Priapeia

Priaepia

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

  1. (Eke a Cilician) would this garden plunder;
  2. Yet in its vasty space, Fabullus, naught
  3. Save a Priapus stood in marble wrought
  4. So the Cilician, who with hand sans pelf
  5. Scornèd departing, stole Priapus' self.
  1. Carved me no rustic boor his artless sickle a-plying:
  2. Here of the bailiff thou see'st noble and notable work;
  3. For that the wealthiest swain who owns the lands Caërétan
  4. (Hilarus) holds these hills sloping in sunniest folds.
  5. See with my well-shaped face how seem I not to be wooden,
  6. Nor do I bear belly-tools fitted for kitchen or fire:
  7. Nay; my perpetual yard of cypress perishing never
  8. Rises for ever and aye worthy the Phidian hand.
  9. You, O ye neighbours, I warn to adore me, holy Priapus,