Dearly the deed I paid for; an hour's long misery waning
Ended, as I agoniz'd hung to the point of a cross,
5 Hoping vain purgation; alas! no potion of any
Tears could abate that fair angriness, youthful as you.
Hardly the sin was in act, your lips did many a falling
Drop dilute, which anon every finger away
Cleansed apace, lest still my mouth's infection abiding
10 Stain, like slaver abhorr'd breath'd from a foul fricatrice.
Add, that a booty to love in misery me to deliver
You did spare not, a fell worker of all agonies,
So that, again transmuted, a kiss ambrosia seeming
Sugary, turn'd to the strange harshness of harsh hellebore.
15 Then such dolorous end since your poor lover awaiteth,
Never a kiss will I venture, a theft any more.
C.
Quintius, Aufilena; to Caelius, Aufilenus;
Lovers each, fair flower either of youths Veronese.
One to the brother bends, and one to the sister. A noble
Friendship, if e'er was true friendship, a rare brotherhood.
5 Ask me to which I lean? You, Caelius: yours a devotion
Single, a faith of tried quality, steady to me;
Into my inmost veins when love sank fiercely to burn them.
Mighty be your bright love, Caelius, happy be you!
CI.
Borne o'er many a land, o'er many a level of ocean,
Here to the grave I come, brother, of holy repose,
Sadly the last poor gifts, death's simple duty, to bring thee;
Unto the silent dust vainly to murmur a cry.
5 Since thy form deep-shrouded an evil destiny taketh
From me, O hapless ghost, brother, O heavily ta'en,
Yet this bounty the while, these gifts ancestral of usance
Homely, the sad slight store piety grants to the tomb;
Drench'd in a brother's tears, and weeping freshly, receive them;
10 Yea, take, brother, a long Ave, a timeless adieu.