Aurelius & Furius, true comrades, 

whether Catullus penetrates to where in 

outermost India booms the eastern ocean's 

    wonderful thunder;



whether he stops with Arabs or Hyrcani, 

Parthian bowmen or nomadic Sagae; 

or goes to Egypt, which the Nile so richly 

    dyes, overflowing;



even if he should scale the lofty Alps, or 

summon to mind the mightiness of Caesar 

viewing the Gallic Rhine, the dreadful Britons 

    at the world's far end-- 



you're both prepared to share in my adventures, 

and any others which the gods may send me.

Back to my girl then, carry her this bitter 

    message, these spare words:



May she have joy & profit from her cocksmen, 

go down embracing hundreds all together, 

never with love, but without interruption 

    wringing their balls dry;



nor look to my affection as she used to, 

for she has left it broken, like a flower 

at the edge of a field after the plowshare 

    brushes it, passing.