Carmina
Catullus
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.
- Light of my life who alive living to me can endear.
- Wonder not blatantly why no woman shall ever be willing
- (Rufus!) her tender thigh under thyself to bestow,
- Not an thou tempt her full by bribes of the rarest garments,
- Or by the dear delights gems the pellucidest deal.
- Harms thee an ugly tale wherein of thee is recorded
- Horrible stench of the goat under thine arm-pits be lodged.
- All are in dread thereof; nor wonder this, for 'tis evil
- Beastie, 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.
- 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 lover
- Ought to be written on wind or upon water that runs.
- 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;