Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. These I send not to thee since I avail not present.
  2. For, that I own not here abundant treasure of writings
  3. Has for its cause, in Rome dwell I; and there am I homed,
  4. There be my seat, and there my years are gathered to harvest;
  5. Out of book-cases galore here am I followed by one.
  6. This being thus, nill I thou deem 'tis spirit malignant
  7. Acts in such wise or mind lacking of liberal mood
  8. That to thy prayer both gifts be not in plenty supplièd:
  9. Willingly both had I sent, had I the needed supply.
  10. Nor can I (Goddesses!) hide in what things Allius sent me
  11. Aid, forbear to declare what was the aidance he deigned:
  12. Neither shall fugitive Time from centuries ever oblivious
  13. Veil in the blinds of night friendship he lavisht on me.
  14. But will I say unto you what you shall say to the many
  15. Thousands in turn, and make paper, old crone, to proclaim
  16. ---
  17. And in his death become noted the more and the more,
  18. Nor let spider on high that weaves her delicate webbing
  19. Practise such labours o'er Allius' obsolete name.
  20. For that ye weet right well what care Amathúsia two-faced
  21. Gave me, and how she dasht every hope to the ground,
  22. Whenas I burnt so hot as burn Trinacria's rocks or
  23. Mallia stream that feeds Œtéan Thermopylae;
  24. Nor did these saddened eyes to be dimmed by assiduous weeping
  25. Cease, and my cheeks with showers ever in sadness be wet.
  26. E'en as from aëry heights of mountain springeth a springlet
  27. Limpidest leaping forth from rocking felted with moss,
  28. Then having headlong rolled the prone-laid valley downpouring,