Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. A-winding would e'er seek his course to check;
  2. A girl who (if the truth be truly told)
  3. Dies of a hopeless passion uncontroul'd;
  4. For since the doings of the Díndymus-dame,
  5. By himself storied, she hath read, a flame
  6. Wasting her inmost marrow-core hath burned.
  7. I pardon thee, than Sapphic Muse more learn'd,
  8. Damsel : for truly sung in sweetest lays
  9. Was by Cecilius Magna Mater's praise.
  1. Volusius' Annals, paper scum-bewrayed!
  2. Fulfil that promise erst my damsel made;
  3. Who vowed to Holy Venus and her son,
  4. Cupid, should I return to her anon
  5. And cease to brandish iamb-lines accurst,
  6. The writ selected erst of bards the worst
  7. She to the limping Godhead would devote
  8. With slowly-burning wood of illest note.
  9. This was the vilest which my girl could find
  10. With vow facetious to the Gods assigned.
  11. Now, 0 Creation of the azure sea,