Carmina
Catullus
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.
- And chased with steeds sonorous-hooved the shades of lingering night,
- Then sleep from waking Atys fled fleeting with sudden flight,
- By Nymph Pasithae welcomed to palpitating breast.
- Thus when his frenzy raging rash was soothed to gentlest rest,
- Atys revolved deeds lately done, as thought from breast unfolding,
- And what he'd lost and what he was with lucid sprite beholding,
- To shallows led by surging soul again the way 'gan take.
- There casting glance of weeping eyes where vasty billows brake,
- Sad-voiced in pitifullest lay his native land bespake.
- "Country of me, Creatress mine, born to thee and bred,
- By hapless me abandoned as by thrall from lordling fled,
- When me to Ida's groves and glades these vaguing footsteps bore
- To tarry 'mid the snows and where lurk beasts in antres frore
- And seek the deeply hidden lairs where furious ferals meet!
- Where, Country! whither placed must I now hold thy site and seat?
- Lief would these balls of eyes direct to thee their line of sight,
- Which for a while, a little while, would free me from despite.
- Must I for ever roam these groves from house and home afar?
- Of country, parents, kith and kin (life's boon) myself debar?
- Fly Forum, fly Palestra, fly the Stadium, the Gymnase?