Part 30 (1/2)
ON MAMURRA.
Mentula fain would ascend Piplean mountain up-mounting: Pitch him the Muses down headlong wi' forklets a-hurled.
Mentula presumes the Pimplean mount to scale: the Muses with their pitchforks chuck him headlong down.
CVI.
c.u.m puero bello praeconem qui videt esse, Quid credat, nisi se vendere discupere?
CVI.
THE AUCTIONEER AND THE FAIR BOY.
When with a pretty-faced boy we see one playing the Crier, What can we wot except longs he for selling the same?
When with a comely lad a crier is seen to be, what may be thought save that he longs to sell himself.
CVII.
Siquoi quid cupido optantique obtigit umquam Insperanti, hoc est gratum animo proprie.
Quare hoc est gratum n.o.bisque est carius auro, Quod te rest.i.tuis, Lesbia, mi cupido, Rest.i.tuis cupido atque insperanti ipsa refers te. 5 n.o.bis o lucem candidiore nota!
Quis me uno vivit felicior, aut magis hac res Optandas vita dicere quis poterit?
CVII.
TO LESBIA RECONCILED.
An to one ever accrue any boon he l.u.s.ted and longed for Any time after despair, grateful it comes to his soul.
Thus 'tis grateful to us nor gold was ever so goodly, When thou restorest thyself (Lesbia!) to lovingmost me, Self thou restorest unhoped, and after despair thou returnest. 5 Oh the fair light of a Day noted with notabler white!
Where lives a happier man than myself or--this being won me-- Who shall e'er boast that his life brought him more coveted lot?
If what one desires and covets is ever obtained unhoped for, this is specially grateful to the soul. Wherefore is it grateful to us and far dearer than gold, that thou com'st again, Lesbia, to longing me; com'st yet again, long-looked for and unhoped, thou restorest thyself. O day of whiter note for us! who lives more happily than I, sole I, or who can say what greater thing than this could be hoped for in life?
CVIII.
Si, Comini, populi arbitrio tua cana senectus Spurcata inpuris moribus intereat, Non equidem dubito quin primum inimica bonorum Lingua execta avido sit data volturio, Effossos oculos voret atro gutture corvos, 5 Intestina canes, cetera membra lupi.
CVIII.
ON COMINIUS.
If by the verdict o' folk thy h.o.a.ry old age (O Cominius!) Filthy with fulsomest l.u.s.t ever be doomed to the death, Make I no manner of doubt but first thy tongue to the worthy Ever a foe, cut out, ravening Vulture shall feed; Gulp shall the Crow's black gorge those eye-b.a.l.l.s dug from their sockets, 5 Guts of thee go to the dogs, all that remains to the wolves.
If, O Cominius, by the people's vote thy h.o.a.ry age made filthy by unclean practices shall perish, forsure I doubt not but that first thy tongue, hostile to goodness, cut out, shall be given to the greedy vulture-brood, thine eyes, gouged out, shall the crows gorge down with sable maw, thine entrails [shall be flung] to the dogs, the members still remaining to the wolf.
CVIIII.
Iocundum, mea vita, mihi proponis amorem Hunc nostrum internos perpetuomque fore.
Di magni, facite ut vere promittere possit, Atque id sincere dicat et ex animo, Vt liceat n.o.bis tota producere vita 5 Alternum hoc sanctae foedus amicitae.