Said she, a harlot thorough bred!

66

Catullus, lend me, pray, that bed,

"I wish but to be taken

"To where Serapis holds his fanet”

66

Stay! stay!" said I, "let's think again—

"I've none- -I was mistaken.

" "Tis Cinna's bed +, scarce his alone,

"I use it just as 'twere my own: "Who's owner nought care I.

"Thou'rt an uncivil troublous jade, "Whose artful mercenary trade

"Won't let one tell a lie."

THE PARTING MESSAGE TO LESBIA†,

ADDRESSED TO FURIUS AND AURELIUS.

COMPANIONS, who would gladly go
With me through every toil below
To man's remotest seats:

Whether Catullus should explore
Far India, on whose echoing shore
The eastern billow beats:

Whether he seek Hyrcania wild,

The Tartar hordes, or Arabs mild,

Or Parthia's archer train:

Or tread that intersected isle,

Whence pouring forth the sev'n-fold Nile†

Discolours all the main.

Whether across the Alps he toil
To view the war-ennobled soil,

Where Cesar's trophies stand;

The Rhine that saw its Gaul's disgrace, Or dare the painted Briton race

In their extremest land.

Companions dear, prepared to wend Where'er the gods may place your friend,

And every lot to share ;

A few unwelcome words receive,

And to that once-loved fair I leave

My latest message bear.

Still let her live and still be blest

By profligates in hundreds prest,
Still sport in ease and wealth;
Still of those hundreds love not one,
Still cast off each by turns undone

In fortune and in health.

But let her deem my passion o'er :

Her guilt has crush'd, to bloom no more,
The love her beauty raised;

As droops the flower, the meadow's pride,
Which springing by the furrow's side
The passing share has grased.

TO ASINIUS,

ON HIS PRACTICAL JOKES.

ASINIUS, Marrucinian † vile,

Think you, when wine gives life to jest,

'Tis wit to filch with left-hand wile

The napkin of the careless guest?

Poor idiot, can you not perceive

How rude, how low the deed

But should you not my words believe,
Your brother, Polliot, says so too.

Pollio with hoards of gold would part

No more to see you thus disgraced; For that's a youth of generous heart,

Of lively wit, and purest taste.