Love
XIII: Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus
Translated by Robinson Ellis (1871) · From The Poems and Fragments of Catullus (1871)
Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus,
We'll dine merrily, dear my friend, together.
Promise only to bring, your own, a dinner
Rich and goodly; withal a lily maiden,
Wine, and banter, a world of hearty laughing.
Promise only; betimes we dine, my gentle
Friend, most merrily; but, for your Catullus--
Know he boasts but a pouch of empty cobwebs.
Yet take contrary fee, the quintessential
Love, or sweeter if aught is, aught supremer,
Perfume savoury, mine; my love received it
Gift of every Venus, all the Cupids.
Would you smell it? a god shall hear Fabullus
Pray unbody him only nose for ever.
Cite this poem
MLA
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XIII: Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/12/.
Chicago
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XIII: Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/12/.
Read this poem with the Codex →