Page:The poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus - Francis Warre Cornish.djvu/83



Let him first count up the number of the dust of Africa and of the glittering stars, who would number the many thousands of your joys.

Sport as ye will, and soon give birth to children. It is not fit that so old a name should be without children, but that they should be ever born from the same stock.

I would see a little Torquatus, stretching his baby hands from his mother's bosom, smile a sweet smile at his father with half-open lip.

May he be like his father Manlius, and easily be recognised by all, even those who do not know, and declare by his face the fair fame of his mother.

May such honour, coming from his chaste mother, approve his descent, as for Telemachus son of Penelope remains unparagoned the honour derived from 22; his noble mother.

Maidens, shut the doors. We have sported enough. But ye, happy pair, live happily, and in your office 2^ exercise joyously your vigorous youth.

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