I Amor Juventutis
The poet’s dedication to his imaginary Muse, who inspired this poem
Sistimus caligine solis alto
Monte, cum tu carmina dulce cantas,
Frater, aura leniter a fretis fers
Tempus amoris.
Proficiscemur, via nos reportet
Semper invisos, procul unde sparsae
Iam tenebrae alto pelago resurgunt,
Tristia mortis.
Delitescit sol tenebris in altis,
Lucibus subterque nitentibus nos
Monte nunc descendimus, alba luna
Noctis imago
Nos in arvis quaque doloris aer
Perfluit iam cepit et astra caelo
Luceant, tellure virente nobis
Sensus amantum.
Meter: sapphic stanzas
Translation: L’Amour de Jeunesse
We stand in the glow of the setting sun on the high mountain, when you, my beloved, sing sweetly; gently you evoke in the breeze from the sea, a time of love.
Soon we will depart, let the road carry us back, always unwilling; from far off, where it lies scattered, darkness rises from the deep sea, sadness of death.
The sun now hides itself in the deep darkness; accompanied by shimmering lights, we descend from the mountain; now the pale moon, herald of the night,
holds us in the fields where the air of sorrow pervades; let the stars shine in the sky; on the greening earth between us, there grows a sensation only lovers can tell.
II Ad Juvenem qui Somnos Meos Nuper Turbat
Jam veni profugus domoque vidi
Te montis juvenem deumque amorem.
Nunc jactatus amore passus alba
Sub luna mihi cogito juvenca
De forma iuvenis tua, atque ad astra
Formosos oculos tuos ferebam
Frustra lunaque me aegrum amore spetta.
Meter: Hendecasyllables
Translation: To the Youth who Lately Disturbs my Dreams. Now I have arrived, far away from home, and seen you, youth of the mountain and lover of the Gods. Now, struck by love I have suffered much under the pale moon; I pictured to myself your youthful look and to the stars I have carried your beautiful eyes in vain. And the moon looks at me, sick with love.
III Ad Me Ipsum
O vates juvenis miser futurus,
Versa saepe atavorum opus librosque
Ut tu mox opus aere scribere unum
Possis usque perennius sub alvo.
Meter: Hendecasyllables
Translation: To Myself. O you idle youth who will become a poet, study often the work and books of ancient authors, so that soon you may also write, a work that will last longer than bronze in time.
IV Peragratio cum Nymphis
Caelebs ante viator ad sacram aedem
Flores veris ubi crepant aquae sub
Ripa. Miror et asperum jugum, nunc
Fontem montis aqua vigore clara
Inveni, mihi cura jam soluta.
Nymphas nunc sub aqua silente laudo,
Voces carmina dulce mi loquentia
Nympharum gracili pede inde sensi.
Meter: Hendecasyllables
Translation: An Outing with the Nymphs. Solitary I once wandered to a sacred temple, where the flowers of spring make gentle sounds under the riverbank. I wondered at the barren ridge and found a fountain with extremely clear water of the mountain. Now I am freed from worries. Now I praise the nymphs under the silent water and sensed their voices from there, sweetly singing songs with gentle foot for me.
V Carmen ad Filiam Musae
Some sailors come to a temple of the daughter of a springtime Muse. They praise her power and promise her sacrifices.
Tu musae veris flexa considis in umbra
Filia, nos extra per Graecorum oppida nave
Huc lati parva, tibi laudes fundimus altas.
Defessis nautis umbras dona ilicis atras
Agnos nos passi tibi saepe vovebimus anno.
Meter: Dactylic Hexameter
Translation: Song to the Daughter of a Muse. You, daughter of the spring Muse who sit in the soft shadow, carried to this place on a small boat through Greek towns from afar, we dedicate high praises to you. Grant us exhausted sailors the oak’s dark shade and we, suffering sailors, often in the year will sacrifice lambs to you.