Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Won in the war he waged virginal trophies to win.
  2. Loathsome is Venus to all new-paired? Else why be the parents'
  3. Pleasure frustrated aye by the false flow of tears
  4. Poured in profusion amid illuminate genial chamber?
  5. Nay not real the 'groans; ever so help me the Gods!
  6. This truth taught me my Queen by force of manifold 'plainings
  7. After her new groom hied facing the fierceness of fight.
  8. Yet so thou mournedst not for a bed deserted of husband,
  9. As for a brother beloved wending on woefullest way?
  10. How was the marrow of thee consumedly wasted by sorrow!
  11. So clean forth of thy breast, rackt with solicitous care,
  12. Mind fled, sense being reft! But I have known thee for certain
  13. E'en from young virginal years lofty of spirit to be.
  14. Hast thou forgotten the feat whose greatness won thee a royal
  15. Marriage—a deed so prow, never a prower was dared?
  16. Yet how sad was the speech thou spakest, thy husband farewelling!
  17. (Jupiter!) Often thine eyes wiping with sorrowful hand!
  18. What manner God so great thus changed thee? Is it that lovers
  19. Never will tarry afar parted from person beloved?
  20. Then unto every God on behalf of thy helpmate, thy sweeting,
  21. Me thou gayest in vow, not without bloodshed of bulls,
  22. If he be granted return, and long while nowise delaying,
  23. Captive Asia he add unto Egyptian bounds.
  24. Now for such causes I, enrolled in host of the Heavens,
  25. By a new present, discharge promise thou madest of old:
  26. Maugrè my will, 0 Queen, my place on thy head I relinquished,
  27. Maugrè my will, I attest, swearing by thee and thy head;
  28. Penalty due shall befall whoso makes oath to no purpose.
  29. Yet who assumes the vaunt forceful as iron to be?
  30. E'en was that mount o'erthrown, though greatest in universe, where through
  31. Thía's illustrious race speeded its voyage to end,
  32. Whenas the Medes brought forth new sea, and barbarous youth-hood
  33. Urged an Armada to swim traversing middle-Athos.
  34. What can be done by Hair when such things yield them to Iron?
  35. Jupiter! Grant Chalybon perish the whole of the race,