Catullus
translated by Peter Valente
70. Ad Lesbiam
My woman says she doesn’t want to marry anyone but me,
not even if Jupiter seeks her out. But I don’t trust her.
It’s an old story: the things a woman says to an eager lover
should be written on the wind or on running water.
113. Where Did They Come From?
Cinna, during Pompey’s first time as consul, there were two men
who both took turns with Maecilia. Now that he’s consul again,
those two men are still here, but a thousand rivals have sprouted up
next to each. Semen must have been falling from the sky!
In any case, Adultery is fruitful!
106. A Boy for Sale
When he sees an auctioneer with a beautiful boy,
what can he believe, except that the boy is selling himself?
87. Ad Lesbiam
I say no woman can truly be loved so much as my Lesbia was loved by me. No
bond of trust in any other love was ever kept with such devotion .
At least on my part.
108. Ad Cominium
If it should happen, Cominius, that by the will of the people your life comes to an end,
in old gray age, withered and insane from leading a depraved life,
I, for one, have no doubt, that your tongue, enemy of all good people,
would be the first to go, sliced off and fed to the greedy vultures.
Next your eyes, that gloried in the sight of sin, would be scooped up like marbles
and devoured by a raven’s black throat while dogs sucked on the trail of your intestines
and wolves chomped on all the rest of your now useless limbs!
translated by Peter Valente
70. Ad Lesbiam
My woman says she doesn’t want to marry anyone but me,
not even if Jupiter seeks her out. But I don’t trust her.
It’s an old story: the things a woman says to an eager lover
should be written on the wind or on running water.
113. Where Did They Come From?
Cinna, during Pompey’s first time as consul, there were two men
who both took turns with Maecilia. Now that he’s consul again,
those two men are still here, but a thousand rivals have sprouted up
next to each. Semen must have been falling from the sky!
In any case, Adultery is fruitful!
106. A Boy for Sale
When he sees an auctioneer with a beautiful boy,
what can he believe, except that the boy is selling himself?
87. Ad Lesbiam
I say no woman can truly be loved so much as my Lesbia was loved by me. No
bond of trust in any other love was ever kept with such devotion .
At least on my part.
108. Ad Cominium
If it should happen, Cominius, that by the will of the people your life comes to an end,
in old gray age, withered and insane from leading a depraved life,
I, for one, have no doubt, that your tongue, enemy of all good people,
would be the first to go, sliced off and fed to the greedy vultures.
Next your eyes, that gloried in the sight of sin, would be scooped up like marbles
and devoured by a raven’s black throat while dogs sucked on the trail of your intestines
and wolves chomped on all the rest of your now useless limbs!