Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Even as she-mule casts iron shoe where quagmire is stiffest.
  1. This grove to thee devote I give, Priapus!
  2. Who home be Lampsacus and holt, Priapus!
  3. For thee in cities worship most the shores
  4. Of Hellespont the richest oystery strand.
  1. This place, O youths, I protect, nor less this turfbuilded cottage,
  2. Roofed with its osier-twigs and thatched with its bundles of sedges;
  3. I from the dried oak hewn and fashioned with rustical hatchet,
  4. Guarding them year by year while more are they evermore thriving.
  5. For here be owners twain who greet and worship my Godship,
  6. He of the poor hut lord and his son, the pair of them peasants:
  7. This with assiduous toil aye works the thicketty herbage
  8. And the coarse water-grass to clear afar from my chapel:
  9. That with his open hand ever brings me offerings humble.
  10. Hung up in honour mine are flowery firstlings of spring-tide,
  11. Wreaths with their ears still soft the tender stalklets a-crowning;
  12. Violets pale are mine by side of the poppy-head pallid;
  13. With the dull yellow gourd and apples sweetest of savour;
  14. Lastly the blushing grape disposed in shade of the vine-tree.
  15. Anon mine altar (this same) with blood (but you will be silent!)