Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Means he, and "Insidious "aspirate "Hinsidious,"
  2. What time flattering self he speaks with marvellous purity,
  3. Clamouring "Hinsidious" loudly as ever he can.
  4. Deem I thus did his dame and thus-wise Liber his uncle
  5. Speak, and on spindle-side grandsire and grandmother too.
  6. Restful reposed all ears when he was sent into Syria,
  7. Hearing the self-same words softly and smoothly pronouncèd,
  8. Nor any feared to hear such harshness uttered thereafter,
  9. Whenas a sudden came message of horrible news,
  10. Namely th' lonian waves when Arrius thither had wended,
  11. Were "lonian" no more—they had "Hionian" become.
  1. Hate I, and love I. Haps thou'lt ask me wherefore I do so.
  2. Wot I not, yet so I do feeling a torture of pain.
  1. Quintia beautiful seems to the crowd; to me, fair, and tall,
  2. Straight; and merits as these readily thus I confess,
  3. But that she is beauteous all I deny, for nothing of lovesome,
  4. Never a grain of salt, shows in her person so large.
  5. Lesbia beautiful seems, and when all over she's fairest,
  6. Any Venus-gift stole she from every one.
  1. Never a woman could call herself so fondly beloved