Poetry Sunday (01-10-10 edition)

This is one of my favorites by Petronius. There have been many translations of it. This particular translation is by Ben Jonson.


Doing, a filthy pleasure is, and short

by Gaius Petronius

Doing, a filthy pleasure is, and short;
And done, we straight repent us of the sport:
Let us not then rush blindly on unto it,
Like lustful beasts, that only know to do it:
For lust will languish, and that heat decay.
But thus, thus, keeping endless holiday,
Let us together closely lie and kiss,
There is no labour, nor no shame in this;
This hath pleased, doth please, and long will please; never
Can this decay, but is beginning ever.

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