Thee, Rufus, once I deemed a friend,
My thoughts were vain, aye worse than vain,
Thou did'st disgrace upon me send
And mighty loss and grievous pain,
Creeping into my inmost thought,
Thou didst my very soul destroy.
All, all is gone, my life is nought,
For thou hast ta'en away my joy;
Thou poison dire that didst invade
My life and taint our friendship's tie!
I grieve to think that that pure maid
In thy impure embrace should lie.
But thou shalt not unpunished go,
for every age shall know thy crime,
My verse thy villany shall show
Through all the lapse of hoary time.
- Catullus