Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Wag it as wish thou, at its will,
  2. When out of doors its hope fulfil;
  3. Him bar I, modestly, methinks.
  4. But should ill-mind or lust's high jinks
  5. Thee (Sinner!), drive to sin so dread,
  6. That durst ensnare our dearling's head,
  7. Ah! woe's thee (wretch!) and evil fate,
  8. Mullet and radish shall pierce and grate,
  9. When feet-bound, haled through yawning gate.
  1. I'll . . . you twain and . . .
  2. Pathic Aurelius! Fúrius, libertines!
  3. Who durst determine from my versicles
  4. Which seem o'er softy, that I'm scant of shame.
  5. For pious poet it behoves be chaste
  6. Himself; no chastity his verses need;
  7. Nay, gain they finally more salt of wit
  8. When over softy and of scanty shame,