suffer them. I surely could have been compelled to happiness. While it's new, let's struggle against this love barely begun! The kindling spark will abate with a little water. Love isn't steadfast in travelers; it wanders like themselves, and just when you feel that nothing could be more firm, it flees.

Quod bene te iactes et fortia facta loquaris,

     A verbis facies dissidet ista tuis.

Apta magis Veneri, quam sunt tua corpora Marti.

     Bella gerant fortes, tu, Pari, semper ama!

255

Hectora, quem laudas, pro te pugnare iubeto;

     Militia est operis altera digna tuis.

His ego, si saperem pauloque audacior essem,

     Uterer; utetur, siqua puella sapit — 

Aut ego deposito sapiam fortasse pudore

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     Et dabo cunctatas tempore victa manus.

You vaunt your valor, and recount your mighty acts: those looks betray your words. Your limbs are more apt for the delights of Venus than for the rude encounters of Mars. Let the strong wage war; you, Paris, always love! Assign Hector, whom you praise, to fight in your place. A different warfare suits those graceful motions. If I were bolder and savvier, I'd use them; any girl with taste would use them! Perhaps, conquered by time, I'll savor them yet -- casting off modesty, I'll give my hot yet hesitant hands to you.

Helen and Aphrodite