I write of youth, of love, and have access by these to sing of cleanly wantonness.

For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.

What women say to lovers, you'll agree, One writes on running water or on air.

Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus

Brother, hello and good-bye. Frater, ave atque vale

Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then a thousand more.

So a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long is she dear to her own; when she has lost her chaste flower with sullied body, she remains neither lovely to boys nor dear to girls.