Priapeia

Priaepia

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

  1. Walks on the sunny mound, where erstwhile showed to folk sad-eyed
  2. Fields by bones deformed a-glistening ghostly and ghastly;
  3. Yet for me never was aught, or thieves or ferals accustomed
  4. This foul spot to behaunt, a cause of such care and such trouble
  5. As are the hags who by spells and poisons upset and envenom
  6. Spirits and minds of mankind; these nowise bring to perdition
  7. Nor even hinder can I; no sooner doth wandering Luna
  8. Show her full face than bones and ill herbs they hasten to gather.
  9. I with these eyes espied in sables kilted a-pacing
  10. Canidia, nude-foot, long hair bestrewing her shoulders,
  11. Howling with Sagana th' elder (and paleness had rendered the couple
  12. Horrid of mien); anon both the ground with their talons
  13. Clawing, and black-fleeced lamb with teeth a-tearing to tatters