Priapeia

Priaepia

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

  1. Show her full face than bones and ill herbs they hasten to gather.
  2. I with these eyes espied in sables kilted a-pacing
  3. Canidia, nude-foot, long hair bestrewing her shoulders,
  4. Howling with Sagana th' elder (and paleness had rendered the couple
  5. Horrid of mien); anon both the ground with their talons
  6. Clawing, and black-fleeced lamb with teeth a-tearing to tatters
  7. Either began; its gore in a ditch was spillèd, so thereby
  8. Ghosts might be raised from graves and answers give to their queries.
  9. Images too there were, this of wool, that of wax, and the greater
  10. Woollen that seemed with pains about to punish the lesser
  11. Suppliant standing in wax as one foredoomèd to perish
  12. After a servile way. One calls on Hecate, th' other
  13. Summons fell Tisiphone; then mightest thou look upon serpents
  14. Wriggling with Hell-sluts around, whilst Luna ruddily blushing
  15. Hid her behind the tall tombs lest she these doings might witness.
  16. Now if I false in aught be, my head bewrayed with white mutings
  17. Dropt by the crows and hither repair to bepiss and conskite me
  18. Julius, frail Pediatia and eke Voranus the robber.
  19. Why should I mention all and each? how chattered alternate
  20. With Sagana these ghosts, now sad-toned then in sharp treble.