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;While to a thankless mind entrusted all of them perisht.Why, then, crucify self now with a furthering pain?Why not steady thy thoughts and draw thee back from such purpose,Ceasing wretched to be maugrè the will of the Gods?Difficult 'tis indeed long Love to depose of a sudden,Difficult 'tis, yet do e'en as thou deem to be best.This be thy safe-guard sole; this conquest needs to be conquered;This thou must do, thus act, whether thou cannot or can.If an ye have (0 Gods!) aught ruth, or if you for any Bring at the moment of death latest assistance to man,Look upon me (poor me!) and, should I be cleanly of living,Out of my life deign pluck this my so pestilent plague,Which as a lethargy o'er mine inmost vitals a-creeping,Hath from my bosom expelled all of what joyance it joyed,Now will I crave no more she love me e'en as I love her,Nor (impossible chance!) ever she prove herself chaste:Would I were only healed and shed this fulsome disorder.Oh Gods, grant me this boon unto my piety due!
TO RUFUS, THE TRAITOR FRIEND.Rufus, trusted as friend by me, so fruitlessly, vainly, (Vainly? nay to my bane and at a ruinous price!)Hast thou cajoled me thus, and enfiring innermost vitals,Ravished the whole of our good own'd by wretchedest me?Ravished; (alas and alas!) of our life thou cruellest cruelVenom, (alas and alas!) plague of our friendship and pest.Yet must I now lament that lips so pure of the purest Damsel, thy slaver foul soiled with filthiest kiss.But ne'er hope to escape scot free; for thee shall all agesKnow, and what thing thou be, Fame, the old crone, shall declare.
OF GALLUS.Gallus hath brothers in pair, this owning most beautiful consort,While unto that is given also a beautiful son.Gallus is charming as man; for sweet loves ever conjoins he,So that the charming lad sleep wi' the charmer his lass.Gallus is foolish wight, nor self regards he as husband,When being uncle how nuncle to cuckold he show.
OF LESBIUS.Lesbius is beauty-man: why not? when Lesbia wills himBetter, Catullus, than thee backed by the whole of thy clan.Yet may that beauty-man sell all his clan with Catullus,An of three noted names greeting salute he can gain.
TO GELLIUS.How shall I (Gellius!) tell what way lips rosy as thine areCome to be bleached and blanched whiter than wintry snow,When as thou quittest the house a-morn, and at two after noon-tideRoused from quiet repose, wakest for length of the day?Certès sure am I not an Rumour rightfully whisper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .