Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Whenas the flames insane had madded me, firing my marrow:
  2. 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,
  2. Unto a man whose mind known is for worthiest trust,
  3. Me shalt thou find no less than such to secrecy oath-bound,
  4. (Cornelius!) and now hold me an Harpocrates.
  1. Or, d'ye hear, refund those ten sestertia (Silo!)
  2. Then be thou e'en at thy will surly and savage o' mood:
  3. Or, an thou love o'er-well those moneys, prithee no longer
  4. Prove thee a pimp and withal surly and savage o' mood.
  1. Canst thou credit that I could avail to revile my life-love,
  2. She who be dearer to me even than either my eyes?