Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Ere from the Gods just doom implore I, treason-betrayed,
  2. And with my breath supreme firm faith of Celestials invoke I.
  3. Therefore, O you who 'venge man's deed with penalties direful,
  4. Eumenides! aye wont to bind with viperous hairlocks
  5. Foreheads,—Oh, deign outspeak fierce wrath from bosom outbreathing,
  6. Hither, Oh hither, speed, and lend you all ear to my grievance,
  7. Which now sad I (alas!) outpour from innermost vitals
  8. Maugre my will, sans help, blind, fired with furious madness.
  9. And, as indeed all spring from veriest core of my bosom,
  10. Suffer you not the cause of grief and woe to evanish;
  11. But with the Will wherewith could Theseus leave me in loneness,
  12. Goddesses! bid that Will lead him, lead his, to destruction."

  13. E'en as she thus poured forth these words from anguish of bosom,
  14. And for this cruel deed, distracted, sued she for vengeance,
  15. Nodded the Ruler of Gods Celestial, matchless of All-might,
  16. When at the gest earth-plain and horrid spaces of ocean
  17. Trembled, and every sphere rockt stars and planets resplendent.
  18. Meanwhile Theseus himself, obscured in blindness of darkness
  19. As to his mind, dismiss'd from breast oblivious all things
  20. Erewhile enjoined and held hereto in memory constant,