Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Light of my life who alive living to me can endear.
  1. Wonder not blatantly why no woman shall ever be willing
  2. (Rufus!) her tender thigh under thyself to bestow,
  3. Not an thou tempt her full by bribes of the rarest garments,
  4. Or by the dear delights gems the pellucidest deal.
  5. Harms thee an ugly tale wherein of thee is recorded
  6. Horrible stench of the goat under thine arm-pits be lodged.
  7. All are in dread thereof; nor wonder this, for 'tis evil
  8. Beastie, nor damsel fair ever thereto shall succumb.
  9. So do thou either kill that cruel pest o' their noses,
  10. Or at their reason of flight blatantly wondering cease.
  1. Never, my woman oft says, with any of men will she mate be,
  2. Save wi' my own very self, ask her though Jupiter deign!
  3. Says she: but womanly words that are spoken to desireful lover
  4. Ought to be written on wind or upon water that runs.
  1. An of a goat-stink damned from armpits fusty one suffer,
  2. Or if a crippling gout worthily any one rack,
  3. 'Tis that rival o' thine who lief in loves of you meddles,
  4. And, by a wondrous fate, gains him the twain of such ills.
  5. For that, oft as he . . . , so oft that penance be two-fold;