Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Nowise forgetting damsel bright o' blee,
  2. With wine, and salty wit and laughs all-gay.
  3. An these my bonny man, thou bring, I say
  4. Thou'lt sup right well, for thy Catullus' purse
  5. Save web of spider nothing does imburse.
  6. But thou in countergift more loves shalt take
  7. Or aught of sweeter taste or fairer make:
  8. I'll give thee unguent lent my girl to scent
  9. By every Venus and all Cupids sent,
  10. Which, as thou savour, pray Gods interpose
  11. And thee, Fabúllus, make a Naught-but-nose.
  1. Did I not liefer love thee than my eyes
  2. (Winsomest Calvus!), for that gift of thine
  3. Certès I'd hate thee with Vatinian hate.
  4. Say me, how came I, or by word or deed,
  5. To cause thee plague me with so many a bard?
  6. The Gods deal many an ill to such a client,
  7. Who sent of impious wights to thee such crowd.
  8. But if (as guess I) this choice boon new-found