Priapeia
Priaepia
by divers poets in English verse and prose. Translated by Sir Richard Burton and Leonard C. Smithers
- Take what be his: this path hence leadeth straight to his ownings.
- This grove to thee devote I give, Priapus!
- Whose home be Lampsacus and holt, Priapus!
- For thee in cities worship most the shores
- Of Hellespont the richest oystery strand.
- Thou who with prickle affrightest men and passives with sickle!
- Of the secluded spot deign the few acres to guard;
- So may the veteran thieves ne'er force their way to thine orchards;
- Only come lad or lass lovely with longest of locks.
- I am not hewèd of the fragile elm
- Nor is this post supine with rigid vein
- Carved out of any wood thou please to take;
- But 'tis engendered by live cypress-tree
- Which fears nor hundred ages fully told
- Nor the decaying of long, drawn-out eld.
- Dread this (O evil one!) whoe'er thou be!
- For an thou injure with thy greedy hand
- The least of bunches by this vine-stock borne
- Shall spring (howe'er thou may oppose) for thee
- A fig-tree grafted from this cypress-stem.