TO FLAVIUS+.

Aн, Flavius, you would gladly tell
Catullus, whom you love so well,
What girl your favourite reigns:
Nor could your restless tongue forbear
To speak her name; unless you wear
Some jade's disgraceful chains.

And now you love, I fain must guess, Some shameless wanton's coarse caress,

Whom you would blush to own:

For vainly mute your couch, that smells Of flowers and Syrian essence, tells

You never lie alone.

Your fragrant room, disorder'd bed,

And, ah! 'bove all your drooping head, Your thin and languid frame,

The fruits of lovesick loose excess,

Speak what your silence would suppress, And all the truth proclaim.

Oh! boldly then your flame declare,

Or false or true, or plain or fair
The damsel that you prize:

My sprightly verse will lend a grace
To deck your worst amours, and place

With honour in the skies.

TO LESBIA†.

THY kisses dost thou bid me count,

And tell thee, Lesbia, what amount
My rage for love and thee could tire,
And satisfy and cloy desire?

Many as grains of Libyan sand+

Upon Cyrene's spicy land +

From prescient Ammon's sultry dome †

To sacred Battus' ancient tomb†:

Many as stars that silent ken

At night the stolen loves of men †.

Yes, when the kisses thou shalt kiss
Have reach'd a number vast as this,
Then may desire at length be stay'd,
And e'en my madness be allay'd:
Then when infinity defies

The calculations of the wise;

Nor evil voice's deadly charm†

Can work the unknown number harm.

VOL. I.

TO HIMSELF†,

ON LESBIA'S INCONSTANCY.

CEASE from this idle fooling trade-
Cease, wretch Catullus, all is o'er ;
And what thou seest has long decay'd,
E'en think it lost for evermore.

Of old thy suns were bright and clear, When thou, where'er her path has lain, Wouldst chase the damsel, loved so dear As none will e'er be loved again.

Then were the sports of amorous jest
Still urged by thee with new delight;
While she scarce chid and not repress'd-

Oh then thy suns were truly bright!