C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
A Morning Call
By Gaius Valerius Catullus (c. 84–c. 54 B.C.)
V
To see a little girl he knew,—
Pretty and witty in her way,
With impudence enough for two.
(As pretty girls are wont to do)
About all persons, places, matters:—
“And pray, what has been done for you?”
“Is a fine province for a prætor;
For none (I promise you) beside,
And least of all am I her debtor.”
You have brought with you, I dare say,
Some litter-bearers; none so clever
In any other part as they.
For all that’s steady, tall, and straight;
It is the nature of the race.
Could you not lend me six or eight?”
Said I, determined to be grand;
“My fortune is not quite so low
But these are still at my command.”
Although I had not here or there
One who could carry on his shoulder
The leg of an old broken chair.
Our meeting in this sort of way!
I would be carried to Serapis
To-morrow!”—“Stay, fair lady, stay!
Yes, there are eight … there may be nine:
I merely had forgot to mention
That they are Cinna’s, and not mine.”