Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Lower themselves (Naso!): great be thou, pathic to boot.
  1. Pompey first being chosen Consul, twofold (O Cinna!)
  2. Men for amours were famed: also when chosen again
  3. Two they remained; but now is each one grown to a thousand
  4. Gallants:—fecundate aye springeth adultery's seed.
  1. For yon Firmian domain not falsely Mentula hight is
  2. Richard, owning for self so many excellent things—
  3. Fish, fur, feather, all kinds, with prairie, corn-land, and ferals.
  4. All no good: for th' outgoing, income immensely exceeds.
  5. Therefore his grounds be rich own I, while he's but a pauper.
  6. Laud we thy land while thou lackest joyance thereof.
  1. Mentula! masterest thou some thirty acres of grassland
  2. Full told, forty of field soil; others are sized as the sea.
  3. Why may he not surpass in his riches any a Crœsus
  4. Who in his one domain owns such abundance of good,
  5. Grasslands, arable fields, vast woods and forest and marish
  6. Yonder to Boreal-bounds trenching on Ocean tide?
  7. Great are indeed all these, but thou by far be the greatest,
  8. Never a man, but a great Mentula of menacing might.
  1. Seeking often in mind with spirit eager of study
  2. How I could send thee songs chaunted of Battiadés,
  3. So thou be softened to us, nor any attempting thou venture
  4. Shot of thy hostile shaft piercing me high as its head,—
  5. Now do I ken this toil with vainest purpose was taken,
  6. (Gellius!) nor herein aught have our prayers availèd.