Part 26 (1/2)

Quid dicam, Gelli, quare rosea ista labella Hiberna fiant candidiora nive, Mane domo c.u.m exis et c.u.m te octava quiete E molli longo suscitat hora die?

Nescioquid certest: an vere fama susurrat 5 Grandia te medii tenta vorare viri?

Sic certest: clamant Victoris rupta miselli Ilia, et emulso labra notata sero.

Lx.x.x.

TO GELLIUS.

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

Certes sure am I not an Rumour rightfully whisper 5 * * * *

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 slumber to 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-drained [Greek: s.e.m.e.n] publish the fact.

Lx.x.xI.

Nemone in tanto potuit populo esse, Iuventi, Bellus h.o.m.o, quem tu diligere inciperes, Praeterquam iste tuus moribunda a sede Pisauri Hospes inaurata pallidior statua, Qui tibi nunc cordist, quem tu praeponere n.o.bis 5 Audes, et nescis quod facinus facias.

Lx.x.xI.

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, Whom to thy heart thou takest and whom thou darest before us 5 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.

Lx.x.xII.

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.

Lx.x.xII.

TO QUINTIUS.

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 s.n.a.t.c.h from him what is much dearer to him than his eyes, or than aught which itself may be dearer to him than his eyes.

Lx.x.xIII.

Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit: Haec illi fatuo maxima laet.i.tiast.

Mule, nihil sentis. si nostri oblita taceret, Sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur, Non solum meminit, sed quae multo acrior est res 5 Iratast. Hoc est, uritur et coquitur.

Lx.x.xIII.

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, Not only dwells in her thought, but worse and even more risky, 5 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. a.s.s, 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 pa.s.sion.