Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. To shallows led by surging soul again the way 'gan take.
  2. There casting glance of weeping eyes where vasty billows brake,
  3. Sad-voiced in pitifullest lay his native land bespake.
  4. "Country of me, Creatress mine, born to thee and bred,
  5. By hapless me abandoned as by thrall from lordling fled,
  6. When me to Ida's groves and glades these vaguing footsteps bore
  7. To tarry 'mid the snows and where lurk beasts in antres frore
  8. And seek the deeply hidden lairs where furious ferals meet!
  9. Where, Country! whither placed must I now hold thy site and seat?
  10. Lief would these balls of eyes direct to thee their line of sight,
  11. Which for a while, a little while, would free me from despite.
  12. Must I for ever roam these groves from house and home afar?
  13. Of country, parents, kith and kin (life's boon) myself debar?
  14. Fly Forum, fly Palestra, fly the Stadium, the Gymnase?