) as man, nor like thee many in greatness
Lower themselves (Naso!
Lower themselves (Naso!
Catullus - Carmina
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.
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.
