Priapeia

Priaepia

by divers poets in English verse and prose. Translated by Sir Richard Burton and Leonard C. Smithers

  1. Hadst thou as many of apples as offers of verses (Priapus!),
  2. Richer than Alcinous ancient of days were thy lot.
  1. Why, cultivator, vainly moan to me
  2. That I, a fruitful apple-tree whilom,
  3. For two autumnal seasons barren stand?
  4. Weighs me not down (as deemest thou) old age
  5. Nor am I floggèd by the hailstone hard,
  6. Nor yet my burgeon-gems a-budding new
  7. Are burnt by rigours of a wintry spring:
  8. Neither the winds nor rains nor yet the droughts
  9. Caused just complaining to the apple-tree;
  10. Nor me the starling or the robber 'Daw
  11. Or crow as crone old-grown or watery goose
  12. Or thirsty raven e'er endamagèd.
  13. No! but from bearing scribblers' rubbish verse
  14. On labouring branches comes mine every woe.
  1. Sleep, O ye watchdogs! safe, while aid in guarding the garden
  2. Lover his leman beloved, Seirius Erigone.