Strangers in the Night: Elegiac meter version.

Strangers in the night exchanging glances
Wondring in the night
What were the chances wed be sharing love
Before the night was through.

Something in your eyes was so inviting,
Something in you smile was so exciting,
Something in my heart,
Told me I must have you.

Strangers in the night, two lonely people
we were strangers in the night
up to the moment
when we said our first hello

Ignoti inter se tacitam aspiciunt per noctem
nocte rogant utrum possit Amor mutuus
conciliare prius quam Aurora cucurrerit altum
ad caelum; Nox et fugerit astra trahens.

Risu motus eram*; pulchrisque allectus ocellis
iusserit ut mihi cor te tenuisse meam .
Nocte salutemus dum inter nos usque manemus#
Ignoti; soli nocte manemus ea.
___________________
*in Propertian usage pluperfect sts.=perfect.
#graphic present (for past)

They glance at each other, to each other unknown
during the still night. During the night
They wonder whether reciprocal Love
could unite them, before lady Dawn has sped
to lofty heaven in her chariot, and night
has fled, trailing stars.

I was moved by your smile
and attracted by your beautiful eyes
with this result:
My heart bade me to have you as my own.

During the night, we remain uknown
During that night, we remain alone
Right up until we exchange mutual greetings.

Pergam Fortis Iter (elegiac couplet; rough)


Pergam fortis iter, ne tu, Timor ater, obesse
credas posse mihi; nam teget ipsa Fides.

I shall proceed bravely on my journey.
Don't you suppose, dark Fear,

that you can hinder me.

for my very faith protects me.

Hesperias malam (elegiac couplet)


Hesperias malam quam litora Nova Britanna
oras visere si mecum aderit lepida!

I'll prefer western climes to New England's beaches
If only my charming girl will be with me!

Litora sola (elegiac couplet)


litora sola, sciam mea si bene velle puella
intrepidus lunae visere non metuam.

If I knew she liked me, I'd boldly go
to the solitary shores of the moon!

Principiis inquit (elegiac couplet)

(1)
"Principiis" inquit "laetum decet esse" puella
Copia adest; aderat Copia Laetitiae!

"In beginnings you should be joyful" she said:
There is and has been an abundance of Joy!

(2)

Principio memorat laetum esse decere puella:
Copia adest; aderat Copia Laetitiae!

She reminds me of the fact that one ought to be happy in the beginning:
Of happiness there is, and has been an abundance!

Scribant Apta Tvae (Elegiac Poem; first draft)

Scribant apta tuae magni sua verba poetae
formae; laudentur lumina pulchra tua
aptus erit pernix celebrari carmine motus
Saltas cum gracili, pube vidente, pede.
Certe ad cantandos nata est Elegia capillos
fulvos et pedibus labra canenda suis.

Let the great poets write their words, so as to be fitting to your beauty.
Let your fair eyes be praised; your nimble movement will be suitable
for celebration in song, whenever you dance with graceful step,
as the young men look on.
Certainly Elegy was created for singing of your chestnut hair
and for singing of your lips, all in its measures.

Pacificas remigrat (Elegiac Couplet)

Pacificas remigrat fugiens mare Atlanticum ad oras

iam mea vita; canendi manet altus Amor!

My dear, fleeing the Atlantic, now returns to Pacific shores

Yet the lofty desire for singing of her remains.

Celsa Puella Volat (Elegiac Couplet)

celsa puella volat per nubila; abesse putetur

ne mea Musa tamen, neve perisse Elegi!

My girl flies through the lofty clouds. For all that

let it not be supposed that my source of inspiration is absent,

nor that my Elegies have perished!

Iam Natalis Adest (Elegiac Couplet)

iam natalis adest patriae; candentia signa

risus ut illius gaudia clara ferunt!

Now the birthday of our country has arrived

The dazzling displays, like her smile,

bring bright joys!

Non ubi sim novi (elegiac couplet)

Non ubi sim novi; totum cor gestit ob illam

tintinnantque aures; sudor adest gelidus!

I don't know where I am; my entire heart leaps
because of her; and my ears ring; the chill sweat appears!

Laetitiae Florent (elegiac couplet)

Laetitiae florent! rosae velut imbre iuvante;
praesens Musa beat; flos redit ipse lyrae!

Joys are flowering, like roses, with rain's help

My Muse, when present, gladdens me;

& the very flower of my lyre returns!

Ingreditur crocea (elegiac couplet)

(1)
Ingreditur crocea mea candens veste puella
conspicua ut caelis stella micans placidis !

There! She enters, dazzling in a saffron yellow gown
Striking, like a star glittering in the tranquil heavens.

(2)
Ingreditur crocea mea candens veste puella
conspicuum ut sidus nocte micans placida!

Look! My girl enters brilliant in her golden dress
remarkable, like a star glittering in the tranquil night.

Serta dabo pulchrae (elegiac couplet)

serta dabo pulchrae necnon mea carmina verbis
si potero, pulchris; grata utinam tibi sint!

I shall give garlands to you, beautiful one,
and songs in beautiful words, if I can.
May they be pleasing to you!

Quid pudeat nudam (elegiac couplet)

Quid pudeat nudam monstrare, puella, figuram

laudandam speciem si tribuunt Veneres?

Why should it be a source of shame

to show your figure nude

if the Graces fair assigned to you

a body to be praised?

Urbe Salis Remanet (elegiac couplet)

urbe salis remanet veniat dum raeda puella

longa volans alte, terram aditura otii!

She waits in the Salt City

until the long carriage,

flying high, should arrive,
fixing to go to the land of leisure!

Dicere non formae (elegiac couplet)

Dicere non formae quis sit pars pulchrior ausim

O, mea vita, tuae: tota figura placet!

I'd not venture to say what part of your form

is the more beautiful, my dear:

For your figure, every part of it, pleases!

Externo non est (elegiac couplet, draft)

externo non est usus medicamine, bella,
cum niteant nudae membra venusta tibi!

There is no need for external cosmetics, pretty girl,
since your charming figure is beautiful when you are bare.

Non Mors Obveniet (elegiac couplet; draft)

non mors obveniet nobis; redimicula taetri
franget dura metus omnia magnus Amor!

Death will not come upon us as an obstacle;
all the hard bonds of baleful fear, great Love
will break to pieces.

Urbe abeo celebri (elegiac couplet)

urbe abeo celebri, mea quando est rure puella
Pax ibi de pinis lenta cadit nitidis.

I leave the crowded city, whenever my girl is in the country
There the peace slowly drops from the luxuriant pines.

Saevus Venit Amor (elegiac couplet)

Saevus venit Amor princeps; Elegia secuta est
dein Nox Insomnis, plenaque charta precum.

Firs savage desire came; Lady Elegy followed him,
then Sleepless Night, and the page filled with prayers.