Carmina
Catullus
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.
- Faded from Theseus' mind like mists, compelled by the whirlwind,
- Fleet from aerial crests of mountains hoary with snow-drifts.
- But as the sire had sought the citadel's summit for outlook,
- Wasting his anxious eyes with tear-floods evermore flowing,
- Forthright e'en as he saw the sail-gear darkened with dye-stain,
- Headlong himself flung he from the sea-cliff's pinnacled summit
- Holding his Theseus lost by doom of pitiless Fortune.
- Thus as he came to the home funest, his roof-tree paternal,
- Theseus (vaunting the death), what dule to the maiden of Minos
- Dealt with unminding mind so dree'd he similar dolour.
- She too gazing in grief at the kelson vanishing slowly,
- Self-wrapt, manifold cares revolved in spirit perturbed.
- But from the further side came flitting bright-faced Iacchus
- Girded by Satyr-crew and Nysa-reared Sileni
- Burning with love unto thee (Ariadne!) and greeting thy presence. ---
- Who flocking eager to fray did rave with infuriate spirit,
- "Evoe" frenzying loud, with heads at "Evoe" rolling.
- Brandisht some of the maids their thyrsi sheathed of spear-point,
- Some snatcht limbs and joints of sturlings rended to pieces,
- These girt necks and waists with writhing bodies of vipers,