Janus Secundus (The Hague 1511-1536) is a Dutch humanistic
writer who despite his early death left a large number of poems of amazing
quality. Most famous is his Liber
Basiorum `book of kisses’, a collection of 19 poems on the theme of kissing. Catullus is never far away in these poems.
The object of his kisses is Neaera, of course not her
real name, if real at all.
In this poem Janus is afraid of what others, especially
older (and secretly jealous!) old men will
say of his kissing. Neaera feels less ashamed and right she is!
Basium 11
Basia lauta
nimis quidam me iungere dicunt,
qualia rugosi non didicere patres.
Ergo, ego cum
cupidis stringo tua colla lacertis,
Lux mea, basiolis immoriorque tuis,
anxius
exquiram quid de me quisque loquatur?
Ipse quis, aut ubi sim, vix meminisse
vacat.
Audiit, et
risit formosa Neaera, meumque
hinc collum nivea cinxit et inde manu;
basiolumque
dedit, quo non lascivius umquam
inseruit Marti Cypria blanda suo;
et, 'quid,'
ait, 'metuis turbae decreta severae?
Causa meo tantum competit ista
foro.'
basia iungere:
to connect kisses, to kiss repeatedly, intensely
lautus: wet, sensual
nimis: too
rugosus:
wrinkled (as sign of old age)
cupidus:
longing, desirous
stringo strinxi
strictum: to draw tight
collum: neck (colla: poetic plural)
lacertus: (upper)
arm
basiolum:
little kiss
immorior: to
die in
exquiro exquisivi exquisitum:
to inquire
Ipse quis, aut ubi
sim, vix meminisse vacat: who or where I am, there is hardly time to
remember
audiit = audivit
rideo risi risum:
to laugh
hinc..inde:
from both sides
cingo cinxi cinctum:
to encompass
lascivius:
more playfully
insero inserui
insertum: to insert, give
Marti Cypria: though
married to Vulcanus, Venus and Mars were lovers.
blandus:
caressing, enticing
decretum: judgement
Causa meo tantum competit ista foro: this case is only
suitable for my court!
Gustav Klimt, The Kiss (1907 1908)
A poetic translation by George Ogle (1704-1747, edited by
Wallace Rice (Chicago 1901)
