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I don't say “be good”, you're too good looking for that,
But do I, poor man, have to know about everything you do?
Nor do I tell you to obey the rules of morality,
But you could conceal or at least disguise what you do.
It's not a sin, so long as it can be denied,
It's only confession that constitutes a crime.
What madness to bring to light what's hidden by night,
And freely disclose to the world your secret deeds!
The prostitute, when she couples with her client,
Does it behind closed doors, not out in the street.
But you, my dear, openly advertise sin,
Putting together the case against yourself.
Incline your mind to imitate the chaste;
Even if you're not, be seeming so.
Do what you do, but simply deny that you did it,
And don't be ashamed to speak of modesty.
If a situation arises, do what comes natural,
Keep modesty and chastity away.
And likewise, when you've done, leave that wanton
Desire and lechery tucked up in your bed.
Don't keep yourself behind some prudish veil,
Nor stop the subtle joys of a lovers' thighs
Pressed between your own, nor needlessly
Resist the tongue that parts your ruby lips.
And don't restrain your words of love and sounds
Of happy satisfaction as your couch
Trembles and shakes to the thousand naughty things
A lover devises to satisfy desire.
After, put on your dress, your modest face,
And let your looks disown indecent acts.
Make a fool of the world, make a blessèd fool of me,
And let us enjoy believing and trusting in you.
Why do I see your notes going back and forth,
And, on your bed, signs of your restless games?
Your hair is dishevelled from more than just innocent sleep,
And, on your neck, I see the marks of teeth!
What I see can almost speak for itself.
Even if you won't think of your own reputation.
Think of me! My mind grows dim, I die,
My blood runs cold when I think about your confession.
I love, I hate. In vain! I must love, and then
I desire for a double death, both yours and mine.
Truly, I will not seek to know the things
That you should hide. I can live quite happily deceived.
Even if you are caught in the guilty act,
And I see your horrible disgrace with my own two eyes,
What possible good will it do to me? Deny it,
And I will believe what you say, not my own two eyes.
It's no great victory really to defeat someone
Who wants to lose: just remember to say “I didn't”,
And your case is made, though in fact it's no case at all.
I submit, defeated by you and those two little words.
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Non ego, ne pecces, cum sis formosa, recuso,
sed ne sit misero scire necesse mihi;
nec te nostra iubet fieri censura pudicam,
sed tamen, ut temptes dissimulare, rogat.
non peccat, quaecumque potest peccasse negare,
solaque famosam culpa professa facit.
quis furor est, quae nocte latent, in luce fateri,
et quae clam facias facta referre palam?
ignoto meretrix corpus iunctura Quiriti
opposita populum summovet ante sera;
tu tua prostitues famae peccata sinistrae
commissi perages indiciumque tui?
sit tibi mens melior, saltemve imitare pudicas,
teque probam, quamvis non eris, esse putem.
quae facis, haec facito; tantum fecisse negato,
nec pudeat coram verba modesta loqui!
Est qui nequitiam locus exigat; omnibus illum
deliciis inple, stet procul inde pudor!
hinc simul exieris, lascivia protinus omnis
absit, et in lecto crimina pone tuo.
illic nec tunicam tibi sit posuisse pudori
nec femori inpositum sustinuisse femur;
illic purpureis condatur lingua labellis,
inque modos Venerem mille figuret amor;
illic nec voces nec verba iuvantia cessent,
spondaque lasciva mobilitate tremat!
indue cum tunicis metuentem crimina vultum,
et pudor obscenum diffiteatur opus;
da populo, da verba mihi; sine nescius errem,
et liceat stulta credulitate frui!
Cur totiens video mitti recipique tabellas?
cur pressus prior est interiorque torus?
cur plus quam somno turbatos esse capillos
collaque conspicio dentis habere notam?
tantum non oculos crimen deducis ad ipsos;
si dubitas famae parcere, parce mihi!
mens abit et morior quotiens peccasse fateris,
perque meos artus frigida gutta fluit.
tunc amo, tunc odi frustra quod amare necesse est;
tunc ego, sed tecum, mortuus esse velim!
Nil equidem inquiram, nec quae celare parabis
insequar, et falli muneris instar erit.
si tamen in media deprensa tenebere culpa,
et fuerint oculis probra videnda meis,
quae bene visa mihi fuerint, bene visa negato --
concedent verbis lumina nostra tuis.
prona tibi vinci cupientem vincere palma est,
sit modo 'non feci!' dicere lingua memor.
cum tibi contingat verbis superare duobus,
etsi non causa, iudice vince tuo!
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