Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Never was head so dear to a grandsire wasted by life-tide
  2. Whenas one daughter alone a grandson so tardy had reared,
  3. Who being found against hope to inherit riches of forbears
  4. In the well-witnessed Will haply by name did appear,
  5. And 'spite impious hopes of baffled claimant to kinship
  6. Startles the Vulturine grip clutching the frost-bitten poll.
  7. Nor with such rapture e'er joyed his mate of snowy-hued plumage
  8. Dove-mate, albeit aye wont in her immoderate heat
  9. Said be the bird to snatch hot kisses with beak ever billing,
  10. As diddest thou :—yet is Woman multivolent still.
  11. But thou 'vailedest alone all these to conquer in love-lowe,
  12. When conjoindd once more unto thy yellow-haired spouse.