Social Commentaries
Carmen LXXVIII (Cornish)
Translated by F. W. Cornish (Loeb, 1913) · From The Poems of Catullus (Loeb, 1913)
Gallus has two brothers; one has a most charming wife, the other a charming boy. Gallus is a gallant: he helps love's course, and brings the gallant lad to the arms of the gallant lass. Gallus is a fool, and does not see that he has a wife of his own, when he teaches a nephew how to seduce an uncle's wife. But now what annoys me is that your nasty spittle has touched the pure lips of a pure girl. But you shall not have it gratis; all generations shall know you, and beldame Rumour shall tell what you are.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “Carmen LXXVIII (Cornish).” Translated by F. W. Cornish. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/184/.
Chicago
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “Carmen LXXVIII (Cornish).” Translated by F. W. Cornish. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/184/.
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