418When Themis, foreknowing the future, had said this with her prophetic mouth, the gods above murmured in varied talk, and there was a grumbling, 'Why might the same gifts not be given to others?': Pallas' daughter complains that her husband's years are old, gentle Ceres complains that Iasion is growing grey, Mulciber demands renewed life for Erichthonius. 424Venus too is touched by care for the future, and bargains to renew Anchises' years. 426Every god has someone to favour, and the turbulent revolt grows with partisanship, until Jupiter opened his lips and said, 'O, if you have any reverence for me, where are you rushing? 429Does anyone think himself so powerful that he can overcome even the fates?
430By the fates Iolaus has returned to the years he had passed; by the fates Callirhoe's sons must grow young, not by ambition or by arms. 433You too are ruled by the fates — and, so that you may bear this with a better mind, I too am ruled by the fates. 434If I had the power to change them, late years would not be bending our Aeacus, and Rhadamanthus would have the everlasting flower of youth, along with my Minos, who because of the bitter weight of old age is despised, and does not reign in the order he did before.' 439Jove's words moved the gods, and no one has the heart to complain, when he sees Rhadamanthus and Aeacus worn with years, and Minos.
441He, while he was in the prime of life, had terrified great nations by his very name. 443Now he was feeble and greatly feared Miletus, son of Deione, proud in the strength of youth and in his father Phoebus, and though he believed he was rising against his kingdom, he still did not dare to keep him from his ancestral home. 447Of your own accord you flee, Miletus, and in a swift ship you measure out the Aegean waters, and in the land of Asia you found walls that bear their founder's name. 450Here, while she was following the windings of her father's bank, the daughter of Maeander, who so often returns on himself, Cyanee, known to you, of outstanding beauty of body, bore you twin offspring, Byblis and Caunus.
454Byblis is a warning that girls should love what is allowed: Byblis, seized by desire for her brother, Apollo's grandson: she loved him not as a sister loves a brother, nor in the way she should. 457At first indeed she does not recognise any flames, nor think she does wrong in joining kisses rather often, in throwing her arms around her brother's neck, and for a long time she is deceived by the false shadow of sisterly affection. 461Little by little her love goes astray, and she comes dressed up to see her brother, and wants too much to seem beautiful, and if any girl there is more beautiful, she envies her.
464But she is not yet clear to herself, and makes no wish beneath that fire: nevertheless she burns within. 466Now she calls him lord, now she hates the names of kinship: she now prefers that he call her Byblis rather than sister. 468Yet she did not dare to let shameful hopes into her mind while awake: relaxed in peaceful rest, she often sees what she loves; 470she seemed too to join her body to her brother's, and blushed, though she lay asleep. 472Sleep departs: she is silent a long time and recalls the vision of her rest, and speaks thus with wavering mind: 'Ah, wretched me! 474what does this image of the silent night mean?
475How I would wish it not to come true! 475why have I seen these dreams? 476He is indeed handsome even to unfriendly eyes, and he pleases me, and I could love him if he were not my brother, and he was worthy of me. 478But being his sister harms me. — As long as I do not attempt to commit any such thing while awake, let sleep often return with a like vision! 481there is no witness in sleep, and yet imitated pleasure is not absent. 482Oh! 482Venus, and winged Cupid with your tender mother, what joys I had! 483how vivid the desire that touched me! 484how I lay melted to my very marrow!
485how sweet it is to remember! 485although that pleasure was brief, and the night headlong and jealous of our beginnings. 487Oh, if I could be joined to you by a change of name, how well, Caunus, I could be daughter-in-law to your father! 489how well, Caunus, you could be son-in-law to my father! 490Would the gods made everything shared between us except our ancestors: I would wish you were nobler born than I! 492So you will make some woman or other a mother, most beautiful one: but to me, who by ill luck have drawn the same parents as you, you will be nothing but a brother. 494What stands in our way, that alone we shall have in common.
495What then do my visions signify for me? — and what weight do dreams have? — or do dreams too have weight? 497The gods forbid! — the gods, of course, have had their sisters: so Saturn married Ops, joined to him by blood, Oceanus Tethys, the ruler of Olympus Juno. 500The gods above have their own laws! 500Why do I try to measure the heavens by human customs and different covenants? 502Either this forbidden passion will be driven from my heart, or, if I cannot do this, let me die first, I pray, and be laid out dead on my couch, and may my brother give kisses to me as I lie there. — And yet this matter needs the will of two.
506Suppose it pleases me: it will seem a crime to him! 507But the sons of Aeolus did not fear their sisters' bedrooms! 508But where did I learn of these? 508Why have I gathered these examples? 509Where am I being swept? 509Far away from here, obscene flames, and let my brother be loved only as is right for a sister! — Yet if he himself had first been seized by love for me, perhaps I could indulge his madness. 513So am I, who would not have rejected him if he had sought me, to do the seeking myself! 514Will you be able to speak? 514will you be able to confess? 515Love will compel me: I shall be able!
515or, if shame holds my lips, a secret letter will confess my hidden fires: this is my choice, this opinion has won over my wavering mind.'