Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Who could better avail zone of the virgin to loose.
Quintus.
  1. 'Sooth, of egregious sire for piety wondrous, thou tellest,
  2. Who in the heart of his son lief was . . . !
  3. Yet professed herself not only this to be knowing,
  4. Brixia-town that lies under the Cycnean cliff,
  5. Traversed by Mella-stream's soft-flowing yellow-hued current,
  6. Brixia, Vérona's mother, I love for my home.
Door.
  1. Eke of Posthumius' loves and Cornelius too there be tattle,
  2. With whom dared the dame evil advowtry commit.
Quintus.
  1. Here might somebody ask :—" How, Door, hast mastered such matter?
  2. Thou that canst never avail threshold of owner to quit,
  3. Neither canst listen to folk since here fast fixt to the side-posts
  4. Only one office thou hast, shutting or opening the house."
Door.
  1. Oft have I heard our dame in furtive murmurs o'er telling,
  2. When with her handmaids alone, these her flagitious deeds,
  3. Citing fore-cited names for that she never could fancy
  4. Ever a Door was endow'd either with earlet or tongue.
  5. Further she noted a wight whose name in public to mention
  6. Nill I, lest he upraise eyebrows of carroty hue;
  7. Long is the loon and large the law-suit brought they against him