Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Where to fly here and there be wont the she-god's vaguing train,
  2. Thither behoves us lead the dance in quick-step hasty strain."
  3. Soon as had Atys (bastard-she) this lay to comrades sung
  4. The Chorus sudden lulliloos with quivering, quavering tongue,
  5. Again the nimble timbrel groans, the scooped-out cymbals clash,
  6. And up green Ida flits the Choir, with footsteps hurrying rash
  7. Then Atys frantic, panting, raves, a-wandering, lost, insane,
  8. And leads with timbrel hent and treads the shades where shadows rain,
  9. Like heifer spurning load of yoke in yet unbroken pride;
  10. And the swift Gallae follow fain their first and fleet-foot guide.
  11. But when the home of Cybele they make with toil out-worn