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προδοσέταιρος exosus.

He who betrays a friend is hated

Man on throne with laurel wreath at a military camp. Woman kneeling at his feet holding scissors.
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Caecus amor nunquam ratio quid dictet honesta,
Et quid conveniat, quid noceatque videt.
Sed ruit, ac fertur, pronum illaetabile fatum
Donec corripiat, perdat & omne genus.
Quid Niso imperium rapuit, Minoaque regem
Auxit, quàm natae consceleratus amor?
Impia quid lucri tulit, an Cretensis amore,
Tot curis tandem fessa, potita fuit?[1]
Hostem qui patriae fovet, atque libidinis ergò
Omnia postponit, spretus ubique iacet.
Qua spe soletur metuentes proditor hostes,
Quem cuperet nunquam se genuisse parens?

Blind love never sees what decent motives say, nor what is helpful and harmful, but races to destruction and is carried onwards until it seizes the fate, hapless and joyless, that awaits it, and destroys the whole race. What stole power from Nisus, and enriched the realms of Minos, than the sinful love of a daughter? What did the sinful creature obtain to her profit; what did she get from her Cretan love, wan with so many cares? For the man who helps the enemy of his fatherland, or prefers libido to everything else, lies sunk in disgrace in every land. With what hope does the traitor console the fearful enemy, than that he should hope never to be a parent?

Notes:

1.  The story of Scylla of Megara, daughter of King Nisus: she fell in love with the invader, Minos of Crete, and cut off her father’s supernatural hair to prove her love. She was changed into a seabird, and chased away by her father. Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book 8.

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