Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. For, nowise 'customed widower nights to lie
  2. Thou 'rt ever summoned by no silent bed
  3. With flow'r-wreaths fragrant and with Syrian oil,
  4. By mattress, bolsters, here, there, everywhere
  5. Deep-dinted, and by quaking, shaking couch
  6. All crepitation and mobility.
  7. Explain! none whoredoms (no!) shall close my lips.
  8. Why? such outfuttered flank thou ne'er wouldst show
  9. Had not some fulsome work by thee been wrought.
  10. Then what thou holdest, boon or bane be pleased
  11. Disclose! For thee and thy beloved fain would I
  12. Upraise to Heaven with my liveliest lay.