Priapeia

Priaepia

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

  1. And to these acres twice seven show ye the highest respect.
  1. An thou would fain go filled thou mayest devour our Priapus;
  2. Even consume his yard--pure thou shalt ever remain.
  1. First a wild-fig-tree trunk was I, not useful as timber,
  2. When the mechanic in doubt anent making me stool or Priapus
  3. Chose me for being a god; so a god to the thieves and the birdies
  4. Direst of dreads I became, my right the robbers restraining,
  5. Eke with a ruddy pole from parts obscenely projected,
  6. While th' importunate fowls affrights a reed on my head-poll
  7. Planted, and hinders their flock from 'lighting in newly made gardens.
  8. Erst to be hither borne from narrow cellules ejected
  9. Corpses by fellow-slaves were coffined in biers of the vilest.
  10. This was the common yard to ensepulchre wretched plebeians,
  11. Pantolabus the buffoon and Nomentanus the rake-hell.