Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Brandisht some of the maids their thyrsi sheathed of spear-point,
  2. Some snatcht limbs and joints of sturlings rended to pieces,
  3. These girt necks and waists with writhing bodies of vipers,
  4. Those with the gear enwombed in crates dark orgies ordained—
  5. Orgies that ears profane must vainly lust for o'er hearing—
  6. Others with palms on high smote hurried strokes on the cymbal,
  7. Or from the polisht brass woke thin-toned tinkling music,
  8. While from the many there boomed and blared hoarse blast of the horn-trump,