Antonio Canova, Venus and Mars
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Cet article est disponible en français
Questo post è disponibile anche in italiano
Nam tu sola potes tranquilla iuvare
mortalis, quoniam belli fera moenera Marvors
armipotens regis in gremium qui saepe tuum se
reiicit aeterno devictus vulnere amoris,
atque ita suspiciens tereti cervice reposta
pascit amore avidos inhians in te, dea, visus
eque tuo pendet resupini spiritus ore.
Hunc tu, diva, tuo recubatem corpore sancto
circumfixa super, suavis ex ore loquellas
funde petens placida Romanis, incluta, pacem.
(Tutus Lucretius Carus, De Rerum Natura, Liber I, vv. 31-40)
TRANSLATION:
For thou alone hast powet with public peace
to aid mortality; since he who rules
the savage works of battle, puissant Mars,
how often to thy bosom flings his strenght
O’ermastered by the eternal wound of love
And there, with and full throat backward thrown,
gazing, my Goddess, open mouthed at thee,
pastures on love his greedy sight, his breath
hanging upon thy lips. Him thus reclined
fill with thy holy body, round, above!
Pour from those lips soft syllables to win
Peace for the Romans, glorious Lady, peace!