Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Love to the death, both swains bloom of the youth Veronese,
  2. This woo'd brother and that sue'd sister: so might the matter
  3. Claim to be titled wi' sooth fairest fraternalest tie.
  4. Whom shall I favour the first? Thee (Caelius!) for thou hast provèd
  5. Singular friendship to us shown by the deeds it has done,
  6. Whenas the flames insane had madded me, firing my marrow:
  7. Caelius! happy be thou; ever be lusty in love.
  1. Faring thro' many a folk and plowing many a sea-plain
  2. These sad funeral-rites (Brother!) to deal thee I come,
  3. So wi' the latest boons to the dead bestowed I may gift thee,
  4. And I may vainly address ashes that answer have none,
  5. Sithence of thee, very thee, to deprive me Fortune behested,
  6. Woe for thee, Brother forlore! Cruelly severed fro' me.
  7. ---
  8. Yet in the meanwhile now what olden usage of forbears
  9. Brings as the boons that befit mournfullest funeral rites,
  10. Thine be these gifts which flow with tear-flood shed by thy brother,
  11. And, for ever and aye (Brother!) all hail and farewell.
  1. If by confiding friend aught e'er be trusted in silence,