LXX.
Saith my lady to me, no man shall wed me, but only
Thou; no other if e'en Jove should approach me to woo;
Yea; but a woman's words, when a lover fondly desireth,
Limn them on ebbing floods, write on a wintery gale.
LXXII.
Lesbia, thou didst swear thou knewest only Catullus,
Cared'st not, if him thine arms chained, a Jove to retain.
Then not alone I loved thee, as each light lover a mistress,
Lov'd as a father his own sons, or an heir to the name.
5 Now I know thee aright; so, if more hotly desiring,
Yet must count thee a soul cheaper, a frailty to scorn.
'Friend,' thou say'st, 'you cannot.' Alas! such injury leaveth
Blindly to doat poor love's folly, malignly to will.
LXXIII.
Never again think any to work aught kindly soever,
Dream that in any abides honour, of injury free.
Love is a debt in arrear; time's parted service avails not;
Rather is only the more sorrow, a heavier ill:
5 Chiefly to me, whom none so fierce, so deadly deceiving
Troubleth, as he whose friend only but inly was I.
LXXIV.
Gellius heard that his uncle in ire exploded, if any
Dared, some wanton, a fault practise, a levity speak.
Not to be slain himself, see Gellius handle his uncle's
Lady; no Harpocrates muter, his uncle is hush'd.
5 So what he aim'd at, arriv'd at, anon let Gellius e'en this
Uncle abuse; not a word yet will his uncle assay.