Carmina

Catullus

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

  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