The Poems and Fragments of Catullus Part 18

Zmyrna to far Satrachus, to the stream of Cyprus, ascendeth; 5 Zmyrna with eyes unborn study the centuries h.o.a.r.

Padus her own ill child shall bury, Volusius' annals; In them a mackerel oft house him, a wrapper of ease.

Dear to my heart be a friend's unbulky memorial ever; Cherish an Antimachus, weighty as empty, the mob. 10

XCVI.

If to the silent dead aught sweet or tender ariseth, Calvus, of our dim grief's common humanity born; When to a love long cold some pensive pity recals us, When for a friend long lost wakes some unhappy regret; Not so deeply, be sure, Quintilia's early departing 5 Grieves her, as in thy love dureth a plenary joy.

XCVIII.

Asks some b.o.o.by rebuke, some prolix prattler a judgment?

Vettius, all were said verily truer of you.

Tongue so noisome as yours, come chance, might surely on order Bend to the mire, or lick dirt from a beggarly shoe.

Would you on all of us, all, bring, Vettius, utterly ruin? 5 Speak; not a doubt, 'twill come utterly, ruin on all.

XCIX.

Dear one, a kiss I stole, while you did wanton a-playing, Sweet ambrosia, love, never as honily sweet.

Dearly the deed I paid for; an hour's long misery waning Ended, as I agoniz'd hung to the point of a cross, Hoping vain purgation; alas! no potion of any 5 Tears could abate that fair angriness, youthful as you.

Hardly the sin was in act, your lips did many a falling Drop dilute, which anon every finger away Cleansed apace, lest still my mouth's infection abiding Stain, like slaver abhorr'd breath'd from a foul fricatrice. 10

Add, that a booty to love in misery me to deliver You did spare not, a fell worker of all agonies, So that, again trans.m.u.ted, a kiss ambrosia seeming Sugary, turn'd to the strange harshness of harsh h.e.l.lebore.

Then such dolorous end since your poor lover awaiteth, 15 Never a kiss will I venture, a theft any more.

C.

Quintius, Aufilena; to Caelius, Aufilenus; Lovers each, fair flower either of youths Veronese.

One to the brother bends, and one to the sister. A n.o.ble Friends.h.i.+p, if e'er was true friends.h.i.+p, a rare brotherhood.

Ask me to which I lean? You, Caelius: yours a devotion 5 Single, a faith of tried quality, steady to me; Into my inmost veins when love sank fiercely to burn them.

Mighty be your bright love, Caelius, happy be you!

CI.

Borne o'er many a land, o'er many a level of ocean, Here to the grave I come, brother, of holy repose, Sadly the last poor gifts, death's simple duty, to bring thee; Unto the silent dust vainly to murmur a cry.

Since thy form deep-shrouded an evil destiny taketh 5 From me, O hapless ghost, brother, O heavily ta'en, Yet this bounty the while, these gifts ancestral of usance Homely, the sad slight store piety grants to the tomb; Drench'd in a brother's tears, and weeping freshly, receive them; Yea, take, brother, a long Ave, a timeless adieu. 10

CII.

If to a friend sincere, Cornelius, e'er was a secret Trusted, a friend whose soul steady to honour abides; Me to the same brotherhood doubt not to be inly devoted, Sworn upon oath, to the last secret, an Harpocrates.

CIII.

Briefly, the sesterces all, give back, full quant.i.ty, Silo, Then be a bully beyond exorability, you: Else, if money be all, O cease so lewdly to practise Bawd, yet bully beyond exorability, you.

CIV.

What? should a lover adore, yet cruelly slander adoring?

I my lady, than eyes goodlier easily she?

Nay, I rail not at all. How rail, so blindly desiring?

Tappo alone dare brave all that is heinous, or you.

CV.

Mentula toils, Pimplea, the Muses' mountain, ascending: They with pitchforks hurl Mentula dizzily down.

CVI.

Walks with a salesman a beauty, your eyes that beauty discerning?

Doubt not your eyes speak true; Sir, 'tis a beauty to sell.

CVII.

If to delight man's wish, joy e'er unlook'd for, unhop'd for, Falleth, a joy were such proper, a bliss to the soul.

Then 'tis a joy to the soul, like gold of Lydia precious, Lesbia mine, that thou com'st to delight me again.

Com'st yet again long-hop'd, long-look'd for vainly, returnest 5 Freely to me. O day white with a luckier hue!

Lives there happier any than I, I only? a fairer Destiny? Life so sweet know ye, or aught parallel?

CVIII.

Loathly Cominius, if e'er this people's voice should arraign thee, h.o.a.ry with all unclean infamy, worthy to die; First should a tongue, I doubt not, of old so deadly to goodness, Fall extruded, of each vulture a hungry regale; Gouged be the carrion eyes some crow's black maw to replenish, 5 Stomach a dog's fierce teeth harry, a wolf the remains.

CIX.

Think you truly, belov'd, this bond of duty between us, Lasteth, an ever-new jollity, ne'er to decease?

Grant it, G.o.ds immortal, a.s.sure her promise in earnest; Yea, be the lips sincere; yea, be the words from her heart.

So still rightly remain our lovers' charter, a life-long 5 Friends.h.i.+p in us, whose faith fades not away to the last.

CX.