Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Yet so thou mournedst not for a bed deserted of husband,
  2. As for a brother beloved wending on woefullest way?
  3. How was the marrow of thee consumedly wasted by sorrow!
  4. So clean forth of thy breast, rackt with solicitous care,
  5. Mind fled, sense being reft! But I have known thee for certain
  6. E'en from young virginal years lofty of spirit to be.
  7. Hast thou forgotten the feat whose greatness won thee a royal
  8. Marriage—a deed so prow, never a prower was dared?
  9. Yet how sad was the speech thou spakest, thy husband farewelling!
  10. (Jupiter!) Often thine eyes wiping with sorrowful hand!
  11. What manner God so great thus changed thee? Is it that lovers
  12. Never will tarry afar parted from person beloved?
  13. Then unto every God on behalf of thy helpmate, thy sweeting,
  14. Me thou gayest in vow, not without bloodshed of bulls,
  15. If he be granted return, and long while nowise delaying,
  16. Captive Asia he add unto Egyptian bounds.
  17. Now for such causes I, enrolled in host of the Heavens,
  18. By a new present, discharge promise thou madest of old:
  19. Maugrè my will, 0 Queen, my place on thy head I relinquished,
  20. Maugrè my will, I attest, swearing by thee and thy head;