Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. But from the time when earth was stained with unspeakable scandals
  2. And forth fro' greeding breasts of all men justice departed,
  3. Then did the brother drench his hands in brotherly bloodshed,
  4. Stinted the son in heart to mourn decease of his parents,
  5. Longèd the sire to sight his first-born's funeral convoy
  6. So more freely the flower of step-dame-maiden to rifle;
  7. After that impious Queen her guiltless son underlying,
  8. Impious, the household gods with crime ne'er dreading to sully—