THE
AUCTIONEER
AND THE FAIR BOY.
Catullus - Carmina
CIIII.
CONCERNING LESBIA.
Canst thou credit that I could avail to revile my life-love,
She who be dearer to me even than either my eyes?
Ne'er could I, nor an I could, should I so losingly love her:
But with Tappo thou dost design every monstrous deed.
Dost deem me capable of speaking ill of my life, she who is dearer to me
than are both mine eyes? I could not, nor if I could, would my love be so
desperate: but thou with Tappo dost frame everything heinous.
CV.
Mentula conatur Pipleum scandere montem:
Musae furcillis praecipitem eiciunt.
CV.
ON MAMURRA.
Mentula fain would ascend Piplean mountain up-mounting:
Pitch him the Muses down headlong wi' forklets a-hurled.
Mentula presumes the Pimplean mount to scale: the Muses with their
pitchforks chuck him headlong down.
CVI.
Cum puero bello praeconem qui videt esse,
Quid credat, nisi se vendere discupere?
CVI.
THE AUCTIONEER AND THE FAIR BOY.
When with a pretty-faced boy we see one playing the Crier,
What can we wot except longs he for selling the same?
When with a comely lad a crier is seen to be, what may be thought save that
he longs to sell himself.
CVII.
Siquoi quid cupido optantique obtigit umquam
Insperanti, hoc est gratum animo proprie.
Quare hoc est gratum nobisque est carius auro,
Quod te restituis, Lesbia, mi cupido,
Restituis cupido atque insperanti ipsa refers te. 5
Nobis o lucem candidiore nota!
Quis me uno vivit felicior, aut magis hac res
Optandas vita dicere quis poterit?
CVII.
TO LESBIA RECONCILED.
An to one ever accrue any boon he lusted and longed for
Any time after despair, grateful it comes to his soul.
Thus 'tis grateful to us nor gold was ever so goodly,
When thou restorest thyself (Lesbia! ) to lovingmost me,
Self thou restorest unhoped, and after despair thou returnest. 5
Oh the fair light of a Day noted with notabler white!
Where lives a happier man than myself or--this being won me--
Who shall e'er boast that his life brought him more coveted lot?
If what one desires and covets is ever obtained unhoped for, this is
specially grateful to the soul.
