Priapeia

Priaepia

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

  1. Is with her fornicator wont to come
  2. And save in every mode Philaenis tells
  3. Futtered, in furious lust her way she wends.
  1. One than a goose's marrow softer far,
  2. Comes hither stealing for its penalty's sake:
  3. Steal he as please him: I will see him not.
  1. This, with his snout aye alert to uproot the lilies a-blowing,
  2. Slain for thy victim 's the pig bred in the stye's tepid reek.
  3. But, an thy will be not to murther the herd, O Priapus,
  4. Grant of thy grace yon gate into the garden be shut.
  1. Thou, who lest manly mark thy glances meet,
  2. Hence fain avertest thee as suits the pure;
  3. No wonder 'twere if that to see thou fear'st
  4. Within thy vitals thou desire to feel.
  1. PEnelope's first syllable followed by firstling of DIdo
  2. Take, and of CAmus--the front also of REmus the head.
  3. Whatso thou makest of these unto me when caught in my orchard
  4. Thief thou shalt give, such pain shall for thy thieving atone.
  1. An I rustical seem to have spoken somewhat unlearned,
  2. Pardon me: apples I pluck, pluck I no matter of books;