Carmina

Catullus

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.

  1. Volusius' Annals, paper scum-bewrayed!
  2. Fulfil that promise erst my damsel made;
  3. Who vowed to Holy Venus and her son,
  4. Cupid, should I return to her anon
  5. And cease to brandish iamb-lines accurst,
  6. The writ selected erst of bards the worst
  7. She to the limping Godhead would devote
  8. With slowly-burning wood of illest note.
  9. This was the vilest which my girl could find
  10. With vow facetious to the Gods assigned.
  11. Now, 0 Creation of the azure sea,
  12. Holy Idalium, Urian havenry
  13. Haunting, Ancona, Cnidos' reedy site,
  14. Amathus, Golgos, and the tavern hight
  15. Durrachium-thine Adrian abode—
  16. The vow accepting, recognize the vowed
  17. As not unworthy and unhandsome naught.
  18. But do ye meanwhile to the fire be brought,