Chapter 3

O Colonia, quae cupis ponte ludere longo,Et salire paratum habes, sed vereris ineptaCrura ponticuli assulis stantis in redivivis,Ne supinus eat cavaque in palude recumbat;5Sic tibi bonus ex tua pons libidine fiat,In quo vel Salisubsili sacra suscipiantur:Munus hoc mihi maximi da, Colonia, risus.Quendam municipem meum de tuo volo ponteIre praecipitem in lutum per caputque pedesque,10Verum totius ut lacus putidaeque paludisLividissima maximeque est profunda vorago.Insulsissimus est homo, nec sapit pueri instarBimuli tremula patris dormientis in ulna.Quoi cum sit viridissimo nupta flore puella15(Et puella tenellulo delicatior haedo,Adservanda nigerrimis diligentius uvis),Ludere hanc sinit ut lubet, nec pili facit uni,Nec se sublevat ex sua parte, sed velut alnusIn fossa Liguri iacet suppernata securi,20Tantundem omnia sentiens quam si nulla sit usquam,Talis iste meus stupor nil videt, nihil audit,Ipse qui sit, utrum sit an non sit, id quoque nescit.Nunc eum volo de tuo ponte mittere pronum,Si pote stolidum repente excitare veternum25Et supinum animum in gravi derelinquere caeno,Ferream ut soleam tenaci in voragine mula.

O Colonia, quae cupis ponte ludere longo,

Et salire paratum habes, sed vereris inepta

Crura ponticuli assulis stantis in redivivis,

Ne supinus eat cavaque in palude recumbat;

Sic tibi bonus ex tua pons libidine fiat,

In quo vel Salisubsili sacra suscipiantur:

Munus hoc mihi maximi da, Colonia, risus.

Quendam municipem meum de tuo volo ponte

Ire praecipitem in lutum per caputque pedesque,

Verum totius ut lacus putidaeque paludis

Lividissima maximeque est profunda vorago.

Insulsissimus est homo, nec sapit pueri instar

Bimuli tremula patris dormientis in ulna.

Quoi cum sit viridissimo nupta flore puella

(Et puella tenellulo delicatior haedo,

Adservanda nigerrimis diligentius uvis),

Ludere hanc sinit ut lubet, nec pili facit uni,

Nec se sublevat ex sua parte, sed velut alnus

In fossa Liguri iacet suppernata securi,

Tantundem omnia sentiens quam si nulla sit usquam,

Talis iste meus stupor nil videt, nihil audit,

Ipse qui sit, utrum sit an non sit, id quoque nescit.

Nunc eum volo de tuo ponte mittere pronum,

Si pote stolidum repente excitare veternum

Et supinum animum in gravi derelinquere caeno,

Ferream ut soleam tenaci in voragine mula.

XVII.

Of a "Predestined" Husband.

Colony! fain to display thy games on length of thy town-bridge!There, too, ready to dance, though fearing the shaking of crazyLogs of the Bridgelet propt on pier-piles newly renewèd,Lest supine all sink deep-merged in the marish's hollow,5So may the bridge hold good when builded after thy pleasureWhere Salisúbulus' rites with solemn function are sacred,As thou (Colony!) grant me boon of mightiest laughter.Certain a townsman mine I'd lief see thrown from thy gangwayHurlèd head over heels precipitous whelmed in the quagmire,10Where the lake and the boglands are most rotten and stinking,Deepest and lividest lie, the swallow of hollow voracious.Witless surely the wight whose sense is less than of boy-babeTwo-year-old and a-sleep on trembling forearm of father.He though wedded to girl in greenest bloom of her youth-tide,15(Bride-wife daintier bred than ever was delicate kidlet,Worthier diligent watch than grape-bunch blackest and ripest)Suffers her sport as she please nor rates her even at hair's worth,Nowise 'stirring himself, but lying log-like as alderFelled and o'er floating the fosse of safe Ligurian woodsman,20Feeling withal, as though such spouse he never had own'd;So this marvel o' mine sees naught, and nothing can hear he,What he himself, an he be or not be, wholly unknowing.Now would I willingly pitch such wight head first fro' thy bridge,Better a-sudden t'arouse that numskull's stolid old senses,25Or in the sluggish mud his soul supine to depositEven as she-mule casts iron shoe where quagmire is stiffest.

Colony! fain to display thy games on length of thy town-bridge!

There, too, ready to dance, though fearing the shaking of crazy

Logs of the Bridgelet propt on pier-piles newly renewèd,

Lest supine all sink deep-merged in the marish's hollow,

So may the bridge hold good when builded after thy pleasure

Where Salisúbulus' rites with solemn function are sacred,

As thou (Colony!) grant me boon of mightiest laughter.

Certain a townsman mine I'd lief see thrown from thy gangway

Hurlèd head over heels precipitous whelmed in the quagmire,

Where the lake and the boglands are most rotten and stinking,

Deepest and lividest lie, the swallow of hollow voracious.

Witless surely the wight whose sense is less than of boy-babe

Two-year-old and a-sleep on trembling forearm of father.

He though wedded to girl in greenest bloom of her youth-tide,

(Bride-wife daintier bred than ever was delicate kidlet,

Worthier diligent watch than grape-bunch blackest and ripest)

Suffers her sport as she please nor rates her even at hair's worth,

Nowise 'stirring himself, but lying log-like as alder

Felled and o'er floating the fosse of safe Ligurian woodsman,

Feeling withal, as though such spouse he never had own'd;

So this marvel o' mine sees naught, and nothing can hear he,

What he himself, an he be or not be, wholly unknowing.

Now would I willingly pitch such wight head first fro' thy bridge,

Better a-sudden t'arouse that numskull's stolid old senses,

Or in the sluggish mud his soul supine to deposit

Even as she-mule casts iron shoe where quagmire is stiffest.

O Colonia, that longest to disport thyself on a long bridge and art prepared for the dance, but that fearest the trembling legs of the bridgelet builded on re-used shavings, lest supine it may lie stretched inthe hollow swamp; may a good bridge take its place designed to thy fancy, on which e'en the Salian dances may be sustained: for the which grant to me, Colonia, greatest of gifts glee-exciting. Such an one, townsman of mine, I want from thy bridge to be pitched in the sludge head over heels, right where the lake of all its stinking slime is dankest and most superfluent—a deep-sunk abyss. The man is a gaping gaby! lacking the sense of a two-years-old baby dozing on its father's cradling arm. Although to him is wedded a girl flushed with springtide's bloom (and a girl more dainty than a tender kid, meet to be watched with keener diligence than the lush-black grape-bunch), he leaves her to sport at her list, cares not a single hair, nor bestirs himself with marital office, but lies as an alder felled by Ligurian hatchet in a ditch, as sentient of everything as though no woman were at his side. Such is my booby! he sees not, he hears naught. Who himself is, or whether he be or be not, he also knows not. Now I wish to chuck him head first from thy bridge, so as to suddenly rouse (if possible) this droning dullard and to leave behind in the sticky slush his sluggish spirit, as a mule casts its iron shoe in the tenacious slough.

XVIII.

Hunc lucum tibi dedico, consecroque, Priape,Qua domus tua Lampsaci est, quaque silva, Priape,Nam te praecipue in suis urbibus colit oraHellespontia, caeteris ostreosior oris.

Hunc lucum tibi dedico, consecroque, Priape,

Qua domus tua Lampsaci est, quaque silva, Priape,

Nam te praecipue in suis urbibus colit ora

Hellespontia, caeteris ostreosior oris.

XVIII.

To Priapus, the Garden-God.

This grove to thee devote I give, Priapus!Who home be Lampsacus and holt, Priapus!For thee in cities worship most the shoresOf Hellespont the richest oystery strand.

This grove to thee devote I give, Priapus!

Who home be Lampsacus and holt, Priapus!

For thee in cities worship most the shores

Of Hellespont the richest oystery strand.

This grove I dedicate and consecrate to thee, Priapus, who hast thy home at Lampsacus, and eke thy woodlands, Priapus; for thee especially in its cities worships the coast of the Hellespont, richer in oysters than all other shores.

XVIIII.

Hunc ego, juvenes, locum, villulamque palustrem,Tectam vimine junceo, caricisque maniplis,Quercus arida, rustica conformata securi,Nunc tuor: magis, et magis ut beata quotannis.5Hujus nam Domini colunt me, Deumque salutant,Pauperis tugurii pater, filiusque coloni:Alter, assidua colens diligentia, ut herbaDumosa, asperaque a meo sit remota sacello:Alter, parva ferens manu semper munera larga.10Florido mihi ponitur picta vere corollaPrimitu', et tenera virens spica mollis arista:Luteae violae mihi, luteumque papaver,Pallentesque cucurbitae, et suaveolentia mala,Vva pampinea rubens educata sub umbra.15Sanguine hanc etiam mihi (sed tacebitis) aramBarbatus linit hirculus, cornipesque capella:Pro queis omnia honoribus haec necesse PriapoPraestare, et domini hortulum, vineamque tueri.Quare hinc, o pueri, malas abstinete rapinas.20Vicinus prope dives est, negligensque Priapus.Inde sumite: semita haec deinde vos feret ipsa.

Hunc ego, juvenes, locum, villulamque palustrem,

Tectam vimine junceo, caricisque maniplis,

Quercus arida, rustica conformata securi,

Nunc tuor: magis, et magis ut beata quotannis.

Hujus nam Domini colunt me, Deumque salutant,

Pauperis tugurii pater, filiusque coloni:

Alter, assidua colens diligentia, ut herba

Dumosa, asperaque a meo sit remota sacello:

Alter, parva ferens manu semper munera larga.

Florido mihi ponitur picta vere corolla

Primitu', et tenera virens spica mollis arista:

Luteae violae mihi, luteumque papaver,

Pallentesque cucurbitae, et suaveolentia mala,

Vva pampinea rubens educata sub umbra.

Sanguine hanc etiam mihi (sed tacebitis) aram

Barbatus linit hirculus, cornipesque capella:

Pro queis omnia honoribus haec necesse Priapo

Praestare, et domini hortulum, vineamque tueri.

Quare hinc, o pueri, malas abstinete rapinas.

Vicinus prope dives est, negligensque Priapus.

Inde sumite: semita haec deinde vos feret ipsa.

XVIIII.

To Priapus.

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.5For 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 herbageAnd the coarse water-grass to clear afar from my chapel:That with his open hand ever brings me offerings humble.10Hung 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.15Anon 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, refrain from ill-mannered picking and stealing:20Rich be the neighbour-hind and negligent eke his Priapus:Take what be his: this path hence leadeth straight to his ownings.

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, refrain from ill-mannered picking and stealing:

Rich be the neighbour-hind and negligent eke his Priapus:

Take what be his: this path hence leadeth straight to his ownings.

This place, youths, and the marshland cot thatched with rushes, osier-twigs and bundles of sedge, I, carved from a dry oak by a rustic axe, now protect, so that they thrive more and more every year. For its owners, the father of the poor hut and his son,—both husbandmen,—revere me and salute me as a god; the one labouring with assiduous diligence that the harsh weeds and brambles may bekept away from my sanctuary, the other often bringing me small offerings with open hand. On me is placed a many-tinted wreath of early spring flowers and the soft green blade and ear of the tender corn. Saffron-coloured violets, the orange-hued poppy, wan gourds, sweet-scented apples, and the purpling grape trained in the shade of the vine, [are offered] to me. Sometimes, (but keep silent as to this) even the bearded he-goat, and the horny-footed nanny sprinkle my altar with blood; for which honours Priapus is bound in return to do everything [which lies in his duty], and to keep strict guard over the little garden and vineyard of his master. Wherefore, abstain, O lads, from your evil pilfering here. Our next neighbour is rich and his Priapus is negligent. Take from him; this path then will lead you to his grounds.

XX.

Ego haec ego arte fabricata rustica,Ego arida, o viator, ecce populusAgellulum hunc, sinistra, tute quem vides,Herique villulam, hortulumque pauperis5Tuor, malasque furis arceo manus.Mihi corolla picta vero ponitur:Mihi rubens arista sole fervido:Mihi virente dulcis uva pampino:Mihique glauca duro oliva frigore.10Meis capella delicata pascuisIn urbem adulta lacte portat ubera:Meisque pinguis agnus ex ovilibusGravem domum remittit aere dexteram:Tenerque, matre mugiente, vaccula15Deum profundit ante templa sanguinem.Proin', viator, hunc Deum vereberis,Manumque sorsum habebis hoc tibi expedit.Parata namque crux, sine arte mentula.Velim pol, inquis: at pol ecce, villicus20Venit: valente cui revulsa brachioFit ista mentula apta clava dexterae.

Ego haec ego arte fabricata rustica,

Ego arida, o viator, ecce populus

Agellulum hunc, sinistra, tute quem vides,

Herique villulam, hortulumque pauperis

Tuor, malasque furis arceo manus.

Mihi corolla picta vero ponitur:

Mihi rubens arista sole fervido:

Mihi virente dulcis uva pampino:

Mihique glauca duro oliva frigore.

Meis capella delicata pascuis

In urbem adulta lacte portat ubera:

Meisque pinguis agnus ex ovilibus

Gravem domum remittit aere dexteram:

Tenerque, matre mugiente, vaccula

Deum profundit ante templa sanguinem.

Proin', viator, hunc Deum vereberis,

Manumque sorsum habebis hoc tibi expedit.

Parata namque crux, sine arte mentula.

Velim pol, inquis: at pol ecce, villicus

Venit: valente cui revulsa brachio

Fit ista mentula apta clava dexterae.

XX.

To Priapus.

I thuswise fashionèd by rustic artAnd from dried poplar-trunk (O traveller!) hewn,This fieldlet, leftwards as thy glances fall,And my lord's cottage with his pauper garth5Protect, repelling thieves' rapacious hands.In spring with vari-coloured wreaths I'm crown'd,In fervid summer with the glowing grain,Then with green vine-shoot and the luscious bunch,And glaucous olive-tree in bitter cold.10The dainty she-goat from my pasture bearsHer milk-distended udders to the town:Out of my sheep-cotes ta'en the fatted lambSends home with silver right-hand heavily charged;And, while its mother lows, the tender calf15Before the temples of the Gods must bleed.Hence of such Godhead, (traveller!) stand in awe,Best it befits thee off to keep thy hands.Thy cross is ready, shaped as artless yard;"I'm willing, 'faith" (thou say'st) but 'faith here comes20The boor, and plucking forth with bended armMakes of this tool a club for doughty hand.

I thuswise fashionèd by rustic art

And from dried poplar-trunk (O traveller!) hewn,

This fieldlet, leftwards as thy glances fall,

And my lord's cottage with his pauper garth

Protect, repelling thieves' rapacious hands.

In spring with vari-coloured wreaths I'm crown'd,

In fervid summer with the glowing grain,

Then with green vine-shoot and the luscious bunch,

And glaucous olive-tree in bitter cold.

The dainty she-goat from my pasture bears

Her milk-distended udders to the town:

Out of my sheep-cotes ta'en the fatted lamb

Sends home with silver right-hand heavily charged;

And, while its mother lows, the tender calf

Before the temples of the Gods must bleed.

Hence of such Godhead, (traveller!) stand in awe,

Best it befits thee off to keep thy hands.

Thy cross is ready, shaped as artless yard;

"I'm willing, 'faith" (thou say'st) but 'faith here comes

The boor, and plucking forth with bended arm

Makes of this tool a club for doughty hand.

I, O traveller, shaped with rustic art from a dry poplar, guard this little field which thou seest on the left, and the cottage and small garden of its indigent owner, and keep off the greedy hands of the robber. In spring a many-tinted wreath is placed upon me; in summer's heat ruddy grain; [in autumn] a luscious grape cluster with vine-shoots, and in the bitter cold the pale-green olive. The tender she-goat bears from my pasture to the town milk-distended udders; the well-fattened lamb from my sheepfolds sends back [its owner] with a heavy handful of money; and the tender calf, 'midst its mother's lowings, sheds its blood before the temple of the Gods. Hence, wayfarer, thou shalt be in awe of this God, and it will be profitable to thee to keep thy hands off. For a punishment is prepared—a roughly-shaped mentule. "Truly, I am willing," thou sayest; then, truly, behold the farmer comes, and that same mentule plucked from my groin will become an apt cudgel in his strong right hand.

XXI.

Aureli, pater essuritionum,Non harum modo, sed quot aut fueruntAut sunt aut aliis erunt in annis,Pedicare cupis meos amores.5Nec clam: nam simul es, iocaris una,Haeres ad latus omnia experiris.Frustra: nam insidias mihi instruentemTangem te prior inrumatione.Atque id si faceres satur, tacerem:10Nunc ipsum id doleo, quod essurire,A me me, puer et sitire discet.Quare desine, dum licet pudico,Ne finem facias, sed inrumatus.

Aureli, pater essuritionum,

Non harum modo, sed quot aut fuerunt

Aut sunt aut aliis erunt in annis,

Pedicare cupis meos amores.

Nec clam: nam simul es, iocaris una,

Haeres ad latus omnia experiris.

Frustra: nam insidias mihi instruentem

Tangem te prior inrumatione.

Atque id si faceres satur, tacerem:

Nunc ipsum id doleo, quod essurire,

A me me, puer et sitire discet.

Quare desine, dum licet pudico,

Ne finem facias, sed inrumatus.

XXI.

To Aurelius the Skinflint.

Aurelius, father of the famisht crew,Not sole of starvelings now, but wretches whoWere, are, or shall be in the years to come,My love, my dearling, fain art thou to strum.5Nor privately; for nigh thou com'st and jestestAnd to his side close-sticking all things questest.'Tis vain: while lay'st thou snares for me the worst,By —— I will teach thee first.An food-full thus do thou, my peace I'd keep:10But what (ah me! ah me!) compels me weepAre thirst and famine to my dearling fated.Cease thou so doing while as modest rated,Lest to thy will thou win—but ——

Aurelius, father of the famisht crew,

Not sole of starvelings now, but wretches who

Were, are, or shall be in the years to come,

My love, my dearling, fain art thou to strum.

Nor privately; for nigh thou com'st and jestest

And to his side close-sticking all things questest.

'Tis vain: while lay'st thou snares for me the worst,

By —— I will teach thee first.

An food-full thus do thou, my peace I'd keep:

But what (ah me! ah me!) compels me weep

Are thirst and famine to my dearling fated.

Cease thou so doing while as modest rated,

Lest to thy will thou win—but ——

Aurelius, father of the famished, in ages past in time now present and in future years yet to come, thou art longing to paedicate my love. Nor is't done secretly: for thou art with him jesting, closelysticking at his side, trying every means. In vain: for, instructed in thy artifice, I'll strike home beforehand by irrumating thee. Now if thou didst this to work off the results of full-living I would say naught: but what irks me is that my boy must learn to starve and thirst with thee. Wherefore, desist, whilst thou mayst with modesty, lest thou reach the end,—but by being irrumated.

XXII.

Suffenus iste, Vare, quem probe nosti,Homost venustus et dicax et urbanus,Idemque longe plurimos facit versus.Puto esse ego illi milia aut decem aut plura5Perscripta, nec sic ut fit in palimpsestonRelata: chartae regiae, novei libri,Novei umbilici, lora rubra, membranaDerecta plumbo, et pumice omnia aequata.Haec cum legas tu, bellus ille et urbanus10Suffenus unus caprimulgus aut fossorRursus videtur; tantum abhorret ac mutat.Hoc quid putemus esse? qui modo scurraAut siquid hac re scitius videbatur,Idem infacetost infacetior rure,15Simul poemata attigit, neque idem umquamAequest beatus ac poema cum scribit:Tam gaudet in se tamque se ipse miratur.Nimirum idem omnes fallimur, nequest quisquam,Quem non in aliqua re videre Suffenum20Possis. suus cuique attributus est error:Sed non videmus, manticae quod in tergost.

Suffenus iste, Vare, quem probe nosti,

Homost venustus et dicax et urbanus,

Idemque longe plurimos facit versus.

Puto esse ego illi milia aut decem aut plura

Perscripta, nec sic ut fit in palimpseston

Relata: chartae regiae, novei libri,

Novei umbilici, lora rubra, membrana

Derecta plumbo, et pumice omnia aequata.

Haec cum legas tu, bellus ille et urbanus

Suffenus unus caprimulgus aut fossor

Rursus videtur; tantum abhorret ac mutat.

Hoc quid putemus esse? qui modo scurra

Aut siquid hac re scitius videbatur,

Idem infacetost infacetior rure,

Simul poemata attigit, neque idem umquam

Aequest beatus ac poema cum scribit:

Tam gaudet in se tamque se ipse miratur.

Nimirum idem omnes fallimur, nequest quisquam,

Quem non in aliqua re videre Suffenum

Possis. suus cuique attributus est error:

Sed non videmus, manticae quod in tergost.

XXII.

To Varus abusing Suffenus.

Varus, yon wight Suffenus known to theeFairly for wit, free talk, urbanity,The same who scribbles verse in amplest store—Methinks he fathers thousands ten or more5Indited not as wont on palimpsest,But paper-royal, brand-new boards, and bestFresh bosses, crimson ribbands, sheets with leadRuled, and with pumice-powder all well polished.These as thou readest, seem that fine, urbane10Suffenus, goat-herd mere, or ditcher-swainOnce more, such horrid change is there, so vile.What must we wot thereof? a Droll erst while,Or (if aught) cleverer, he with converse meets,He now in dullness, dullest villain beats15Forthright on handling verse, nor is the wightEver so happy as when verse he write:So self admires he with so full delight.In sooth, we all thus err, nor man there beBut in some matter a Suffenus see20Thou canst: his lache allotted none shall lackYet spy we nothing of our back-borne pack.

Varus, yon wight Suffenus known to thee

Fairly for wit, free talk, urbanity,

The same who scribbles verse in amplest store—

Methinks he fathers thousands ten or more

Indited not as wont on palimpsest,

But paper-royal, brand-new boards, and best

Fresh bosses, crimson ribbands, sheets with lead

Ruled, and with pumice-powder all well polished.

These as thou readest, seem that fine, urbane

Suffenus, goat-herd mere, or ditcher-swain

Once more, such horrid change is there, so vile.

What must we wot thereof? a Droll erst while,

Or (if aught) cleverer, he with converse meets,

He now in dullness, dullest villain beats

Forthright on handling verse, nor is the wight

Ever so happy as when verse he write:

So self admires he with so full delight.

In sooth, we all thus err, nor man there be

But in some matter a Suffenus see

Thou canst: his lache allotted none shall lack

Yet spy we nothing of our back-borne pack.

That Suffenus, Varus, whom thou know'st right well, is a man fair spoken, witty and urbane, and one who makes of verses lengthy store. I think he has writ at full length ten thousand or more, nor are they set down, as of custom, on palimpsest: regal paper, new boards, unused bosses, red ribands, lead-ruledparchment, and all most evenly pumiced. But when thou readest these, that refined and urbane Suffenus is seen on the contrary to be a mere goatherd or ditcher-lout, so great and shocking is the change. What can we think of this? he who just now was seen a professed droll, or e'en shrewder than such in gay speech, this same becomes more boorish than a country boor immediately he touches poesy, nor is the dolt e'er as self-content as when he writes in verse,—so greatly is he pleased with himself, so much does he himself admire. Natheless, we all thus go astray, nor is there any man in whom thou canst not see a Suffenus in some one point. Each of us has his assigned delusion: but we see not what's in the wallet on our back.

XXIII.

Furei, quoi neque servos est neque arcaNec cimex neque araneus neque ignis,Verumst et pater et noverca, quorumDentes vel silicem comesse possunt,5Est pulchre tibi cum tuo parenteEt cum coniuge lignea parentis.Nec mirum: bene nam valetis omnes,Pulchre concoquitis, nihil timetis,Non incendia, non graves ruinas,10Non furta inpia, non dolos veneni,Non casus alios periculorum.Atqui corpora sicciora cornuAut siquid magis aridumst habetisSole et frigore et essuritione.15Quare non tibi sit bene ac beate?A te sudor abest, abest saliva,Mucusque et mala pituita nasi.Hanc ad munditiem adde mundiorem,Quod culus tibi purior salillost,20Nec toto decies cacas in anno,Atque id durius est faba et lapillis;Quod tu si manibus teras fricesque,Non umquam digitum inquinare possis.Haec tu commoda tam beata, Furi,25Noli spernere nec putare parvi,Et sestertia quae soles precariCentum desine: nam sat es beatus.

Furei, quoi neque servos est neque arca

Nec cimex neque araneus neque ignis,

Verumst et pater et noverca, quorum

Dentes vel silicem comesse possunt,

Est pulchre tibi cum tuo parente

Et cum coniuge lignea parentis.

Nec mirum: bene nam valetis omnes,

Pulchre concoquitis, nihil timetis,

Non incendia, non graves ruinas,

Non furta inpia, non dolos veneni,

Non casus alios periculorum.

Atqui corpora sicciora cornu

Aut siquid magis aridumst habetis

Sole et frigore et essuritione.

Quare non tibi sit bene ac beate?

A te sudor abest, abest saliva,

Mucusque et mala pituita nasi.

Hanc ad munditiem adde mundiorem,

Quod culus tibi purior salillost,

Nec toto decies cacas in anno,

Atque id durius est faba et lapillis;

Quod tu si manibus teras fricesque,

Non umquam digitum inquinare possis.

Haec tu commoda tam beata, Furi,

Noli spernere nec putare parvi,

Et sestertia quae soles precari

Centum desine: nam sat es beatus.

XXIII.

To Furius satirically praising his Poverty.

Furius! Nor chest, nor slaves can claim,Bug, Spider, nor e'en hearth aflame,Yet thine a sire and step-dame whoWi' tooth can ever flint-food chew!5So thou, and pleasant happy lifeLead wi' thy parent's wooden wife.Nor this be marvel: hale are all,Well ye digest; no fears appalFor household-arsons, heavy ruin,10Plunderings impious, poison-brewin'Or other parlous case forlorn.Your frames are hard and dried like horn,Or if more arid aught ye know,By suns and frosts and hunger-throe.15Then why not happy as thou'rt hale?Sweat's strange to thee, spit fails, and failPhlegm and foul snivel from the nose.Add cleanness that aye cleanlier showsA bum than salt-pot cleanlier,20Nor ten times cack'st in total year,And harder 'tis than pebble or beanWhich rubbed in hand or crumbled, e'enOn finger ne'er shall make unclean.Such blessings (Furius!) such a prize25Never belittle nor despise;Hundred sesterces seek no moreWith wonted prayer—enow's thy store!

Furius! Nor chest, nor slaves can claim,

Bug, Spider, nor e'en hearth aflame,

Yet thine a sire and step-dame who

Wi' tooth can ever flint-food chew!

So thou, and pleasant happy life

Lead wi' thy parent's wooden wife.

Nor this be marvel: hale are all,

Well ye digest; no fears appal

For household-arsons, heavy ruin,

Plunderings impious, poison-brewin'

Or other parlous case forlorn.

Your frames are hard and dried like horn,

Or if more arid aught ye know,

By suns and frosts and hunger-throe.

Then why not happy as thou'rt hale?

Sweat's strange to thee, spit fails, and fail

Phlegm and foul snivel from the nose.

Add cleanness that aye cleanlier shows

A bum than salt-pot cleanlier,

Nor ten times cack'st in total year,

And harder 'tis than pebble or bean

Which rubbed in hand or crumbled, e'en

On finger ne'er shall make unclean.

Such blessings (Furius!) such a prize

Never belittle nor despise;

Hundred sesterces seek no more

With wonted prayer—enow's thy store!

O Furius, who neither slaves, nor coffer, nor bug, nor spider, nor fire hast, but hast both father and step-dame whose teeth can munch up even flints,—thou livest finely with thy sire, and with thy sire's wood-carved spouse. Nor need's amaze! for in good health are ye all, grandly ye digest, naught fear ye, nor arson nor house-fall, thefts impious nor poison's furtive cunning, nor aught of perilous happenings whatsoe'er. And ye have bodies drier than horn (or than aught more arid still, if aught there be), parched by sun, frost, and famine. Wherefore shouldst thou not be happy with such weal. Sweat is a stranger to thee, absent also are saliva, phlegm, and evil nose-snivel. Add to this cleanliness the thing that's still more cleanly, that thy backside is purerthan a salt-cellar, nor cackst thou ten times in the total year, and then 'tis harder than beans and pebbles; nay, 'tis such that if thou dost rub and crumble it in thy hands, not a finger canst thou ever dirty. These goodly gifts and favours, O Furius, spurn not nor think lightly of; and cease thy 'customed begging for an hundred sesterces: for thou'rt blest enough!

XXIIII.

O qui flosculus es Iuventiorum,Non horum modo, sed quot aut fueruntAut posthac aliis erunt in annis,Mallem divitias Midae dedisses5Isti, quoi neque servus est neque arca,Quam sic te sineres ab illo amari.'Qui? non est homo bellus?' inquies. est:Sed bello huic neque servos est neque arca.Hoc tu quam lubet abice elevaque:10Nec servom tamen ille habet neque arcam.

O qui flosculus es Iuventiorum,

Non horum modo, sed quot aut fuerunt

Aut posthac aliis erunt in annis,

Mallem divitias Midae dedisses

Isti, quoi neque servus est neque arca,

Quam sic te sineres ab illo amari.

'Qui? non est homo bellus?' inquies. est:

Sed bello huic neque servos est neque arca.

Hoc tu quam lubet abice elevaque:

Nec servom tamen ille habet neque arcam.

XXIIII.

To Juventius concerning the Choice of a Friend.

O of Juventian youths the flowret fairNot of these only, but of all that wereOr shall be, coming in the coming years,Better waste Midas' wealth (to me appears)5On him that owns nor slave nor money-chestThan thou shouldst suffer by his love possest."What! is he vile or not fair?" "Yes!" I attest,"Yet owns this man so comely neither slaves nor chestMy words disdain thou or accept at best10Yet neither slave he owns nor money-chest."

O of Juventian youths the flowret fair

Not of these only, but of all that were

Or shall be, coming in the coming years,

Better waste Midas' wealth (to me appears)

On him that owns nor slave nor money-chest

Than thou shouldst suffer by his love possest.

"What! is he vile or not fair?" "Yes!" I attest,

"Yet owns this man so comely neither slaves nor chest

My words disdain thou or accept at best

Yet neither slave he owns nor money-chest."

O thou who art the floweret of Juventian race, not only of these now living, but of those that were of yore and eke of those that will be in the coming years, rather would I that thou hadst given the wealth e'en of Midas to that fellow who owns neither slave nor store, than that thou shouldst suffer thyself to be loved by such an one. "What! isn't he a fine-looking man?" thou askest. He is; but this fine-looking man has neither slaves nor store. Contemn and slight this as it please thee: nevertheless, he has neither slave nor store.

XXV.

Cinaede Thalle, mollior cuniculi capilloVel anseris medullula vel imula oricillaVel pene languido senis situque araneoso,Idemque Thalle turbida rapacior procella,5Cum diva munerarios ostendit oscitantes,Remitte pallium mihi meum, quod involasti,Sudariumque Saetabum catagraphosque Thynos,Inepte, quae palam soles habere tamquam avita.Quae nunc tuis ab unguibus reglutina et remitte,10Ne laneum latusculum manusque mollicellasInusta turpiter tibi flagella conscribillent,Et insolenter aestues velut minuta magnoDeprensa navis in mari vesaniente vento.

Cinaede Thalle, mollior cuniculi capillo

Vel anseris medullula vel imula oricilla

Vel pene languido senis situque araneoso,

Idemque Thalle turbida rapacior procella,

Cum diva munerarios ostendit oscitantes,

Remitte pallium mihi meum, quod involasti,

Sudariumque Saetabum catagraphosque Thynos,

Inepte, quae palam soles habere tamquam avita.

Quae nunc tuis ab unguibus reglutina et remitte,

Ne laneum latusculum manusque mollicellas

Inusta turpiter tibi flagella conscribillent,

Et insolenter aestues velut minuta magno

Deprensa navis in mari vesaniente vento.

XXV.

Address to Thallus the Napery-Thief.

Thou bardache Thallus! more than Coney's robeSoft, or goose-marrow or ear's lowmost lobe,Or Age's languid yard and cobweb'd part,Same Thallus greedier than the gale thou art,5When the Kite-goddess shows thee Gulls agape,Return my muffler thou hast dared to rape,Saetaban napkins, tablets of Thynos, allWhich (Fool!) ancestral heirlooms thou didst call.These now unglue-ing from thy claws restore,10Lest thy soft hands, and floss-like flanklets scoreThe burning scourges, basely signed and lined,And thou unwonted toss like wee barque tyned'Mid vasty Ocean vexed by madding wind!

Thou bardache Thallus! more than Coney's robe

Soft, or goose-marrow or ear's lowmost lobe,

Or Age's languid yard and cobweb'd part,

Same Thallus greedier than the gale thou art,

When the Kite-goddess shows thee Gulls agape,

Return my muffler thou hast dared to rape,

Saetaban napkins, tablets of Thynos, all

Which (Fool!) ancestral heirlooms thou didst call.

These now unglue-ing from thy claws restore,

Lest thy soft hands, and floss-like flanklets score

The burning scourges, basely signed and lined,

And thou unwonted toss like wee barque tyned

'Mid vasty Ocean vexed by madding wind!

O Thallus the catamite, softer than rabbit's fur, or goose's marrow, or lowmost ear-lobe, limper than the drooping penis of an oldster, in its cobwebbed must, greedier than the driving storm, such time as the Kite-Goddess shews us the gaping Gulls, give me back my mantle which thou hast pilfered, and the Saetaban napkin and Thynian tablets which, idiot, thou dost openly parade as though they were heirlooms. These now unglue from thy nails and return, lest the stinging scourge shall shamefully score thy downy flanks and delicate hands, and thou unwonted heave and toss like a tiny boat surprised on the vasty sea by a raging storm.

XXVI.

Furi, villula nostra non ad AustriFlatus oppositast neque ad FavoniNec saevi Boreae aut Apeliotae,Verum ad milia quindecim et ducentos.5O ventum horribilem atque pestilentem!

Furi, villula nostra non ad Austri

Flatus oppositast neque ad Favoni

Nec saevi Boreae aut Apeliotae,

Verum ad milia quindecim et ducentos.

O ventum horribilem atque pestilentem!

XXVI.

Catullus concerning his Villa.

Furius! our Villa never Austral forceBroke, neither set thereon Favonius' course,Nor savage Boreas, nor Epeliot's strain,But fifteen thousand crowns and hundreds twain5Wreckt it,—Oh ruinous by-wind, breezy bane!

Furius! our Villa never Austral force

Broke, neither set thereon Favonius' course,

Nor savage Boreas, nor Epeliot's strain,

But fifteen thousand crowns and hundreds twain

Wreckt it,—Oh ruinous by-wind, breezy bane!

Furius, our villa not 'gainst the southern breeze is pitted nor the western wind nor cruel Boreas nor sunny east, but sesterces fifteen thousand two hundred oppose it. O horrible and baleful draught.

XXVII.

Minister vetuli puer FalerniInger mi calices amariores,Vt lex Postumiae iubet magistrae,Ebriosa acina ebriosioris.5At vos quo lubet hinc abite, lymphaeVini pernicies, et ad severosMigrate: hic merus est Thyonianus.

Minister vetuli puer Falerni

Inger mi calices amariores,

Vt lex Postumiae iubet magistrae,

Ebriosa acina ebriosioris.

At vos quo lubet hinc abite, lymphae

Vini pernicies, et ad severos

Migrate: hic merus est Thyonianus.

XXVII.

To his Cup-Boy.

Thou youngling drawer of Falernian oldCrown me the goblets with a bitterer wineAs was Postumia's law that rules the feastThan ebriate grape-stone more inebriate.5But ye fare whither please ye (water-nymphs!)To wine pernicious, and to sober folkMigrate ye: mere Thyonian juice be here!

Thou youngling drawer of Falernian old

Crown me the goblets with a bitterer wine

As was Postumia's law that rules the feast

Than ebriate grape-stone more inebriate.

But ye fare whither please ye (water-nymphs!)

To wine pernicious, and to sober folk

Migrate ye: mere Thyonian juice be here!

Boy cupbearer of old Falernian, pour me fiercer cups as bids the laws of Postumia, mistress of the feast, drunker than a drunken grape. But ye, hence, as far as ye please, crystal waters, bane of wine, hie ye to the sober: here the Thyonian juice is pure.

XXVIII.

Pisonis comites, cohors inanisAptis sarcinulis et expeditis,Verani optime tuque mi Fabulle,Quid rerum geritis? satisne cum isto5Vappa frigoraque et famem tulistis?Ecquidnam in tabulis patet lucelliExpensum, ut mihi, qui meum secutusPraetorem refero datum lucello'O Memmi, bene me ac diu supinum10Tota ista trabe lentus inrumasti.'Sed, quantum video, pari fuistisCasu: nam nihilo minore verpaFarti estis. pete nobiles amicos.At vobis mala multa di deaeque15Dent, opprobria Romulei Remique.

Pisonis comites, cohors inanis

Aptis sarcinulis et expeditis,

Verani optime tuque mi Fabulle,

Quid rerum geritis? satisne cum isto

Vappa frigoraque et famem tulistis?

Ecquidnam in tabulis patet lucelli

Expensum, ut mihi, qui meum secutus

Praetorem refero datum lucello

'O Memmi, bene me ac diu supinum

Tota ista trabe lentus inrumasti.'

Sed, quantum video, pari fuistis

Casu: nam nihilo minore verpa

Farti estis. pete nobiles amicos.

At vobis mala multa di deaeque

Dent, opprobria Romulei Remique.

XXVIII.

To Friends on Return from Travel.

Followers of Piso, empty bandWith your light budgets packt to hand,Veránius best! Fabúllus mine!What do ye? Bore ye enough, in fine5Of frost and famine with yon sot?What loss or gain have haply gotYour tablets? so, whenas I rangedWith Praetor, gains for loss were changed."O Memmius! thou did'st long and late10—— me supine slow and ——"But (truly see I) in such caseDiddled you were by wight as baseSans mercy. Noble friends go claim!Now god and goddess give you grame15Disgrace of Romulus! Remus' shame!

Followers of Piso, empty band

With your light budgets packt to hand,

Veránius best! Fabúllus mine!

What do ye? Bore ye enough, in fine

Of frost and famine with yon sot?

What loss or gain have haply got

Your tablets? so, whenas I ranged

With Praetor, gains for loss were changed.

"O Memmius! thou did'st long and late

—— me supine slow and ——"

But (truly see I) in such case

Diddled you were by wight as base

Sans mercy. Noble friends go claim!

Now god and goddess give you grame

Disgrace of Romulus! Remus' shame!

Piso's Company, a starveling band, with lightweight knapsacks, scantly packed, most dear Veranius thou, and my Fabullus eke, how fortunes it with you? have ye borne frost and famine enow with that sot? Which in your tablets appear—the profits or expenses? So with me, who when I followed a praetor, inscribed more gifts than gains. "O Memmius, well and slowly didst thou irrumate me, supine, day by day, with the whole of that beam." But, from what I see, in like case ye have been; for ye have been crammed with no smaller a poker. Courting friends of high rank! But may the gods and goddesses heap ill upon ye, reproach to Romulus and Remus.

XXVIIII.

Quis hoc potest videre, quis potest pati,Nisi inpudicus et vorax et aleo,Mamurram habere quod Comata GalliaHabebat ante et ultima Britannia?5Cinaede Romule, haec videbis et feres?5bEs inpudicus et vorax et aleo.Et ille nunc superbus et superfluensPerambulabit omnium cubiliaVt albulus columbus aut Adoneus?Cinaede Romule, haec videbis et feres?10Es inpudicus et vorax et aleo.Eone nomine, imperator unice,Fuisti in ultima occidentis insula,Vt ista vostra defututa MentulaDucenties comesset aut trecenties?15Quid est alid sinistra liberalitas?Parum expatravit an parum eluatus est?Paterna prima lancinata sunt bona:Secunda praeda Pontica: inde tertiaHibera, quam scit amnis aurifer Tagus.20Timentne Galliae hunc, timent Britanniae?Quid hunc malum fovetis? aut quid hic potest,Nisi uncta devorare patrimonia?Eone nomine urbis, o potissimeiSocer generque, perdidistis omnia?

Quis hoc potest videre, quis potest pati,

Nisi inpudicus et vorax et aleo,

Mamurram habere quod Comata Gallia

Habebat ante et ultima Britannia?

Cinaede Romule, haec videbis et feres?

Es inpudicus et vorax et aleo.

Et ille nunc superbus et superfluens

Perambulabit omnium cubilia

Vt albulus columbus aut Adoneus?

Cinaede Romule, haec videbis et feres?

Es inpudicus et vorax et aleo.

Eone nomine, imperator unice,

Fuisti in ultima occidentis insula,

Vt ista vostra defututa Mentula

Ducenties comesset aut trecenties?

Quid est alid sinistra liberalitas?

Parum expatravit an parum eluatus est?

Paterna prima lancinata sunt bona:

Secunda praeda Pontica: inde tertia

Hibera, quam scit amnis aurifer Tagus.

Timentne Galliae hunc, timent Britanniae?

Quid hunc malum fovetis? aut quid hic potest,

Nisi uncta devorare patrimonia?

Eone nomine urbis, o potissimei

Socer generque, perdidistis omnia?

XXVIIII.

To Cæsar of Mamurra, called Mentula.

Who e'er could witness this (who could endureExcept the lewdling, dicer, greedy-gut)That should Mamurra get what hairy GaulAnd all that farthest Britons held whilòme?5(Thou bardache Romulus!) this wilt see and bear?5bThen art a lewdling, dicer, greedy-gut!He now superb with pride superfluousShall go perambulate the bedrooms allLike white-robed dovelet or Adonis-love.Romulus thou bardache! this wilt see and bear?10Then art a lewdling, dicer, greedy-gut!Is't for such like name, sole Emperor thou!Thou soughtest extreme Occidental Isle?That this your —— MentulaMillions and Milliards might at will absorb?15What is't but Liberality misplaced?What trifles wasted he, small heirlooms spent?First his paternal goods were clean dispersed;Second went Pontus' spoils and for the third,—Ebro-land,—weets it well gold-rolling Tage.20Fear him the Gallias? Him the Britons' fear?Why cherish this ill-wight? what 'vails he do?Save fat paternal heritage devour?Lost ye for such a name, O puissant pair(Father and Son-in-law), our all-in-all?

Who e'er could witness this (who could endure

Except the lewdling, dicer, greedy-gut)

That should Mamurra get what hairy Gaul

And all that farthest Britons held whilòme?

(Thou bardache Romulus!) this wilt see and bear?

Then art a lewdling, dicer, greedy-gut!

He now superb with pride superfluous

Shall go perambulate the bedrooms all

Like white-robed dovelet or Adonis-love.

Romulus thou bardache! this wilt see and bear?

Then art a lewdling, dicer, greedy-gut!

Is't for such like name, sole Emperor thou!

Thou soughtest extreme Occidental Isle?

That this your —— Mentula

Millions and Milliards might at will absorb?

What is't but Liberality misplaced?

What trifles wasted he, small heirlooms spent?

First his paternal goods were clean dispersed;

Second went Pontus' spoils and for the third,—

Ebro-land,—weets it well gold-rolling Tage.

Fear him the Gallias? Him the Britons' fear?

Why cherish this ill-wight? what 'vails he do?

Save fat paternal heritage devour?

Lost ye for such a name, O puissant pair

(Father and Son-in-law), our all-in-all?

Who can witness this, who can brook it, save a whore-monger, a guzzler, and a gamester, that Mamurra should possess what long-haired Gaul and remotest Britain erstwhile had. Thou catamite Romulus, this thou'lt see and bear? Then thou'rt a whore-monger, a guzzler, and a gamester. And shall he now, superb and o'er replete, saunter o'er eachone's bed, as though he were a snow-plumed dove or an Adonis? Thou catamite Romulus, this thou'lt see and hear? Then thou'rt a whore-monger, a guzzler, and a gamester. For such a name, O general unique, hast thou been to the furthest island of the west, that this thy futtered-out Mentula should squander hundreds of hundreds? What is't but ill-placed munificence? What trifles has he squandered, or what petty store washed away? First his patrimony was mangled; secondly the Pontic spoils; then thirdly the Iberian, which the golden Tagus-stream knoweth. Do not the Gauls fear this man, do not the Britons quake? Why dost thou foster this scoundrel? What use is he save to devour well-fattened inheritances? Wast for such a name, O most puissant father-in-law and son-in-law, that ye have spoiled the entire world.

XXX.

Alfene inmemor atque unanimis false sodalibusIam te nil miseret, dure, tui dulcis amiculi?Iam me prodere, iam non dubitas fallere, perfide?Nec facta inpia fallacum hominum caelicolis placent:5Quod tu neglegis, ac me miserum deseris in malis.Eheu quid faciant, dic, homines, cuive habeant fidem?Certe tute iubebas animam tradere, inique, meInducens in amorem, quasi tuta omnia mi forent.Idem nunc retrahis te ac tua dicta omnia factaque10Ventos inrita ferre ac nebulas aerias sinis.Si tu oblitus es, at di meminerunt, meminit Fides,Quae te ut paeniteat postmodo facti faciet tui.

Alfene inmemor atque unanimis false sodalibusIam te nil miseret, dure, tui dulcis amiculi?

Alfene inmemor atque unanimis false sodalibus

Iam te nil miseret, dure, tui dulcis amiculi?

Iam me prodere, iam non dubitas fallere, perfide?Nec facta inpia fallacum hominum caelicolis placent:

Iam me prodere, iam non dubitas fallere, perfide?

Nec facta inpia fallacum hominum caelicolis placent:

5Quod tu neglegis, ac me miserum deseris in malis.Eheu quid faciant, dic, homines, cuive habeant fidem?

Quod tu neglegis, ac me miserum deseris in malis.

Eheu quid faciant, dic, homines, cuive habeant fidem?

Certe tute iubebas animam tradere, inique, meInducens in amorem, quasi tuta omnia mi forent.

Certe tute iubebas animam tradere, inique, me

Inducens in amorem, quasi tuta omnia mi forent.

Idem nunc retrahis te ac tua dicta omnia factaque10Ventos inrita ferre ac nebulas aerias sinis.

Idem nunc retrahis te ac tua dicta omnia factaque

Ventos inrita ferre ac nebulas aerias sinis.

Si tu oblitus es, at di meminerunt, meminit Fides,Quae te ut paeniteat postmodo facti faciet tui.

Si tu oblitus es, at di meminerunt, meminit Fides,

Quae te ut paeniteat postmodo facti faciet tui.

XXX.

To Alfenus the Perjuror.

Alfénus! short of memory, false to comrades dearest-dear,Now hast no pity (hardened Soul!) for friend and loving fere?Now to betray me, now to guile thou (traitor!) ne'er dost pause?Yet impious feats of fraudful men ne'er force the Gods' applause:5When heed'st thou not deserting me (Sad me!) in sorest scathe,Ah say whate'er shall humans do? in whom shall man show faith?For sure thou bad'st me safely yield my spirit (wretch!) to thee,Lulling my love as though my life were all security.The same now dost withdraw thyself and every word and deed10Thou suffer'st winds and airy clouds to sweep from out thy head.But an forget thou, mindful be the Gods, and Faith in mindBears thee, and soon shall gar thee rue the deeds by thee design'd.

Alfénus! short of memory, false to comrades dearest-dear,Now hast no pity (hardened Soul!) for friend and loving fere?

Alfénus! short of memory, false to comrades dearest-dear,

Now hast no pity (hardened Soul!) for friend and loving fere?

Now to betray me, now to guile thou (traitor!) ne'er dost pause?Yet impious feats of fraudful men ne'er force the Gods' applause:

Now to betray me, now to guile thou (traitor!) ne'er dost pause?

Yet impious feats of fraudful men ne'er force the Gods' applause:

5When heed'st thou not deserting me (Sad me!) in sorest scathe,Ah say whate'er shall humans do? in whom shall man show faith?

When heed'st thou not deserting me (Sad me!) in sorest scathe,

Ah say whate'er shall humans do? in whom shall man show faith?

For sure thou bad'st me safely yield my spirit (wretch!) to thee,Lulling my love as though my life were all security.

For sure thou bad'st me safely yield my spirit (wretch!) to thee,

Lulling my love as though my life were all security.

The same now dost withdraw thyself and every word and deed10Thou suffer'st winds and airy clouds to sweep from out thy head.

The same now dost withdraw thyself and every word and deed

Thou suffer'st winds and airy clouds to sweep from out thy head.

But an forget thou, mindful be the Gods, and Faith in mindBears thee, and soon shall gar thee rue the deeds by thee design'd.

But an forget thou, mindful be the Gods, and Faith in mind

Bears thee, and soon shall gar thee rue the deeds by thee design'd.

Alfenus, unmemoried and unfaithful to thy comrades true, is there now no pity in thee, O hard of heart, for thine sweet loving friend? Dost thou betray me now, and scruplest not to play me false now, dishonourable one? Yet the irreverent deeds of traitorous men please not the dwellers in heaven: this thou takest no heed of, leaving me wretched amongst my ills. Alas, what may men do, I pray you, in whom put trust? In truth thou didst bid me entrust my soul to thee, sans love returned, lulling me to love, as though all [love-returns] were safely mine. Yet now thou dost withdraw thyself, and all thy purposeless words and deeds thou sufferest to be wafted away into winds and nebulous clouds. If thou hast forgotten, yet the gods remember, and in time to come will make thee rue thy doing.

XXXI.

Paeninsularum, Sirmio, insularumqueOcelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnisMarique vasto fert uterque Neptunus,Quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso,5Vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque BithynosLiquisse campos et videre te in tuto.O quid solutis est beatius curis,Cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrinoLabore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum10Desideratoque acquiescimus lecto.Hoc est, quod unumst pro laboribus tantis.Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude:Gaudete vosque, o Libuae lacus undae:Ridete, quidquid est domi cachinnorum.

Paeninsularum, Sirmio, insularumque

Ocelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnis

Marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus,

Quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso,

Vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bithynos

Liquisse campos et videre te in tuto.

O quid solutis est beatius curis,

Cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino

Labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum

Desideratoque acquiescimus lecto.

Hoc est, quod unumst pro laboribus tantis.

Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude:

Gaudete vosque, o Libuae lacus undae:

Ridete, quidquid est domi cachinnorum.

XXXI.

On Return to Sirmio and his Villa.

Sirmio! of Islands and PeninsulasEyelet, and whatsoe'er in limpid meresAnd vasty Ocean either Neptune owns,Thy scenes how willing-glad once more I see,5At pain believing Thynia and the FieldsBithynian left, I'm safe to sight thy Site.Oh what more blessèd be than cares resolved,When mind casts burthen and by peregrineWork over wearied, lief we hie us home10To lie reposing in the longed-for bed!This be the single meed for toils so triste.Hail, O fair Sirmio, in thy lord rejoice:And ye, O waves of Lybian Lake be glad,And laugh what laughter pealeth in my home.

Sirmio! of Islands and Peninsulas

Eyelet, and whatsoe'er in limpid meres

And vasty Ocean either Neptune owns,

Thy scenes how willing-glad once more I see,

At pain believing Thynia and the Fields

Bithynian left, I'm safe to sight thy Site.

Oh what more blessèd be than cares resolved,

When mind casts burthen and by peregrine

Work over wearied, lief we hie us home

To lie reposing in the longed-for bed!

This be the single meed for toils so triste.

Hail, O fair Sirmio, in thy lord rejoice:

And ye, O waves of Lybian Lake be glad,

And laugh what laughter pealeth in my home.

Sirmio! Eyebabe of Islands and Peninsulas, which Neptune holds whether in limpid lakes or on mighty mains, how gladly and how gladsomely do I re-see thee, scarce crediting that I've left behind Thynia and the Bithynian champaign, and that safe and sound I gaze on thee. O what's more blissful than cares released, when the mind casts down its burden, and when wearied with travel-toils we reach our hearth, and sink on the craved-for couch. This and only thisrepays our labours numerous. Hail, lovely Sirmio, and gladly greet thy lord; and joy ye, wavelets of the Lybian lake; laugh ye the laughters echoing from my home.

XXXII.

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