“What creature is it that isfemale in nature and hidesin its womb unborn childrenwho, although they are voiceless, speak to people far away?The female creature is a letter.The unborn children are the letters(of the alphabet) it carries. And the letters, although they have no voices,speak to people far away.”

“Although only breath, words which I speak are immortal.”

“Although only breath, words which I command are immortal.”

“Eros, again now, the loosener of limbs troubles me,Bittersweet, sly, uncontrollable creature….”

“Once again love drives me on, that loosener of limbs, bittersweet creature against which nothing can be done.”

“Eros once again limb-loosener whirls me sweetbitter, impossible to fight off, creature stealing up...I don't know what I should do: two states of mind in me...”

“yet if you had a desire for good or beautiful thingsand your tongue were not concocting some evil to sayshame would not hold down your eyesbut rather you would speak about what is just”