Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. She's a dire Goddess, 'ware thou cross her way.
  1. Peer of a God meseemeth he,
  2. Nay passing Gods (and that can be!)
  3. Who all the while sits facing thee
  4. Sees thee and hears
  5. Thy low sweet laughs which (ah me!) daze
  6. Mine every sense, and as I gaze
  7. Upon thee (Lesbia!) o'er me strays
  8. ---
  9. My tongue is dulled, my limbs adown
  10. Flows subtle flame; with sound its own
  11. Rings either ear, and o'er are strown
  12. Mine eyes with night.
  13. Ease has thy lot, Catullus, crost,
  14. Ease gladdens thee at heaviest cost,
  15. Ease killed the Kings ere this and lost the tallest towns
  1. What is't, Catullus? Why delay to out die?
  2. That Wen hight Nonius sits in curule chair,
  3. For Consulship Vatinius false doth swear;
  4. What is't, Catullus? Why delay to out die?
  1. I laughed at one 'mid Forum-crowd unknown
  2. Who, when Vatinius' crimes in wondrous way
  3. Had by my Calvus been explained, exposed,
  4. His hand upraising high admiring cried
  5. "Great Gods! the loquent little Doodle-diddle!"
  1. The head of Otho, puniest of pates---
  2. The rustic half-washt shanks of Nerius
  3. And Libo's subtle silent fizzling-farts. ---
  4. I wish that leastwise these should breed disgust
  5. In thee and old Fuficius, rogue twice-cookt.
  6. Again at these mine innocent iamb-lines
  7. Wi' wrath be wrothest; unique Emperor!
  1. We pray, an' haply irk it not when prayed,
  2. Show us where shadowed hidest thou in shade!
  3. Thee throughout Campus Minor sought we all,
  4. Thee in the Circus, thee in each bookstall,
  5. Thee in Almighty Jove's fane consecrate.