Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. That to have pity on me vouchsafed your pitiless bosom?
  2. Nevertheless not in past time such were the promises wordy
  3. Lavished; nor such hopes to me the hapless were bidden;
  4. But the glad married joys, the longed-for pleasures of wedlock.
  5. All now empty and vain, by breath of the breezes bescattered!
  6. Now, let woman no more trust her to man when he sweareth,
  7. Ne'er let her hope to find or truth or faith in his pleadings,
  8. Who when lustful thought forelooks to somewhat attaining,
  9. Never an oath they fear, shall spare no promise to promise.
  10. Yet no sooner they sate all lewdness and lecherous fancy,
  11. Nothing remember of words and reck they naught of fore-swearing.