LVI.

TO CATO, DESCRIBING A "BLACK JOKER."

O risible matter (Cato!) and jocose, Digne of thy hearing, of thy sneering digne. Laugh (Cato!) an thou love Catullus thine; The thing is risible, nay, too jocose. Erstwhile I came upon a lad who a lass 5 Was ---- and (so please it Dion!) I Pierced him with stiffest staff and did him die.

O thing ridiculous, Cato, and facetious, and worthy of thine ears and of thy laughter. Laugh, Cato, the more thou lovest Catullus: the thing is ridiculous, and beyond measure facetious. Just now I caught a boy a-thrusting in a girl: and on him (so please you, Dione) with rigid spear of mine I fell.