Liber Proverbiorum, 7
1. fili mi custodi sermones meos et præcepta mea reconde tibi
1. My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
2. serva mandata mea et vives et legem meam quasi pupillam oculi tui
2. Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
3. liga eam in digitis tuis scribe illam in tabulis cordis tui
3. Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
4. dic sapientiæ soror mea es et prudentiam voca amicam tuam
4. Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
5. ut custodiat te a muliere extranea et ab aliena quæ verba sua dulcia facit
5. That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.
6. de fenestra enim domus meæ per cancellos prospexi
6. For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,
7. et video parvulos considero vecordem juvenem
7. And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
8. qui transit in platea juxta angulum et propter viam domus illius graditur
8. Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.
9. in obscuro advesperascente die in noctis tenebris et caligine
9. In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,
10. et ecce mulier occurrit illi ornatu meretricio præparata ad capiendas animas garrula et vaga
10. And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,
11. quietis inpatiens nec valens in domo consistere pedibus suis
11. Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
12. nunc foris nunc in plateis nunc juxta angulos insidians
12. Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
13. adprehensumque deosculatur juvenem et procaci vultu blanditur dicens
13. And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
14. victimas pro salute debui hodie reddidi vota mea
14. I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
15. idcirco egressa sum in occursum tuum desiderans te videre et repperi
15. Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
16. intexui funibus lectum meum stravi tapetibus pictis ex Ægypto
16. I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.
17. aspersi cubile meum murra et alœ et cinnamomo
17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18. veni inebriemur uberibus donec inlucescat dies et fruamur cupitis amplexibus
18. Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.
19. non est enim vir in domo sua abiit via longissima
19. For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.
20. sacculum pecuniæ secum tulit in die plenæ lunæ reversurus est domum suam
20. He took with him a bag of money: he mill return home the day of the full moon.
21. inretivit eum multis sermonibus et blanditiis labiorum protraxit illum
21. She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
22. statim eam sequitur quasi bos ductus ad victimam et quasi agnus lasciviens et ignorans quod ad vincula stultus trahatur
22. Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,
23. donec transfigat sagitta jecur ejus velut si avis festinet ad laqueum et nescit quia de periculo animæ illius agitur
23. Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
24. nunc ergo fili audi me et adtende verba oris mei
24. Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25. ne abstrahatur in viis illius mens tua neque decipiaris semitis ejus
25. Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
26. multos enim vulneratos dejecit et fortissimi quique interfecti sunt ab ea
26. For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.
27. viæ inferi domus ejus penetrantes interiora mortis
27. Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death.
