Читать книгу The Greatest Works of Roman Classical Literature - Луций Анней Сенека - Страница 92

Table of Contents

1.

Come all hendecasyllables whatever,

Wheresoever ye house you, all whatever.

I the game of an impudent adultress?

She refuse to return to me the tablets

Where you syllable? O ye can't be silent.

Up, have after her, ask renunciation.

Would ye know her? a woman, you shall eye her

Strutting loftily, whiles she laughs a loud laugh

Vast and vulgar, a Gaulish hound beseeming.

Form your circle about her, ask her, urge her.

'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over.

Hark, the note-book, adultress, hand it over.'

2.

What? you scorn us? O ugly filth, detested

Trull, whatever is all abomination.

Nay then, louder. Enough as yet it is not.

If this only remains, perhaps the dog-like

Face may colour, a brassy blush may yield us.

Swell your voices in higher harsher yellings,

'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over;

Hark, the note-book; adultress, hand it over.'

Look, she moves not at all: we waste the moments.

Change your quality, try another issue.

Such composure a sweeter air may alter.

'Pure and virtuous, hand the note-book over.'