Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Hence of me seekest thou gifts Muses and Venus can give:
  2. But that bide not unknown to thee my sorrows (0 Manius!)
  3. And lest office of host I should be holden to hate,
  4. Learn how in Fortune's deeps I chance myself to be drownèd,
  5. Nor fro' the poor rich boons furthermore prithee require.
  6. What while first to myself the pure-white garment was given,
  7. Whenas my flowery years flowed in fruition of spring,
  8. Much I disported enow, nor 'bode I a stranger to Goddess
  9. Who with our cares is lief sweetness of bitter to mix:
  10. Yet did a brother's death pursuits like these to my sorrow
  11. Bid for me cease: Oh, snatcht brother! from wretchedest me.
  12. Then, yea, thou by thy dying hast broke my comfort, 0 brother;
  13. Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house;
  14. Perisht along wi' thyself all gauds and joys of our life-tide,
  15. Douce love fostered by thee during the term of our days.
  16. After thy doom of death fro' mind I banishèd wholly
  17. Studies like these, and all lending a solace to soul;
  18. Wherefore as to thy writ :—"Verona's home for Catullus
  19. Bringeth him shame, for there men of superior mark
  20. Must on a deserted couch fain chafe their refrigerate limbs:"
  21. Such be no shame (Manius!): rather 'tis matter of ruth.
  22. Pardon me, then, wilt thou an gifts bereft me by grieving
  23. These I send not to thee since I avail not present.
  24. For, that I own not here abundant treasure of writings
  25. Has for its cause, in Rome dwell I; and there am I homed,
  26. There be my seat, and there my years are gathered to harvest;
  27. Out of book-cases galore here am I followed by one.
  28. This being thus, nill I thou deem 'tis spirit malignant
  29. Acts in such wise or mind lacking of liberal mood
  30. That to thy prayer both gifts be not in plenty supplièd:
  31. Willingly both had I sent, had I the needed supply.
  32. Nor can I (Goddesses!) hide in what things Allius sent me
  33. Aid, forbear to declare what was the aidance he deigned:
  34. Neither shall fugitive Time from centuries ever oblivious
  35. Veil in the blinds of night friendship he lavisht on me.
  36. But will I say unto you what you shall say to the many
  37. Thousands in turn, and make paper, old crone, to proclaim
  38. ---
  39. And in his death become noted the more and the more,
  40. Nor let spider on high that weaves her delicate webbing
  41. Practise such labours o'er Allius' obsolete name.
  42. For that ye weet right well what care Amathúsia two-faced
  43. Gave me, and how she dasht every hope to the ground,
  44. Whenas I burnt so hot as burn Trinacria's rocks or
  45. Mallia stream that feeds Œtéan Thermopylae;
  46. Nor did these saddened eyes to be dimmed by assiduous weeping
  47. Cease, and my cheeks with showers ever in sadness be wet.
  48. E'en as from aëry heights of mountain springeth a springlet
  49. Limpidest leaping forth from rocking felted with moss,
  50. Then having headlong rolled the prone-laid valley downpouring,
  51. Populous region amid wendeth his gradual way,
  52. Sweetest solace of all to the sweltering traveller wayworn,
  53. Whenas the heavy heat fissures the fiery fields;
  54. Or, as to seamen lost in night of whirlwind a-glooming
  55. Gentle of breath there comes fairest and favouring breeze,
  56. Pollux anon being prayed, nor less vows offered to Castor:—
  57. Such was the aidance to us Manius pleased to afford.
  58. He to my narrow domains far wider limits laid open,
  59. He too gave me the house, also he gave me the dame,
  60. She upon whom both might exert them, partners in love deeds.
  61. Thither graceful of gait pacing my goddess white-hued
  62. Came and with gleaming foot on the worn sole of the threshold
  63. Stood she and prest its slab creakihg her sandals the while;
  64. E'enso with love enflamed in olden days to her helpmate,
  65. Laodamía the home Protesiléan besought,
  66. Sought, but in vain, for ne'er wi' sacrificial blood shed
  67. Victims appeased the Lords ruling Celestial seats:
  68. Never may I so joy in aught (Rhamnusian Virgin!)
  69. That I engage in deed maugrè the will of the Lords.
  70. How starved altar can crave for gore in piety poured,
  71. Laodamia learnt taught by the loss of her man,
  72. Driven perforce to loose the neck of new-wedded help-mate,
  73. Whenas a winter had gone, nor other winter had come,
  74. Ere in the long dark nights her greeding love was so sated
  75. That she had power to live maugrè a marriage broke off,
  76. Which, as the Parcae knew, too soon was fated to happen
  77. Should he a soldier sail bound for those llian walls.
  78. For that by Helena's rape, the Champion-leaders of Argives
  79. Unto herself to incite Troy had already begun,
  80. Troy (ah, curst be the name) common tomb of Asia and Europe,
  81. Troy to sad ashes that turned valour and valorous men!
  82. Eke to our brother beloved, destruction ever lamented
  83. Brought she : 0 Brother for aye lost unto wretchedmost me,
  84. Oh, to thy wretchedmost brother lost the light of his life-tide,
  85. Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house:
  86. Perisht along wi' thyself forthright all joys we enjoyèd,
  87. Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days;
  88. Whom now art tombed so far nor 'mid familiar pavestones
  89. Nor wi' thine ashes stored near to thy kith and thy kin,
  90. But in that Troy obscene, that Troy of ill-omen, entombèd
  91. Holds thee, an alien earth-buried in uttermost bourne.
  92. Thither in haste so hot ('tis said) from allwhere the Youth-hood
  93. Grecian, farèd in hosts forth of their hearths and their homes,
  94. Lest with a stolen punk with fullest of pleasure should Paris
  95. Fairly at leisure and ease sleep in the pacific bed.
  96. Such was the hapless chance, most beautiful Laodamia,
  97. Tare fro' thee dearer than life, dearer than spirit itself,
  98. Him, that husband, whose love in so mighty a whirlpool of passion
  99. Whelmed thee absorbed and plunged deep in its gulfy abyss,
  100. E'en as the Grecians tell hard by Phenéus of Cylléne
  101. Drained was the marish and dried, forming the fattest of soils,
  102. Whenas in days long done to delve through marrow of mountains
  103. Daréd, falsing his sire, Amphtryóniades;
  104. What time sure of his shafts he smote Stymphalian monsters
  105. Slaying their host at the hest dealt by a lord of less worth,
  106. So might the gateway of Heaven be trodden by more of the godheads,
  107. Nor might Hébé abide longer to maidenhood doomed.