Social Commentaries
LIV: Otho's head is a very dwarf; a rustic's
Translated by Robinson Ellis (1871) · From The Poems and Fragments of Catullus (1871)
Otho's head is a very dwarf; a rustic's
Shanks has Herius, only semi-cleanly;
Libo's airs to a fume of art refine them.
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics.
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
[So may destiny doom me quite to silence]
As I care not if every line offend thee
And Sufficius, age in youth's revival.
. . . . . . . .
Thou shalt kindle at innocent iambics,
Mighty general, once again returning.
Cite this poem
MLA
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “LIV: Otho's head is a very dwarf; a rustic's.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/51/.
Chicago
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “LIV: Otho's head is a very dwarf; a rustic's.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/51/.
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