Carmina
Catullus
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.
- Where loud the cymbal's voice resounds with timbrel-echoes blending,
- And where the Phrygian piper drones grave bass from reed a-bending,
- Where toss their ivy-circled heads with might the Maenades
- Where ply mid shrilly lullilooes the holiest mysteries,
- Where to fly here and there be wont the she-god's vaguing train,
- Thither behoves us lead the dance in quick-step hasty strain."
- Soon as had Atys (bastard-she) this lay to comrades sung
- The Chorus sudden lulliloos with quivering, quavering tongue,
- Again the nimble timbrel groans, the scooped-out cymbals clash,
- And up green Ida flits the Choir, with footsteps hurrying rash
- Then Atys frantic, panting, raves, a-wandering, lost, insane,
- And leads with timbrel hent and treads the shades where shadows rain,
- Like heifer spurning load of yoke in yet unbroken pride;
- And the swift Gallae follow fain their first and fleet-foot guide.
- But when the home of Cybele they make with toil out-worn
- O'er much, they lay them down to sleep and gifts of Ceres scorn;
- Till heavy slumbers seal their eyelids langourous, drooping lowly,
- And raving frenzy flies each brain departing softly, slowly.
- But when Dan Sol with radiant eyes that fire his face of gold
- Surveyed white aether and solid soil and waters uncontrol'd,