Love

XIII: Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus

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

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

Love

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.

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/.

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