Priapeia
Priaepia
by divers poets in English verse and prose. Translated by Sir Richard Burton and Leonard C. Smithers
- Bacchus often is wont with a moderate bunch to be sated,
- When the deep brim-full vats hardly the must shall contain;
- So when the threshing-floors all fail for the plentiful harvest
- Ceres' ringlets to crown only one garland we bring.
- Thou too, a minor god, example borrow from the major--
- Though few apples we give, take thou our gift in good part.
- E, D, an thou write, conjoining the two with a hyphen,
- What middle D would bisect this shall be painted to view.
- Who could believe my words? 'Tis shame to confess that the sickle
- Yon thief-folk have availed e'en from my fingers to thieve.
- Nor doth its loss so much affect my mind or dishonour
- As the just, natural dread other my weapons to lose,