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6. Ecce patet tensus Ecce, patet tensus ceci Cupidinis arcus;    Unde sagitta volans ardor amoris erit. Omnia vincit amor; cecus tamen errat ubique,    Quo sibi directum carpere nescit iter. Ille suos famulos ita cecos ducit amantes.    Quod sibi quid deceat non videt ullus amans. Sic oculus cordis carnis caligine cecus    Decidit, et racio nil racionis habet. Sic amor ex velle vivit, quem ceca voluptas    Nutrit, et ad placitum cunta ministrat ei; Subque suis alis mundus requiescit in umbra,    Et sua precepta quisquis ubique facit. Ipse coronatus inopes simul atque potentes    Omnes lege pari conficit esse pares. Sic amor omne domat, quicquid natura creavit,    Et tamen indomitus ipse per omne manet: Carcerat et redimit, ligat atque ligata resoluit,    Vulnerat omne genus, nec sibi vulnus habet. Non manet in terris qui prelia vincit amoris,    Nec sibi quis firme federa pacis habet. Sampsonis vires, gladius neque David -- in istis    Quid laudis -- sensus aut Salomonis habent. O natura viri, poterit quam tollere nemo,    Nec tamen excusat quod facit ipsa malum! O natura viri, que naturatur eodem    Quod vitare nequit nec licet illud agi! O natura viri, duo que contraria mixta    Continet, amborum nec licet acta sequi! O natura viri, que semper habet sibi bellum    Corporis ac anime, que sua iura petunt! Sic magis igne suo Cupido perurit amantum    Et, quasi de bello corda, subacta tenet. Qui vult ergo sue carnis compescere flammam,       Arcum prevideat unde sagitta volat. Nullus ab innato valet hoc euadere morbo,    Sit nisi quod sola gracia curet eum . . .

6. Lo, the Taut Bow Lo, here is the taut bow of the blind Cupid,    From which the flying arrow is the flame of Love. Love conquers all, but, being blind he strays to all places    And knows not whither his trail will lead. Thus does he lead lovers, his blind servants.    No lover sees what is fitting for him; Thus their eye, blinded by the fleshly heart,    Yields, and their reason has nothing of reason about it. Thus Love lives on will, and blind desire fosters it,    And bestows everything on him at his whim, And under the shadow of his wings the world lies at rest.    And everyone obeys his precepts. He is the crowned king who makes all,    Poor and powerful alike, to be equals under an equal law. Thus Love subdues everything that Nature has created    While he himself remains unsubdued by all. He imprisons and sets free, binds and releases the bound,    He wounds every nation, but receives no wound himself. In the wars of Love there is no victor on earth,    Nor has anyone concluded with him a firm treaty of peace. The strength of Samson and the sword of David    Have nothing praiseworthy in them, nor the intelligence of Solomon.    O human nature, which no one can abolish,    Nor yet excuse the evils it does! O human nature, irresistibly disposed    To that unlawful thing which it cannot shun! O human nature, that contains two mixed contraries    But is not allowed to follow the deeds of both! O human nature, which always has war within itself    Of body and soul, both seeking the same authority! Thus all the more Cupid assaults the hearts of lovers with his fire,    And holds them subject as if defeated in war. Therefore, whoever wishes to hold in check the fire of his flesh    Let him look out for the bow from which the arrow flies. No one is strong enough to evade this inborn malady,    Unless grace provides a cure . . .

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