Social Commentaries
XXIV: O thou blossom of all the race Juventian
Translated by Robinson Ellis (1871) · From The Poems and Fragments of Catullus (1871)
O thou blossom of all the race Juventian
Not now only, but all as yet arisen,
All to flower in after-years arising;
Midas' treasury better you presented
Him that owns not a slave nor any coffer,
Ere you suffer his alien arm's presuming.
What? you fancy him all refin'd perfection?
Perfect! truly, without a slave, a coffer.
Slight, reject it, away with it; for all that
He, he owns not a slave nor any coffer.
Cite this poem
MLA
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XXIV: O thou blossom of all the race Juventian.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/21/.
Chicago
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XXIV: O thou blossom of all the race Juventian.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/21/.
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