Carmina
Catullus
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.
- By himself storied, she hath read, a flame
- Wasting her inmost marrow-core hath burned.
- I pardon thee, than Sapphic Muse more learn'd,
- Damsel : for truly sung in sweetest lays
- Was by Cecilius Magna Mater's praise.
- Volusius' Annals, paper scum-bewrayed!
- Fulfil that promise erst my damsel made;
- Who vowed to Holy Venus and her son,
- Cupid, should I return to her anon
- And cease to brandish iamb-lines accurst,
- The writ selected erst of bards the worst
- She to the limping Godhead would devote
- With slowly-burning wood of illest note.
- This was the vilest which my girl could find