Poem 4C: Echo & Narcissus

• dumque sitim sedare cupit, sitis altera crevit

  and while he desires to quench his thirst, another thirst grows
• dumque bibit, visae correptus imagine formae

  and while he drinks, captivated by the image of beauty he has seen
• spem sine corpore amat, corpus putat esse, quod umbra est

  he loves a hope without a body, he thinks that which is a reflection is a body
• astupet ipse sibi vultuque immotus eodem

  he himself is astonished at himself and motionless and with the same face
• haeret, ut e Pario formatum marmore signum

  he clings, like a statue made from Parian marble
• spectat humi positus geminum, sua lumina, sidus

  He looks, lying on the ground at twin stars, his own eyes
• et dignos Baccho, dignos et Apolline crines

  and hair worthy of Bacchus and also worthy of Apollo
• impubesque genas et eburnea colla decusque

  and at unbearded cheeks and at the ivory neck and the beauty
• oris et in niveo mixtum candore ruborem

  of his face and his blush mixed with snow-white radiance,
• cunctaque miratur, quibus est mirabilis ipse

  and he admires everything, for which he himself is admired
• se cupit imprudens et, qui probat, ipse probatur

  he desires himself unknowing and, he who fancies is himself fancied
• dumque petit, petitur, pariterque accendit et ardet

  and while he seeks, is sought and equally sets on fire and burns
• irrita fallaci quotiens dedit oscula fonti

  how often he gave useless kisses to the deceitful spring
• in mediis quotiens visum captantia collum

  how often into the middle of the waters, trying to catch the neck he saw
• bracchia mersit aquis nec se deprendit in illis

  He submerged his arms but did not catch himself in them
• quid videat nescit sed quod videt uritur illo

  what he sees, he does not know; but he burns for that which he sees
• atque oculos idem qui decipit incitat error

  and the same illusion stirs his eyes, which deceives them
• quae simul adspexit liquefacta rursus in unda

  as soon as he saw these again in the clear waters
• non tulit ulterius sed, ut intabescere flavae

  he could not bear it any longer, but just as yellow wax is accustomed to melt
• igne levi cerae matutinaeque pruinae

  in a gentle fire and morning frosts
• “dumque … dumque”

  Anaphora & emphatic positioning
• “sitim … sitis”

  repetition of thirst
• “cupit … crevit … bibit … amat”

  powerful, short verbs
• “ut e Pario formatum marmore signum“

  simile
• “astupet … spectat”

  verb promotion
• “geminum … sidus”

  metaphor
• “haeret”

  enjambement
• “dignos … dignos”

  anaphora
• “niveo mixtum candore ruborem”

  alternating word order
• “et … et … que … et … que”

  polysyndeton
• “se cupit“

  emphatic placement
• “ascendit et ardet”

  fire imagery
• “probat … probatur”

  switching from active to passive voice
• “petit, petitur”

  switches from active to passive voice
• “in mediis … aquis”

  enclosing word order
• “quotiens … quotiens”

  anaphora
• “uritur”

  fire imagery
• “error”

  verb is postponed & emphatic placement
• “quid videat nescit, sed quod videt uritur illo”

  short sharp clauses
• “videat … videt”

  repetition of sight because his love is based on looks