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John O’Keefe: Amo, Amas
Amo, Amas, I love a lass
As a cedar tall and slender;
Sweet cowslip's grace is her nominative case,
And she's of the feminine gender.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
Can I decline a Nymph divine?
Her voice as a flute is dulcis.
Her oculus bright, her manus white,
And soft, when I tacto, her pulse is.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
Oh, how bella my puella,
I'll kiss secula seculorum.
If I've luck, sir, she's my uxor,
O dies benedictorum.
Rorum, Corum, sunt divorum,
Harum, Scarum divo;
Tag-rag, merry-derry, periwig and hat-band
Hic hoc horum genitivo.
--
"Amo, Amas" by John O'Keefe. Public domain.
John O’Keeffe (1747 – 1833) was an Irish actor and dramatist. He wrote a number of farces, amusing dramatic pieces and librettos for pasticcio operas, many of which had great success.
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As a former high school Latin student (who switched to French third year before Cicero), I laughed all through this. What a delight!
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Thanks, Louise. I love the music of the verse, as well as the sense of humor.
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such fun and so witty!
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It really is. I love it.
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Thank you. I needed that
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Thanks Barbara. I think we poets tend to take ourselves far too seriously. it’s good to be reminded that poetry can be fun.
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