LXVIII.

TO MANIUS ON VARIOUS MATTERS.

When to me sore opprest by bitter chance of misfortune This thy letter thou send'st written wi' blotting of tears, So might I save thee flung by spuming billows of ocean, Shipwreckt, rescuing life snatcht from the threshold of death; Eke neither Venus the Holy to rest in slumber's refreshment 5 Grants thee her grace on couch lying deserted and lone, Nor can the Muses avail with dulcet song of old writers Ever delight thy mind sleepless in anxious care; Grateful be this to my thought since thus thy friend I'm entitled, Hence of me seekest thou gifts Muses and Venus can give: 10 But that bide not unknown to thee my sorrows (O Manius!) And lest office of host I should be holden to hate, Learn how in Fortune's deeps I chance myself to be drowned, Nor fro' the poor rich boons furthermore prithee require. What while first to myself the pure-white garment was given, 15 Whenas my flowery years flowed in fruition of spring, Much I disported enow, nor 'bode I a stranger to Goddess Who with our cares is lief sweetness of bitter to mix: Yet did a brother's death pursuits like these to my sorrow Bid for me cease: Oh, snatcht brother! from wretchedest me. 20 Then, yea, thou by thy dying hast broke my comfort, O brother; Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house; Perisht along wi' thyself all gauds and joys of our life-tide, Douce love fostered by thee during the term of our days. After thy doom of death fro' mind I banished wholly 25 Studies like these, and all lending a solace to soul; Wherefore as to thy writ:—"Verona's home for Catullus Bringeth him shame, for there men of superior mark Must on a deserted couch fain chafe their refrigerate limbs:" Such be no shame (Manius!): rather 'tis matter of ruth. 30 Pardon me, then, wilt thou an gifts bereft me by grieving These I send not to thee since I avail not present. For, that I own not here abundant treasure of writings Has for its cause, in Rome dwell I; and there am I homed, There be my seat, and there my years are gathered to harvest; 35 Out of book-cases galore here am I followed by one. This being thus, nill I thou deem 'tis spirit malignant Acts in such wise or mind lacking of liberal mood That to thy prayer both gifts be not in plenty supplied: Willingly both had I sent, had I the needed supply. 40 Nor can I (Goddesses!) hide in what things Allius sent me Aid, forbear to declare what was the aidance he deigned: Neither shall fugitive Time from centuries ever oblivious Veil in the blinds of night friendship he lavisht on me. But will I say unto you what you shall say to the many 45 Thousands in turn, and make paper, old crone, to proclaim * * * * And in his death become noted the more and the more, Nor let spider on high that weaves her delicate webbing Practise such labours o'er Allius' obsolete name. 50 For that ye weet right well what care Amathusia two-faced Gave me, and how she dasht every hope to the ground, Whenas I burnt so hot as burn Trinacria's rocks or Mallia stream that feeds Oetean Thermopylae; Nor did these saddened eyes to be dimmed by assiduous weeping 55 Cease, and my cheeks with showers ever in sadness be wet. E'en as from aery heights of mountain springeth a springlet Limpidest leaping forth from rocking felted with moss, Then having headlong rolled the prone-laid valley downpouring, Populous region amid wendeth his gradual way, 60 Sweetest solace of all to the sweltering traveller wayworn, Whenas the heavy heat fissures the fiery fields; Or, as to seamen lost in night of whirlwind a-glooming Gentle of breath there comes fairest and favouring breeze, Pollux anon being prayed, nor less vows offered to Castor:— 65 Such was the aidance to us Manius pleased to afford. He to my narrow domains far wider limits laid open, He too gave me the house, also he gave me the dame, She upon whom both might exert them, partners in love deeds. Thither graceful of gait pacing my goddess white-hued 70 Came and with gleaming foot on the worn sole of the threshold Stood she and prest its slab creaking her sandals the while; E'en so with love enflamed in olden days to her helpmate, Laodamia the home Protesilean besought, Sought, but in vain, for ne'er wi' sacrificial bloodshed 75 Victims appeased the Lords ruling Celestial seats: Never may I so joy in aught (Rhamnusian Virgin!) That I engage in deed maugre the will of the Lords. How starved altar can crave for gore in piety poured, Laodamia learnt taught by the loss of her man, 80 Driven perforce to loose the neck of new-wedded help-mate, Whenas a winter had gone, nor other winter had come, Ere in the long dark nights her greeding love was so sated That she had power to live maugre a marriage broke off, Which, as the Parcae knew, too soon was fated to happen 85 Should he a soldier sail bound for those Ilian walls. For that by Helena's rape, the Champion-leaders of Argives Unto herself to incite Troy had already begun, Troy (ah, curst be the name) common tomb of Asia and Europe, Troy to sad ashes that turned valour and valorous men! 90 Eke to our brother beloved, destruction ever lamented Brought she: O Brother for aye lost unto wretchedmost me, Oh, to thy wretchedmost brother lost the light of his life-tide, Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house: Perisht along wi' thyself forthright all joys we enjoyed, 95 Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days; Whom now art tombed so far nor 'mid familiar pavestones Nor wi' thine ashes stored near to thy kith and thy kin, But in that Troy obscene, that Troy of ill-omen, entombed Holds thee, an alien earth-buried in uttermost bourne. 100 Thither in haste so hot ('tis said) from allwhere the Youth-hood Grecian, fared in hosts forth of their hearths and their homes, Lest with a stolen punk with fullest of pleasure should Paris Fairly at leisure and ease sleep in the pacific bed. Such was the hapless chance, most beautiful Laodamia, 105 Tare fro' thee dearer than life, dearer than spirit itself, Him, that husband, whose love in so mighty a whirlpool of passion Whelmed thee absorbed and plunged deep in its gulfy abyss, E'en as the Grecians tell hard by Pheneus of Cyllene Drained was the marish and dried, forming the fattest of soils, 110 Whenas in days long done to delve through marrow of mountains Dared, falsing his sire, Amphtryoniades; What time sure of his shafts he smote Stymphalian monsters Slaying their host at the hest dealt by a lord of less worth, So might the gateway of Heaven be trodden by more of the godheads, 115 Nor might Hebe abide longer to maidenhood doomed. Yet was the depth of thy love far deeper than deepest of marish Which the hard mistress's yoke taught him so tamely to bear; Never was head so dear to a grandsire wasted by life-tide Whenas one daughter alone a grandson so tardy had reared, 120 Who being found against hope to inherit riches of forbears In the well-witnessed Will haply by name did appear, And 'spite impious hopes of baffled claimant to kinship Startles the Vulturine grip clutching the frost-bitten poll. Nor with such rapture e'er joyed his mate of snowy-hued plumage 125 Dove-mate, albeit aye wont in her immoderate heat Said be the bird to snatch hot kisses with beak ever billing, As diddest thou:—yet is Woman multivolent still. But thou 'vailedest alone all these to conquer in love-lowe, When conjoined once more unto thy yellow-haired spouse. 130 Worthy of yielding to her in naught or ever so little Came to the bosom of us she, the fair light of my life, Round whom fluttering oft the Love-God hither and thither Shone with a candid sheen robed in his safflower dress. She though never she bide with one Catullus contented, 135 Yet will I bear with the rare thefts of my dame the discreet, Lest over-irk I give which still of fools is the fashion. Often did Juno eke Queen of the Heavenly host Boil wi' the rabidest rage at dire default of a husband Learning the manifold thefts of her omnivolent Jove, 140 Yet with the Gods mankind 'tis nowise righteous to liken, * * * * * * * * Rid me of graceless task fit for a tremulous sire. Yet was she never to me by hand paternal committed Whenas she came to my house reeking Assyrian scents; Nay, in the darkness of night her furtive favours she deigned me, 145 Self-willed taking herself from very mate's very breast. Wherefore I hold it enough since given to us and us only Boon of that day with Stone whiter than wont she denotes. This to thee—all that I can—this offering couched in verses (Allius!) as my return give I for service galore; 150 So wi' the seabriny rust your name may never be sullied This day and that nor yet other and other again. Hereto add may the Gods all good gifts, which Themis erewhiles Wont on the pious of old from her full store to bestow: Blest be the times of the twain, thyself and she who thy life is, 155 Also the home wherein dallied we, no less the Dame, Anser to boot who first of mortals brought us together, Whence from beginning all good Fortunes that blest us were born. Lastly than every else one dearer than self and far dearer, Light of my life who alive living to me can endear. 160

That when, opprest by fortune and in grievous case, thou didst send me this epistle o'erwrit with tears, that I might bear up shipwrecked thee tossed by the foaming waves of the sea, and restore thee from the threshold of death; thou whom neither sacred Venus suffers to repose in soft slumber, desolate on a a lonely couch, nor do the Muses divert with the sweet song of ancient poets, whilst thy anxious mind keeps vigil:—this is grateful to me, since thou dost call me thy friend, and dost seek hither the gifts of the Muses and of Venus. But that my troubles may not be unknown to thee, O Manius, nor thou deem I shun the office of host, hear how I am whelmed in the waves of that same fortune, nor further seek joyful gifts from a wretched one. In that time when the white vestment was first handed to me, and my florid age was passing in jocund spring, much did I sport enow: nor was the goddess unknown to us who mixes bitter-sweet with our cares. But my brother's death plunged all this pursuit into mourning. O brother, taken from my unhappy self; thou by thy dying hast broken my ease, O brother; all our house is buried with thee; with thee have perished the whole of our joys, which thy sweet love nourished in thy lifetime. Thou lost, I have dismissed wholly from mind these studies and every delight of mind. Wherefore, as to what thou writest, "'Tis shameful for Catullus to be at Verona, for there anyone of utmost note must chafe his frigid limbs on a desolate couch;" that, Manius, is not shameful; rather 'tis a pity. Therefore, do thou forgive, if what grief has snatched from me, these gifts, I do not bestow on thee, because I am unable. For, that there is no great store of writings with me arises from this, that we live at Rome: there is my home, there is my hall, thither my time is passed; hither but one of my book-cases follows me. As 'tis thus, I would not that thou deem we act so from ill-will or from a mind not sufficiently ingenuous, that ample store is not forthcoming to either of thy desires: both would I grant, had I the wherewithal. Nor can I conceal, goddesses, in what way Allius has aided me, or with how many good offices he has assisted me; nor shall fleeting time with its forgetful centuries cover with night's blindness this care of his. But I tell it to you, and do ye declare it to many thousands, and make this paper, grown old, speak of it * * * * And let him be more and more noted when dead, nor let the spider aloft, weaving her thin-drawn web, carry on her work over the neglected name of Allius. For you know what anxiety of mind wily Amathusia gave me, and in what manner she overthrew me, when I was burning like the Trinacrian rocks, or the Malian fount in Oetaean Thermopylae; nor did my piteous eyes cease to dissolve with continual weeping, nor my cheeks with sad showers to be bedewed. As the pellucid stream gushes forth from the moss-grown rock on the aerial crest of the mountain, which when it has rolled headlong prone down the valley, softly wends its way through the midst of the populous parts, sweet solace to the wayfarer sweating with weariness, when the oppressive heat cracks the burnt-up fields agape: or, as to sailors tempest-tossed in black whirlpool, there cometh a favourable and a gently-moving breeze, Pollux having been prayed anon, and Castor alike implored: of such kind was Manius' help to us. He with a wider limit laid open my closed field; he gave us a home and its mistress, on whom we both might exercise our loves in common. Thither with gracious gait my bright-hued goddess betook herself, and pressed her shining sole on the worn threshold with creaking of sandal; as once came Laodamia, flaming with love for her consort, to the home of Protesilaus,—a beginning of naught! for not yet with sacred blood had a victim made propitiate the lords of the heavens. May nothing please me so greatly, Rhamnusian virgin, that I should act thus heedlessly against the will of those lords! How the thirsty altar craves for sacrificial blood Laodamia was taught by the loss of her husband, being compelled to abandon the neck of her new spouse when one winter was past, before another winter had come, in whose long nights she might so glut her greedy love, that she could have lived despite her broken marriage-yoke, which the Parcae knew would not be long distant, if her husband as soldier should fare to the Ilian walls. For by Helena's rape Troy had begun to put the Argive Chiefs in the field; Troy accurst, the common grave of Asia and of Europe, Troy, the sad ashes of heroes and of every noble deed, that also lamentably brought death to our brother. O brother taken from unhappy me! O jocund light taken from thy unhappy brother! in thy one grave lies all our house, in thy one grave have perished all our joys, which thy sweet love did nurture during life. Whom now is laid so far away, not amongst familiar tombs nor near the ashes of his kindred, but obscene Troy, malign Troy, an alien earth, holds thee entombed in its remote soil. Thither, 'tis said, hastening together from all parts, the Grecian manhood forsook their hearths and homes, lest Paris enjoy his abducted trollop with freedom and leisure in a peaceful bed. Such then was thy case, loveliest Laodamia, to be bereft of husband sweeter than life, and than soul; thou being sucked in so great a whirlpool of love, its eddy submerged thee in its steep abyss, like (so folk say) to the Graian gulph near Pheneus of Cyllene with its fat swamp's soil drained and dried, which aforetime the falsely-born Amphitryoniades dared to hew through the marrow of cleft mountains, at the time when he smote down the Stymphalian monsters with sure shafts by the command of his inferior lord, so that the heavenly portal might be pressed by a greater number of deities, nor Hebe longer remain in her virginity. But deeper than that abyss was thy deep love which taught [thy husband] to bear his lady's forceful yoke. For not so dear to the spent age of the grandsire is the late born grandchild an only daughter rears, who, long-wished-for, at length inherits the ancestral wealth, his name duly set down in the attested tablets; and casting afar the impious hopes of the baffled next-of-kin, scares away the vulture from the whitened head; nor so much does any dove-mate rejoice in her snow-white consort (though, 'tis averred, more shameless than most in continually plucking kisses with nibbling beak) as thou dost, though woman is especially inconstant. But thou alone didst surpass the great frenzies of these, when thou wast once united to thy yellow-haired husband. Worthy to yield to whom in naught or in little, my light brought herself to my bosom, round whom Cupid, often running hither thither, gleamed lustrous-white in saffron-tinted tunic. Still although she is not content with Catullus alone, we will suffer the rare frailties of our coy lady, lest we may be too greatly unbearable, after the manner of fools. Often even Juno, greatest of heaven-dwellers, boiled with flaring wrath at her husband's default, wotting the host of frailties of all-wishful Jove. Yet 'tis not meet to match men with the gods, * * * * bear up the ungrateful burden of a tremulous parent. Yet she was not handed to me by a father's right hand when she came to my house fragrant with Assyrian odour, but she gave me her stealthy favours in the mute night, withdrawing of her own will from the bosom of her spouse. Wherefore that is enough if to us alone she gives that day which she marks with a whiter stone. This gift to thee, all that I can, of verse completed, is requital, Allius, for many offices, so that this day and that, and other and other of days may not tarnish your name with scabrous rust. Hither may the gods add gifts full many, which Themis aforetimes was wont to bear to the pious of old. May ye be happy, both thou and thy life's-love together, and thy home in which we have sported, and its mistress, and Anser who in the beginning brought thee to us, from whom all my good fortunes were first born, and lastly she whose very self is dearer to me than all these,—my light, whom living, 'tis sweet to me to live.

LXVIIII.

Noli admirari, quare tibi femina nulla, Rufe, velit tenerum supposuisse femur, Non si illam rarae labefactes munere vestis Aut perluciduli deliciis lapidis. Laedit te quaedam mala fabula, qua tibi fertur 5 Valle sub alarum trux habitare caper. Hunc metuunt omnes. neque mirum: nam mala valdest Bestia, nec quicum bella puella cubet. Quare aut crudelem nasorum interfice pestem, Aut admirari desine cur fugiunt. 10

LXVIIII.

TO RUFUS THE FETID.

Wonder not blatantly why no woman shall ever be willing (Rufus!) her tender thigh under thyself to bestow, Not an thou tempt her full by bribes of the rarest garments, Or by the dear delights gems the pellucidest deal. Harms thee an ugly tale wherein of thee is recorded 5 Horrible stench of the goat under thine arm-pits be lodged. All are in dread thereof; nor wonder this, for 'tis evil Beastie, nor damsel fair ever thereto shall succumb. So do thou either kill that cruel pest o' their noses, Or at their reason of flight blatantly wondering cease. 10

Be unwilling to wonder wherefore no woman, O Rufus, is wishful to place her tender thigh 'neath thee, not even if thou dost tempt her by the gift of a rare robe or by the delights of a crystal-clear gem. A certain ill tale injures thee, that thou bearest housed in the valley of thine armpits a grim goat. Hence everyone's fear. Nor be marvel: for 'tis an exceeding ill beast, with whom no fair girl will sleep. Wherefore, either murder that cruel plague of their noses, or cease to marvel why they fly?

LXX.

Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle Quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat. Dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.

LXX.

ON WOMAN'S INCONSTANCY.

Never, my woman oft says, with any of men will she mate be, Save wi' my own very self, ask her though Jupiter deign! Says she: but womanly words that are spoken to desireful lover Ought to be written on wind or upon water that runs.

No one, saith my lady, would she rather wed than myself, not even if Jupiter's self crave her. Thus she saith! but what a woman tells an ardent amourist ought fitly to be graven on the breezes and in running waters.

LXXI.

Siquoi iure bono sacer alarum obstitit hircus, Aut siquem merito tarda podagra secat, Aemulus iste tuos, qui vostrum exercet amorem, Mirificost fato nactus utrumque malum, Nam quotiens futuit, totiens ulciscitur ambos: 5 Illam adfligit odore, ipse perit podagra.

LXXI.

TO VERRO.

An of a goat-stink damned from armpits fusty one suffer, Or if a crippling gout worthily any one rack, 'Tis that rival o' thine who lief in loves of you meddles, And, by a wondrous fate, gains him the twain of such ills. For that, oft as he ——, so oft that penance be two-fold; 5 Stifles her stench of goat, he too is kilt by his gout.

If ever anyone was deservedly cursed with an atrocious goat-stench from armpits, or if limping gout did justly gnaw one, 'tis thy rival, who occupies himself with your love, and who has stumbled by the marvel of fate on both these ills. For as oft as he swives, so oft is he taken vengeance on by both; she he prostrates by his stink, he is slain by his gout.

LXXII.

Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum, Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem. Dilexi tum te non tantum ut volgus amicam, Sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos. Nunc te cognovi: quare etsi inpensius uror, 5 Multo mi tamen es vilior et levior. Qui potisest? inquis. quod amantem iniuria talis Cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.

LXXII.

TO LESBIA THE FALSE.

Wont thou to vaunt whilome of knowing only Catullus (Lesbia!) nor to prefer Jupiter's self to myself. Then, too, I loved thee well, not as vulgar wretch his mistress But as a father his sons loves and his sons by the law. Now have I learnt thee aright; wherefor though burn I the hotter, 5 Lighter and viler by far thou unto me hast become. "How can this be?" dost ask: 'tis that such injury ever Forces the hotter to love, also the less well to will.

Once thou didst profess to know but Catullus, Lesbia, nor wouldst hold Jove before me. I loved thee then, not only as a churl his mistress, but as a father loves his own sons and sons-in-law. Now I do know thee: wherefore if more strongly I burn, thou art nevertheless to me far viler and of lighter thought. How may this be? thou askest. Because such wrongs drive a lover to greater passion, but to less wishes of welfare.

LXXIII.

Desine de quoquam quicquam bene velle mereri Aut aliquem fieri posse putare pium. Omnia sunt ingrata, nihil fecisse benigne Prodest, immo etiam taedet obestque magis Vt mihi, quem nemo gravius nec acerbius urget, 5 Quam modo qui me unum atque unicum amicum habuit.

LXXIII.

OF AN INGRATE.

Cease thou of any to hope desired boon of well-willing, Or deem any shall prove pious and true to his dues. Waxes the world ingrate, no deed benevolent profits, Nay full oft it irks even offending the more: Such is my case whom none maltreats more grievously bitter, 5 Than does the man that me held one and only to friend.

Cease thou to wish to merit well from anyone in aught, or to think any can become honourable. All are ingrate, naught benign doth avail to aught, but rather it doth irk and prove the greater ill: so with me, whom none doth o'erpress more heavily nor more bitterly than he who a little while ago held me his one and only friend.

LXXIIII.

Gellius audierat patruom obiurgare solere, Siquis delicias diceret aut faceret. Hoc ne ipsi accideret, patrui perdepsuit ipsam Vxorem et patruom reddidit Harpocratem. Quod voluit fecit: nam, quamvis inrumet ipsum 5 Nunc patruom, verbum non faciet patruos.

LXXIIII.

OF GELLIUS.

Wont was Gellius hear his uncle rich in reproaches, When any ventured aught wanton in word or in deed. Lest to him chance such befall, his uncle's consort seduced he, And of his uncle himself fashioned an Harpocrates. Whatso he willed did he; and nowdays albe his uncle 5 —— he, no word ever that uncle shall speak.

Gellius had heard that his uncle was wont to be wroth, if any spake of or practised love-sportings. That this should not happen to him, he kneaded up his uncle's wife herself, and made of his uncle a god of silence. Whatever he wished, he did; for now, even if he irrumate his uncle's self, not a word will that uncle murmur.

LXXVII.

Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amico (Frustra? immo magno cum 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 anus. 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 friendship 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, snatched from wretched me all our good? Thou hast snatched 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 homost bellus: nam dulces iungit amores, Cum puero ut bello bella puella cubet. Gallus homost 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 lass. 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 cum tota gente, Catulle, tua. Sed tamen hic pulcher vendat cum 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.

LXXX.

Quid dicam, Gelli, quare rosea ista labella Hiberna fiant candidiora nive, Mane domo cum exis et cum 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.

LXXX.

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: semen] publish the fact.

LXXXI.

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

LXXXI.

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.

LXXXII.

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.

LXXXII.

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 snatch from him what is much dearer to him than his eyes, or than aught which itself may be dearer to him than his eyes.

LXXXIII.

Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit: Haec illi fatuo maxima laetitiast. 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.

LXXXIII.

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. Ass, 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 passion.

LXXXIIII.

Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda vellet Dicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias, Et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum, Cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias. Credo, sic mater, sic Liber avonculus eius, 5 Sic maternus avos dixerat atque avia. Hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures: Audibant eadem haec leniter et leviter, Nec sibi postilla metuebant talia verba, Cum subito adfertur nuntius horribilis, 10 Ionios fluctus, postquam illuc Arrius isset, Iam non Ionios esse, sed Hionios.

LXXXIIII.

ON ARRIUS, A ROMAN 'ARRY.

Wont is Arrius say "Chommodious" whenas "commodious" Means he, and "Insidious" aspirate "Hinsidious," What time flattering self he speaks with marvellous purity, Clamouring "Hinsidious" loudly as ever he can. Deem I thus did his dame and thus-wise Liber his uncle 5 Speak, and on spindle-side grandsire and grandmother too. Restful reposed all ears when he was sent into Syria, Hearing the self-same words softly and smoothly pronounced, Nor any feared to hear such harshness uttered thereafter, Whenas a sudden came message of horrible news, 10 Namely th' Ionian waves when Arrius thither had wended, Were "Ionian" no more—they had "Hionian" become.

Chommodious did Arrius say, whenever he had need to say commodious, and for insidious hinsidious, and felt confident he spoke with accent wondrous fine, when aspirating hinsidious to the full of his lungs. I understand that his mother, his uncle Liber, his maternal grand-parents all spoke thus. He being sent into Syria, everyone's ears were rested, hearing these words spoken smoothly and slightly, nor after that did folk fear such words from him, when on a sudden is brought the nauseous news that th' Ionian waves, after Arrius' arrival thither, no longer are Ionian hight, but are now the Hionian Hocean.

LXXXV.

Odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.

LXXXV.

HOW THE POET LOVES.

Hate I, and love I. Haps thou'lt ask me wherefore I do so. Wot I not, yet so I do feeling a torture of pain.

I hate and I love. Wherefore do I so, peradventure thou askest. I know not, but I feel it to be thus and I suffer.

LXXXVI.

Quintia formosast multis, mihi candida, longa, Rectast. haec ego sic singula confiteor, Totum illud formosa nego: nam nulla venustas, Nulla in tam magnost corpore mica salis. Lesbia formosast, quae cum pulcherrima totast, 5 Tum omnibus una omnes surripuit Veneres.

LXXXVI.

OF QUINTIA.

Quintia beautiful seems to the crowd; to me, fair, and tall, Straight; and merits as these readily thus I confess, But that she is beauteous all I deny, for nothing of lovesome, Never a grain of salt, shows in her person so large. Lesbia beautiful seems, and when all over she's fairest, 5 Any Venus-gift stole she from every one.

Quintia is lovely to many; to me she is fair, tall, and shapely. Each of these qualities I grant. But that all these make loveliness I deny: for nothing of beauty nor scintilla of sprightliness is in her body so massive. Lesbia is lovely, for whilst the whole of her is most beautiful, she has stolen for herself every love-charm from all her sex.

LXXXVII.

Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatam Vere, quantum a me Lesbia amata mea's. Nulla fides ullo fuit umquam foedere tanta, Quanta in amore tuo ex parte reperta meast. Nunc est mens diducta tua, mea Lesbia, culpa, LXXV Atque ita se officio perdidit ipsa suo, Vt iam nec bene velle queat tibi, si optima fias, Nec desistere amare, omnia si facias.

LXXXVII.

TO LESBIA.

Never a woman could call herself so fondly beloved Truly as Lesbia mine has been beloved of myself. Never were Truth and Faith so firm in any one compact As on the part of me kept I my love to thyself. Now is my mind to a pass, my Lesbia, brought by thy treason, LXXV So in devotion to thee lost is the duty self due, Nor can I will thee well if best of women thou prove thee, Nor can I cease to love, do thou what doings thou wilt.

No woman can say with truth that she has been loved as much as thou, Lesbia, hast been loved by me: no love-troth was ever so greatly observed as in love of thee on my part has been found.

Now is my mind so led apart, my Lesbia, by thy fault, and has so lost itself by its very worship, that now it can not wish well to thee, wert thou to become most perfect, nor cease to love thee, do what thou wilt!

LXXVI.

Siqua recordanti benefacta priora voluptas Est homini, cum se cogitat esse pium, Nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere in ullo Divom ad fallendos numine abusum homines, Multa parata manent in longa aetate, Catulle, 5 Ex hoc ingrato gaudia amore tibi. Nam quaecumque homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possunt Aut facere, haec a te dictaque factaque sunt; Omniaque ingratae perierunt credita menti. Quare iam te cur amplius excrucies? 10 Quin tu animo offirmas atque istinc teque reducis Et dis invitis desinis esse miser? Difficilest longum subito deponere amorem. Difficilest, verum hoc quae lubet efficias. Vna salus haec est, hoc est tibi pervincendum: 15 Hoc facias, sive id non pote sive pote. O di, si vestrumst misereri, aut si quibus umquam Extremam iam ipsa morte tulistis opem, Me miserum aspicite (et, si vitam puriter egi, Eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi), 20 Ei mihi surrepens imos ut torpor in artus Expulit ex omni pectore laetitias. Non iam illud quaero, contra me ut diligat illa, Aut, quod non potisest, esse pudica velit: Ipse valere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum. 25 O di, reddite mi hoc pro pietate mea.

LXXVI.

IN SELF-GRATULATION.

If to remember deeds whilome well done be a pleasure Meet for a man who deems all of his dealings be just, Nor Holy Faith ever broke nor in whatever his compact Sanction of Gods abused better to swindle mankind, Much there remains for thee during length of living, Catullus, 5 Out of that Love ingrate further to solace thy soul; For whatever of good can mortal declare of another Or can avail he do, such thou hast said and hast done; While to a thankless mind entrusted all of them perisht. Why, then, crucify self now with a furthering pain? 10 Why not steady thy thoughts and draw thee back from such purpose, Ceasing wretched to be maugre the will of the Gods? Difficult 'tis indeed long Love to depose of a sudden, Difficult 'tis, yet do e'en as thou deem to be best. This be thy safe-guard sole; this conquest needs to be conquered; 15 This thou must do, thus act, whether thou cannot or can. If an ye have (O Gods!) aught ruth, or if you for any Bring at the moment of death latest assistance to man, Look upon me (poor me!) and, should I be cleanly of living, Out of my life deign pluck this my so pestilent plague, 20 Which as a lethargy o'er mine inmost vitals a-creeping, Hath from my bosom expelled all of what joyance it joyed, Now will I crave no more she love me e'en as I love her, Nor (impossible chance!) ever she prove herself chaste: Would I were only healed and shed this fulsome disorder. 25 Oh Gods, grant me this boon unto my piety due!

If to recall good deeds erewhiles performed be pleasure to a man, when he knows himself to be of probity, nor has violated sacred faith, nor has abused the holy assent of the gods in any pact, to work ill to men; great store of joys awaits thee during thy length of years, O Catullus, sprung from this ingrate love of thine. For whatever of benefit men can say or can do for anyone, such have been thy sayings and thy doings, and all thy confidences have been squandered on an ingrate mind. Wherefore now dost torture thyself further? Why not make firm thy heart and withdraw thyself from that [wretchedness], and cease to be unhappy despite the gods' will? 'Tis difficult quickly to depose a love of long growth; 'tis difficult, yet it behoves thee to do this. This is thine only salvation, this is thy great victory; this thou must do, whether it be possible or impossible. O gods, if 'tis in you to have mercy, or if ever ye held forth help to men in death's very extremity, look ye on pitiful me, and if I have acted my life with purity, snatch hence from me this canker and pest, which as a lethargy creeping through my veins and vitals, has cast out every gladness from my breast. Now I no longer pray that she may love me in return, or (what is not possible) that she should become chaste: I wish but for health and to cast aside this shameful complaint. O ye gods, vouchsafe me this in return for my probity.

LXXXVIII.

Quid facit is, Gelli, qui cum matre atque sorore Prurit et abiectis pervigilat tunicis? Quid facit is, patruom qui non sinit esse maritum? Ecqui scis quantum suscipiat sceleris? Suscipit, o Gelli, quantum non ultima Tethys 5 Nec genitor lympharum abluit Oceanus: Nam nihil est quicquam sceleris, quo prodeat ultra, Non si demisso se ipse voret capite.

LXXXVIII.

TO GELLIUS.

What may he (Gellius!) do that ever for mother and sister Itches and wakes thro' the nights, working wi' tunic bedoffed? What may he do who nills his uncle ever be husband? Wottest thou how much he ventures of sacrilege-sin? Ventures he (O Gellius!) what ne'er can ultimate Tethys 5 Wash from his soul, nor yet Ocean, watery sire. For that of sin there's naught wherewith this sin can exceed he —— his head on himself.

What does he, Gellius, who with mother and sister itches and keeps vigils with tunics cast aside? What does he, who suffers not his uncle to be a husband? Dost thou know the weight of crime he takes upon himself? He takes, O Gellius, such store as not furthest Tethys nor Oceanus, progenitor of waters, can cleanse: for there is nothing of any crime which can go further, not though with lowered head he swallow himself.

LXXXVIIII.

Gellius est tenuis: quid ni? cui tam bona mater Tamque valens vivat tamque venusta soror Tamque bonus patruos tamque omnia plena puellis Cognatis, quare is desinat esse macer? Qui ut nihil attingit, nisi quod fas tangere non est, 5 Quantumvis quare sit macer invenies.

LXXXVIIII.

ON GELLIUS.

Gellius is lean: Why not? For him so easy a mother Lives, and a sister so boon, bonny and buxom to boot, Uncle so kindly good and all things full of his lady- Cousins, how can he cease leanest of lankies to be? Albeit, touch he naught save that whose touch is a scandal, 5 Soon shall thou find wherefor he be as lean as thou like.

Gellius is meagre: why not? He who lives with so good a mother, so healthy and so beauteous a sister, and who has such a good uncle, and a world-*full of girl cousins, wherefore should he leave off being lean? Though he touch naught save what is banned, thou canst find ample reason wherefore he may stay lean.

LXXXX.

Nascatur magus ex Gelli matrisque nefando Coniugio et discat Persicum aruspicium: Nam magus ex matre et gnato gignatur oportet, Si verast Persarum inpia relligio, Navos ut accepto veneretur carmine divos 5 Omentum in flamma pingue liquefaciens.

LXXXX.

ON GELLIUS.

Born be a Magus, got by Gellius out of his mother (Marriage nefand!) who shall Persian augury learn. Needs it a Magus begot of son upon mother who bare him, If that impious faith, Persian religion be fact, So may their issue adore busy gods with recognised verses 5 Melting in altar-flame fatness contained by the caul.

Let there be born a Magian from the infamous conjoining of Gellius and his mother, and he shall learn the Persian aruspicy. For a Magian from a mother and son must needs be begotten, if there be truth in Persia's vile creed that one may worship with acceptable hymn the assiduous gods, whilst the caul's fat in the sacred flame is melting.

LXXXXI.

Non ideo, Gelli, sperabam te mihi fidum In misero hoc nostro, hoc perdito amore fore, Quod te cognossem bene constantemve putarem Aut posse a turpi mentem inhibere probro, Sed neque quod matrem nec germanam esse videbam 5 Hanc tibi, cuius me magnus edebat amor. Et quamvis tecum multo coniungerer usu, Non satis id causae credideram esse tibi. Tu satis id duxti: tantum tibi gaudium in omni Culpast, in quacumque est aliquid sceleris. 10

LXXXXI.

TO GELLIUS.

Not for due cause I hoped to find thee (Gellius!) faithful In this saddest our love, love that is lost and forlore, Or fro' my wotting thee well or ever believing thee constant, Or that thy mind could reject villany ever so vile, But that because was she to thyself nor mother nor sister, 5 This same damsel whose Love me in its greatness devoured. Yet though I had been joined wi' thee by amplest of usance, Still could I never believe this was sufficient of cause. Thou diddest deem it suffice: so great is thy pleasure in every Crime wherein may be found somewhat enormous of guilt. 10

Not for other reason, Gellius, did I hope for thy faith to me in this our unhappy, this our desperate love (because I knew thee well nor thought thee constant or able to restrain thy mind from shameless act), but that I saw this girl was neither thy mother nor thy sister, for whom my ardent love ate me. And although I have had many mutual dealings with thee, I did not credit this case to be enough cause for thee. Thou didst find it enough: so great is thy joy in every kind of guilt in which is something infamous.

LXXXXII.

Lesbia mi dicit semper male nec tacet umquam De me: Lesbia me dispeream nisi amat. Quo signo? quia sunt + totidem mea: deprecor illam Absidue, verum dispeream nisi amo.

LXXXXII.

ON LESBIA.

Lesbia naggeth at me evermore and ne'er is she silent Touching myself: May I die but that by Lesbia I'm loved. What be the proof? I rail and retort like her and revile her Carefully, yet may I die but that I love her with love.

Lesbia forever speaks ill of me nor is ever silent anent me: may I perish if Lesbia do not love me! By what sign? because I am just the same: I malign her without cease, yet may I die if I do not love her in sober truth.

LXXXXIII.

Nil nimium studeo Caesar tibi belle placere, Nec scire utrum sis albus an ater homo.

LXXXXIII.

ON JULIUS CAESAR.

Study I not o'ermuch to please thee (Caesar!) and court thee, Nor do I care e'en to know an thou be white or be black.

I am not over anxious, Caesar, to please thee greatly, nor to know whether thou art white or black man.

LXXXXIIII.

Mentula moechatur. moechatur mentula: certe. Hoc est, quod dicunt, ipsa olera olla legit.

LXXXXIIII.

AGAINST MENTULA (MAMURRA).

Mentula wooeth much: much wooeth he, be assured. That is, e'en as they say, the Pot gathers leeks for the pot.

Mentula whores. By the mentule he is be-whored: certes. This is as though they say the oil pot itself gathers the olives.

LXXXXV.

Zmyrna mei Cinnae nonam post denique messem Quam coeptast nonamque edita post hiemem, Milia cum interea quingenta Hortensius uno * * * * Zmyrna cavas Satrachi penitus mittetur ad undas, 5 Zmyrnam cana diu saecula pervoluent. At Volusi annales Paduam morientur ad ipsam Et laxas scombris saepe dabunt tunicas. Parva mei mihi sint cordi monumenta sodalis, At populus tumido gaudeat Antimacho. 10

LXXXXV.

ON THE "ZMYRNA" OF THE POET CINNA.

"Zmyrna" begun erstwhile nine harvests past by my Cinna Publisht appears when now nine of his winters be gone; Thousands fifty of lines meanwhile Hortensius in single * * * * "Zmyrna" shall travel afar as the hollow breakers of Satrax, 5 "Zmyrna" by ages grey lastingly shall be perused. But upon Padus' brink shall die Volusius his annals And to the mackerel oft loose-fitting jacket afford. Dear to my heart are aye the lightest works of my comrade, Leave I the mob to enjoy tumidest Antimachus. 10

My Cinna's "Zmyrna" at length, after nine harvests from its inception, is published when nine winters have gone by, whilst in the meantime Hortensius thousands upon thousands in one * * * * "Zmyrna" shall wander abroad e'en to the curving surf of Satrachus, hoary ages shall turn the leaves of "Zmyrna" in distant days. But Volusius' Annals shall perish at Padua itself, and shall often furnish loose wrappings for mackerel. The short writings of my comrade are gladsome to my heart; let the populace rejoice in bombastic Antimachus.

LXXXXVI.

Si quicquam mutis gratum acceptumve sepulcris Accidere a nostro, Calve, dolore potest, Quo desiderio veteres renovamus amores Atque olim missas flemus amicitias, Certe non tanto mors inmatura dolorist 5 Quintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo.

LXXXXVI.

TO CALVUS ANENT DEAD QUINTILIA.

If to the dumb deaf tomb can aught or grateful or pleasing (Calvus!) ever accrue rising from out of our dule, Wherewith yearning desire renews our loves in the bygone, And for long friendships lost many a tear must be shed; Certes, never so much for doom of premature death-day 5 Must thy Quintilia mourn as she is joyed by thy love.

If aught grateful or acceptable can penetrate the silent graves from our dolour, Calvus, when with sweet regret we renew old loves and beweep the lost friendships of yore, of a surety not so much doth Quintilia mourn her untimely death as she doth rejoice o'er thy constant love.

LXXXXVII.

Non (ita me di ament) quicquam referre putavi, Vtrumne os an culum olfacerem Aemilio. Nilo mundius hoc, niloque immundior ille, Verum etiam culus mundior et melior: Nam sine dentibus est: dentes os sesquipedales, 5 Gingivas vero ploxeni habet veteris, Praeterea rictum qualem diffissus in aestu Meientis mulae cunnus habere solet. Hic futuit multas et se facit esse venustum, Et non pistrino traditur atque asino? 10 Quem siqua attingit, non illam posse putemus Aegroti culum lingere carnificis?

LXXXXVII.

ON AEMILIUS THE FOUL.

Never (so love me the Gods!) deemed I 'twas preference matter Or AEmilius' mouth choose I to smell or his —— Nothing is this more clean, uncleaner nothing that other, Yet I ajudge —— cleaner and nicer to be; For while this one lacks teeth, that one has cubit-long tushes, 5 Set in their battered gums favouring a muddy old box, Not to say aught of gape like wide-cleft gap of a she-mule Whenas in summer-heat wont peradventure to stale. Yet has he many a motte and holds himself to be handsome— Why wi' the baker's ass is he not bound to the mill? 10 Him if a damsel kiss we fain must think she be ready With her fair lips ——

Nay (may the Gods thus love me) have I thought there to be aught of choice whether I might smell thy mouth or thy buttocks, O Aemilius. Nothing could the one be cleaner, nothing the other more filthy; nay in truth thy backside is the cleaner and better,—for it is toothless. Thy mouth hath teeth full half a yard in length, gums of a verity like to an old waggon-box, behind which its gape is such as hath the vulva of a she-mule cleft apart by the summer's heat, always a-staling. This object swives girls enow, and fancies himself a handsome fellow, and is not condemned to the mill as an ass? Whatso girl would touch thee, we think her capable of licking the breech of a leprous hangman.

LXXXXVIII.

In te, si in quemquam, dici pote, putide Victi, Id quod verbosis dicitur et fatuis. Ista cum lingua, si usus veniat tibi, possis Culos et crepidas lingere carpatinas. Si nos omnino vis omnes perdere, Victi, 5 Hiscas: omnino quod cupis efficies.

LXXXXVIII.

TO VICTIUS THE STINKARD.

Rightly of thee may be said, an of any, (thou stinkingest Victius!) Whatso wont we to say touching the praters and prigs. Thou wi' that tongue o' thine own, if granted occasion availest Brogues of the cowherds to kiss, also their —— Wouldst thou undo us all with a thorough undoing (O Victius!) 5 Open thy gape:—thereby all shall be wholly undone.

To thee, if to anyone, may I say, foul-mouthed Victius, that which is said to wind bags and fatuities. For with that tongue, if need arrive, thou couldst lick clodhoppers' shoes, clogs, and buttocks. If thou wishest to destroy us all entirely, Victius, thou need'st but gape: thou wilt accomplish what thou wishest entirely.

LXXXXVIIII.

Surripui tibi, dum ludis, mellite Iuventi, Suaviolum dulci dulcius ambrosia. Verum id non inpune tuli: namque amplius horam Suffixum in summa me memini esse cruce, Dum tibi me purgo nec possum fletibus ullis 5 Tantillum vostrae demere saevitiae. Nam simul id factumst, multis diluta labella Abstersti guttis omnibus articulis, Ne quicquam nostro contractum ex ore maneret, Tamquam conmictae spurca saliva lupae. 10 Praeterea infesto miserum me tradere Amori Non cessasti omnique excruciare modo, Vt mi ex ambrosia mutatum iam foret illud Suaviolum tristi tristius helleboro. Quam quoniam poenam misero proponis amori, 15 Numquam iam posthac basia surripiam.

LXXXXVIIII.

TO JUVENTIUS.

E'en as thou played'st, from thee snatched I (O honied Juventius!) Kisslet of savour so sweet sweetest Ambrosia unknows. Yet was the theft nowise scot-free, for more than an hour I Clearly remember me fixt hanging from crest of the Cross, Whatwhile I purged my sin unto thee nor with any weeping 5 Tittle of cruel despite such as be thine could I 'bate. For that no sooner done thou washed thy liplets with many Drops which thy fingers did wipe, using their every joint, Lest of our mouths conjoined remain there aught by the contact Like unto slaver foul shed by the buttered bun. 10 Further, wretchedmost me betrayed to unfriendliest Love-god Never thou ceased'st to pain hurting with every harm, So that my taste be turned and kisses ambrosial erstwhile Even than hellebore-juice bitterest bitterer grow. Seeing such pangs as these prepared for unfortunate lover, 15 After this never again kiss will I venture to snatch.

I snatched from thee, whilst thou wast sporting, O honied Juventius, a kiss sweeter than sweet ambrosia. But I bore it off not unpunished; for more than an hour do I remember myself hung on the summit of the cross, whilst I purged myself [for my crime] to thee, nor could any tears in the least remove your anger. For instantly it was done, thou didst bathe thy lips with many drops, and didst cleanse them with every finger-joint, lest anything remained from the conjoining of our mouths, as though it were the obscene slaver of a fetid fricatrice. Nay, more, thou hast handed wretched me over to despiteful Love, nor hast thou ceased to agonize me in every way, so that for me that kiss is now changed from ambrosia to be harsher than harsh hellebore. Since thou dost award such punishment to wretched amourist, never more after this will I steal kisses.

C.

Caelius Aufilenum et Quintius Aufilenam Flos Veronensum depereunt iuvenum, Hic fratrem, ille sororem. hoc est, quod dicitur, illud Fraternum vere dulce sodalitium. Cui faveam potius? Caeli, tibi: nam tua nobis 5 Per facta exhibitast unica amicitia, Cum vesana meas torreret flamma medullas. Sis felix, Caeli, sis in amore potens.

C.

ON CAELIUS AND QUINTIUS.

Caelius Aufilenus and Quintius Aufilena, Love to the death, both swains bloom of the youth Veronese, This woo'd brother and that sue'd sister: so might the matter Claim to be titled wi' sooth fairest fraternalest tie. Whom shall I favour the first? Thee (Caelius!) for thou hast proved 5 Singular friendship to us shown by the deeds it has done, Whenas the flames insane had madded me, firing my marrow: Caelius! happy be thou; ever be lusty in love.

Caelius, Aufilenus; and Quintius, Aufilena;—flower of the Veronese youth,—love desperately: this, the brother; that, the sister. This is, as one would say, true brotherhood and sweet friendship. To whom shall I incline the more? Caelius, to thee; for thy single devotion to us was shewn by its deeds, when the raging flame scorched my marrow. Be happy, O Caelius, be potent in love.

CI.

Multas per gentes et multa per aequora vectus Advenio has miseras, frater, ad inferias, Vt te postremo donarem munere mortis Et mutam nequiquam adloquerer cinerem, Quandoquidem fortuna mihi tete abstulit ipsum, 5 Heu miser indigne frater adempte mihi. * * * * Nunc tamen interea haec prisco quae more parentum Tradita sunt tristes munera ad inferias, Accipe fraterno multum manantia fletu, Atque in perpetuom, frater, ave atque vale. 10

CI.

ON THE BURIAL OF HIS BROTHER.

Faring thro' many a folk and plowing many a sea-plain These sad funeral-rites (Brother!) to deal thee I come, So wi' the latest boons to the dead bestowed I may gift thee, And I may vainly address ashes that answer have none, Sithence of thee, very thee, to deprive me Fortune behested, 5 Woe for thee, Brother forlore! Cruelly severed fro' me. * * * * Yet in the meanwhile now what olden usage of forbears Brings as the boons that befit mournfullest funeral rites, Thine be these gifts which flow with tear-flood shed by thy brother, And, for ever and aye (Brother!) all hail and farewell. 10

Through many a folk and through many waters borne, I am come, brother, to thy sad grave, that I may give the last gifts to the dead, and may vainly speak to thy mute ashes, since fortune hath borne from me thyself. Ah, hapless brother, heavily snatched from me. * * * But now these gifts, which of yore, in manner ancestral handed down, are the sad gifts to the grave, accept thou, drenched with a brother's tears, and for ever, brother, hail! for ever, adieu!

CII.

Si quicquam tacito conmissumst fido ab amico, Cuius sit penitus nota fides animi, Meque esse invenies illorum iure sacratum, Corneli, et factum me esse puta Harpocratem.

CII.

TO CORNELIUS.

If by confiding friend aught e'er be trusted in silence, Unto a man whose mind known is for worthiest trust, Me shalt thou find no less than such to secrecy oathbound, (Cornelius!) and now hold me an Harpocrates.

If aught be committed to secret faith from a friend to one whose inner faith of soul is known, thou wilt find me to be of that sacred faith, O Cornelius, and may'st deem me become an Harpocrates.

CIII.

Aut, sodes, mihi redde decem sestertia, Silo, Deinde esto quamvis saevus et indomitus: Aut, si te nummi delectant, desine quaeso Leno esse atque idem saevus et indomitus.

CIII.

TO SILO.

Or, d'ye hear, refund those ten sestertia (Silo!) Then be thou e'en at thy will surly and savage o' mood: Or, an thou love o'er-well those moneys, prithee no longer Prove thee a pimp and withal surly and savage o' mood.

Prithee, either return me my ten thousand sesterces, Silo; then be to thy content surly and boorish: or, if the money allure thee, desist I pray thee from being a pander and likewise surly and boorish.

CIIII.

Credis me potuisse meae maledicere vitae, Ambobus mihi quae carior est oculis? Non potui, nec si possem tam perdite amarem: Sed tu cum Tappone omnia monstra facis.

CIIII.

CONCERNING LESBIA.

Canst thou credit that I could avail to revile my life-love, She who be dearer to me even than either my eyes? Ne'er could I, nor an I could, should I so losingly love her: But with Tappo thou dost design every monstrous deed.

Dost deem me capable of speaking ill of my life, she who is dearer to me than are both mine eyes? I could not, nor if I could, would my love be so desperate: but thou with Tappo dost frame everything heinous.

CV.

Mentula conatur Pipleum scandere montem: Musae furcillis praecipitem eiciunt.

CV.

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.

Cum 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 nobisque est carius auro, Quod te restituis, Lesbia, mi cupido, Restituis cupido atque insperanti ipsa refers te. 5 Nobis 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 lusted 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 hoary old age (O Cominius!) Filthy with fulsomest lust 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-balls 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 hoary 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 nobis tota producere vita 5 Alternum hoc sanctae foedus amicitae.

CVIIII.

TO LESBIA ON HER VOW OF CONSTANCY.

Gladsome to me, O my life, this love whose offer thou deignest Between us twain lively and lusty to last soothfast. (Great Gods!) grant ye the boon that prove her promises loyal, Saying her say in truth spoken with spirit sincere; So be it lawful for us to protract through length of our life-tide 5 Mutual pact of our love, pledges of holy good will!

My joy, my life, thou declarest to me that this love of ours shall last ever between us. Great Gods! grant that she may promise truly, and say this in sincerity and from her soul, and that through all our lives we may be allowed to prolong together this bond of holy friendship.

CX.

Aufilena, bonae semper laudantur amicae: Accipiunt pretium, quae facere instituunt. Tu quod promisti, mihi quod mentita inimica's, Quod nec das et fers saepe, facis facinus. Aut facere ingenuaest, aut non promisse pudicae, 5 Aufilena, fuit: sed data corripere Fraudando + efficit plus quom meretricis avarae, Quae sese tota corpore prostituit.

CX.

TO AUFILENA.

Aufilena! for aye good lasses are lauded as loyal: Price of themselves they accept when they intend to perform. All thou promised'st me in belying proves thee unfriendly, For never giving and oft taking is deed illy done. Either as honest to grant, or modest as never to promise, 5 Aufilena! were fair, but at the gifties to clutch Fraudfully, viler seems than greed of greediest harlot Who with her every limb maketh a whore of herself.

Aufilena, honest harlots are always praised: they accept the price of what they intend to do. Thou didst promise that to me, which, being a feigned promise, proves thee unfriendly; not giving that, and often accepting, thou dost wrongfully. Either to do it frankly, or not to promise from modesty, Aufilena, was becoming thee: but to snatch the gift and bilk, proves thee worse than the greedy strumpet who prostitutes herself with every part of her body.

CXI.

Aufilena, viro contentam vivere solo, Nuptarum laus e laudibus eximiis: Sed cuivis quamvis potius succumbere par est, Quam matrem fratres efficere ex patruo.

CXI.

TO THE SAME.

Aufilena! to live content with only one husband, Praise is and truest of praise ever bestowed upon wife. Yet were it liefer to lie any wise with any for lover, Than to be breeder of boys uncle as cousins begat.

Aufilena, to be content to live with single mate, in married dame is praise of praises most excelling: but 'tis preferable to lie beneath any lover thou mayest choose, rather than to make thyself mother to thy cousins out of thy uncle.

CXII.

Multus homo es Naso, neque tecum multus homost qui Descendit: Naso, multus es et pathicus.

CXII.

ON NASO.

Great th'art (Naso!) as man, nor like thee many in greatness Lower themselves (Naso!): great be thou, pathic to boot.

A mighty man thou art, Naso, yet is a man not mighty who doth stoop like thee: Naso thou art mighty—and pathic.

CXIII.

Consule Pompeio primum duo, Cinna, solebant Mucillam: facto consule nunc iterum Manserunt duo, sed creverunt milia in unum Singula. fecundum semen adulterio.

CXIII.

TO CINNA.

Pompey first being chosen to Consul, twofold (O Cinna!) Men for amours were famed: also when chosen again Two they remained; but now is each one grown to a thousand Gallants:—fecundate aye springeth adultery's seed.

In the first consulate of Pompey, two, Cinna, were wont to frequent Mucilla: now again made consul, the two remain, but thousands may be added to each unit. The seed of adultery is fecund.

CXIIII.

Firmano saltu non falso Mentula dives Fertur, qui tot res in se habet egregias, Aucupium, omne genus piscis, prata, arva ferasque. Nequiquam: fructibus sumptibus exuperat. Quare concedo sit dives, dum omnia desint. 5 Saltum laudemus, dum modo eo ipse egeat.

CXIIII.

ON MAMURRA'S SQUANDERING.

For yon Firmian domain not falsely Mentula hight is Richard, owning for self so many excellent things— Fish, fur, feather, all kinds, with prairie, corn-land, and ferals. All no good: for th' outgoing, income immensely exceeds. Therefore his grounds be rich own I, while he's but a pauper. 5 Laud we thy land while thou lackest joyance thereof.

With Firmian demesne not falsely is Mentula deemed rich, who has everything in it of such excellence, game preserves of every kind, fish, meadows, arable land and ferals. In vain: the yield is o'ercome by the expense. Wherefore I admit the wealth, whilst everything is wanting. We may praise the demesne, but its owner is a needy man.

CXV.

Mentula habes instar triginta iugera prati, Quadraginta arvi: cetera sunt maria. Cur non divitiis Croesum superare potissit Vno qui in saltu totmoda possideat, Prata, arva, ingentes silvas saltusque paludesque 5 Vsque ad Hyperboreos et mare ad Oceanum? Omnia magna haec sunt, tamen ipse's maximus ultro, Non homo, sed vero mentula magna minax.

CXV.

OF THE SAME.

Mentula! masterest thou some thirty acres of grass-land Full told, forty of field soil; others are sized as the sea. Why may he not surpass in his riches any a Croesus Who in his one domain owns such abundance of good, Grass-lands, arable fields, vast woods and forest and marish 5 Yonder to Boreal-bounds trenching on Ocean tide? Great are indeed all these, but thou by far be the greatest, Never a man, but a great Mentula of menacing might.

Mentula has something like thirty acres of meadow land, forty under cultivation: the rest are as the sea. Why might he not o'erpass Croesus in wealth, he who in one demesne possesses so much? Meadow, arable land, immense woods, and demesnes, and morasses, e'en to the uttermost north and to the ocean's tide! All things great are here, yet is the owner most great beyond all; not a man, but in truth a Mentule mighty, menacing!

CXVI.

Saepe tibi studioso animo venante requirens Carmina uti possem mittere Battiadae, Qui te lenirem nobis, neu conarere Telis infestis icere mi usque caput, Hunc video mihi nunc frustra sumptus esse laborem, 5 Gelli, nec nostras his valuisse preces. Contra nos tela ista tua evitamus amictu: At fixus nostris tu dabi' supplicium.

CXVI.

TO GELLIUS THE CRITIC.

Seeking often in mind with spirit eager of study How I could send thee songs chaunted of Battiades, So thou be softened to us, nor any attempting thou venture Shot of thy hostile shaft piercing me high as its head,— Now do I ken this toil with vainest purpose was taken, 5 (Gellius!) nor herein aught have our prayers availed. Therefore we'll parry with cloak what shafts thou shootest against us; And by our bolts transfixt, penalty due thou shalt pay.

Oft with studious mind brought close, enquiring how I might send thee the poems of Battiades for use, that I might soften thee towards us, nor thou continually attempt to sting my head with troublesome barbs—this I see now to have been trouble and labour in vain, O Gellius, nor were our prayers to this end of any avail. Thy weapons against us we will ward off with our cloak; but, transfixed with ours, thou shalt suffer punishment.

* * * * *

NOTES

EXPLANATORY AND ILLUSTRATIVE

Carmen ii. v. 1. Politian, commenting on Catullus, held in common with Lampridius, Turnebus and Vossius that Lesbia's sparrow was an indecent allegory, like the "grey duck" in Pope's imitation of Chaucer. Sannazarius wrote an Epigram smartly castigating Politian, the closing lines of which were to the effect that the critic would like to devour the bird:—

Meus hic Pulicianus Tam bellum sibi passerem Catulli Intra viscera habere concupiscit.

Martial says:

"Kiss me and I will give you Catullus's sparrow,

by which he does not mean a poem.

And in the Apophoreta:

"If you have such a sparrow as Catullus's Lesbia deplored, it may lodge here."

Chaulieu has a similar Epigram:—

Autant et plus que sa vie Phyllis aime un passereau; Ainsi la jeune Lesbie Jadis aima son moineau. Mais de celui de Catulle Se laissant aussi charmer, Dans sa cage, sans scrupule, Elle eut soin de l' enfermer.

Heguin de Guerle however sees nothing to justify this opinion, remarking that Catullus was not the man to use a veil of allegory in saying an indecency. "He preferred the bare, and even coarse, word; and he is too rich in this style of writing to need the loan of equivocal passages."

v. 12. The story of the race between Hippomenes and Atalanta, and how the crafty lover tricked the damsel into defeat by the three golden apples is well known. Cf. Ovid. Metam. lib. x. v. 560, et seq. According to Vossius the gift of an apple was equivalent to a promise of the last favour. The Emperor Theodosius caused Paulinus to be murdered for receiving an apple from his Empress. As to this, cf. the "Tale of the Three Apples," in The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night (Sir Richard Burton's Translation, Benares, 1885-8, 16 volumes), vol. i. p. 191. Cf. also note to C. lxv. v. 19.

v. 13. Virgins wore a girdle, generally of wool, for wool by the ancients was supposed to excite love, which the bridegroom the first night unbound in bed. Both in Greek and in Latin the phrase to undo the zone was used to signify the loss of virginity.

C. vi. v. 8. Some say this is the spikenard, and the same with the Syrian malobathrum. But any rich odour was termed Syrian, by the Romans, who were extravagantly fond of perfumes; and used them, according to Vulpius, as provocatives to venery.

v. 9. Pulvinus, not pulvinar. Cf. carmen lxiiii. v. 47, post.

C. vii. v. 6. Battus (in Libyan) Bahatus, a chief, a ruler.—Halevy Essai, p. 164.—R. F. B.

C. viii. v. 18. Plautus speaks of Teneris labellis molles morsiunculae. Thus too Horace:

Sive puer furens Impressit memorem dente labris notam.

Or on thy lips the fierce fond boy Marks with his teeth the furious joy. Francis.

Plutarch tells us that Flora, the mistress of Cn. Pompey, used to say in commendation of her lover, that she could never quit his arms without giving him a bite.

C. xi. v. 5. In the Classics, Arabs always appear as a soft effeminate race; under primitive Christianity as heretics; and after the seventh century as conquerors, men of letters, philosophers, mediciners, magicians and alchemists.—R. F. B.

v. 20. Ilia rumpens. More exactly rendered by Biacca:

E sol di tutti Tenta l'iniqua ad isnervar i fianchi.

Guarini says of a coquette, that she likes to do with lovers as with gowns, have plenty of them, use one after another, and change them often.

C. xiii. v. 9. I understand this, "Thou shalt depart after supper carrying with thee all our hearts."—R. F. B.

C. xiiii. v. 15. Whence our Christmas-day, the Winter Solstice connected with Christianity. There are only four universal festivals—"Holy days,"—and they are all of solar origin—The Solstices and the Equinoxes.—R. F. B.

C. xv. v. 7. The Etymology of "platea" shows it to be a street widening into a kind of place, as we often find in the old country towns of Southern Europe.—R. F. B.

v. 18. Patente porta. This may be read "Your house door being open so that each passer may see your punishment," or it may be interpreted as referring to the punishment itself, i.e., through the opened buttocks.

v. 19. This mode of punishing adulterers was first instituted amongst the Athenians. The victim being securely tied, a mullet was thrust up his fundament and withdrawn, the sharp gills of the fish causing excruciating torment to the sufferer during the process of its withdrawal, and grievously lacerating the bowels. Sometimes an enormous radish was substituted for the mullet. According to an epigram quoted by Vossius from the Anthologia, Alcaeus, the comic writer, died under this very punishment.

Lo here Alcaeus sleeps; whom earth's green child, The broad-leaved radish, lust's avenger, kill'd.

C. xvi. v. 1. Paedicabo et irrumabo. These detestable words are used here only as coarse forms of threatening, with no very definite meaning. It is certain that they were very commonly employed in this way, with no more distinct reference to their original import than the corresponding phrases of the modern Italians, T' ho in culo and becco fottuto, or certain brutal exclamations common in the mouths of the English vulgar.

v. 5. Ovid has a distich to the same effect:

Crede mihi, distant mores a carmine nostri; Vita verecunda est, musa jocosa mihi.

"Believe me there is a vast difference between my morals and my song; my life is decorous, my muse is wanton." And Martial says:

Lasciva est nobis pagina, vita proba est.

Which is thus translated by Maynard:

Si ma plume est une putain, Ma vie est une sainte.

Pliny quotes this poem of Catullus to excuse the wantonness of his own verses, which he is sending to his friend Paternus; and Apuleius cites the passage in his Apology for the same purpose. "Whoever," says Lambe, "would see the subject fully discussed, should turn to the Essay on the Literary Character by Mr. Disraeli." He enumerates as instances of free writers who have led pure lives, La Motte le Vayer, Bayle, la Fontaine, Smollet, and Cowley. "The imagination," he adds, "may be a volcano, while the heart is an Alp of ice." It would, however, be difficult to enlarge this list, while on the other hand, the catalogue of those who really practised the licentiousness they celebrated, would be very numerous. One period alone, the reign of Charles the Second, would furnish more than enough to outnumber the above small phalanx of purity. Muretus, whose poems clearly gave him every right to knowledge on the subject, but whose known debauchery would certainly have forbidden any credit to accrue to himself from establishing the general purity of lascivious poets, at once rejects the probability of such a contrast, saying:

Quisquis versibus exprimit Catullum Raro moribus exprimit Catonem.

"One who is a Catullus in verse, is rarely a Cato in morals."

C. xviii. This and the two following poems are found in the Catalecta of Vergilius, but they are assigned to Catullus by many of the best critics, chiefly on the authority of Terentianus Maurus.

v. 2. Cf. Auct. Priapeiorum, Eps. lv. v. 6, and lxxvii. v. 15.

v. 3. Ostreosior. This Epithet, peculiarly Catullian, is appropriate to the coasts most favoured by Priapus; oysters being an incentive to lust.

C. xx. v. 19. The traveller mocks at Priapus' threat of sodomy, regarding it as a pleasure instead of as a punishment. The god, in anger, retorts that if that punishment has no fears for him, a fustigation by the farmer with the self-same mentule used as a cudgel may have a more deterrent effect. Cf. Auct. Priap. Ep. li. v. 27, 28:

Nimirum apertam convolatis ad poenam: Et vos hoc ipsum, quod minamur, invitat.

Without doubt, ye flock to the open punishment [so called because the natural parts of Priapus were always exposed to view], and the very thing with which I threaten, allures you.

And also Ep. lxiv.,

Quidam mollior anseris medulla, Furatum venit hoc amor poenae. Furetur licet usque non videbo.

One than a goose's marrow softer far, Comes hither stealing for it's penalty sake; Steal he as please him: I will see him not.

C. xxiii. v. 6. Dry and meagre as wood; like the woman of whom Scarron says, that she never snuffed the candle with her fingers for fear of setting them on fire.

C. xxv. v. 1. Cf. Auct. Priap. Ep. xlv.

v. 5. This is a Catullian crux. Mr. Arthur Palmer (Trinity College, Dublin, Jan. 31, 1890) proposes, and we adopt—

"Cum diva miluorum aves ostendit oscitantes."

(When the Goddess of Kites shows you birds agape.)

Diva miluorum is—Diva furum, Goddess of thieves; i.e., Laverna Milvus (hawk) being generally used for a rapacious robber. Mr. Palmer quotes Plaut. (Poen. 5, 5, 13; Pers. 3, 4, 5; Bacch. 2, 3, 40), and others.—R. F. B.

v. 6. Involasti, thou didst swoop—still metaphor of the prey-bird.—R. F. B.

C. xxvi. v. 3. Still the "Bora" of the Adriatic, extending, with intervals, from Trieste to Bari. It is a N.N. Easter of peculiar electrical properties, causing extreme thirst, wrecking ships, upsetting mail-trains, and sweeping carriages and horses into the sea. Austral, the south wind, is represented in these days by the Scirocco, S.S.E. It sets out from Africa a dry wind, becomes supersaturated in the Mediterranean, and is the scourge of Southern Italy, exhausting the air of ozone and depressing the spirits and making man utterly useless and miserable.—R. F. B.

C. xxviii. v. 10. These expressions, like those in carmen xvi. ante, are merely terms of realistically gross abuse.

C. xxviiii. v. 5. Cinaede Romule. The epithet is here applied in its grossest sense, which again is implied in the allusion to the spoil of Pontus; for this, as Vossius proves, can only be understood to mean the wealth obtained by Caesar, when a young man, through his infamous relations with Nicomedes, king of Pontus—as witness two lines sung by Caesar's own soldiers on the occasion of his triumph:

Ecce Caesar nunc triumphat, qui subegit Galliam; Nicomedes non triumphat, qui subegit Caesarem.

v. 13. Defututa Mentula = a worn-out voluptuary. Mentula is a cant term which Catullus frequently uses for a libidinous person, and particularly for Mamurra.

v. 24. Pompey married Caesar's daughter, Julia, and is commonly supposed to be the "son-in-law" here meant; but Vossius argues with some force, that socer and gener apply, not to Caesar and Pompey, but to Caesar and Mamurra. Those words, and the corresponding terms in Greek, were often used in an unnatural sense, as for instance in an epigram on Noctuinus, attributed to Calvus, in which occurs this very line, Gener socerque perdidistis omnia.

C. xxxi. v. 1. As the Venice-Trieste railway runs along the southern bar of the pyriform narrow, Lago di Garda, with its towering mountains, whose heads are usually in the storm-clouds, and whose feet sink into the nearest vineyards, the traveller catches a sight of the Sirmio Spit, long and sandy. It is a narrow ridge boldly projecting into the lake (once called Benacus) which was formerly a marsh, but now made into an island by the simple process of ditch cutting: at the southern end is the Sermione hill and its picturesque Scottish-German Castle. To the north are some ruins supposed to be the old Villa of Catullus, but they seem too extensive to serve for the purpose.—R. F. B.

C. xxxii. v. 11. Pezay, a French translator, strangely mistakes the meaning of the passage, as if it amounted to this, "I have gorged till I am ready to burst;" and he quotes the remark of "une femme charmante," who said that her only reply to such a billet-doux would have been to send the writer an emetic. But the lady might have prescribed a different remedy if she had been acquainted with Martial's line:

O quoties rigida pulsabis pallia vena!

or with this quatrain of an old French poet:

Ainsi depuis une semaine La longue roideur de ma veine, Pour neant rouge et bien en point, Bat ma chemise et mon pourpoint.

C. xxxvii. v. 1. Taverns and Wine-shops in Rome were distinguished by pillars projecting into the streets, the better to catch the eye of the passenger, as sign-posts of inns do with us now; the tavern in question was a house of ill-fame, and we are told it was the ninth column or sign-post from the Temple of Castor and Pollux.

v. 2. It was customary to display on the fronts of brothels the names of the inmates, just as shopkeepers' names were inscribed over places of more reputable trade: this was called inscriptio or titulus.

v. 10. Scorpionibus. Indecent inscriptions scribbled on the walls and door with burnt sticks.

v. 11. Catullus's mistress had, it seems, run away from him to a common brothel, in front of which it was the custom, not only for women but even for men, to sit down and offer themselves for prostitution.

v. 16. Semitarii moechi. Whoremongers who take up with common women who offer themselves at every corner of the streets for a mere trifle.

v. 20. Hibera Urina. We are assured by Strabo, Lib. 3, that this filthy custom prevailed greatly in Spain: teeth were not only washed in stale urine, the acid of which must necessarily render them white, but they were also rubbed with a powder of calcined human excrement. Persons sometimes even bathed their whole bodies in urine.

C. xxxxi. v. 3. Turpiculo naso. The kind of nose alluded to is such as sheep or goats have. Cf. Lucretius, lib. iv. v. 1152.

C. xxxxvii. v. 6. In trivio, i.e., in the most public places, in hopes of finding some host.

v. 7. This hunting for invitations does not, according to modern notions, place the two friends of Catullus in a respectable light; but it was a common and avowed practice at Rome.

C. liii. v. 5. Salaputium. A pet name for the male virile member. This word has been the subject of much debate among the learned. Some read solopachium, meaning a "mannikin eighteen inches high"; Saumasius proposes salopygium, a "wagtail"; several editors have salaputium, an indelicate word nurses used to children when they fondled them, so that the exclamation would mean, "what a learned little puppet!" Thus Augustus called Horace purissimum penem.

C. liiii. I find it an impossibility to make any sense out of this poem.

v. 5. Seni recocto. Horace applies this epithet to one who has served the office of quinquevir, or proconsul's notary, and who was therefore master of all the arts of chicanery. These are his words, Sat. v. lib. 2:

Plerumque recoctus Scriba ex quinqueviro corvum deludit hiantem.

A seasoned scrivener, bred in office low, Full often dupes and mocks the gaping crow. FRANCIS.

The modern Italians say of a man of this stamp, Egli ha cotto il culo ne' ceci rossi. The phrase seni recocto may imply one who enjoys a green and vigorous old age, as if made young again, as the old woman was by wine, of whom Petronius speaks, Anus recocta vino; or AEson, who was re-cooked by Medaea. That witch, says Valerius Flaccus, Recoquit fessos aetate parentes.

C. lvi. v. 6. Trusantem. Many read crissantem, which means the movement of the loins in women; ceventem being the like of a man. As the expression refers to the lad, crissantem cannot be correct.

v. 7. Pro telo. Alluding to the custom of punishing adulterers by transfixing them with darts. The double-entendre of Telo with Mentula is evident, and makes clear the apology to Venus. See lib. 9 of Apuleius for a similar passage.

C. lvii. v. 7. Erudituli. The accomplishments alluded to are not literary, but Priapeian. It is in this sense Petronius calls Gito doctissimus puer. Oezema, a grave German jurist, parodied a part of this piece. His epigram can be read without danger of having one's stomach turned.

Belle convenit inter elegantes Dione's famulas, et eruditos Antiquae Themidis meos sodales. Nos jus justitiamque profitemur: Illae semper amant coluntque rectum.

"There is a charming coincidence of sentiment between the fair votaries of Venus and my learned brethren: we profess law and justice; they dearly love the thing that is upright."

C. lviii. v. 1. Caeli. This is the same with Caelius Rufus, Catullus's rival in the affections of Lesbia, or Clodia, according to Achilles Statius; Plutarch calls her Quadrantaria; she was debauched by her own brother, Publius Clodius; afterwards she became the mistress of Catullus, and lastly the common strumpet of Rome.

v. 4. The meanest trulls frequented the public streets.

v. 5. Glubit. Glubo = to husk (corn), hence it is tropically used to denote masturbation. Cf. Ausonius, epigram 71.

C. lviiii. v. 1. Fellat. This refers to the complacent use by the female of her lips in the act of connection.

v. 3. The half-starved women of pleasure attended at funerals in the hope of picking up parts of the viands which were laid on the pile and burnt with the body.

C. lxi. v. 22. Myrtus Asia. The Asia of Catullus was that marshy tract of land near Mount Tmolus and the River Caystrus. Cf. Homer (Il. ii. 461) for the "Ancient Meadow." It was said to be as famous for its myrtles as for its cranes. Proper "Asia Minor" is the title first used by Oratius (Orazius?) (1. 2.) in the IVth century. See the "Life and Works of St. Paul," by Dr. Farrar (i. 465).—R. F. B.

v. 54. Timens. Many more obscenely write tumens, thus changing the "fear-full" bridegroom into the "swollen" bridegroom.

v. 123. It was usual for the mirthful friends of the newly married couple to sing obscene songs called Fescennine, which were tolerated on this occasion.

v. 124. Nec nuces pueris. This custom of throwing nuts, such as walnuts or almonds, is of Athenian origin; some say it was meant to divert the attention from the raptures of the bride and bridegroom, when in bed, by the noise they, and the scrambling boys, made on the floor. For nuces, referring to the use of boys, see Verg. Eclogue 8.

v. 125. Concubinus. By the shamelessness of this passage, it would seem to be quite a usual thing amongst the youthful Roman aristocracy to possess a bedfellow of their own sex.

v. 137. "This coarse imitation of the Fescennine poems," says Dunlop (History of Roman Literature), "leaves on our minds a stronger impression of the prevalence and extent of Roman vices than any other passage in the Latin classics. Martial, and Catullus himself elsewhere, have branded their enemies; and Juvenal, in bursts of satiric indignation, has reproached his countrymen with the blackest crimes. But here, in a complimentary poem to a patron and intimate friend, these are jocularly alluded to as the venial indulgence of his earliest youth."

C. lxii. v. 39, et seq. Thus exquisitely rendered by Spenser, Faery Queen, b. ii. c. 12:

The whiles some one did chaunt this lovely lay: "Ah! see, whoso fayre thing doest faine to see, In springing flowre the image of thy day! Ah! see the virgin rose, how sweetly she Doth first peepe foorth with bashfull modestie, That fairer seemes the lesse ye see her may! Lo see soone after how more bold and free Her bared bosome she doth broad display; Lo! see soone after how she fades and falls away!

"So passeth, in the passing of a day, Of mortal life the leafe, the bud, the flowre; Ne more doth flourish after first decay, That erst was sought to deck both bed and bowre Of many a lady, and many a paramoure! Gather therefore the rose whilest yet is prime, For soone comes age that will her pride deflowre; Gather the rose of love whilest yet is time, Whilest loving thou mayst loved be with equal crime."

C. lxiii. v. 23. Women devoted to the service of Bacchus or of Cybele; for many things were common to the rights of both deities. The name is derived from [Greek: mainesthai], to rave.

v. 28. Thiasus is properly a chorus of sacred singers and dancers, living in a community, like a college of dervishes, who, indeed, are an exact counterpart of the Galli as regards their howling and dancing ritual, but have the advantage of their predecessors in one important particular, i.e., they are not castrated.

C. lxiiii. v. 65. The strophium was a band which confined the breasts and restrained the exuberance of their growth. Martial apostrophizes it thus:

Fascia, crescentes dominae compesce papillas, Ut sit quod capiat nostra tegatque manus.

"Confine the growth of my fair one's breasts, that they may be just large enough for my hand to enclose them."

v. 377. Circumdare filo. That is, may you to-morrow prove that you are no longer a virgin; for the ancients had an idea that the neck swelled after venery; perhaps from the supposed descent of the procreative fluid which they thought lodged in the brain. See Hippocrates and Aristotle upon this subject. The swelling of the bride's neck was therefore ascertained by measurement with a thread on the morning after the nuptials, and was held to be sufficient proof of their happy consummation. The ancients, says Pezay, had faith in another equally absurd test of virginity. They measured the circumference of the neck with a thread. Then the girl under trial took the two ends of the magic thread in her teeth, and if it was found to be so long that its bight could be passed over her head, it was clear she was not a maid. By this rule all the thin girls might pass for vestals, and all the plump ones for the reverse.

v. 403. Semiramis is said to have done thus by her son Ninus.

C. lxv. v. 19. The gift of an apple had a very tender meaning; according to Vossius it was quasi pignus concubitus, that is to say, it was the climax

To all those token flowers that tell What words can never speak so well.

In one of the love epistles of Aristaenetus, Phalaris complains to her friend Petala, how her younger sister, who had accompanied her to dine with Pamphilus, her lover, attempted to seduce him, and among other wanton tricks did as follows: "Pamphilus, biting off a piece of an apple, chucked it dexterously into her bosom; she took it, kissed it, and thrusting it under her sash, hid it between her breasts." Cf. note to C. ii. v. 12, ante.

C. lxvii. v. 21. Languidior. This expression, here obscenely applied, is proverbial, from the flagging of the leaves of the beet; hence the Latin word batizare, to droop, used by Suetonius, in Augusto. See Pliny on this plant, Cap. xiii. lib. 9.

v. 28. Zonam Solvere. See the note to C. ii. v. 13.

v. 30. Minxerit in gremium. Horace uses the word mingere in the same sense:

Dicitur ut formae melioris meiat eodem. Hor. Sat. vii. lib. 2.

and in like manner Persius

Patriciae immeiat vulvae.

Pliny more than once uses the word urina pro semine.

C. lxviiii. v. 6. Sub alarum. Many would join these two words and form one, which, however, is not authorised by any ancient writer. The Spaniards, it is true, say sobaco, the armpit, but this does not justify a new Latin coinage of any similar word. The smell alluded to in this line has often been compared to that of a goat; it is called capram, caprum, and hircam. Thus Horace, Epod. 12,

Namque sagacius unus odoror Polypus an gravis hirsutis cubet hircus in alis.

This tetterous complaint is peculiar to warm countries; we know scarcely anything of it in our northern climate.

C. lxxiiii. v. 6. The reader will easily guess that one reason for the uncle's inability to murmur was owing to the occupation which Gellius had thrust on him.

C. lxxvii. v. 8. Suavia comminxit. This habit, which the filthy Rufus adopts, is mentioned by Lucretius:

Jungunt salivas Oris, et inspirant pressantes dentibus ora. Lucret. lib. 4.

C. lxxx. v. 6. Martial has a similar expression,

Lambebat medios improba lingua viros.

v. 8. Ilia, et emulso. Lucretius uses the word mulgere in the same sense in lib. 4.

C. lxxxiiii. v. 2. The first notice in the classics of our far-famed 'Arry, whose female is 'Arriet.—R. F. B.

C. lxxxviiii. v. 1. The good condition and number of the relations of Gellius are assigned as the causes of his macilency, Gellius being an adulterer of the most infamous kind. Thus Propertius, on the amorous disposition peculiar to those of a spare make,

What tho' my slender shape enervate seem, Think not that vigour flies my meagre frame; At Venus' rites I ne'er was known to fail, Th' experienc'd fair can this dear truth reveal. Proper., Eleg. 22. lib. 2.

C. lxxxx. v. 6. Omentum. The sages used to draw omens from the entrails of sacrificed beasts as they were burning; but more particularly from the omentum, or caul, that apron of fat which covers the abdominal viscera.

C. lxxxxiiii. v. 1. There is a double meaning in the original, and the translator can give but half of it. Mentula, synonymous with penis, is a nickname applied by Catullus to Mamurra, of whom he says (cxv.) that he is not a man, but a great thundering mentula. Maherault has happily rendered the meaning of the epigram in French, in which language there is an equivalent for Mentula, that is to say, a man's name which is also a popular synonym for what characterizes the god Priapus. "Jean Chouard fornique; eh! sans doute, c'est bien Jean Chouard. C'est ainsi qu'on peut dire que c'est la marmite qui cueille les choux." Achilles Statius interprets this distich thus, "It is the flesh that is guilty, and not I who am guilty; so is it the pot that robs the garden, and not the thief that robs the pot-herbs."

v. 2. Ipsa olera olla legat. This may have been a cant proverb of the day containing a meaning which is now unknown to us. Parthenius interprets it "A libidinous man is apt in adultery, as a vessel is suited to hold its contents."

C. lxxxxvii. v. 1. There is in the Greek Anthology a similar epigram by Nicarchus, which has thus been translated by Grotius:

Non culo, Theodore, minus tibi foetida bucca est Noscera discrimen sit sapientis opus. Scribere debueras hic podex est meus, hic os; Nunc tu cum pedas atque loquare simul, Discere non valeo, quid venerit inde vel inde; Vipera namque infra sibilat atque supra.

v. 7. Few are ignorant of what Scaliger here gravely tells us: fessi muli strigare solent, ut meiant. Vossius reads defissus, in a different sense.

C. lxxxxviiii. This poem shews beyond contradiction that Catullus himself was not free from the vice of paederasty, so universal amongst the Roman youth.

v. 10. Lupae. The infamous, fetid harlot is called lupa (a she-wolf) from the ravenousness of the wolf answering to the rapacious disposition of the generality of courtezans: but Servius, Aen. 3, assigns a much more improper and filthy reason.

C. c. v. 1. Again the Roman paederasty shews itself in Caelius's affection for Aufilenus.

C. ciii. It appears that Catullus had given a sum of money to the pander Silo to procure him a mistress. He did not perform his engagement, but kept the money, and abused our sinning bard when he reproached him with the cheat.

C. cv. There are not wanting commentators who give a very obscene turn to this epigram against Mamurra.

C. cx. v. 4. The word dare has here an erotic sense.

v. 8. Tota corpore prostituit. Some commentators think that this alludes to such women as not only submit to prostitution, but are in every way subservient to the lascivious caprices of depraved appetites. Vossius inclines to such an interpretation.

C. cxii. v. 2. Multus. Some commentators read moltus in an obscene sense, a molendo. Vossius understands by descendere in sese the same act as is alluded to in C. lxxxviii., hence the force of the word multus, meaning cum femina, which he jeeringly applies to Naso as though he would ironically exclaim: Et tu femina! tu solus es, aut sine femina. He writes the epigram thus:

Multus homo est, Naso, neque secum multus homo qui Descendit? Naso, multus es et pathicus?

THE END