Priapeia

Priaepia

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

  1. Clawing, and black-fleeced lamb with teeth a-tearing to tatters
  2. Either began; its gore in a ditch was spillèd, so thereby
  3. Ghosts might be raised from graves and answers give to their queries.
  4. Images too there were, this of wool, that of wax, and the greater
  5. Woollen that seemed with pains about to punish the lesser
  6. Suppliant standing in wax as one foredoomèd to perish
  7. After a servile way. One calls on Hecate, th' other
  8. Summons fell Tisiphone; then mightest thou look upon serpents
  9. Wriggling with Hell-sluts around, whilst Luna ruddily blushing
  10. Hid her behind the tall tombs lest she these doings might witness.
  11. Now if I false in aught be, my head bewrayed with white mutings