Priapeia

Priaepia

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

  1. Nor do I bear belly-tools fitted for kitchen or fire:
  2. Nay; my perpetual yard of cypress perishing never
  3. Rises for ever and aye worthy the Phidian hand.
  4. You, O ye neighbours, I warn to adore me, holy Priapus,
  5. 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.