Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Chiron came to the front with woodland presents surcharged:
  2. Whatso of blooms and flowers bring forth Thessalian uplands
  3. Mighty with mountain crests, whate'er of riverine lea flowers
  4. Reareth Favonius' air, bud-breeding, tepidly breathing,
  5. All in his hands brought he, unseparate in woven garlands,
  6. Whereat laughed the house as soothed by pleasure of perfume.
  7. Presently Péneus appears, deserting verdurous Tempe—
  8. Tempe girt by her belts of greenwood ever impending,
  9. Left for the Mamonides with frequent dances to worship—
  10. Nor is he empty of hand, for bears he tallest of beeches
  11. Deracinate, and bays with straight boles lofty and stately,
  12. Not without nodding plane-tree nor less the flexible sister
  13. Fire-slain Phaëton left, and not without cypresses airy.
  14. These in a line wide-broke set he, the Mansion surrounding,
  15. So by the soft leaves screened, the porch might flourish in verdure.
  16. Follows hard on his track with active spirit Prometheus,
  17. Bearing extenuate sign of penalties suffer'd in by-gones.
  18. Paid erewhiles what time fast-bound as to every member,
  19. Hung he in carkanet slung from the Scythian rocktor.
  20. Last did the Father of Gods with his sacred spouse and his offspring,