IV
Spit in my face! I love you. Clench your fists
And beat me! Still, I love you. Let your eyes
Like fiery opals or mad amethysts
Curse me! I love you. Let your anger rise
And with your teeth tear bleeding bits of flesh
Out of my body—kill me if you can!
I love you. I will have you fair and fresh,
A maenad maiden maddening for a man.
Ay! you shall weary in the erotic craving!
I'll have you panting—aching to the marrow—
Exhausted, but a maiden (Lesbia raving:
"Catullus brings a song and not a sparrow")
Famished with love, fed full with love, your soul
Still on the threshold of the unenvied goal.
And beat me! Still, I love you. Let your eyes
Like fiery opals or mad amethysts
Curse me! I love you. Let your anger rise
And with your teeth tear bleeding bits of flesh
Out of my body—kill me if you can!
I love you. I will have you fair and fresh,
A maenad maiden maddening for a man.
Ay! you shall weary in the erotic craving!
I'll have you panting—aching to the marrow—
Exhausted, but a maiden (Lesbia raving:
"Catullus brings a song and not a sparrow")
Famished with love, fed full with love, your soul
Still on the threshold of the unenvied goal.
— 70 —
