TO CATO, DESCRIBING A "BLACK JOKER."O risible matter (Cato!) and jocose,Digne of thy hearing, of thy sneering digne.Laugh (Cato!) an thou love Catullus thine;The thing is risible, nay, too jocose.Erstwhile I came upon a lad who a lassWas . . . and (so please it Dion!) IPierced him with stiffest staff and did him die.

ON MAMURRA AND JULIUS CAESARRight well are paired these Cinaedes sans shameMamurra and Caesar, both of pathic fame.No wonder! Both are fouled with foulest blight,One urban being, Formian t'other wight,And deeply printed with indelible stain:Morbose is either, and the twin-like twainShare single Couchlet; peers in shallow lore,Nor this nor that for lechery hungers more,As rival wenchers who the maidens claimRight well are paired these Cinaedes sans shame.