Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. To leman, rakehell Formian chose.
  2. An ye would guard her (kinsmen folk)
  3. Your friends and leaches d'ye convoke:
  4. The girl's not sound-sens'd; ask ye naught
  5. Of her complaint: she's love-distraught.
  1. Come, Hendecasyllabics, many as may
  2. All hither, every one that of you be!
  3. That fulsome harlot makes me laughing-stock
  4. And she refuses at our prayer restore
  5. Our stolen Note-books, an such slights ye bear.
  6. Let us pursue her clamouring our demands.
  7. "Who's she?" ye question: yonder one ye sight
  8. Mincingly pacing mime-like, perfect pest,
  9. With jaws wide grinning like a Gallic pup.
  10. Stand all round her dunning with demands,
  11. "Return (O rotten whore!) our noting books.
  12. Our noting books (O rotten whore!) return!"
  13. No doit thou car'st? O Mire! O Stuff O' stews!
  14. Or if aught fouler filthier dirt there be.
  15. Yet must we never think these words suffice.