Sol 5.6

  1. Do you suppose ill suspicion can wound my mind?

    Then helplessness must have engulfed me beyond patience’s shelter,

  2. and at the clash, obstacles must have stayed my hand

    from the sword, bringing neither hand of mine nearer victory.

  3. So do not couple my judgment with a witless fool’s suspicion—

    one who imagines a mark upon the full moon’s radiant brow.

  4. For my heart refuses to let its secret be sullied

    by your mistrust, or my affection be blamed for treachery of mine.

  5. I have indeed lavished favor upon you, because I

    unfastened the knots of my rancor and restrained my claim to vengeance.

  6. Had I repaid a people according to their deeds,

    I would have arrayed them in ornaments of white blades and dark-shafted spears.

  7. Our tempers are limpid water when goodwill reigns;

    but if provoked, in wrath they turn to rock.

  8. Whenever we grow angry, the earth nearly folds upon itself

    in jealous defense of honor, and the horizon hurls radiant stars.

  9. We are nothing but a rain cloud: if you seek it

    for bounty, its boundless largesse showers you with rain.

  10. But if it is stirred by enmities, its lightning flashes become

    a blaze against the foes, its flame fiercely burning.

  11. I forgave sins of yours that set my resolve ablaze,

    though wrath’s meteor nearly burst from my breast.

  12. I pardoned, though choking anguish had driven me farther

    from pardon; but you are born of the sea’s generosity.

  13. Whoever bridles words when they are in contention

    with reason’s bridle is spared the need to seek an excuse.

  14. Go rejoicing, having won pardon from one who, were he to harbor

    a grudge, Death itself would die of fright.

  15. In my two hands, wherever I wish, is glory’s forelock;

    I shake it, while the necks of noble deeds remain captive to me.

Sol 5.6