Priapeia

Priaepia

by divers poets in English verse and prose. Translated by Sir Richard Burton and Leonard C. Smithers

  1. Or Beets of bigness by no garden borne,
  2. Or Scallion ever shooting at the head,
  3. Ne'er deem I any for the seed-full Gourd,
  4. Basil or Cucumbers aground bestrown,
  5. Come to my garth; or sessile Lettuces;
  6. Or that one nightly lustful Rockets rob,
  7. The Mint strong-smelling and the healthful Rue,
  8. The fibrous Garlic and the Onion sharp--
  9. Which all though safely fenced and hedged by us
  10. Not less are cultured in the neighbouring garths.
  11. Yet, these abandoning, to what grounds I worked
  12. (Most villainous of thieves!), you're fain to flock.
  13. Doubtless for open penalty ye come
  14. And that attracts you wherewithal we threat.
  1. Ho thou, which hardly thy rapacious hand
  2. Canst from the garden in my charge contain,
  3. First shall this watchman, ever lustful loon,
  4. Entering and exiting alternate-wise
  5. Widen thy portal to its fullest stretch
  6. Then shall the couple guarding either flank,