Document 451

A Small Book of Translations: 03 - Catullus 2

Author(s): Alexander Hutchison

Copyright holder(s): Alexander Hutchison

FURI, QUI NEQUE SERVUS EST NEQUE ARCA

Jockie, ma loon, ye've nae flunkeys
nae bawbees, nae bumbees, nae spiders
nae fire in the grate – nithin bit a
faither an a gweed step-mither
wi jaas that quid crunch up
buckies on the beach.

It's a gran life, though, wi yon pair:
the aul man an his monniment o a wife.
Nae winner – ye're aa deein fine. Nae
rummles in yer wame; nae aggravation.
Nae thunnerbolts, nor cracks in the reef:
nithin taen; nithin plottit; nithin
pooshent. Nae bather at aa.

Constitution bane dry: wi haet
an caal an lack a maet perfectly
dehydratit. Fit mair quid ye ask?
Nae swite, nae spit, nae snotter –
nae a jot. Clean's a fussle.

Yer very cack-hole rins clear
as a cellar a saat. Ye quidna shite
mair nor ten times a twal-month.
An syne it's as hard as a bool
or a bean. Roll't or rub't in
yer haun – it widna even blaud
yer finger-end.

Nae a blissin t' be sneezit at
Jockie; tak tent. That sub ye were
seekin – the fiver – aye, leav't weel
alane: ye're deein jist graun athoot it.

Information about Document 451

A Small Book of Translations: 03 - Catullus 2