Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. That teem with boorish jest of sorry blade,
  2. Volusius' Annals, paper scum-bewrayed.
  1. Salacious Tavern and ye taverner-host,
  2. From Pileate Brothers the ninth pile-post,
  3. D'ye claim, you only of the, mentule boast,
  4. D'ye claim alone what damsels be the best
  5. To swive: as he-goats holding all the rest?
  6. Is't when like boobies sit ye incontinent here,
  7. One or two hundred, deem ye that I fear
  8. Two hundred . . . . at one brunt?
  9. Ay, think so, natheless all your tavern-front
  10. With many a scorpion I will over-write.
  11. For that my damsel, fro' my breast took flight,
  12. By me so lovèd, as shall loved be none,
  13. Wherefor so mighty wars were waged and won,
  14. Does sit in public here. Ye fain, rich wights,
  15. All woo her: thither too (the chief of slights !)
  16. All pitiful knaves and by-street wenchers fare,