Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Yet in the meanwhile now what olden usage of forbears
  2. Brings as the boons that befit mournfullest funeral rites,
  3. Thine be these gifts which flow with tear-flood shed by thy brother,
  4. 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?
  3. Ne'er could I, nor an I could, should I so losingly love her:
  4. But with Tappo thou dost design every monstrous deed.
  1. Mentula fain would ascend Pipléan mountain up-mounting:
  2. Pitch him the Muses down headlong wi' forklets a-hurled.
  1. When with a pretty-faced boy we see one playing the Crier,
  2. What can we wot except longs he for selling the same?
  1. An to one ever accrue any boon he lusted and longed for