CARMEN LV.—TO CAMERIUS.

Now tell me, Camerius, my friend, if you please
Where the hiding place is where you lurk at your ease,
I looking for you through the Campus did rove
Through the Circus, the book-shops, the temple of Jove,
And the walk made by Pompey, and every gay maid

Though they faced me sedately I questioned, and said “Give me back my Camerius," thus did I cry, "You naughtiest of girls;" whereat one passing by

Showed her fair naked bosom, and "here," did she say, “'Mid such roses your lost friend lies hid all the day;" 'Tis a Hercules' toil with you longer to bear, Far too proud you would be to receive visits there. So out with it boldly, and trust it to me, And tell me the place where you're likely to be, Do some milky-white girls you in bondage detain ? If you keep your lips closed what avails it to gain All love's fruits, for these triumphs are made to be sung, And Venus delights in a loud-tattling tongue; But still if you like, keep your mouth shut with care If but in your confidence I have a share; If I were as swift as that guardian of Crete, Huge Talus, or Perseus, with wing'd sandall’d feet, Or a Pegasus flying, or Ladas were I, Or with Rhesus's snowy-white horses could vie,

Or had I the fleetness of those living things
With lightness endowed, and with feet clad with wings,
Or could I outstrip the wild tempests which blow
Or could you, Camerius, on me bestow
The swiftness of winds yoked together, e'en so
My limbs would all fail me, nor could I pursue,
Eaten up with fatigue, the long hunt after you.

CARMEN LVII.-ON MAMURRA AND CÆSAR.

Well matched are seen that infamous pair
Mamurra, Cæsar; both do bear

The marks of guilty love;
One for his crimes the City sought
The other Formiæ, nor shall aught

Those deep-stamped scars remove.

Lustful alike, in learning too
They dabble, one could never view

Such a well-mated pair,
The other neither can excel
In vices which both love so well,

Rivals of maidens fair !

CARMEN LVIII. - TO CALIUS ON LESBIA.

My Lesbia, Coelius, oh my Lesbia fair,
For whom in days gone by I once did bear
So great a love that not my life could be
Or my own kindred half so dear to me,
Now in side alleys and through streets doth rove
And all those charms which erst called forth my love,
Sells for the Roman populace to view,
Remus' descendants, that most high souled crew.

CARMEN LIX.-ON RUFA AND RUFULUS.

Does Bononian Rufa that wretched old soul
The wife of Menenius Rufus cajole ?
Whom oft when in burial-grounds she would steal
What would make the poor wretch but a miserable meal
We have seen snatching bread as it fell from the pile
And by half-shaved corpse-burners be beaten the while.

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CARMEN LX.

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Was it a lioness on the Libyan hills
Or barking Scylla dog-like shaped below
That bore thee with a mind so steeled 'gainst ills
That thou in all extremity of woe
A suppliant voice despisest ; oh, thou art
Unfeeling, harsh, and of most cruel heart.

CARMEN LXI. -ON THE MARRIAGE OF JULIA AND MANLIUS.

O thou who aye thy lofty seat

On Helicon's high summit makest,
Urania's offspring, who to greet

Her husband's passion rudely takest
From her lov'd home the virgin fair,
Hear us, O Hymen, Hymenæus hear. (1)

Thy temples with a wreath surround

Of marjoram's bloom with odour sweet;
With flame-red nuptial veil be bound (2)

Thy head, and on thy snowy feet
The saffron-coloured slipper wear,
And hither joyful come our bliss to share.

Do thou on this blithe day rejoice,

And nuptial songs with us resound,
In chorus with thy shrill toned voice,

And beat with dancing feet the ground,
And o'er our merriment to shine
Shake in thy hands the flaming torch of pine.

For now with omen good doth come

Julia, Manlius' bride to be,
Arrayed in all her beauty's bloom,

Such as great Venus wore when she
The queen of high Idalium came,
The prize of beauty from her judge to claim. (3)