The Poems and Fragments of Catullus. Gaius Valerius Catullus

Go to visit awhile.' Said I in answer,

      'Thanks; but, lady, for all my easy boasting,

       'Twas too summary; there's a friend who knows me,

       30 Cinna Gaius, his the sturdy bearers.

      'Mine or Cinna's, an inch alone divides us,

       I use Cinna's, as e'en my own possession.

       But you're really a bore, a very tiresome

       Dame unmannerly, thus to take me napping.'

      XI.

      Furius and Aurelius, O my comrades,

       Whether your Catullus attain to farthest

       Ind, the long shore lash'd by reverberating

       Surges Eoan;

       5 Hyrcan or luxurious horde Arabian,

       Sacan or grim Parthian arrow-bearer,

       Fields the rich Nile discolorates, a seven-fold

       River abounding;

       Whether o'er high Alps he afoot ascending

       10 Track the long records of a mighty Cæsar,

       Rhene, the Gauls' deep river, a lonely Britain

       Dismal in ocean;

       This, or aught else haply the gods determine,

       Absolute, you, with me in all to part not;

       15 Bid my love greet, bear her a little errand,

       Scarcely of honour.

       Say 'Live on yet, still given o'er to nameless

       Lords, within one bosom, a many wooers,

       Clasp'd, as unlov'd each, so in hourly change all

       20 Lewdly disabled.

       'Think not henceforth, thou, to recal Catullus'

       Love; thy own sin slew it, as on the meadow's

       Verge declines, ungently beneath the plough-share

       Stricken, a flower.'

      XII.

      Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil

       Left-hand practices o'er the merry wine-cup.

       Watch occasion, anon remove the napkin.

       Call this drollery? Trust me, friend, it is not.

       5 'Tis most beastly, a trick among a thousand.

      Not believe me? believe a friendly brother,

       Laughing Pollio; he declares a talent

       Poor indemnification, he the parlous

       Child of voluble humour and facetious.

       10 So face hendecasyllables, a thousand,

       Or most speedily send me back the napkin;

       Gift not prized at a sorry valuation,

       But for company; 'twas a friend's memento.

      Cloth of Saetabis, exquisite, from utmost

       15 Iber, sent as a gift to me Fabullus

       And Veranius. Ought not I to love them

       As Veranius even, as Fabullus?

      XIII.

      Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus,

       We'll dine merrily, dear my friend, together.

      Promise only to bring, your own, a dinner

       Rich and goodly; withal a lily maiden,

       5 Wine, and banter, a world of hearty laughing.

      Promise only; betimes we dine, my gentle

       Friend, most merrily; but, for your Catullus—

       Know he boasts but a pouch of empty cobwebs.

      Yet take contrary fee, the quintessential

       10 Love, or sweeter if aught is, aught supremer,

      Perfume savoury, mine; my love received it

       Gift of every Venus, all the Cupids.

      Would you smell it? a god shall hear Fabullus

       Pray unbody him only nose for ever.

XIV.