All are in dread thereof; nor wonder this, for 'tis evilBeastie, nor damsel fair ever thereto shall succumb.So do thou either kill that cruel pest o' their noses,Or at their reason of flight blatantly wondering cease.
ON WOMAN'S INCONSTANCY.Never, my woman oft says, with any of men will she mate be,Save wi' my own very self, ask her though Jupiter deign!Says she: but womanly words that are spoken to desireful loverOught to be written on wind or upon water that runs.
TO VERRO.An of a goat-stink damned from armpits fusty one suffer,Or if a crippling gout worthily any one rack,'Tis that rival o' thine who lief in loves of you meddles,And, by a wondrous fate, gains him the twain of such ills.For that, oft as he . . . , so oft that penance be two-fold;Stifles her stench of goat, he too is kilt by his gout.
TO LESBIA THE FALSE.Wont thou to vaunt whilòme of, knowing only Catullus(Lesbia!) nor to prefer Jupiter's self to myself.Then, too, I loved thee well, not as vulgar wretch his mistressBut as a father his sons loves and his sons by the law.Now have I learnt thee aright; wherefor though burn I the hotter,Lighter and viler by far thou unto me hast become. "How can this be?" dost ask: 'tis that such injury everForces the hotter to love, also the less well to will.
OF AN INGRATE.Cease thou of any to hope desirèd boon of well-willing,Or deem any shall prove pious and true to his dues.Waxes the world ingrate, no deed benevolent profits, Nay full oft it irks even offending the more:Such is my case whom none maltreats more grievously bitter,Than does the man that me held one and only to friend.
OF GELLIUS.Wont was Gellius hear his uncle rich in reproaches, When any ventured aught wanton in word or in deed.Lest to him chance such befall, his uncle's consort seduced he,And of his uncle himself fashioned an Harpocrates.What so he willed did he; and nowdays albe his uncle. . . .he, no word ever that uncle shall speak.
So in devotion to thee lost is the duty self due,Nor can I will thee well if best of women thou prove thee,Nor can I cease to love, do thou what doings thou wilt.
IN SELF-GRATULATION.If to remember deeds whilòme well done be a pleasure Meet for a man who deems all of his dealings be just,Nor Holy Faith ever broke nor in whatever his compactSanction of Gods abused better to swindle mankind,Much there remains for thee during length of living, Catullus,Out of that Love ingrate further to solace thy soul; For whatever of good can mortal declare of anotherOr can avail he do, such thou hast said and hast done;