Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Nor less in promenade titled from The Great
  2. (Friend!) I accosted each and every quean,
  3. But mostly madams showing mien serene,
  4. For thee I pestered all with many pleas—
  5. "Give me Came n us, wanton baggages!"
  6. Till answered certain one a-baring breasts
  7. "Lo, 'twixt these rosy paps he haply rests!"
  8. But now to find thee were Herculean feat.
  9. Not if I feigned me that guard of Crete,
  10. Not if with Pegasèan wing I sped,
  11. Or Ladas I or Perseus plumiped,
  12. Or Rhesus borne in swifty car snow-white:
  13. Add the twain foot-bewing'd and fast of flight,
  14. And of the cursive' winds require the blow:
  15. All these (Camérius!) couldst on me bestow.
  16. Tho' were I wearied to each marrow bone
  17. And by many o' languors clean forgone
  18. Yet I to seek thee (friend!) would still assay.
  19. In such proud lodging (friend) wouldst self denay?
  20. Tell us where haply dwell'st thou, speak outright,
  21. Be bold and risk it, trusting truth to light,
  22. Say do these milk-white girls thy Steps detain?
  23. If aye in tight-sealed lips thy tongue remain,
  24. All Amor's fruitage thou shalt cast away:
  25. Verbose is Venus, loving verbal play!
  26. But, an it please thee, padlockt palate bear,
  27. So in your friendship I have partner-share.
  1. O risible matter (Cato!) and jocose,
  2. Digne of thy hearing, of thy sneering digne.
  3. Laugh (Cato!) an thou love Catullus thine;
  4. The thing is risible, nay, too jocose.
  5. Erstwhile I came upon a lad who a lass
  6. Was . . . and (so please it Dion!) I
  7. Pierced him with stiffest staff and did him die.
  1. Right well are paired these Cinaedes sans shame
  2. Mamurra and Caesar, both of pathic fame.
  3. No wonder! Both are fouled with foulest blight,