Carmina
Catullus
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.
- Driven perforce to loose the neck of new-wedded help-mate,
- Whenas a winter had gone, nor other winter had come,
- Ere in the long dark nights her greeding love was so sated
- That she had power to live maugrè a marriage broke off,
- Which, as the Parcae knew, too soon was fated to happen
- Should he a soldier sail bound for those llian walls.
- For that by Helena's rape, the Champion-leaders of Argives
- Unto herself to incite Troy had already begun,
- Troy (ah, curst be the name) common tomb of Asia and Europe,
- Troy to sad ashes that turned valour and valorous men!
- Eke to our brother beloved, destruction ever lamented
- Brought she : 0 Brother for aye lost unto wretchedmost me,
- Oh, to thy wretchedmost brother lost the light of his life-tide,
- Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house:
- Perisht along wi' thyself forthright all joys we enjoyèd,
- Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days;
- Whom now art tombed so far nor 'mid familiar pavestones
- Nor wi' thine ashes stored near to thy kith and thy kin,
- But in that Troy obscene, that Troy of ill-omen, entombèd
- Holds thee, an alien earth-buried in uttermost bourne.