|
|
| [1]Fili mi, custodi sermones meos, et præcepta mea reconde tibi. |
[1]My son, keep my words, and hide with thee my commandments. My son, honour the Lord, and thou shalt be strong; and fear none but him: |
| [2]Fili, serva mandata mea, et vives; et legem meam quasi pupillam oculi tui: |
[2]keep my commandments, and thou shalt live; and keep my words as the pupils of thine eyes. |
| [3]liga eam in digitis tuis, scribe illam in tabulis cordis tui. |
[3]And bind them on thy fingers, and write them on the table of thine heart. |
| [4]Dic sapientiæ: Soror mea es, et prudentiam voca amicam tuam: |
[4]Say that wisdom is thy sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for thyself; |
| [5]ut custodiant te a muliere extranea, et ab aliena quæ verba sua dulcis facit. |
[5]that she may keep thee from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail thee with flattering words. |
| [6]De fenestra enim domus meæ per cancellos prospexi, |
[6]For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man void of understanding, |
| [7]et video parvulos; considero vecordem juvenem, |
[7]passing by the corner in the passages near her house, |
| [8]qui transit per plateam juxta angulum et prope viam domus illius graditur: |
[8]and speaking, in the dark of the evening, |
| [9]in obscuro, advesperascente die, in noctis tenebris et caligine. |
[9]when there happens to be the stillness of night and of darkness: |
| [10]Et ecce occurrit illi mulier ornatu meretricio, præparata ad capiendas animas: garrula et vaga, |
[10]and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter. |
| [11]quietis impatiens, nec valens in domo consistere pedibus suis; |
[11]And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home. |
| [12]nunc foris, nunc in plateis, nunc juxta angulos insidians. |
[12]For at one time she wanders without, and at another time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner. |
| [13]Apprehensumque deosculatur juvenem, et procaci vultu blanditur, dicens: |
[13]Then she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him, |
| [14]Victimas pro salute vovi, hodie reddidi vota mea; |
[14]I have a peace-offering; today I pay my vows: |
| [15]idcirco egressa sum in occursum tuum, desiderans te videre, et reperi. |
[15]therefore I came forth to meet thee, desiring thy face; and I have found thee. |
| [16]Intexui funibus lectulum meum, stravi tapetibus pietis ex Ægypto; |
[16]I have spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt. |
| [17]aspersi cubile meum myrrha, et aloë, et cinnamomo. |
[17]I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon. |
| [18]Veni, inebriemur uberibus, et fruamur cupitis amplexibus donec illucescat dies. |
[18]Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love. |
| [19]Non est enim vir in domo sua: abiit via longissima; |
[19]For my husband is not at home, but is gone on a long journey, |
| [20]sacculum pecuniæ secum tulit; in die plenæ lunæ reversurus est in domum suam. |
[20]having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house. |
| [21]Irretivit eum multis sermonibus, et blanditiis labiorum protraxit illum. |
[21]So with much converse she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from the right path. |
| [22]Statim eam sequitur quasi bos ductus ad victimam, et quasi agnus lasciviens; et ignorans quod ad vincula stultus trahatur: |
[22]And he followed her, being gently led on, and that as an ox is led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow: |
| [23]donec transfigat sagitta jecur ejus; velut si avis festinet ad laqueum, et nescit quod de periculo animæ illius agitur. |
[23]and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running for his life. |
| [24]Nunc ergo, fili mi, audi me, et attende verbis oris mei. |
[24]Now then, my son, hearken to me, and attend to the words of my mouth. |
| [25]Ne abstrahatur in viis illius mens tua, neque decipiaris semitis ejus; |
[25]Let not thine heart turn aside to her ways: |
| [26]multos enim vulneratos dejecit, et fortissimi quique interfecti sunt ab ea. |
[26]for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable. |
| [27]Viæ inferi domus ejus, penetrantes in interiora mortis. |
[27]Her house is the way of hell, leading down to the chambers of death. |