Carmina
Catullus
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.
- Any Venus-gift stole she from every one.
- Never a woman could call herself so fondly beloved
- Truly as Lesbia mine has been beloved of myself.
- Never were Truth and Faith so firm in any one compact
- As on the part of me kept I my love to thyself.
- Now is my mind to a pass, my Lesbia, brought by thy treason,
- What may he (Gellius!) do that ever for mother and sister
- 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 Tethys
- Wash from his soul, nor yet Ocean, watery sire.