Carmina

Catullus

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

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