Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Nor ever deem I'd reach satiety,
  2. Not albe denser than dried wheat-ears show
  3. The kissing harvests our embraces grow.
  1. Most eloquent 'mid race of Romulus>
  2. That is or ever was (Marc Tullius!)
  3. Or in the coming years the light shall see,
  4. His thanks, the warmest, offers unto thee
  5. Catullus, poet sorriest that be,
  6. And by such measure poet sorriest,
  7. As thou of pleaders art the bestest best.
  1. Idly (Licinius!) we our yesterday,
  2. Played with my tablets much as pleased us play,
  3. In mode becoming souls of dainty strain.
  4. Inditing verses either of us twain
  5. Now in one measure then in other line
  6. We rang the changes amid wit and wine.
  7. Then fared I homewards by thy fun so fired
  8. And by thy jests (Licinius!) so inspired,
  9. Nor food my hapless appetite availed
  10. Nor sleep in quiet rest my eyelids veiled,