Then be thou e'en at thy will surly and savage o' mood:Or, an thou love o'er-well those moneys, prithee no longerProve thee a pimp and withal surly and savage o' mood.
CONCERNING LESBIA.Canst thou credit that I could avail to revile my life-love,She who be dearer to me even than either my eyes?Ne'er could I, nor an I could, should I so losingly love her:But with Tappo thou dost design every monstrous deed.
ON MAMURRA.Mentula fain would ascend Pipléan mountain up-mounting:Pitch him the Muses down headlong wi' forklets a-hurled.
THE AUCTIONEER AND THE FAIR BOY.When with a pretty-faced boy we see one playing the Crier,What can we wot except longs he for selling the same?
TO LESBIA RECONCILED.An to one ever accrue any boon he lusted and longed forAny time after despair, grateful it comes to his soul.Thus 'tis grateful to us nor gold was ever so goodly,When thou restorest thyself (Lesbia!) to loving-most me,Self thou restorest unhoped, and after despair thou returnest.Oh the fair light of a Day noted with notabler white!Where lives a happier man than myself or—this being won me—Who shall e'er boast that his life brought him more coveted lot?
ON COMINIUS.If by the verdict o' folk thy hoary old age (0 Cominius!)Filthy with fulsomest lust ever be doomed to the death,Make I no manner of doubt but first thy tongue to the worthyEver a foe, cut out, ravening Vulture shall feed;Gulp shall the Crow's black gorge those eye-balls dug from their sockets,Guts of thee go to the dogs, all that remains to the wolves.
TO LESBIA ON HER VOW OF CONSTANCY.Gladsome to me, 0 my life, this love whose offer thou deignestBetween us twain lively and lusty to last soothfast.(Great Gods!) grant ye the boon that prove her promises loyal,Saying her say in truth spoken with spirit sincere;So be it lawful for us to protract through length of our life-tideMutual pact of our love, pledges of holy good will!
TO AUFILENA.Aufiléna! for aye good lasses are lauded as loyal:Price of themselves they accept when they intend to perform.All thou promised'st me in belying proves thee unfriendly,For never giving and oft taking is deed illy done.Either as honest to grant, or modest as never to promise, Aufiléna! were fair, but at the gifties to clutchFraudfully, viler seems than greed of greediest harlotWho with her every limb maketh a whore of herself.