Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Pleasure frustrated aye by the false flow of tears
  2. Poured in profusion amid illuminate genial chamber?
  3. Nay not real the 'groans; ever so help me the Gods!
  4. This truth taught me my Queen by force of manifold 'plainings
  5. After her new groom hied facing the fierceness of fight.
  6. Yet so thou mournedst not for a bed deserted of husband,
  7. As for a brother beloved wending on woefullest way?
  8. How was the marrow of thee consumedly wasted by sorrow!
  9. So clean forth of thy breast, rackt with solicitous care,
  10. Mind fled, sense being reft! But I have known thee for certain
  11. E'en from young virginal years lofty of spirit to be.
  12. Hast thou forgotten the feat whose greatness won thee a royal
  13. Marriage—a deed so prow, never a prower was dared?
  14. Yet how sad was the speech thou spakest, thy husband farewelling!
  15. (Jupiter!) Often thine eyes wiping with sorrowful hand!
  16. What manner God so great thus changed thee? Is it that lovers
  17. Never will tarry afar parted from person beloved?
  18. Then unto every God on behalf of thy helpmate, thy sweeting,
  19. Me thou gayest in vow, not without bloodshed of bulls,
  20. If he be granted return, and long while nowise delaying,