Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Yet was the depth of thy love far deeper than deepest of marish
  2. Which the hard mistress's yoke taught him so tamely to bear;
  3. Never was head so dear to a grandsire wasted by life-tide
  4. Whenas one daughter alone a grandson so tardy had reared,
  5. Who being found against hope to inherit riches of forbears
  6. In the well-witnessed Will haply by name did appear,
  7. And 'spite impious hopes of baffled claimant to kinship
  8. Startles the Vulturine grip clutching the frost-bitten poll.
  9. Nor with such rapture e'er joyed his mate of snowy-hued plumage
  10. Dove-mate, albeit aye wont in her immoderate heat
  11. Said be the bird to snatch hot kisses with beak ever billing,
  12. As diddest thou :—yet is Woman multivolent still.
  13. But thou 'vailedest alone all these to conquer in love-lowe,
  14. When conjoindd once more unto thy yellow-haired spouse.
  15. Worthy of yielding to her in naught or ever so little
  16. Came to the bosom of us she, the fair light of my life,
  17. Round whom fluttering oft the Love-God hither and thither
  18. Shone with a candid sheen robed in his safflower dress.
  19. She though never she bide with one Catullus contented,
  20. Yet will I bear with the rare thefts of my dame the discreet,
  21. Lest over-irk I give which still of fools is the fashion.
  22. Often did Juno eke Queen of the Heavenly host
  23. Boil wi' the rabidest rage at dire default of a husband
  24. Learning the manifold thefts of her omnivolent Jove,
  25. Yet with the Gods mankind 'tis nowise righteous to liken,
  26. ---
  27. Rid me of graceless task fit for a tremulous sire.
  28. Yet was she never to me by hand paternal committed
  29. Whenas she came to my house reeking Assyrian scents;
  30. Nay, in the darkness of night her furtive favours she deigned me,
  31. Self-willed taking herself from very mate's very breast.
  32. Wherefore I hold it enough since given to us and us only
  33. Boon of that day with Stone whiter than wont she denotes.
  34. This to thee—all that I can—this offering couched in verses
  35. (Allius!) as my return give I for service galore;
  36. So wi' the seabriny rust your name may never be sullied
  37. This day and that nor yet other and other again.
  38. Hereto add may the Gods all good gifts, which Themis erewhiles
  39. Wont on the pious of old from her full store to bestow:
  40. Blest be the times of the twain, thyself and she who thy life is,
  41. Also the home wherein dallied we, no less the Dame,
  42. Anser to boot who first of mortals brought us together,
  43. Whence from beginning all good Fortunes that blest us were born.
  44. Lastly than every else one dearer than self and far dearer,
  45. Light of my life who alive living to me can endear.
  1. Wonder not blatantly why no woman shall ever be willing
  2. (Rufus!) her tender thigh under thyself to bestow,