ON GELLIUS.

Born be a Magus, got by Gellius out of his mother

(Marriage nefand!) who shall Persian augury learn.

Needs it a Magus begot of son upon mother who bare him,

If that impious faith, Persian religion be fact,

So may their issue adore busy gods with recognised verses 5

Melting in altar-flame fatness contained by the caul.

Let there be born a Magian from the infamous conjoining of Gellius and his

mother, and he shall learn the Persian aruspicy. For a Magian from a mother

and son must needs be begotten, if there be truth in Persia's vile creed

that one may worship with acceptable hymn the assiduous gods, whilst the

caul's fat in the sacred flame is melting.

The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus · 第 286 / 372 题