XII.

Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil

Left-hand practices o'er the merry wine-cup.

Watch occasion, anon remove the napkin.

Call this drollery? Trust me, friend, it is not.

'Tis most beastly, a trick among a thousand. 5

Not believe me? believe a friendly brother,

Laughing Pollio; he declares a talent

Poor indemnification, he the parlous

Child of voluble humour and facetious.

So face hendecasyllables, a thousand, 10

Or most speedily send me back the napkin;

Gift not prized at a sorry valuation,

But for company; 'twas a friend's memento.

Cloth of Saetabis, exquisite, from utmost

Iber, sent as a gift to me Fabullus 15

And Veranius. Ought not I to love them

As Veranius even, as Fabullus?

The Poems and Fragments of Catullus Translated in the Metres of the Original · 第 21 / 184 题