Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Ne'er let her hope to find or truth or faith in his pleadings,
  2. Who when lustful thought forelooks to somewhat attaining,
  3. Never an oath they fear, shall spare no promise to promise.
  4. Yet no sooner they sate all lewdness and lecherous fancy,
  5. Nothing remember of words and reck they naught of fore-swearing.
  6. Certes, you did I snatch from midmost whirlpool of ruin
  7. Deadly, and held it cheap loss of a brother to suffer
  8. Rather than fail your need (O false!) at hour the supremest.
  9. Therefore my limbs are doomed to be torn of birds, and of ferals
  10. Prey, nor shall upheapt Earth afford a grave to my body.
  11. Say me, what lioness bare you 'neath lone rock of the desert?
  12. What sea spued you conceived from out the spume of his surges!
  13. What manner Syrt, what ravening Scylla, what vasty Charybdis?
  14. you who for sweet life saved such meeds are lief of returning!
  15. If never willed your breast with me to mate you in marriage,
  16. Hating the savage law decreed by primitive parent,
  17. Still of your competence 'twas within your household to home me,
  18. Where I might serve as slave in gladsome service familiar,
  19. Laving your snow-white feet in clearest chrystalline waters
  20. Or with its purpling gear your couch in company strewing.
  21. Yet for what cause should I complain in vain to the winds that unknow me,
  22. (I so beside me with grief!) which ne'er of senses endued
  23. Hear not the words sent forth nor aught avail they to answer?
  24. Now be his course well-nigh engaged in midway of ocean,
  25. Nor any mortal shape appears in barrens of sea-wrack.
  26. Thus at the latest hour with insults over-sufficient
  27. E'en to my plaints fere Fate begrudges ears that would hear me.
  28. Jupiter! Lord of All-might, Oh would in days that are bygone
  29. Ne'er had Cecropian poops toucht ground at Gnossian foreshore,
  30. Nor to the unconquered Bull that tribute direful conveying
  31. Had the false Seaman bound to Cretan island his hawser,
  32. Nor had yon evil wight, 'neath shape the softest hard purpose
  33. Hiding, enjoyed repose within our mansion beguested!
  34. Whither can wend I now? What hope lends help to the lost one?
  35. Idomenean mounts shall I scale? Ah, parted by whirlpools
  36. Widest, yon truculent main where yields it power of passage?
  37. Aid of my sire can I crave? Whom I willing abandoned,
  38. Treading in tracks of a youth bewrayed with blood of a brother!
  39. Can I console my soul with the helpful love of a helpmate
  40. Who flies me with pliant oars, flies overbounding the sea-depths?
  41. Nay, if this Coast I quit, this lone isle lends me no roof-tree,
  42. Nor aught issue allows begirt by billows of Ocean:
  43. Nowhere is path for flight: none hope shows: all things are silent:
  44. All be a desolate waste: all makes display of destruction.
  45. Yet never close these eyes in latest languor of dying,
  46. Ne'er from my wearied frame go forth slow-ebbing my senses,
  47. Ere from the Gods just doom implore I, treason-betrayed,
  48. And with my breath supreme firm faith of Celestials invoke I.
  49. Therefore, O you who 'venge man's deed with penalties direful,
  50. Eumenides! aye wont to bind with viperous hairlocks
  51. Foreheads,—Oh, deign outspeak fierce wrath from bosom outbreathing,
  52. Hither, Oh hither, speed, and lend you all ear to my grievance,
  53. Which now sad I (alas!) outpour from innermost vitals