Carmina
Catullus
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.
- Straiter whose course shall grow by up-heaped barrage of corpses,
- While in his depths runs warm his stream with slaughter commingled.
- Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
- Witness in fine shall be the victim rendered to death-stroke,
- Whenas the earthern tomb on lofty tumulus builded
- Shall of the stricken maid receive limbs white as the snow-flake.
- Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
- For when at last shall Fors to weary Achaians her fiat
- Deal, of Dardanus-town to burst Neptunian fetters,
- Then shall the high-reared tomb stand bathed with Polyxena's life-blood,
- Who, as the victim doomed to fall by the double-edged falchion,
- Forward wi' hams relaxt shall smite a body beheaded.
- Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
- Wherefore arise, ye pair, conjoin loves ardently longed-for,
- Now doth the groom receive with happiest omen his goddess,
- Now let the bride at length to her yearning spouse be delivered.
- Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
- Neither the nurse who comes at dawn to visit her nursling
- E'er shall avail her neck to begird with yesterday's ribband.
- [Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 spindles.]