Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Me, Berenice's Hair, which, from her glorious head,
  2. Fulgent in brightness afar, to many a host of the Godheads
  3. Stretching her soft smooth arms she vowed to devoutly bestow,
  4. What time strengthened by joy of new-made wedlock the monarch
  5. Bounds of Assyrian land hurried to plunder and pill;
  6. Bearing of nightly strife new signs and traces delicious,
  7. Won in the war he waged virginal trophies to win.
  8. Loathsome is Venus to all new-paired? Else why be the parents'
  9. Pleasure frustrated aye by the false flow of tears
  10. Poured in profusion amid illuminate genial chamber?
  11. Nay not real the 'groans; ever so help me the Gods!
  12. This truth taught me my Queen by force of manifold 'plainings
  13. After her new groom hied facing the fierceness of fight.
  14. Yet so thou mournedst not for a bed deserted of husband,
  15. As for a brother beloved wending on woefullest way?
  16. How was the marrow of thee consumedly wasted by sorrow!
  17. So clean forth of thy breast, rackt with solicitous care,
  18. Mind fled, sense being reft! But I have known thee for certain
  19. E'en from young virginal years lofty of spirit to be.
  20. Hast thou forgotten the feat whose greatness won thee a royal
  21. Marriage—a deed so prow, never a prower was dared?
  22. Yet how sad was the speech thou spakest, thy husband farewelling!
  23. (Jupiter!) Often thine eyes wiping with sorrowful hand!