Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Whereat laughed the house as soothed by pleasure of perfume.
  2. Presently Péneus appears, deserting verdurous Tempe—
  3. Tempe girt by her belts of greenwood ever impending,
  4. Left for the Mamonides with frequent dances to worship—
  5. Nor is he empty of hand, for bears he tallest of beeches
  6. Deracinate, and bays with straight boles lofty and stately,
  7. Not without nodding plane-tree nor less the flexible sister
  8. Fire-slain Phaëton left, and not without cypresses airy.
  9. These in a line wide-broke set he, the Mansion surrounding,
  10. So by the soft leaves screened, the porch might flourish in verdure.
  11. Follows hard on his track with active spirit Prometheus,
  12. Bearing extenuate sign of penalties suffer'd in by-gones.
  13. Paid erewhiles what time fast-bound as to every member,
  14. Hung he in carkanet slung from the Scythian rocktor.
  15. Last did the Father of Gods with his sacred spouse and his offspring,
  16. Proud from the Heavens proceed, thee leaving (Phoebus) in loneness,
  17. Lone wi' thy sister twin who haunteth mountains of Idrus:
  18. For that the Virgin spurned as thou the person of Peleus,
  19. Nor Thetis' nuptial torch would greet by act of her presence.
  20. When they had leaned their limbs upon snowy benches reposing,
  21. Tables largely arranged with various viands were garnisht.
  22. But, ere opened the feast, with infirm gesture their semblance
  23. Shaking, the Parcae fell to chaunting veridique verses.
  24. Robed were their tremulous frames all o'er in muffle of garments
  25. Bright-white, purple of hem enfolding heels in its edges;
  26. Snowy the fillets that bound heads aged by many a year-tide,
  27. And, as their wont aye was, their hands plied labour unceasing.
  28. Each in her left upheld with soft fleece clothed a distaff,
  29. Then did the right that drew forth thread with upturn of fingers
  30. Gently fashion the yarn which deftly twisted by thumb-ball
  31. Speeded the spindle poised by thread-whorl perfect of polish;
  32. Thus as the work was wrought, the lengths were trimmed wi' the fore-teeth,
  33. While to their thin, dry lips stuck wool-flecks severed by biting,
  34. Which at the first outstood from yarn-hanks evenly fine-drawn.
  35. Still at their feet in front soft fleece-flecks white as the snow-flake
  36. Lay in the trusty guard of wickers woven in withies.
  37. Always a-carding the wool, with clear-toned voices resounding
  38. Told they such lots as these in song divinely directed,
  39. Chaunts which none after-time shall 'stablish falsehood-convicted.