Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. 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.
  1. Witness in fine shall be the victim rendered to death-stroke,
  2. Whenas the earthern tomb on lofty tumulus builded
  3. Shall of the stricken maid receive limbs white as the snow-flake.
  4. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. For when at last shall Fors to weary Achaians her fiat
  2. Deal, of Dardanus-town to burst Neptunian fetters,
  3. Then shall the high-reared tomb stand bathed with Polyxena's life-blood,
  4. Who, as the victim doomed to fall by the double-edged falchion,
  5. Forward wi' hams relaxt shall smite a body beheaded.
  6. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. Wherefore arise, ye pair, conjoin loves ardently longed-for,