Carmina

Catullus

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

  • Thou carest to conceal.
  • Of Afric's wolds and wilds each grain,
  • Or constellations glistening,
  • First reckon he that of the twain
  • To count alone were fain to bring
  • The many thousand joys.
  • Play as ye please: soon prove ye deft
  • At babying babes,—'twere ill design'd
  • A name thus ancient should be left
  • Heirless, but issue like of kind
  • Engendered aye should be.
  • A wee Torquaitus fain I'd see
  • Encradled on his mother's breast
  • Put forth his tender puds while he
  • Smiles to his sire with sweetest gest
  • And liplets half apart.
  • Let son like father's semblance show
  • (Manlius!) so with easy guess
  • All know him where his sire they know,
  • And still his face and form express