TO CATO, DESCRIBING A "BLACK JOKER."
O risible matter (Cato!) and jocose,Digne of thy hearing, of thy sneering digne.
Laugh (Cato!) an thou love Catullus thine;
The thing is risible, nay, too jocose.
Erstwhile I came upon a lad who a lass
Was . . . and (so please it Dion!) I
Pierced him with stiffest staff and did him die.