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Unread 02-24-2018, 01:28 PM
Aaron Poochigian Aaron Poochigian is offline
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I need some translation work to cleanse my palate, so here goes: in Elegy 1.18, Propertius has gone to “deserta loca” (desert places) to grieve in private over his frustrating love for Cynthia. I will pick up at the point where he starts talking to the trees:

vos eritis testes, si quos habet arbor amores,

If trees have any feelings of love, you will be my witnesses,

fagus et Arcadio pinus amica deo.

beech tree and pine dear to the Arcadian god (Pan).

a quotiens teneras resonant mea verba sub umbras,

Ah, how often my words have echoed under your gentle branches,

scribitur et vestris Cynthia corticibus!

how often has “Cynthia” been written on your bark!

an tua quod peperit nobis iniuria curas?

Is it that some insult (of you from me) has produced my grief?

quae solum tacitis cognita sunt foribus.

Such things are known only to hush-hush (locked) doors.

omnia consuevi timidus perferre superbae

I am accustomed to be subservient, to suffer all the commands of my haughty mistress

iussa neque arguto facta dolore queri.

and not to complain, in shrill misery, of her actions.

pro quo divini fontes et frigida rupes

That’s why I get these sacred springs and this cold rock

et datur inculto tramite dura quies;

and this rude silence on an overgrown path.

et quodcumque meae possunt narrare querelae,

I have no other recourse than to speak

cogor ad argutas dicere solus avis.

to raucous birds whatever my complaints have to say.

sed qualiscumque es resonent mihi ‘Cynthia’ silvae,

But let the wilderness echo “Cynthia”—whatever sort of person you really are.

nec deserta tuo nomine saxa vacent.

Let these rocks in the sticks be full of the sound of your name.
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