Читать книгу The Greatest Works of Roman Classical Literature - Луций Анней Сенека - Страница 68

XV.

Lend thy bounty to me, to my beloved,

Kind Aurelius. I do ask a favour

Fair and lawful; if you did e'er in earnest

Seek some virginal innocence to cherish,

Touch not lewdly the mistress of my passion.

Trust the people; avails not aught to fear them,

Such, who hourly within the streets repassing,

Run, good souls, on a busy quest or idle.

You, you only the free, the felon-hearted,

Fright me, prodigal you of every virtue.

Well, let luxury run her heady riot,

Love flow over; enough abroad to sate thee:

This one trespass—a tiny boon—presume not.

But should impious heat or humour headstrong

Drive thee wilfully, wretch, to such profaning,

In one folly to dare a double outrage:

Ah what misery thine; what angry fortune!

Heels drawn tight to the stretch shall open inward

Lodgment easy to mullet and to radish.