English

Latin

In a certain city there lived a king and queen , who had three daughters of surpassing beauty . Though the elder two were extremely pleasing , still it was thought they were only worthy of mortal praise ; but the youngest girl’s looks were so delightful , so dazzling , no human speech in its poverty could celebrate them , or even rise to adequate description . Crowds of eager citizens , and visitors alike , drawn by tales of this peerless vision , stood dumbfounded , marvelling at her exceptional loveliness , pressing thumb and forefinger together and touching them to their lips , and bowing their heads towards her in pious prayer as if she were truly the goddess Venus . Soon the news spread through neighbouring cities , and the lands beyond its borders , that the goddess herself , born from the blue depths of the sea , emerging in spray from the foaming waves , was now gracing the earth in various places , appearing in many a mortal gathering or , if not that , then earth not ocean had given rise to a new creation , a new celestial emanation , another Venus , and as yet a virgin flower .