Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. For since the doings of the Díndymus-dame,
  2. By himself storied, she hath read, a flame
  3. Wasting her inmost marrow-core hath burned.
  4. I pardon thee, than Sapphic Muse more learn'd,
  5. Damsel : for truly sung in sweetest lays
  6. 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,
  12. Holy Idalium, Urian havenry
  13. Haunting, Ancona, Cnidos' reedy site,
  14. Amathus, Golgos, and the tavern hight
  15. Durrachium-thine Adrian abode—
  16. The vow accepting, recognize the vowed
  17. As not unworthy and unhandsome naught.
  18. But do ye meanwhile to the fire be brought,
  19. That teem with boorish jest of sorry blade,
  20. Volusius' Annals, paper scum-bewrayed.
  1. Salacious Tavern and ye taverner-host,
  2. From Pileate Brothers the ninth pile-post,
  3. D'ye claim, you only of the, mentule boast,
  4. D'ye claim alone what damsels be the best