Carmina

Catullus

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.

  1. The custom rose, some men to bear
  2. Litter thou boughtest ?" I to her
  3. To seem but richer, wealthier,
  4. Cry, "Nay, with me 'twas not so ill
  5. That, given the Province suffered, still
  6. Eight stiff-backed loons I could not buy.'
  7. (Withal none here nor there owned I
  8. Who broken leg of Couch outworn
  9. On nape of neck had ever borne!)
  10. Then she, as pathic piece became,
  11. "Prithee Catullus mine, those same
  12. Lend me, Serapis-wards I'd hie." ---
  13. "Easy, on no-wise, no," quoth I,
  14. "Whate'er was mine, I lately said
  15. Is some mistake, my camarade
  16. One Cinna-Gaius-bought the lot,
  17. But his or mine, it matters what?
  18. I use it freely as though bought,
  19. Yet thou, pert troubler, most absurd,
  20. None suffer'st speak an idle word."