est Paphus Idaliumque tibi, sunt alta Cythera: quid gravidam bellis urbem et corda aspera temptas? nosne tibi fluxas Phrygiae res vertere fundo conamur? nos? an miseros qui Troas Achivis obiecit? quae causa fuit consurgere in arma Europamque Asiamque et foedera solvere furto? me duce Dardanius Spartam expugnavit adulter, aut ego tela dedi fovive Cupidine bella? tum decuit metuisse tuis: nunc sera querelis haud iustis adsurgis et inrita iurgia iactas.
Paphus is yours, Idalium, and high Cythera: why meddle with savage hearts, and a city teeming with war? Is it I that try to overthrow from the foundation Phrygias tottering state? Is it I? Or is it he who flung the hapless Trojans in the Achaeans path? What cause was there that Europe and Asia should rise up in arms and break the bonds of peace by treachery? Was it I that led the Dardan adulterer to ravage Sparta? Was it I that gave him weapons or fostered war with lust? It was then that you should have feared for your own; now too late you rise with unjust complaints, and bandy bickering words in vain.