Carmina

For no other reason, Gellius, did I hope for your faith to me in this our unhappy, this our desperate love, (not because I knew you well or thought you constant or able to restrain your mind from a shameless act), but because I saw this girl whose love kept knawing at me was neither your mother nor your sister. And although I have had many mutual dealings with you, I did not believe this case to be enough cause for you. You considered it enough: so great is your joy in every kind of wrongdoing in which there is some vice.

Lesbia forever speaks ill of me nor is ever silent about me: I'll be damned if Lesbia doesn't love me! By what sign? because mine are just the same: I exsecrate her constantly, yet may I be damned if I do not love her in sober truth.

I am not over anxious, Caesar, to please you greatly, or to know whether you are a white or a black man.

Mentula fornicates. Of course a mentule fornicates! This is what they say—the pot itself gathers the vegetables.