[31] Si tamen. Phaedra begins here to reason with herself, and take a view of the crime she was going to commit. When we have once resolved upon a thing, we are never at a loss to find out plausible pretences for our justification. Such was Phaedra's case. As she had given herself up to this fatal passion, she can be satisfied with reasons, that in other circumstances would have appeared of no weight. Though she is forced to own that her designs are criminal, she yet thinks it some excuse that she was to offend with a man of merit; and, if one may be allowed the expression, disdained to commit an inglorious clime.
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P. Ovidius Naso. The Epistles of Ovid, translated into English prose, as near the original as the different idioms of the Latin and English languages will allow; with the Latin text and order of construction on the same page; and critical, historical, geographical, and classical notes in English, from the very best commentators both ancient and modern; beside a very great number of notes entirely new. Anne Mahoney. edited for Perseus. London. J. Nunn, Great-Queen-Street; R. Priestly, 143, High-Holborn; R. Lea, Greek-Street, Soho; and J. Rodwell, New-Bond-Street. 1813.
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