Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Jupiter! Lord of All-might, Oh would in days that are bygone
  2. Ne'er had Cecropian poops toucht ground at Gnossian foreshore,
  3. Nor to the unconquered Bull that tribute direful conveying
  4. Had the false Seaman bound to Cretan island his hawser,
  5. Nor had yon evil wight, 'neath shape the softest hard purpose
  6. Hiding, enjoyed repose within our mansion beguested!
  7. Whither can wend I now? What hope lends help to the lost one?
  8. Idomenean mounts shall I scale? Ah, parted by whirlpools
  9. Widest, yon truculent main where yields it power of passage?
  10. Aid of my sire can I crave? Whom I willing abandoned,
  11. Treading in tracks of a youth bewrayed with blood of a brother!
  12. Can I console my soul with the helpful love of a helpmate
  13. Who flies me with pliant oars, flies overbounding the sea-depths?
  14. Nay, if this Coast I quit, this lone isle lends me no roof-tree,
  15. Nor aught issue allows begirt by billows of Ocean:
  16. Nowhere is path for flight: none hope shows: all things are silent:
  17. All be a desolate waste: all makes display of destruction.
  18. Yet never close these eyes in latest languor of dying,
  19. Ne'er from my wearied frame go forth slow-ebbing my senses,
  20. Ere from the Gods just doom implore I, treason-betrayed,
  21. And with my breath supreme firm faith of Celestials invoke I.
  22. Therefore, O you who 'venge man's deed with penalties direful,
  23. Eumenides! aye wont to bind with viperous hairlocks
  24. Foreheads,—Oh, deign outspeak fierce wrath from bosom outbreathing,
  25. Hither, Oh hither, speed, and lend you all ear to my grievance,
  26. Which now sad I (alas!) outpour from innermost vitals
  27. Maugre my will, sans help, blind, fired with furious madness.
  28. And, as indeed all spring from veriest core of my bosom,
  29. Suffer you not the cause of grief and woe to evanish;
  30. But with the Will wherewith could Theseus leave me in loneness,
  31. Goddesses! bid that Will lead him, lead his, to destruction."

  32. E'en as she thus poured forth these words from anguish of bosom,
  33. And for this cruel deed, distracted, sued she for vengeance,