Rufus, a friend so vainly believ'd, so wrongly relied in,
(Vainly? alas the reward fail'd not, a heavier ill;)
Could'st thou thus steal on me, a lurking viper, an aching
Fire to the bones, nor leave aught to delight any more?
5 Nought to delight any more! ah cruel poison of equal
Lives! ah breasts that grew each to the other awhile!
Yet far most this grieves me, to think thy slaver abhorred
Foully my own love's lips soileth, a purity rare.
Thou shalt surely atone thine injury: centuries harken,
10 Know thee afar; grow old, fame, to declare him anew.
LXXXVIII.
Gellius, how if a man in lust with a mother, a sister
Rioteth, one uncheck'd night, to iniquity bare?
How if a man's dark passion an aunt's own chastity spare not?
Canst thou tell what vast infamy lieth on him?
5 Infamy lieth on him, no farthest Tethys, or ancient
Ocean, of hundred streams father, abolisheth yet.
Infamy none o'ersteps, nor ventures any beyond it.
Not tho' a scorpion heat melt him, his own paramour.
LXXXIX.
Gellius—he's full meagre. It is no wonder, a friendly
Mother, a sister is his loveable, healthy withal.
Then so friendly an uncle, a world of pretty relations.
Must not a man so blest meagre abide to the last?
5 Yea, let his hand touch only what hands touch only to trespass;
Reason enough to become meagre, enough to remain.
XC.
Rise from a mother's shame with Gellius hatefully wedded,
One to be taught gross rites Persic, a Magian he.
Weds with a mother a son, so needs should a Magian issue,
Save in her evil creed Persia determineth ill.
5 Then shall a son, so born, chant down high favour of heaven,
Melting lapt in flame fatly the slippery caul.
XCI.
Think not a hope so false rose, Gellius, in me to find thee
Faithful in all this love's anguish ineffable yet,
For that in heart I knew thee, had in thee honour imagin'd,
Held thee a soul to abhor vileness or any reproach.