Love

XII: Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil

by Gaius Valerius Catullus c. 84 – c. 54 BC

Translated by Robinson Ellis (1871) · From The Poems and Fragments of Catullus (1871)

Love

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.

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,
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
And Veranius. Ought not I to love them
As Veranius even, as Fabullus?

MLA

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XII: Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/11/.

Chicago

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XII: Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/11/.

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