Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Who, as the victim doomed to fall by the double-edged falchion,
  2. Forward wi' hams relaxt shall smite a body beheaded.
  3. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. Wherefore arise, ye pair, conjoin loves ardently longed-for,
  2. Now doth the groom receive with happiest omen his goddess,
  3. Now let the bride at length to her yearning spouse be delivered.
  4. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  1. Neither the nurse who comes at dawn to visit her nursling
  2. E'er shall avail her neck to begird with yesterday's ribband.
  3. [Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 spindles.]
  4. Nor shall the mother's soul for ill-matcht daughter a-grieving
  5. Lose by a parted couch all hopes of favourite grandsons.
  6. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, 0 Spindles.
  7. Thus in the bygone day Peleus' fate foretelling
  8. Chaunted from breasts divine prophetic verse the Parcae.
  9. For that the pure chaste homes of heroes to visit in person
  10. Oft-tide the Gods, and themselves to display where mortals were gathered,
  11. Wont were the Heavenlies while none human piety spurned.
  12. Often the Deities' Sire, in fulgent temple a-dwelling,
  13. Whenas in festal days received he his annual worship,