Chapter 10

Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malleQuam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat.Dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.

Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle

Quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat.

Dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,

In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.

LXX.

On Woman's Inconstancy.

Never, my woman oft says, with any of men will she mate be,Save wi' my own very self, ask her though Jupiter deign!Says she: but womanly words that are spoken to desireful loverOught to be written on wind or upon water that runs.

Never, my woman oft says, with any of men will she mate be,

Save wi' my own very self, ask her though Jupiter deign!

Says she: but womanly words that are spoken to desireful lover

Ought to be written on wind or upon water that runs.

No one, saith my lady, would she rather wed than myself, not even if Jupiter's self crave her. Thus she saith! but what a woman tells an ardent amourist ought fitly to be graven on the breezes and in running waters.

LXXI.

Siquoi iure bono sacer alarum obstitit hircus,Aut siquem merito tarda podagra secat,Aemulus iste tuos, qui vostrum exercet amorem,Mirificost fato nactus utrumque malum,5Nam quotiens futuit, totiens ulciscitur ambos:Illam adfligit odore, ipse perit podagra.

Siquoi iure bono sacer alarum obstitit hircus,

Aut siquem merito tarda podagra secat,

Aemulus iste tuos, qui vostrum exercet amorem,

Mirificost fato nactus utrumque malum,

Nam quotiens futuit, totiens ulciscitur ambos:

Illam adfligit odore, ipse perit podagra.

LXXI.

To Verro.

An of a goat-stink damned from armpits fusty one suffer,Or if a crippling gout worthily any one rack,'Tis that rival o' thine who lief in loves of you meddles,And, by a wondrous fate, gains him the twain of such ills.5For that, oft as he ——, so oft that penance be two-fold;Stifles her stench of goat, he too is kilt by his gout.

An of a goat-stink damned from armpits fusty one suffer,

Or if a crippling gout worthily any one rack,

'Tis that rival o' thine who lief in loves of you meddles,

And, by a wondrous fate, gains him the twain of such ills.

For that, oft as he ——, so oft that penance be two-fold;

Stifles her stench of goat, he too is kilt by his gout.

If ever anyone was deservedly cursed with an atrocious goat-stench from armpits, or if limping gout did justly gnaw one, 'tis thy rival, who occupies himself with your love, and who has stumbled by the marvel of fate on both these ills. For as oft as he swives, so oft is he taken vengeance on by both; she he prostrates by his stink, he is slain by his gout.

LXXII.

Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.Dilexi tum te non tantum ut volgus amicam,Sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.5Nunc te cognovi: quare etsi inpensius uror,Multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.Qui potisest? inquis. quod amantem iniuria talisCogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.

Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,

Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.

Dilexi tum te non tantum ut volgus amicam,

Sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.

Nunc te cognovi: quare etsi inpensius uror,

Multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.

Qui potisest? inquis. quod amantem iniuria talis

Cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.

LXXII.

To Lesbia the False.

Wont thou to vaunt whilòme of knowing only Catullus(Lesbia!) nor to prefer Jupiter's self to myself.Then, too, I loved thee well, not as vulgar wretch his mistressBut as a father his sons loves and his sons by the law.5Now have I learnt thee aright; wherefor though burn I the hotter,Lighter and viler by far thou unto me hast become."How can this be?" dost ask: 'tis that such injury everForces the hotter to love, also the less well to will.

Wont thou to vaunt whilòme of knowing only Catullus

(Lesbia!) nor to prefer Jupiter's self to myself.

Then, too, I loved thee well, not as vulgar wretch his mistress

But as a father his sons loves and his sons by the law.

Now have I learnt thee aright; wherefor though burn I the hotter,

Lighter and viler by far thou unto me hast become.

"How can this be?" dost ask: 'tis that such injury ever

Forces the hotter to love, also the less well to will.

Once thou didst profess to know but Catullus, Lesbia, nor wouldst hold Jove before me. I loved thee then, not only as a churl his mistress, but as a father loves his own sons and sons-in-law. Now I do know thee: wherefore if more strongly I burn, thou art nevertheless to me far viler and of lighter thought. How may this be? thou askest. Because such wrongs drive a lover to greater passion, but to less wishes of welfare.

LXXIII.

Desine de quoquam quicquam bene velle mereriAut aliquem fieri posse putare pium.Omnia sunt ingrata, nihil fecisse benigneProdest, immo etiam taedet obestque magis5Vt mihi, quem nemo gravius nec acerbius urget,Quam modo qui me unum atque unicum amicum habuit.

Desine de quoquam quicquam bene velle mereri

Aut aliquem fieri posse putare pium.

Omnia sunt ingrata, nihil fecisse benigne

Prodest, immo etiam taedet obestque magis

Vt mihi, quem nemo gravius nec acerbius urget,

Quam modo qui me unum atque unicum amicum habuit.

LXXIII.

Of an Ingrate.

Cease thou of any to hope desirèd boon of well-willing,Or deem any shall prove pious and true to his dues.Waxes the world ingrate, no deed benevolent profits,Nay full oft it irks even offending the more:5Such is my case whom none maltreats more grievously bitter,Than does the man that me held one and only to friend.

Cease thou of any to hope desirèd boon of well-willing,

Or deem any shall prove pious and true to his dues.

Waxes the world ingrate, no deed benevolent profits,

Nay full oft it irks even offending the more:

Such is my case whom none maltreats more grievously bitter,

Than does the man that me held one and only to friend.

Cease thou to wish to merit well from anyone in aught, or to think any can become honourable. All are ingrate, naught benign doth avail to aught, but rather it doth irk and prove the greater ill: so with me, whom none doth o'erpress more heavily nor more bitterly than he who a little while ago held me his one and only friend.

LXXIIII.

Gellius audierat patruom obiurgare solere,Siquis delicias diceret aut faceret.Hoc ne ipsi accideret, patrui perdepsuit ipsamVxorem et patruom reddidit Harpocratem.5Quod voluit fecit: nam, quamvis inrumet ipsumNunc patruom, verbum non faciet patruos.

Gellius audierat patruom obiurgare solere,

Siquis delicias diceret aut faceret.

Hoc ne ipsi accideret, patrui perdepsuit ipsam

Vxorem et patruom reddidit Harpocratem.

Quod voluit fecit: nam, quamvis inrumet ipsum

Nunc patruom, verbum non faciet patruos.

LXXIIII.

Of Gellius.

Wont was Gellius hear his uncle rich in reproaches,When any ventured aught wanton in word or in deed.Lest to him chance such befall, his uncle's consort seduced he,And of his uncle himself fashioned an Harpocrates.5Whatso he willed did he; and nowdays albe his uncle—— he, no word ever that uncle shall speak.

Wont was Gellius hear his uncle rich in reproaches,

When any ventured aught wanton in word or in deed.

Lest to him chance such befall, his uncle's consort seduced he,

And of his uncle himself fashioned an Harpocrates.

Whatso he willed did he; and nowdays albe his uncle

—— he, no word ever that uncle shall speak.

Gellius had heard that his uncle was wont to be wroth, if any spake of or practised love-sportings. That this should not happen to him, he kneaded up his uncle's wife herself, and made of his uncle a god of silence. Whatever he wished, he did; for now, even if he irrumate his uncle's self, not a word will that uncle murmur.

LXXVII.

Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amico(Frustra? immo magno cum pretio atque malo),Sicine subrepsti mei, atque intestina perurensEi misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona?5Eripuisti, heu heu nostrae crudele venenumVitae, heu heu nostrae pestis amicitiae.Sed nunc id doleo, quod purae pura puellaeSavia conminxit spurca saliva tua.Verum id non inpune feres: nam te omnia saecla10Noscent, et qui sis fama loquetur anus.

Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amico

(Frustra? immo magno cum pretio atque malo),

Sicine subrepsti mei, atque intestina perurens

Ei misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona?

Eripuisti, heu heu nostrae crudele venenum

Vitae, heu heu nostrae pestis amicitiae.

Sed nunc id doleo, quod purae pura puellae

Savia conminxit spurca saliva tua.

Verum id non inpune feres: nam te omnia saecla

Noscent, et qui sis fama loquetur anus.

LXXVII.

To Rufus, the Traitor Friend.

Rufus, trusted as friend by me, so fruitlessly, vainly,(Vainly? nay to my bane and at a ruinous price!)Hast thou cajoled me thus, and enfiring innermost vitals,Ravished the whole of our good own'd by wretchedest me?5Ravished; (alas and alas!) of our life thou cruellest cruelVenom, (alas and alas!) plague of our friendship and pest.Yet must I now lament that lips so pure of the purestDamsel, thy slaver foul soilèd with filthiest kiss.But ne'er hope to escape scot free; for thee shall all ages10Know, and what thing thou be, Fame, the old crone, shall declare.

Rufus, trusted as friend by me, so fruitlessly, vainly,

(Vainly? nay to my bane and at a ruinous price!)

Hast thou cajoled me thus, and enfiring innermost vitals,

Ravished the whole of our good own'd by wretchedest me?

Ravished; (alas and alas!) of our life thou cruellest cruel

Venom, (alas and alas!) plague of our friendship and pest.

Yet must I now lament that lips so pure of the purest

Damsel, thy slaver foul soilèd with filthiest kiss.

But ne'er hope to escape scot free; for thee shall all ages

Know, and what thing thou be, Fame, the old crone, shall declare.

O Rufus, credited by me as a friend, wrongly and for naught, (wrongly? nay, at an ill and grievous price) hast thou thus stolen upon me, and a-burningmy innermost bowels, snatched from wretched me all our good? Thou hast snatched it, alas, alas, thou cruel venom of our life! alas, alas, thou plague of our amity. But now 'tis grief, that thy swinish slaver has soiled the pure love-kisses of our pure girl. But in truth thou shalt not come off with impunity; for every age shall know thee, and Fame the aged, shall denounce what thou art.

LXXVIII.

Gallus habet fratres, quorumst lepidissima coniunxAlterius, lepidus filius alterius.Gallus homost bellus: nam dulces iungit amores,Cum puero ut bello bella puella cubet.5Gallus homost stultus nec se videt esse maritum,Qui patruos patrui monstret adulterium.

Gallus habet fratres, quorumst lepidissima coniunx

Alterius, lepidus filius alterius.

Gallus homost bellus: nam dulces iungit amores,

Cum puero ut bello bella puella cubet.

Gallus homost stultus nec se videt esse maritum,

Qui patruos patrui monstret adulterium.

LXXVIII.

Of Gallus.

Gallus hath brothers in pair, this owning most beautiful consort,While unto that is given also a beautiful son.Gallus is charming as man; for sweet loves ever conjoins he,So that the charming lad sleep wi' the charmer his lass.5Gallus is foolish wight, nor self regards he as husband,When being uncle how nuncle to cuckold he show.

Gallus hath brothers in pair, this owning most beautiful consort,

While unto that is given also a beautiful son.

Gallus is charming as man; for sweet loves ever conjoins he,

So that the charming lad sleep wi' the charmer his lass.

Gallus is foolish wight, nor self regards he as husband,

When being uncle how nuncle to cuckold he show.

Gallus has brothers, one of whom has a most charming spouse, the other a charming son. Gallus is a nice fellow! for pandering to their sweet loves, he beds together the nice lad and the nice aunt. Gallus is a foolish fellow not to see that he is himself a husband who as an uncle shews how to cuckold an uncle.

LXXVIIII.

Lesbius est pulcher: quid ni? quem Lesbia malitQuam te cum tota gente, Catulle, tua.Sed tamen hic pulcher vendat cum gente Catullum,Si tria notorum savia reppererit.

Lesbius est pulcher: quid ni? quem Lesbia malit

Quam te cum tota gente, Catulle, tua.

Sed tamen hic pulcher vendat cum gente Catullum,

Si tria notorum savia reppererit.

LXXVIIII.

Of Lesbius.

Lesbius is beauty-man: why not? when Lesbia wills himBetter, Catullus, than thee backed by the whole of thy clan.Yet may that beauty-man sell all his clan with Catullus,An of three noted names greeting salute he can gain.

Lesbius is beauty-man: why not? when Lesbia wills him

Better, Catullus, than thee backed by the whole of thy clan.

Yet may that beauty-man sell all his clan with Catullus,

An of three noted names greeting salute he can gain.

Lesbius is handsome: why not so? when Lesbia prefers him to thee, Catullus, and to thy whole tribe. Yet this handsome one may sell Catullus and his tribe if from three men of note he can gain kisses of salute.

LXXX.

Quid dicam, Gelli, quare rosea ista labellaHiberna fiant candidiora nive,Mane domo cum exis et cum te octava quieteE molli longo suscitat hora die?5Nescioquid certest: an vere fama susurratGrandia te medii tenta vorare viri?Sic certest: clamant Victoris rupta miselliIlia, et emulso labra notata sero.

Quid dicam, Gelli, quare rosea ista labella

Hiberna fiant candidiora nive,

Mane domo cum exis et cum te octava quiete

E molli longo suscitat hora die?

Nescioquid certest: an vere fama susurrat

Grandia te medii tenta vorare viri?

Sic certest: clamant Victoris rupta miselli

Ilia, et emulso labra notata sero.

LXXX.

To Gellius.

How shall I (Gellius!) tell what way lips rosy as thine areCome to be bleached and blanched whiter than wintry snow,Whenas thou quittest the house a-morn, and at two after noon-tideRousèd from quiet repose, wakest for length of the day?5Certès sure am I not an Rumour rightfully whisper* * * ** * * ** * * *

How shall I (Gellius!) tell what way lips rosy as thine are

Come to be bleached and blanched whiter than wintry snow,

Whenas thou quittest the house a-morn, and at two after noon-tide

Rousèd from quiet repose, wakest for length of the day?

Certès sure am I not an Rumour rightfully whisper

* * * *

What shall I say, Gellius, wherefore those lips, erstwhile rosy-red, have become whiter than wintery snow, thou leaving home at morn and when the noontide hour arouses thee from soothing slumberto face the longsome day? I know not forsure! but is Rumour gone astray with her whisper that thou devourest the well-grown tenseness of a man's middle? So forsure it must be! the ruptured guts of wretched Virro cry it aloud, and thy lips marked with lately-drainedσεμενpublish the fact.

LXXXI.

Nemone in tanto potuit populo esse, Iuventi,Bellus homo, quem tu diligere inciperes,Praeterquam iste tuus moribunda a sede PisauriHospes inaurata pallidior statua,5Qui tibi nunc cordist, quem tu praeponere nobisAudes, et nescis quod facinus facias.

Nemone in tanto potuit populo esse, Iuventi,

Bellus homo, quem tu diligere inciperes,

Praeterquam iste tuus moribunda a sede Pisauri

Hospes inaurata pallidior statua,

Qui tibi nunc cordist, quem tu praeponere nobis

Audes, et nescis quod facinus facias.

LXXXI.

To Juventius.

Could there never be found in folk so thronging (Juventius!)Any one charming thee whom thou couldst fancy to love,Save and except that host from deadliest site of Pisaurum,Wight than a statue gilt wanner and yellower-hued,5Whom to thy heart thou takest and whom thou darest before usChoose? But villain what deed doest thou little canst wot!

Could there never be found in folk so thronging (Juventius!)

Any one charming thee whom thou couldst fancy to love,

Save and except that host from deadliest site of Pisaurum,

Wight than a statue gilt wanner and yellower-hued,

Whom to thy heart thou takest and whom thou darest before us

Choose? But villain what deed doest thou little canst wot!

Could there be no one in so great a crowd, Juventius, no gallant whom thou couldst fall to admiring, beyond him, the guest of thy hearth from moribund Pisaurum, wanner than a gilded statue? Who now is in thine heart, whom thou darest to place above us, and knowest not what crime thou dost commit.

LXXXII.

Quinti, si tibi vis oculos debere CatullumAut aliud siquid carius est oculis,Eripere ei noli, multo quod carius illiEst oculis seu quid carius est oculis.

Quinti, si tibi vis oculos debere Catullum

Aut aliud siquid carius est oculis,

Eripere ei noli, multo quod carius illi

Est oculis seu quid carius est oculis.

LXXXII.

To Quintius.

Quintius! an thou wish that Catullus should owe thee his eyesOr aught further if aught dearer can be than his eyes,Thou wilt not ravish from him what deems he dearer and nearerE'en than his eyes if aught dearer there be than his eyes.

Quintius! an thou wish that Catullus should owe thee his eyes

Or aught further if aught dearer can be than his eyes,

Thou wilt not ravish from him what deems he dearer and nearer

E'en than his eyes if aught dearer there be than his eyes.

Quintius, if thou dost wish Catullus to owe his eyes to thee, or aught, if such may be, dearer than his eyes, be unwilling to snatch from him what is much dearer to him than his eyes, or than aught which itself may be dearer to him than his eyes.

LXXXIII.

Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:Haec illi fatuo maxima laetitiast.Mule, nihil sentis. si nostri oblita taceret,Sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,5Non solum meminit, sed quae multo acrior est resIratast. Hoc est, uritur et coquitur.

Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:

Haec illi fatuo maxima laetitiast.

Mule, nihil sentis. si nostri oblita taceret,

Sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,

Non solum meminit, sed quae multo acrior est res

Iratast. Hoc est, uritur et coquitur.

LXXXIII.

Of Lesbia's Husband.

Lesbia heaps upon me foul words her mate being present;Which to that simple soul causes the fullest delight.Mule! naught sensest thou: did she forget us in silence,Whole she had been; but now whatso she rails and she snarls,5Not only dwells in her thought, but worse and even more risky,Wrathful she bides. Which means, she is afire and she fumes.

Lesbia heaps upon me foul words her mate being present;

Which to that simple soul causes the fullest delight.

Mule! naught sensest thou: did she forget us in silence,

Whole she had been; but now whatso she rails and she snarls,

Not only dwells in her thought, but worse and even more risky,

Wrathful she bides. Which means, she is afire and she fumes.

Lesbia in her lord's presence says the utmost ill about me: this gives the greatest pleasure to that ninny. Ass, thou hast no sense! if through forgetfulness she were silent about us, it would be well: now that she snarls and scolds, not only does she remember, but what is a far bitterer thing, she is enraged. That is, she inflames herself and ripens her passion.

LXXXIIII.

Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda velletDicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias,Et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum,Cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias.5Credo, sic mater, sic Liber avonculus eius,Sic maternus avos dixerat atque avia.Hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures:Audibant eadem haec leniter et leviter,Nec sibi postilla metuebant talia verba,10Cum subito adfertur nuntius horribilis,Ionios fluctus, postquam illuc Arrius isset,Iam non Ionios esse, sed Hionios.

Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda vellet

Dicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias,

Et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum,

Cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias.

Credo, sic mater, sic Liber avonculus eius,

Sic maternus avos dixerat atque avia.

Hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures:

Audibant eadem haec leniter et leviter,

Nec sibi postilla metuebant talia verba,

Cum subito adfertur nuntius horribilis,

Ionios fluctus, postquam illuc Arrius isset,

Iam non Ionios esse, sed Hionios.

LXXXIIII.

On Arrius, a Roman 'Arry.

Wont is Arrius say "Chommodious" whenas "commodious"Means he, and "Insidious" aspirate "Hinsidious,"What time flattering self he speaks with marvellous purity,Clamouring "Hinsidious" loudly as ever he can.5Deem I thus did his dame and thus-wise Liber his uncleSpeak, and on spindle-side grandsire and grandmother too.Restful reposed all ears when he was sent into Syria,Hearing the self-same words softly and smoothly pronouncèd,Nor any feared to hear such harshness uttered thereafter,10Whenas a sudden came message of horrible news,Namely th' Ionian waves when Arrius thither had wended,Were "Ionian" no more—they had "Hionian" become.

Wont is Arrius say "Chommodious" whenas "commodious"

Means he, and "Insidious" aspirate "Hinsidious,"

What time flattering self he speaks with marvellous purity,

Clamouring "Hinsidious" loudly as ever he can.

Deem I thus did his dame and thus-wise Liber his uncle

Speak, and on spindle-side grandsire and grandmother too.

Restful reposed all ears when he was sent into Syria,

Hearing the self-same words softly and smoothly pronouncèd,

Nor any feared to hear such harshness uttered thereafter,

Whenas a sudden came message of horrible news,

Namely th' Ionian waves when Arrius thither had wended,

Were "Ionian" no more—they had "Hionian" become.

Chommodiousdid Arrius say, whenever he had need to say commodious, and for insidioushinsidious, and felt confident he spoke with accent wondrous fine, when aspiratinghinsidiousto the full of his lungs. I understand that his mother, his uncle Liber, his maternal grand-parents all spoke thus. He being sent into Syria, everyone's ears were rested, hearing these words spoken smoothly and slightly, nor after that did folk fear such words from him, when on a sudden is brought the nauseous news that th' Ionian waves, after Arrius' arrival thither, no longer are Ionian hight, but are now theHionian Hocean.

LXXXV.

Odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris.Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.

Odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris.

Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.

LXXXV.

How the Poet Loves.

Hate I, and love I. Haps thou'lt ask me wherefore I do so.Wot I not, yet so I do feeling a torture of pain.

Hate I, and love I. Haps thou'lt ask me wherefore I do so.

Wot I not, yet so I do feeling a torture of pain.

I hate and I love. Wherefore do I so, peradventure thou askest. I know not, but I feel it to be thus and I suffer.

LXXXVI.

Quintia formosast multis, mihi candida, longa,Rectast. haec ego sic singula confiteor,Totum illud formosa nego: nam nulla venustas,Nulla in tam magnost corpore mica salis.5Lesbia formosast, quae cum pulcherrima totast,Tum omnibus una omnes surripuit Veneres.

Quintia formosast multis, mihi candida, longa,

Rectast. haec ego sic singula confiteor,

Totum illud formosa nego: nam nulla venustas,

Nulla in tam magnost corpore mica salis.

Lesbia formosast, quae cum pulcherrima totast,

Tum omnibus una omnes surripuit Veneres.

LXXXVI.

Of Quintia.

Quintia beautiful seems to the crowd; to me, fair, and tall,Straight; and merits as these readily thus I confess,But that she is beauteous all I deny, for nothing of lovesome,Never a grain of salt, shows in her person so large.5Lesbia beautiful seems, and when all over she's fairest,Any Venus-gift stole she from every one.

Quintia beautiful seems to the crowd; to me, fair, and tall,

Straight; and merits as these readily thus I confess,

But that she is beauteous all I deny, for nothing of lovesome,

Never a grain of salt, shows in her person so large.

Lesbia beautiful seems, and when all over she's fairest,

Any Venus-gift stole she from every one.

Quintia is lovely to many; to me she is fair, tall, and shapely. Each of these qualities I grant. But that all these make loveliness I deny: for nothing of beauty nor scintilla of sprightliness is in her body so massive. Lesbia is lovely, for whilst the whole of her is most beautiful, she has stolen for herself every love-charm from all her sex.

LXXXVII.

Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatamVere, quantum a me Lesbia amata mea's.Nulla fides ullo fuit umquam foedere tanta,Quanta in amore tuo ex parte reperta meast.LXXVNunc est mens diducta tua, mea Lesbia, culpa,Atque ita se officio perdidit ipsa suo,Vt iam nec bene velle queat tibi, si optima fias,Nec desistere amare, omnia si facias.

Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatam

Vere, quantum a me Lesbia amata mea's.

Nulla fides ullo fuit umquam foedere tanta,

Quanta in amore tuo ex parte reperta meast.

LXXV

Nunc est mens diducta tua, mea Lesbia, culpa,

Atque ita se officio perdidit ipsa suo,

Vt iam nec bene velle queat tibi, si optima fias,

Nec desistere amare, omnia si facias.

LXXXVII.

To Lesbia.

Never a woman could call herself so fondly belovèdTruly as Lesbia mine has been beloved of myself.Never were Truth and Faith so firm in any one compactAs on the part of me kept I my love to thyself.LXXVNow is my mind to a pass, my Lesbia, brought by thy treason,So in devotion to thee lost is the duty self due,Nor can I will thee well if best of women thou prove thee,Nor can I cease to love, do thou what doings thou wilt.

Never a woman could call herself so fondly belovèd

Truly as Lesbia mine has been beloved of myself.

Never were Truth and Faith so firm in any one compact

As on the part of me kept I my love to thyself.

LXXV

Now is my mind to a pass, my Lesbia, brought by thy treason,

So in devotion to thee lost is the duty self due,

Nor can I will thee well if best of women thou prove thee,

Nor can I cease to love, do thou what doings thou wilt.

No woman can say with truth that she has been loved as much as thou, Lesbia, hast been loved by me: no love-troth was ever so greatly observed as in love of thee on my part has been found.

Now is my mind so led apart, my Lesbia, by thy fault, and has so lost itself by its very worship, thatnow it can not wish well to thee, wert thou to become most perfect, nor cease to love thee, do what thou wilt!

LXXVI.

Siqua recordanti benefacta priora voluptasEst homini, cum se cogitat esse pium,Nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere in ulloDivom ad fallendos numine abusum homines,5Multa parata manent in longa aetate, Catulle,Ex hoc ingrato gaudia amore tibi.Nam quaecumque homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possuntAut facere, haec a te dictaque factaque sunt;Omniaque ingratae perierunt credita menti.10Quare iam te cur amplius excrucies?Quin tu animo offirmas atque istinc teque reducisEt dis invitis desinis esse miser?Difficilest longum subito deponere amorem.Difficilest, verum hoc quae lubet efficias.15Vna salus haec est, hoc est tibi pervincendum:Hoc facias, sive id non pote sive pote.O di, si vestrumst misereri, aut si quibus umquamExtremam iam ipsa morte tulistis opem,Me miserum aspicite (et, si vitam puriter egi,20Eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi),Ei mihi surrepens imos ut torpor in artusExpulit ex omni pectore laetitias.Non iam illud quaero, contra me ut diligat illa,Aut, quod non potisest, esse pudica velit:25Ipse valere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum.O di, reddite mi hoc pro pietate mea.

Siqua recordanti benefacta priora voluptas

Est homini, cum se cogitat esse pium,

Nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere in ullo

Divom ad fallendos numine abusum homines,

Multa parata manent in longa aetate, Catulle,

Ex hoc ingrato gaudia amore tibi.

Nam quaecumque homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possunt

Aut facere, haec a te dictaque factaque sunt;

Omniaque ingratae perierunt credita menti.

Quare iam te cur amplius excrucies?

Quin tu animo offirmas atque istinc teque reducis

Et dis invitis desinis esse miser?

Difficilest longum subito deponere amorem.

Difficilest, verum hoc quae lubet efficias.

Vna salus haec est, hoc est tibi pervincendum:

Hoc facias, sive id non pote sive pote.

O di, si vestrumst misereri, aut si quibus umquam

Extremam iam ipsa morte tulistis opem,

Me miserum aspicite (et, si vitam puriter egi,

Eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi),

Ei mihi surrepens imos ut torpor in artus

Expulit ex omni pectore laetitias.

Non iam illud quaero, contra me ut diligat illa,

Aut, quod non potisest, esse pudica velit:

Ipse valere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum.

O di, reddite mi hoc pro pietate mea.

LXXVI.

In Self-Gratulation.

If to remember deeds whilòme well done be a pleasureMeet for a man who deems all of his dealings be just,Nor Holy Faith ever broke nor in whatever his compactSanction of Gods abused better to swindle mankind,5Much there remains for thee during length of living, Catullus,Out of that Love ingrate further to solace thy soul;For whatever of good can mortal declare of anotherOr can avail he do, such thou hast said and hast done;While to a thankless mind entrusted all of them perisht.10Why, then, crucify self now with a furthering pain?Why not steady thy thoughts and draw thee back from such purpose,Ceasing wretched to be maugrè the will of the Gods?Difficult 'tis indeed long Love to depose of a sudden,Difficult 'tis, yet do e'en as thou deem to be best.15This be thy safe-guard sole; this conquest needs to be conquered;This thou must do, thus act, whether thou cannot or can.If an ye have (O Gods!) aught ruth, or if you for anyBring at the moment of death latest assistance to man,Look upon me (poor me!) and, should I be cleanly of living,20Out of my life deign pluck this my so pestilent plague,Which as a lethargy o'er mine inmost vitals a-creeping,Hath from my bosom expelled all of what joyance it joyed,Now will I crave no more she love me e'en as I love her,Nor (impossible chance!) ever she prove herself chaste:25Would I were only healed and shed this fulsome disorder.Oh Gods, grant me this boon unto my piety due!

If to remember deeds whilòme well done be a pleasure

Meet for a man who deems all of his dealings be just,

Nor Holy Faith ever broke nor in whatever his compact

Sanction of Gods abused better to swindle mankind,

Much there remains for thee during length of living, Catullus,

Out of that Love ingrate further to solace thy soul;

For whatever of good can mortal declare of another

Or can avail he do, such thou hast said and hast done;

While to a thankless mind entrusted all of them perisht.

Why, then, crucify self now with a furthering pain?

Why not steady thy thoughts and draw thee back from such purpose,

Ceasing wretched to be maugrè the will of the Gods?

Difficult 'tis indeed long Love to depose of a sudden,

Difficult 'tis, yet do e'en as thou deem to be best.

This be thy safe-guard sole; this conquest needs to be conquered;

This thou must do, thus act, whether thou cannot or can.

If an ye have (O Gods!) aught ruth, or if you for any

Bring at the moment of death latest assistance to man,

Look upon me (poor me!) and, should I be cleanly of living,

Out of my life deign pluck this my so pestilent plague,

Which as a lethargy o'er mine inmost vitals a-creeping,

Hath from my bosom expelled all of what joyance it joyed,

Now will I crave no more she love me e'en as I love her,

Nor (impossible chance!) ever she prove herself chaste:

Would I were only healed and shed this fulsome disorder.

Oh Gods, grant me this boon unto my piety due!

If to recall good deeds erewhiles performed be pleasure to a man, when he knows himself to be of probity, nor has violated sacred faith, nor has abused the holy assent of the gods in any pact, to work ill to men; great store of joys awaits thee during thy length of years, O Catullus, sprung from this ingrate love of thine. For whatever of benefit men can say or can do for anyone, such have been thy sayings and thy doings, and all thy confidences have beensquandered on an ingrate mind. Wherefore now dost torture thyself further? Why not make firm thy heart and withdraw thyself from that [wretchedness], and cease to be unhappy despite the gods' will? 'Tis difficult quickly to depose a love of long growth; 'tis difficult, yet it behoves thee to do this. This is thine only salvation, this is thy great victory; this thou must do, whether it be possible or impossible. O gods, if 'tis in you to have mercy, or if ever ye held forth help to men in death's very extremity, look ye on pitiful me, and if I have acted my life with purity, snatch hence from me this canker and pest, which as a lethargy creeping through my veins and vitals, has cast out every gladness from my breast. Now I no longer pray that she may love me in return, or (what is not possible) that she should become chaste: I wish but for health and to cast aside this shameful complaint. O ye gods, vouchsafe me this in return for my probity.

LXXXVIII.

Quid facit is, Gelli, qui cum matre atque sororePrurit et abiectis pervigilat tunicis?Quid facit is, patruom qui non sinit esse maritum?Ecqui scis quantum suscipiat sceleris?5Suscipit, o Gelli, quantum non ultima TethysNec genitor lympharum abluit Oceanus:Nam nihil est quicquam sceleris, quo prodeat ultra,Non si demisso se ipse voret capite.

Quid facit is, Gelli, qui cum matre atque sorore

Prurit et abiectis pervigilat tunicis?

Quid facit is, patruom qui non sinit esse maritum?

Ecqui scis quantum suscipiat sceleris?

Suscipit, o Gelli, quantum non ultima Tethys

Nec genitor lympharum abluit Oceanus:

Nam nihil est quicquam sceleris, quo prodeat ultra,

Non si demisso se ipse voret capite.

LXXXVIII.

To Gellius.

What may he (Gellius!) do that ever for mother and sisterItches and wakes thro' the nights, working wi' tunic bedoffed?What may he do who nills his uncle ever be husband?Wottest thou how much he ventures of sacrilege-sin?5Ventures he (O Gellius!) what ne'er can ultimate TethysWash from his soul, nor yet Ocean, watery sire.For that of sin there's naught wherewith this sin can exceed he—— his head on himself.

What may he (Gellius!) do that ever for mother and sister

Itches and wakes thro' the nights, working wi' tunic bedoffed?

What may he do who nills his uncle ever be husband?

Wottest thou how much he ventures of sacrilege-sin?

Ventures he (O Gellius!) what ne'er can ultimate Tethys

Wash from his soul, nor yet Ocean, watery sire.

For that of sin there's naught wherewith this sin can exceed he

—— his head on himself.

What does he, Gellius, who with mother and sister itches and keeps vigils with tunics cast aside? What does he, who suffers not his uncle to be a husband? Dost thou know the weight of crime he takes upon himself? He takes, O Gellius, such store as not furthest Tethys nor Oceanus, progenitor of waters, can cleanse: for there is nothing of any crime which can go further, not though with lowered head he swallow himself.

LXXXVIIII.

Gellius est tenuis: quid ni? cui tam bona materTamque valens vivat tamque venusta sororTamque bonus patruos tamque omnia plena puellisCognatis, quare is desinat esse macer?5Qui ut nihil attingit, nisi quod fas tangere non est,Quantumvis quare sit macer invenies.

Gellius est tenuis: quid ni? cui tam bona mater

Tamque valens vivat tamque venusta soror

Tamque bonus patruos tamque omnia plena puellis

Cognatis, quare is desinat esse macer?

Qui ut nihil attingit, nisi quod fas tangere non est,

Quantumvis quare sit macer invenies.

LXXXVIIII.

On Gellius.

Gellius is lean: Why not? For him so easy a motherLives, and a sister so boon, bonny and buxom to boot,Uncle so kindly good and all things full of his lady-Cousins, how can he cease leanest of lankies to be?5Albeit, touch he naught save that whose touch is a scandal,Soon shall thou find wherefor he be as lean as thou like.

Gellius is lean: Why not? For him so easy a mother

Lives, and a sister so boon, bonny and buxom to boot,

Uncle so kindly good and all things full of his lady-

Cousins, how can he cease leanest of lankies to be?

Albeit, touch he naught save that whose touch is a scandal,

Soon shall thou find wherefor he be as lean as thou like.

Gellius is meagre: why not? He who lives with so good a mother, so healthy and so beauteous a sister, and who has such a good uncle, and a world-*full of girl cousins, wherefore should he leave off being lean? Though he touch naught save what is banned, thou canst find ample reason wherefore he may stay lean.

LXXXX.

Nascatur magus ex Gelli matrisque nefandoConiugio et discat Persicum aruspicium:Nam magus ex matre et gnato gignatur oportet,Si verast Persarum inpia relligio,5Navos ut accepto veneretur carmine divosOmentum in flamma pingue liquefaciens.

Nascatur magus ex Gelli matrisque nefando

Coniugio et discat Persicum aruspicium:

Nam magus ex matre et gnato gignatur oportet,

Si verast Persarum inpia relligio,

Navos ut accepto veneretur carmine divos

Omentum in flamma pingue liquefaciens.

LXXXX.

On Gellius.

Born be a Magus, got by Gellius out of his mother(Marriage nefand!) who shall Persian augury learn.Needs it a Magus begot of son upon mother who bare him,If that impious faith, Persian religion be fact,5So may their issue adore busy gods with recognised versesMelting in altar-flame fatness contained by the caul.

Born be a Magus, got by Gellius out of his mother

(Marriage nefand!) who shall Persian augury learn.

Needs it a Magus begot of son upon mother who bare him,

If that impious faith, Persian religion be fact,

So may their issue adore busy gods with recognised verses

Melting in altar-flame fatness contained by the caul.

Let there be born a Magian from the infamous conjoining of Gellius and his mother, and he shall learn the Persian aruspicy. For a Magian from a mother and son must needs be begotten, if there be truth in Persia's vile creed that one may worship with acceptable hymn the assiduous gods, whilst the caul's fat in the sacred flame is melting.

LXXXXI.

Non ideo, Gelli, sperabam te mihi fidumIn misero hoc nostro, hoc perdito amore fore,Quod te cognossem bene constantemve putaremAut posse a turpi mentem inhibere probro,5Sed neque quod matrem nec germanam esse videbamHanc tibi, cuius me magnus edebat amor.Et quamvis tecum multo coniungerer usu,Non satis id causae credideram esse tibi.Tu satis id duxti: tantum tibi gaudium in omni10Culpast, in quacumque est aliquid sceleris.

Non ideo, Gelli, sperabam te mihi fidum

In misero hoc nostro, hoc perdito amore fore,

Quod te cognossem bene constantemve putarem

Aut posse a turpi mentem inhibere probro,

Sed neque quod matrem nec germanam esse videbam

Hanc tibi, cuius me magnus edebat amor.

Et quamvis tecum multo coniungerer usu,

Non satis id causae credideram esse tibi.

Tu satis id duxti: tantum tibi gaudium in omni

Culpast, in quacumque est aliquid sceleris.

LXXXXI.

To Gellius.

Not for due cause I hoped to find thee (Gellius!) faithfulIn this saddest our love, love that is lost and forlore,Or fro' my wotting thee well or ever believing thee constant,Or that thy mind could reject villany ever so vile,5But that because was she to thyself nor mother nor sister,This same damsel whose Love me in its greatness devoured.Yet though I had been joined wi' thee by amplest of usance,Still could I never believe this was sufficient of cause.Thou diddest deem it suffice: so great is thy pleasure in every10Crime wherein may be found somewhat enormous of guilt.

Not for due cause I hoped to find thee (Gellius!) faithful

In this saddest our love, love that is lost and forlore,

Or fro' my wotting thee well or ever believing thee constant,

Or that thy mind could reject villany ever so vile,

But that because was she to thyself nor mother nor sister,

This same damsel whose Love me in its greatness devoured.

Yet though I had been joined wi' thee by amplest of usance,

Still could I never believe this was sufficient of cause.

Thou diddest deem it suffice: so great is thy pleasure in every

Crime wherein may be found somewhat enormous of guilt.

Not for other reason, Gellius, did I hope for thy faith to me in this our unhappy, this our desperate love (because I knew thee well nor thought thee constant or able to restrain thy mind from shameless act), but that I saw this girl was neither thy mother nor thy sister, for whom my ardent love ate me. And although I have had many mutual dealings with thee, I did not credit this case to be enough cause for thee. Thou didst find it enough: so great is thy joy in every kind of guilt in which is something infamous.

LXXXXII.

Lesbia mi dicit semper male nec tacet umquamDe me: Lesbia me dispeream nisi amat.Quo signo? quia sunt † totidem mea: deprecor illamAbsidue, verum dispeream nisi amo.

Lesbia mi dicit semper male nec tacet umquam

De me: Lesbia me dispeream nisi amat.

Quo signo? quia sunt † totidem mea: deprecor illam

Absidue, verum dispeream nisi amo.

LXXXXII.

On Lesbia.

Lesbia naggeth at me evermore and ne'er is she silentTouching myself: May I die but that by Lesbia I'm loved.What be the proof? I rail and retort like her and revile herCarefully, yet may I die but that I love her with love.

Lesbia naggeth at me evermore and ne'er is she silent

Touching myself: May I die but that by Lesbia I'm loved.

What be the proof? I rail and retort like her and revile her

Carefully, yet may I die but that I love her with love.

Lesbia forever speaks ill of me nor is ever silent anent me: may I perish if Lesbia do not love me! By what sign? because I am just the same: I malign her without cease, yet may I die if I do not love her in sober truth.

LXXXXIII.

Nil nimium studeo Caesar tibi belle placere,Nec scire utrum sis albus an ater homo.

Nil nimium studeo Caesar tibi belle placere,

Nec scire utrum sis albus an ater homo.

LXXXXIII.

On Julius Cæsar.

Study I not o'ermuch to please thee (Cæsar!) and court thee,Nor do I care e'en to know an thou be white or be black.

Study I not o'ermuch to please thee (Cæsar!) and court thee,

Nor do I care e'en to know an thou be white or be black.

I am not over anxious, Caesar, to please thee greatly, nor to know whether thou art white or black man.

LXXXXIIII.

Mentula moechatur. moechatur mentula: certe.Hoc est, quod dicunt, ipsa olera olla legit.

Mentula moechatur. moechatur mentula: certe.

Hoc est, quod dicunt, ipsa olera olla legit.

LXXXXIIII.

Against Mentula (Mamurra).

Mentula wooeth much: much wooeth he, be assured.That is, e'en as they say, the Pot gathers leeks for the pot.

Mentula wooeth much: much wooeth he, be assured.

That is, e'en as they say, the Pot gathers leeks for the pot.

Mentula whores. By the mentule he is be-whored: certes. This is as though they say the oil pot itself gathers the olives.

LXXXXV.

Zmyrna mei Cinnae nonam post denique messemQuam coeptast nonamque edita post hiemem,Milia cum interea quingenta Hortensius uno* * * *5Zmyrna cavas Satrachi penitus mittetur ad undas,Zmyrnam cana diu saecula pervoluent.At Volusi annales Paduam morientur ad ipsamEt laxas scombris saepe dabunt tunicas.Parva mei mihi sint cordi monumentasodalis,10At populus tumido gaudeat Antimacho.

Zmyrna mei Cinnae nonam post denique messem

Quam coeptast nonamque edita post hiemem,

Milia cum interea quingenta Hortensius uno

* * * *

Zmyrna cavas Satrachi penitus mittetur ad undas,

Zmyrnam cana diu saecula pervoluent.

At Volusi annales Paduam morientur ad ipsam

Et laxas scombris saepe dabunt tunicas.

Parva mei mihi sint cordi monumentasodalis,

At populus tumido gaudeat Antimacho.

LXXXXV.

On the "Zmyrna" of the Poet Cinna.

"Zmyrna" begun erstwhile nine harvests past by my CinnaPublisht appears when now nine of his winters be gone;Thousands fifty of lines meanwhile Hortensius in single* * * *5"Zmyrna" shall travel afar as the hollow breakers of Satrax,"Zmyrna" by ages grey lastingly shall be perused.But upon Padus' brink shall die Volusius his annalsAnd to the mackerel oft loose-fitting jacket afford.Dear to my heart are aye the lightest works of my comrade,10Leave I the mob to enjoy tumidest Antimachus.

"Zmyrna" begun erstwhile nine harvests past by my Cinna

Publisht appears when now nine of his winters be gone;

Thousands fifty of lines meanwhile Hortensius in single

* * * *

"Zmyrna" shall travel afar as the hollow breakers of Satrax,

"Zmyrna" by ages grey lastingly shall be perused.

But upon Padus' brink shall die Volusius his annals

And to the mackerel oft loose-fitting jacket afford.

Dear to my heart are aye the lightest works of my comrade,

Leave I the mob to enjoy tumidest Antimachus.

My Cinna's "Zmyrna" at length, after nine harvests from its inception, is published when nine winters have gone by, whilst in the meantime Hortensius thousands upon thousands in one * * * * "Zmyrna" shall wander abroad e'en to the curving surf of Satrachus, hoary ages shall turn the leaves of "Zmyrna" in distant days. But Volusius' Annals shall perish at Padua itself, and shall often furnish loose wrappings for mackerel. The short writings of my comrade are gladsome to my heart; let the populace rejoice in bombastic Antimachus.

LXXXXVI.

Si quicquam mutis gratum acceptumve sepulcrisAccidere a nostro, Calve, dolore potest,Quo desiderio veteres renovamus amoresAtque olim missas flemus amicitias,5Certe non tanto mors inmatura doloristQuintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo.

Si quicquam mutis gratum acceptumve sepulcris

Accidere a nostro, Calve, dolore potest,

Quo desiderio veteres renovamus amores

Atque olim missas flemus amicitias,

Certe non tanto mors inmatura dolorist

Quintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo.

LXXXXVI.

To Calvus anent Dead Quintilia.

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