SULPICIA

 

Tandem venit amor: qualem texisse pudori
    Quam nudasse alicui sit mihi fama magis.
Exorata meis illum Cytherea Camenis
    Attulit in nostrum deposuitque sinum.
Exsolvit promissa Venus: mea gaudia narret,
    Dicetur siquis non habuisse sua.
Non ego signatis quicquam mandare tabellis
    Ne legat id nemo quam meus ante, velim,
Sed peccasse iuvat, voltus componere famae
    Taedet: cum digno digna fuisse ferar

 

At last
It has come.
Love!
There - my secret
In all its nakedness.
Covering it up -that would have made me ashamed.
The goddess of Love read my poems
And made it happen.
She despatched him
Straight to my aching breast.
She keeps her promises!
Everyone's talking about it - my happiness -
That is those who've got none of their own.

Perhaps I shouldn't have written this,
In case someone reads it before my love.
But I'm so glad I've been bad!
So bored with seeming nice!
Let them shout it out:
I've got what I deserve
And so has he.