The Gnat and Other Minor Poems of Virgil by Virgil

Author:Virgil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 2012-01-22T16:00:00+00:00

THE BARMAID

The Syrian barmaid gets up to dance. Her hair

is bound in a Greek bandanna and she sways

to the sizzle of a tambourine. Her bare

thighs flash through her skirt as the fiddle plays

and she winks at us and leers. In the smoky air

she sings a little song. This is what it says:

“Why would you think of leaving? It’s dusty out there

and hot as blazes. Better to stay where you are,

sipping those cool drinks that we prepare

and hearing the pretty girls who strum a guitar.

Look, there are pots of flowers everywhere.

What better have you to do than hang out in a bar?

“Those pastoral figures playing on pipes of Pan

as they lay in the grass . . . Learn from their example.

We’ve just opened a new jar of wine and we can

provide for you from our excellent and ample

supply to soothe the troubles of any man.

We also have hors d’oeuvres for you to sample.

“In the fountain water plashes with a sound

that soothes, and delicate rose and saffron scents

suggest an idyllic glade. You may be bound

on some important errand, but what difference

if you do it tomorrow? Try not to let the hound

of conscience growl too loudly and harry you hence.

“Consider instead those plums or the little cheeses

in the osier basket. And chestnuts! And fresh red

apples! It is an array that always pleases.

A glass of wine? Some cheddar? A bit of bread?

How can you deny yourself? What eases

the body and spirit is good, as the poets have said.

“On that wall, there are cucumbers to slice

and eat with a touch of salt perhaps on the plate.

Priapus, the god of the house, offers advice

on what life is about—although that great

member he has might frighten more than entice

women, except for the most degenerate.

“The god, you may recall, tried once to attack

Vesta,1 but a donkey’s random bray

alerted her, and the goddess, thinking back

to how the assault was averted on that day,

is fond of donkeys. Yours, out in the shack,

is resting. For Vesta’s sake, allow him to stay.

“Have another glass of wine, or a beaker,

and lie back, to enjoy a girl’s caress

of your face and hair. What in the world could be bleaker

than ignoring all the flowers but those that will dress

your ungrateful ashes. Does your resolve grow weaker?

Do you begin to laugh at your seriousness?

“Never mind tomorrow. In my ear

Death whispers: ‘Live! I’m coming. I am here!’ ”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.