Just as she who was carried away from Eurota in Trojan ships,
  was the cause if the war between the two husbands,
Just as Leda was, whom the cunning adulterer,
  disguised with white feathers in the form of a swan, deceived.
Just like Amymone wandering in the arid Fields,
  with a water pot that weighed down the hair on the top of her head,
Just so were you: for you, I feared the eagles and bulls
  and whatever form love has made of great Jupiter.
Now all my fear is gone and my mind has healed of error,
  nor does that beauty of yours still captivate my eyes.
Do you ask why I have changed? Because you demand presents:
  This is the cause that prevents you from pleasing me.
So long as you were innocent, I lived your soul with your body;
  now your good figure is spoiled by the defects of your mind
Love is a child and naked; he has years that know no meanness,
  and he has no clothes, so that he is open in his ways.
Why do you order that boy of Venus to offer himself for sale for a price?
  That one does not have a pocket in which to put away his fee.
Neither Venus nor the son of Venus is suited for fierce arms,
  and it does not befit the warlike gods to earn wages.
A prostitute is purchasable by anyone for a certain price,
  and she seeks wretched wealth with her body having been ordered.
Nevertheless, she curses the power of the greedy pimp,
  and having been compelled she does what you do willingly.
Think about animals lacking reason for example:
  It will be shameful for the beasts to have a better nature than you.
The mare does not demand for gifts of the stallion, or the cow from a bull,
  the ram does not court the ewe that pleases him with a present.
Only a woman delights in extorting spoils from the man,
  only she hires out her nights, only she comes up for a price.
And she sells, what pleases both, what each was wanting,
  and decides her fee by the pleasure she herself receives.
When love is going to be equally pleasurable for both partners alike,
  why should she sell and the other buy?
Why should pleasure cause me loss but be profitable for you,
  the pleasure which woman and man enjoy from movement in partnership?
Not well do witnesses having been hired sell their perjuries;
  Not well does the money box of the chosen judge lie open.
With the tongue having been bought it is shameful to defend the accused:
  a tribunal which makes great wealth is shameful.


Gratitude is owed, deservedly on behalf of un-purchased things:
  there is no thanks on behalf of a bed that has been badly hired.
The buyer has paid everything, with the payment having been paid,
  he does not remain indebted to your service.
Cease, fair girls, to stipulate a fee for a night:
  sordid spoils do not have good results.
It is not of great value to have contracted for Sabine arm bracelets,
  only for the arms to press upon the head of the sacred virgin:
The son pierced her womb with his sword, from which he has exited,
  and a necklace was the cause of the punishment.
It is not unworthy for gifts to be demanded from a wealthy man,
  He has that which he is able to give to the one demanding gifts.
Pluck grapes hanging from full vines:
  Let the fruitful fields of Alcinous provide apples!
Let the poor man pay with duty, passion, and loyalty:
  what each man has, let him confer all of it on his mistress.
To celebrate worthy girls in my poems, is also my gift:
  whom I have wished [to celebrate], becomes famous through my art.
Clothing will be torn, gems will break, and gold will break:
  the fame which poems will give will be everlasting.
I disdain and I hate, not to give, but that of a fee is demanded;
  What I deny to the one demanding it, cease to wish, I will give.

Qualis ab Eurota Phrygiis avecta carinis
  coniugibus belli causa duobus erat,
qualis erat Lede, quam plumis abditus albis
  callidus in falsa lusit adulter ave,
qualis Amymone siccis erravit in agris,
  cum premeret summi verticis urna comas—
talis eras; aquilamque in te taurumque timebam,
  et quidquid magno de Iove fecit amor.
Nunc timor omnis abest, animique resanuit error,
  nec facies oculos iam capit ista meos.
cur sim mutatus, quaeris? quia munera poscis.
  haec te non patitur causa placere mihi.
donec eras simplex, animum cum corpore amavi;
  nunc mentis vitio laesa figura tua est.
et puer est et nudus Amor; sine sordibus annos
  et nullas vestes, ut sit apertus, habet.
quid puerum Veneris pretio prostare iubetis?
  quo pretium condat, non habet ille sinum!
nec Venus apta feris Veneris nec filius armis—
  non decet inbelles aera merere deos.
Stat meretrix certo cuivis mercabilis aere,
  et miseras iusso corpore quaerit opes;
devovet imperium tamen haec lenonis avari
  et, quod vos facitis sponte, coacta facit.
Sumite in exemplum pecudes ratione carentes;
  turpe erit, ingenium mitius esse feris.
non equa munus equum, non taurum vacca poposcit;
  non aries placitam munere captat ovem.
sola viro mulier spoliis exultat ademptis,
  sola locat noctes, sola licenda venit,
et vendit quod utrumque iuvat quod uterque petebat,
  et pretium, quanti gaudeat ipsa, facit.
quae Venus ex aequo ventura est grata duobus,
  altera cur illam vendit et alter emit?
cur mihi sit damno, tibi sit lucrosa voluptas,
  quam socio motu femina virque ferunt?
Non bene conducti vendunt periuria testes,
  non bene selecti iudicis arca patet.
turpe reos empta miseros defendere lingua;
  quod faciat magni, turpe tribunal, opes;
turpe tori reditu census augere paternos,
  et faciem lucro prostituisse suam.
gratia pro rebus merito debetur inemptis;
  pro male conducto gratia nulla toro.
omnia conductor solvit; mercede soluta
  non manet officio debitor ille tuo.
parcite, formosae, pretium pro nocte pacisci;
  non habet eventus sordida praeda bonos.
non fuit armillas tanti pepigisse Sabinas,
  ut premerent sacrae virginis arma caput;
e quibus exierat, traiecit viscera ferro
  filius, et poenae causa monile fuit.
Nec tamen indignum est a divite praemia posci;
  munera poscenti quod dare possit, habet.
carpite de plenis pendentes vitibus uvas;
  praebeat Alcinoi poma benignus ager!
officium pauper numeret studiumque fidemque;
  quod quis habet, dominae conferat omne suae.
est quoque carminibus meritas celebrare puellas
  dos mea; quam volui, nota fit arte mea.
scindentur vestes, gemmae frangentur et aurum;
  carmina quam tribuent, fama perennis erit.
nec dare, sed pretium posci dedignor et odi;
  quod nego poscenti, desine velle, dabo!

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