Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Him if a damsel kiss we fain must think she be ready
  2. With her fair lips . . . .
  1. Rightly of thee may be said, an of any, (thou stinkingest Victius!)
  2. Whatso wont we to say touching the praters and prigs.
  3. Thou wi' that tongue o' thine own, if granted occasion availest
  4. Brogues of the cowherds to kiss, also their . . . .
  5. Wouldst thou undo us all with a thorough undoing (0 Victius!)
  6. Open thy gape :—thereby all shall be wholly undone.
  1. E'en as thou played'st, from thee snatched I (0 honied Juventius!)
  2. Kisslet of savour so sweet sweetest Ambrosia unknows.
  3. Yet was the theft nowise scot-free, for more than an hour I
  4. Clearly remember me fixt hanging from crest of the Cross,
  5. Whatwhile I purged my sin unto thee nor with any weeping
  6. Tittle of cruel despite such as be thine could I 'bate.
  7. For that no sooner done thou washed thy liplets with many
  8. Drops which thy fingers did wipe, using their every joint,
  9. Lest of our mouths conjoined remain there aught by the contact
  10. Like unto slaver foul shed by the butterèd bun.
  11. Further, wretchedmost me betrayed to unfriendliest Love-god
  12. Never thou ceased'st to pain hurting with every harm,
  13. So that my taste be turned and kisses ambrosial erstwhile
  14. Even than hellebore-juice bitterest bitterer grow.
  15. Seeing such pangs as these prepared for unfortunate lover,
  16. After this never again kiss will I venture to snatch.
  1. Caelius Aufilénus and Quintius Aufiléna,
  2. Love to the death, both swains bloom of the youth Veronese,
  3. This woo'd brother and that sue'd sister: so might the matter