Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. As I from Forum idling came.
  2. Forthright some whorelet judged I it
  3. Nor lacking looks nor wanting wit,
  4. When hied we thither, mid us three
  5. Fell various talk, as how might be
  6. Bithynia now, and how it fared,
  7. And if some coin I made or spared.
  8. "There was no cause (I soothly said)
  9. "The Praetors or the Cohort made
  10. Thence to return with oilier head;
  11. The more when ruled by---
  12. Praetor, as pile the Cohort rating."
  13. Quoth they, "But certes as 'twas there
  14. The custom rose, some men to bear
  15. Litter thou boughtest ?" I to her
  16. To seem but richer, wealthier,
  17. Cry, "Nay, with me 'twas not so ill
  18. That, given the Province suffered, still
  19. Eight stiff-backed loons I could not buy.'
  20. (Withal none here nor there owned I
  21. Who broken leg of Couch outworn
  22. On nape of neck had ever borne!)
  23. Then she, as pathic piece became,
  24. "Prithee Catullus mine, those same
  25. Lend me, Serapis-wards I'd hie." ---
  26. "Easy, on no-wise, no," quoth I,
  27. "Whate'er was mine, I lately said
  28. Is some mistake, my camarade
  29. One Cinna-Gaius-bought the lot,
  30. But his or mine, it matters what?
  31. I use it freely as though bought,
  32. Yet thou, pert troubler, most absurd,
  33. None suffer'st speak an idle word."
  1. Furius and Aurelius, Catullus' friends,
  2. Whether extremest Indian shore he brave,