Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Then let the twisten ropes upheave the whitest of canvas,
  2. Wherewith splendid shall gleam the tallest spars of the top-mast,
  3. These seeing sans delay with joy exalting my spirit
  4. Well shall I wot boon Time sets you returning before me."

  5. Such were the mandates which stored at first in memory constant
  6. Faded from Theseus' mind like mists, compelled by the whirlwind,
  7. Fleet from aerial crests of mountains hoary with snow-drifts.
  8. But as the sire had sought the citadel's summit for outlook,
  9. Wasting his anxious eyes with tear-floods evermore flowing,
  10. Forthright e'en as he saw the sail-gear darkened with dye-stain,
  11. Headlong himself flung he from the sea-cliff's pinnacled summit
  12. Holding his Theseus lost by doom of pitiless Fortune.
  13. Thus as he came to the home funest, his roof-tree paternal,
  14. Theseus (vaunting the death), what dule to the maiden of Minos
  15. Dealt with unminding mind so dree'd he similar dolour.
  16. She too gazing in grief at the kelson vanishing slowly,
  17. Self-wrapt, manifold cares revolved in spirit perturbed.
    1. But from the further side came flitting bright-faced Iacchus
    2. Girded by Satyr-crew and Nysa-reared Sileni
    3. Burning with love unto thee (Ariadne!) and greeting thy presence. ---