Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Even as Zephyrus' breath, seas couching placid at dawn-tide,
  2. Roughens, then stings and spurs the wavelets slantingly fretted—
  3. Rising Aurora the while 'neath Sol the wanderer's threshold—
  4. Tardy at first they flow by the clement breathing of breezes
  5. Urged, and echo the shores with soft-toned ripples of laughter,
  6. But as the winds wax high so waves wax higher and higher,
  7. Flashing and floating afar to outswim morn's purpurine splendours,—
  8. So did the crowd fare forth, the royal vestibule leaving,
  9. And to their house each wight with vaguing paces departed.
  10. After their wending, the first, foremost from Pelion's summit,
  11. Chiron came to the front with woodland presents surcharged:
  12. Whatso of blooms and flowers bring forth Thessalian uplands
  13. Mighty with mountain crests, whate'er of riverine lea flowers
  14. Reareth Favonius' air, bud-breeding, tepidly breathing,
  15. All in his hands brought he, unseparate in woven garlands,
  16. Whereat laughed the house as soothed by pleasure of perfume.
  17. Presently Péneus appears, deserting verdurous Tempe—
  18. Tempe girt by her belts of greenwood ever impending,
  19. Left for the Mamonides with frequent dances to worship—
  20. Nor is he empty of hand, for bears he tallest of beeches