Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Where toss their ivy-circled heads with might the Maenades
  2. Where ply mid shrilly lullilooes the holiest mysteries,
  3. Where to fly here and there be wont the she-god's vaguing train,
  4. Thither behoves us lead the dance in quick-step hasty strain."
  5. Soon as had Atys (bastard-she) this lay to comrades sung
  6. The Chorus sudden lulliloos with quivering, quavering tongue,
  7. Again the nimble timbrel groans, the scooped-out cymbals clash,
  8. And up green Ida flits the Choir, with footsteps hurrying rash
  9. Then Atys frantic, panting, raves, a-wandering, lost, insane,
  10. And leads with timbrel hent and treads the shades where shadows rain,
  11. Like heifer spurning load of yoke in yet unbroken pride;