Ovid

Question 1

iussa domo cessi natis comitata duobus 135
et, qui me sequitur semper, amore tui.
ut subito nostras Hymen cantatus ad aures
venit et accenso lampades igne micant
tibiaque effundit socialia carmina vobis,
at mihi funerea flebiliora tuba, 140
pertimui, nec adhuc tantum scelus esse putabam,
sed tamen in toto pectore frigus erat.

Answer 1

At your order i have withdrawn from your palace, taking with me our two children, and what follows me evermore, my love for you. When, suddenly, the chant of Hymen came to my ears and the gleam of blazing torches to my eyes, and the pipe poured forth its notes, for you a wedding song, but for me a song more tearful than the funeral trumpet, i was filled with fear, I did not yet believe such monstrous guilt could be but all my breast none the less was cold.

Question 2

turba ruunt et « Hymen » clamant « Hymenaee! » frequenter;
quo propior vox haec, hoc mihi peius erat.
diversi flebant servi lacrimasque tegebant— 145
quis vellet tanti nuntius esse mali?

Answer 2

The throng was rushing and shouting repeatedly ‘Hymen, Hymenaeus!’
the nearer the voice came, the worse it was for me.
The slaves wept in different places and were trying to hide their tears, who would be the willing messenger of such terrible news?

Question 3

me quoque quidquid erat potius nescire iuvabat,
sed tamquam scirem, mens mea tristis erat,
cum minor e pueris iussus studione videndi
constitit ad geminae limina prima foris: 150
« hinc » mihi « mater adi! pompam pater » inquit « Iason
ducit et adiunctos aureus urget equos! »

Answer 3

whatever it was it was better indeed that i did not know, but my mind was sad, as though i already knew when the youngest of the boys driven by eagerness to see, stood at the outer threshold fo the twin doors said to me”
‘mother come here, father Jason is leading a procession and he is all in gold and urging yoked horses!’

Question 4

protinus abscissa planxi mea pectora veste
tuta nec a digitis ora fuere meis.
ire animus mediae suadebat in agmina turbae 155
sertaque conpositis demere rapta comis.

Answer 4

At once, with my clothing torn away I beat my breast and cried aloud, and my face was not safe from my fingers.
My mind urged me to go into the midst of the crowd
and to tear off the wreaths from arranged hair.

Question 5

vix me continui, quin sic laniata capillos
clamarem « meus est! » iniceremque manus.
Laese pater, gaude! Colchi gaudete relicti!
inferias umbrae fratris habete mei! 160

Answer 5

I scarcely restrained myself from crying out with my hair all torn ‘he is mine!’ and was laying hands on him.
Injured father, rejoice! Rejoice Colchians whom i left!
Shades of my brother, receive in my fate your sacrifice due!

Question 6

deseror amissis regno patriaque domoque
coniuge, qui nobis omnia solus erat.
serpentes igitur potui taurosque furentes,
unum non potui perdomuisse virum.

Answer 6

I am abandoned, I have lost my throne, my native soil, my home, my husband, who alone for me took the place. therefore dragons and maddened bulls i could subdue, a man alone i could not.

Question 7

quaeque feros pepuli doctis medicatibus ignes, 165
non valeo flammas effugere ipsa meas.
ipsi me cantus herbaeque artesque relinquunt
nil dea, nil Hecates sacra potentis agunt.

Answer 7

I who could beat back fierce fire with wise drugs,
do not have the power to escape the flames of my own passion. My spells themselves, and herbs and arts have abandon me, the goddess is nothing, and the sacred rites of potent Hecated do nothing.

Question 8

non mihi grata dies, noctes vigilantur amarae
et tener a misero pectore somnus abit. 170
quae me non possum, potui sopire draconem.
utilior cuivis quam mihi cura mea est.
quos ego servavi, paelex amplectitur artus
et nostri fructus illa laboris habet.

Answer 8

The day is not pleasing to me, my nights are watch of bitterness and gentle sleep is absent from my miserable heart. I ,who could lull a dragon to sleep, cannot do the same for myself. My care benefits everyone more than me. The limbs which i saved a rival woman embraces and
she possesses the fruits of my labour.

Question 9

Forsitan et, stultae dum te iactare maritae 175
quaeris et iniustis auribus apta loqui,
in faciem moresque meos nova crimina fingas.
rideat et vitiis laeta sit illa meis.

Answer 9

perhaps even, when you seek to boast yourself as the husband of a stupid wife and to speak words suited to unjust ears, you will fashion new accusations agaisnt my reputation and character.
let her laugh and be joyful about my faults.

Question 10

rideat et Tyrio iaceat sublimis in ostro -
flebit et ardores vincet adusta meos. 180
dum ferrum flammaeque aderunt sucusque veneni,
hostis Medeae nullus inultus erit.

Answer 10

Let her laugh and lie exalted on Tyrian purple -
she will weep and burnt she will surpass my flames.
while sword and fire are present and the juice of poison,
no enemey of Medea shall go unpunished.

Question 11

Quod si forte preces praecordia ferrea tangunt,
nunc animis audi verba minora meis.
tam tibi sum supplex, quam tu mihi saepe fuisti, 185
nec moror ante tuos procubuisse pedes.

Answer 11

But if by chance my prayers touch a heart of iron,
now hear words humbler than my spirit.
I am as much a suppliant to you as you have often been to me, and i hesitate not to cast myself before your feet.

Question 12

si tibi sum vilis, communis respice natos:
saeviet in partus dira noverca meos.
et nimium similes tibi sunt, et imagine tangor
et quotiens video, lumina nostra madent. 190

Answer 12

If I am cheap to you, be kind to our common children:
a harsh step-mother will be cruel to my offspring.
And the resemblance to you is too great, and I am touched by the likeness and as often as I see them, my eyes are drop tears.