Love

XXX: False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal

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

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

Love

False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal,
Doth thy pity depart? Shall not a friend, traitor, a friend recal

Love? what courage is here me to betray, me to repudiate?
. . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .
Never sure did a lie, never a sin, please the celestials.

This you heed not; alas! leave me to new misery, desolate.
O where now shall a man trust? liveth yet any fidelity?

You, you only did urge love to be free, life to surrender, you.
Guiding into the snare, falsely secure, prophet of happiness.

Now you leave me, retract, every deed, every word allow
Into nullity winds far to remove, vapoury clouds to bear.

You forget me, but yet surely the Gods, surely remembereth
Faith; hereafter again honour awakes, causeth a wretch to rue.

MLA

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XXX: False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/27/.

Chicago

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XXX: False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/27/.

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