Part 25 (2/2)

Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amico (Frustra? immo magno c.u.m pretio atque malo), Sicine subrepsti mei, atque intestina perurens Ei misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona?

Eripuisti, heu heu nostrae crudele venenum 5 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 a.n.u.s. 10

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?

Ravished; (alas and alas!) of our life thou cruellest cruel 5 Venom, (alas and alas!) plague of our friends.h.i.+p and pest.

Yet must I now lament that lips so pure of the purest Damsel, thy slaver foul soiled 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. 10

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-burning my innermost bowels, s.n.a.t.c.hed from wretched me all our good? Thou hast s.n.a.t.c.hed 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 coniunx Alterius, lepidus filius alterius.

Gallus h.o.m.ost bellus: nam dulces iungit amores, c.u.m puero ut bello bella puella cubet.

Gallus h.o.m.ost stultus nec se videt esse maritum, 5 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 la.s.s.

Gallus is foolish wight, nor self regards he as husband, 5 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 malit Quam te c.u.m tota gente, Catulle, tua.

Sed tamen hic pulcher vendat c.u.m gente Catullum, Si tria notorum savia reppererit.

LXXVIIII.

OF LESBIUS.

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.

Lx.x.x.

<script>