Hippolytus (92-145)

Not I; but wherefore such a question?

It hates reserve which careth not for all men’s love.

And rightly too; reserve in man is ever galling.

But there’s a charm in courteous affability?

The greatest surely; aye, and profit, too, at trifling cost.

Dost think the same law holds in heaven as well?

I trow it doth, since all our laws we men from heaven draw.

Why, then, dost thou neglect to greet an august goddess?[*]

Whom speak’st thou of? Keep watch upon thy tongue lest it some mischief cause.

Cypris I mean, whose image is stationed o’er thy gate.

I greet her from afar, preserving still my chastity.

Yet is she an august goddess, far renowned on earth.

’Mongst gods as well as men we have our several preferences.

I wish thee luck, and wisdom too, so far as thou dost need it.

No god, whose worship craves the night, hath charms for me.

My son, we should avail us of the gifts that gods confer.

Go in, my faithful followers, and make ready food within the house; a well-filled board hath charms after the chase is o’er.

Rub down my steeds ye must, that when I have had my all I may yoke them to the chariot and give them proper exercise.

As for thy Queen of Love, a long farewell to her.

Meantime I with sober mind, for I must not copy my young master,

do offer up my prayer to thy image, lady Cypris, in such words as it becomes a slave to use. But thou should’st pardon all, who, in youth’s impetuous heat, speak idle words of thee; make as though thou hearest not,

for gods must needs be wiser than the sons of men.