Carmina

Catullus

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.

  1. Quoth they, "But certes as 'twas there
  2. The custom rose, some men to bear
  3. Litter thou boughtest ?" I to her
  4. To seem but richer, wealthier,
  5. Cry, "Nay, with me 'twas not so ill
  6. That, given the Province suffered, still
  7. Eight stiff-backed loons I could not buy.'
  8. (Withal none here nor there owned I
  9. Who broken leg of Couch outworn
  10. On nape of neck had ever borne!)
  11. Then she, as pathic piece became,
  12. "Prithee Catullus mine, those same
  13. Lend me, Serapis-wards I'd hie." ---
  14. "Easy, on no-wise, no," quoth I,
  15. "Whate'er was mine, I lately said
  16. Is some mistake, my camarade
  17. One Cinna-Gaius-bought the lot,
  18. But his or mine, it matters what?
  19. I use it freely as though bought,