So willed various Gods, lest sole 'mid lights of the HeavensShould Ariadne's crown taken from temples of herGlitter in gold, but we not less shine fulgent in splendour,We the consecrate spoils shed by a blond-hued head,Even as weeping-wet sought I the fanes of Celestials Placed me the Goddess a new light amid star-lights of old:For with Virgo in touch and joining the furious Lion'sRadiance with Callisto, maid of Lyc´on beloved, Wind I still to the west, conducting tardy Boötes,Who unwilling and slow must into Ocean merge. Yet though press me o'night the pacing footprints of Godheads,Tethys, hoary of hair, ever regains me by day. (Lend me thy leave to speak such words, Rhamnusian Virgin,Verities like unto these never in fear will I veil; Albeit every star asperse me with enemy's censure,Secrets in soothfast heart hoarded perforce I reveal.) Nowise gladdens me so this state as absence torments me,Absence doomëd for aye ta'en fro' my mistress's head,Where I was wont (though she such cares unknew in her girlhood)Many a thousand scents, Syrian unguents, to sip. Now do you pair conjoined by the longed-for light of the torches,Earlier yield not selves unto unanimous wills Nor wi' the dresses doft your barèd nipples encounter,Ere shall yon onyx-vase pour me libations glad,Onyx yours, ye that seek only rights of virtuous bed-rite.But who yieldeth herself unto advowtry impure,Ah! may her loathed gifts in light dust uselessly soak,For of unworthy sprite never a gift I desire.Rather, 0 new-mated brides, be concord aye your companion,Ever let constant love dwell in the dwellings of you. Yet when thou sightest, 0 Queen, the Constellations, I pray thee,Every festal day Venus the Goddess appease;Nor of thy unguent-gifts allow myself to be lacking,Nay, do thou rather add largeliest increase to boons. Would but the stars down fall! Could I of my Queen be the hair-lock,Neighbour to Hydrochois e'en let Oarion shine.
DIALOGUE CONCERNING CATULLUS AT A HARLOT'S DOOR.
Quintus.0 to the gentle spouse right dear, right dear to his parent,Hail, and with increase fair Jupiter lend thee his aid,Door, 'tis said wast fain kind service render to BalbusErst while, long as the house by her old owner was held;Yet wast rumoured again to serve a purpose malignant,After the elder was stretched, thou being oped for a bride.Come, then, tell us the why in thee such change be reportedThat to thy lord hast abjured faithfulness owed of old?Door.Never (so chance I to please Caeci1ius owning me now-a-days!)Is it my own default, how so they say it be mine;Nor can any declare aught sin by me was committed.Yet it is so declared (Quintus!) by fable of folk;Who, whenever they find things done no better than should be,Come to me outcrying all:—"Door, the default is thine own!"Quintus.This be never enough for thee one-worded to utter,But in such way to deal, each and all sense it and see.Door.What shall I do? None asks, while nobody troubles to know.Quintus.Willing are we? unto us stay not thy saying to say.Door.First let me note that the maid to us committed (assert they)Was but a fraud: her mate never a touch of her had,But that a father durst dishonour the bed of his first-born,Folk all swear, and the house hapless with incest bewray;Or that his impious mind was blunt with fiery passionOr that his impotent son sprang from incapable seed.And to be sought was one with nerve more nervous endowèd,Who could better avail zone of the virgin to loose.Quintus.'Sooth, of egregious sire for piety wondrous, thou tellest,Who in the heart of his son lief was . . . !Yet professed herself not only this to be knowing, Brixia-town that lies under the Cycnean cliff,Traversed by Mella-stream's soft-flowing yellow-hued current,Brixia, Vérona's mother, I love for my home.Door.Eke of Posthumius' loves and Cornelius too there be tattle,With whom dared the dame evil advowtry commit.Quintus.Here might somebody ask :—" How, Door, hast mastered such matter?Thou that canst never avail threshold of owner to quit,Neither canst listen to folk since here fast fixt to the side-postsOnly one office thou hast, shutting or opening the house."Door.Oft have I heard our dame in furtive murmurs o'er telling,When with her handmaids alone, these her flagitious deeds,Citing fore-cited names for that she never could fancyEver a Door was endow'd either with earlet or tongue.Further she noted a wight whose name in public to mentionNill I, lest he upraise eyebrows of carroty hue;Long is the loon and large the law-suit brought they against himTouching a child-bed false, claim of a belly that lied.To MANIUS ON VARIOUS MATTERS.When to me sore opprest by bitter chance of misfortuneThis thy letter thou send'st written wi' blotting of tears,