Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Save fat paternal heritage devour?
  2. Lost ye for such a name, o puissant pair
  3. (Father and Son-in-law), our all-in-all?
  1. Alfénus! short of memory, false to comrades dearest-dear,
  2. Now hast no pity (hardened Soul!) for friend and loving fere?
  3. Now to betray me, now to guile. thou (traitor!) ne'er dost pause?
  4. Yet impious feats of fraudful men ne'er force the Gods' applause:
  5. When heed'st thou not deserting me (Sad me!) in sorest scathe,
  6. Ah say whate'er shall humans do? in whom shall man show faith?
  7. For sure thou bad'st me safely yield my spirit (wretch!) to thee,
  8. Lulling my love as though my life were all security.
  9. The same now dost withdraw thyself and every word and deed
  10. Thou suffer'st winds and airy clouds to sweep from out thy head.
  11. But an forget thou, mindful be the Gods, and Faith in mind
  12. Bears thee, and soon shall gar thee rue the deeds by thee design'd.
  1. Sirmio! of Islands and Peninsulas
  2. Eyelet, and whatsoe'er in limpid meres
  3. And vasty Ocean either Neptune owns,
  4. Thy scenes how willing-glad once more I see,
  5. At pain believing Thynia and the Fields
  6. Bithynian left, I'm safe to sight thy Site.
  7. Oh what more blessèd be than cares resolved,
  8. When mind casts burthen and by peregrine
  9. Work over wearied, lief we hie us home
  10. To lie reposing in the longed-for bed!
  11. This be the single meed for toils so triste.
  12. Hail, O fair Sirmio, in thy lord rejoice:
  13. And ye, O' waves of Lybian Lake be glad,
  14. And laugh what laughter pealeth in my home.
  1. ILL love my Ipsithilla sweetest,
  2. My desires and my Wit the meetest,
  3. So bid me join thy nap o' noon!
  4. Then (after bidding) add the boon
  5. Undraw thy threshold-bolt none dare,
  6. Lest thou be led afar to fare;
  7. Nay bide at home, for us prepare