Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. O who by virtues great all highmost honours enhancest,
  2. Guard of Emáthia-land, most famous made by thine offspring,
  3. Take what the Sisters deign this gladsome day to disclose thee,
  4. Oracles soothfast told,—And ye, by Destiny followed,
  5. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. Soon to thy sight shall rise, their fond hopes bringing to bridegrooms,
  2. Hesperus: soon shall come thy spouse with planet auspicious,
  3. Who shall thy mind enbathe with a love that softens the spirit,
  4. And as thyself shall prepare for sinking in languorous slumber,
  5. Under thy neck robust, soft arms dispreading as pillow.
  6. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. Never a house like this such loves as these hath united,
  2. Never did love conjoin by such-like covenant lovers,
  3. As th'according tie Thetis deigned in concert wi' Peleus.
  4. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. Born of yon twain shall come Achilles guiltless of fear-sense,
  2. Known by his forceful breast and ne'er by back to the foeman,
  3. Who shall at times full oft in doubtful contest of race-course
  4. Conquer the fleet-foot doe with slot-tracks smoking and burning.
  5. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. None shall with him compare, howe'er war-doughty a hero,
  2. Whenas the Phrygian rills flow deep with bloodshed of Teucer,
  3. And beleaguering the walls of Troy with longest of warfare
  4. He shall the works lay low, third heir of Pelops the perjured.
  5. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. His be the derring-do and deeds of valour egregious,
  2. Often mothers shall own at funeral-rites of their children,
  3. What time their hoary hairs from head in ashes are loosened,
  4. And wi' their hands infirm thay smite their bosoms loose duggèd.
  5. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. For as the toiling hind bestrewing denseness of corn-stalks
  2. Under the broiling sun mows grain-fields yellow to harvest,
  3. So shall his baneful brand strew earth with corpses of Troy-born.
  4. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. Aye to his valorous worth attest shall wave of Scamander
  2. Which unto Hellè-Sea fast flowing ever dischargeth,
  3. Straiter whose course shall grow by up-heaped barrage of corpses,
  4. While in his depths runs warm his stream with slaughter commingled.
  5. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.