Priapeia
Priaepia
by divers poets in English verse and prose. Translated by Sir Richard Burton and Leonard C. Smithers
- This place, O youths, I protect, nor less this turf-builded cottage,
- Roofed with its osier-twigs and thatched with its bundles of sedges;
- I from the dried oak hewn and fashioned with rustical hatchet
- Guarding them year by year while more are they evermore thriving.
- For here be owners twain who greet and worship my Godship,
- He of the poor hut lord and his son, the pair of them peasants:
- This with assiduous toil aye works the thicketty herbage
- And the coarse water-grass to clear afar from my chapel:
- That with his open hand ever brings me offerings humble.
- Hung up in honour mine are flowery firstlings of spring-tide,
- Wreaths with their ears still soft the tender stalklets a-crowning;
- Violets pale are mine by side of the poppy-head pallid;
- With the dull yellow gourd and apples sweetest of savour;
- Lastly the blushing grape disposed in shade of the vine-tree.
- Anon mine altar (this same) with blood (but you will be silent!)
- Bearded kid and anon some horny-hoofed nanny shall sprinkle.
- Wherefore Priapus is bound to requite such honours by service,
- Doing his duty to guard both vineyard and garth of his lordling.
- Here then, O lads, reftain from ill-mannered picking and stealing;
- Rich be the neighbour-hind and negligent eke his Priapus;