Carmina

If ever something happens that you long for and want and is unhoped for, this is genuinely pleasing to the soul. And thus is it pleasing to us and far dearer than gold, that you have returned, Lesbia, to longing me, you have returned to me, longing and without hope, you brought yourself back to us. O day of whiter note! Who lives more happily than I alone, or who can name things greater to be wished for in this life?

If, Cominius, by the judgment of the people your white hair made filthy by unclean practices should perish, to be sure I do not doubt that first your tongue, hostile to goodness, cut out, will be given to the greedy vulture, the crow will gorge your eyes, gouged out, down his black throat, the dogs will gorge down your entrails, the wolves your remaining members.

My life, you declare to me that this love of ours will be an everlasting joy between us. Great Gods! grant that she may promise truly, and say this in sincerity and from her soul, and that through all our lives we may be allowed to prolong together this bond of holy friendship.

Aufilena, good professional girls are always praised: they receive their pay for what they intend to do. Because you promised me—which was a lie—you are unprofessional; because you do not give and often bring [home the pay], you do wrong. Either to do it is honest, or not to have promised was chaste, Aufilena: but to steal what was given by deceiving, proves you worse than the greedy whore who prostitutes herself with her whole body.