Itches and wakes thro' the nights, working wi' tunic bedoffed?What may he do who nills his uncle ever be husband?Wottest thou how much he ventures of sacrilege-sin?Ventures he (0 Gellius!) what ne'er can ultimate TethysWash from his soul, nor yet Ocean, watery sire.For that of sin there's naught wherewith this sin can exceed he. . . . his head on himself.
ON GELLIUS.Gellius is lean: Why not? For him so easy a motherLives, and a sister so boon, bonny and buxom to boot,Uncle so kindly good and all things full of his lady-Cousins, how can he cease leanest of lankies to be?Albeit, touch he naught save that whose touch is a scandal,Soon shall thou find wherefor he be as lean as thou like.
ON GELLIUS.Born be a Magus, got by Gellius out of his mother(Marriage nefand!) who shall Persian augury learn.Needs it a Magus begot of son upon mother who bare him,If that impious faith, Persian religion be fact,So may their issue adore busy gods with recognised versesMelting in altar-flame fatness contained by the caul.
TO GELLIUS.Not for due cause I hoped to find thee (Gellius!) faithfulIn this saddest our love, love that is lost and forlore,Or fro' my wotting thee well or ever believing thee constant,Or that thy mind could reject villany ever so vile,But that because was she to thyself nor mother nor sister,This same damsel whose Love me in its greatness devoured.Yet though I had been joined wi' thee by amplest of usance,