Priapeia

Priaepia

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

  1. Erst to be hither borne from narrow cellules ejected
  2. Corpses by fellow-slaves were coffined in biers of the vilest.
  3. This was the common yard to ensepulchre wretched plebeians,
  4. Pantolabus the buffoon and Nomentanus the rake-hell.
  5. Frontage a thousand feet, three hundred fieldwards, a land mark
  6. Here assigned, lest the ground monumental follow the heir folk.
  7. Now 'tis salubrious made: one fives in th' Esquiliae, also
  8. Walks on the sunny mound, where erstwhile showed to folk sad-eyed
  9. Fields by bones deformed a-glistening ghostly and ghastly;
  10. Yet for me never was aught, or thieves or ferals accustomed
  11. This foul spot to behaunt, a cause of such care and such trouble
  12. As are the hags who by spells and poisons upset and envenom
  13. Spirits and minds of mankind; these nowise bring to perdition
  14. Nor even hinder can I; no sooner doth wandering Luna
  15. Show her full face than bones and ill herbs they hasten to gather.
  16. I with these eyes espied in sables kilted a-pacing
  17. Canidia, nude-foot, long hair bestrewing her shoulders,
  18. Howling with Sagana th' elder (and paleness had rendered the couple
  19. Horrid of mien); anon both the ground with their talons
  20. Clawing, and black-fleeced lamb with teeth a-tearing to tatters