Gaius Valerius Catullus, Carmina (ed. Sir Richard Francis Burton)
Editions and translations: Latin (ed. E. T. Merrill) | English (ed. Sir Richard Francis Burton) | English (ed. Leonard C. Smithers)
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TO AURELIUS AND FURIUS IN DEFENCE OF HIS MUSE'S HONESTYI'll . . . you twain and . . .
Pathic Aurelius! Fúrius, libertines!
Who durst determine from my versicles
Which seem o'er softy, that I'm scant of shame.
For pious poet it behoves be chaste
Himself; no chastity his verses need;
Nay, gain they finally more salt of wit
When over softy and of scanty shame,
Apt for exciting somewhat prurient,
[10] In boys, I say not, but in bearded men
Who fail of movements in their hardened loins.
Ye who so many thousand kisses sung
Have read, deny male masculant I be?
You twain I'll . . . and . . .
There are a total of 27 comments on and cross references to this page.
Further comments from E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus:
poem 16 (general note)
poem 16, line 1: pedicabo
poem 16, line 10: non dico ... sed
poem 16, line 12: milia multa basiorum
poem 16, line 14 (general note)
poem 16, line 5 (general note)
poem 16, line 5: pium poetam
poem 16, line 7: salem ac leporem
Cross references from E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus:
* [Later years. Relations with Caesar.]
* [Friends and foes.]
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*
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*: non dico ... sed
* [Poems.]
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*: male marem
*: male marem
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*: pium poetam
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*
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This text is based on the following book(s): Catullus. Carmina. Sir Richard Francis Burton. trans. London. For translator for private use. 1894. OCLC: 878062
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