Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. That to thy prayer both gifts be not in plenty supplièd:
  2. Willingly both had I sent, had I the needed supply.
  3. Nor can I (Goddesses!) hide in what things Allius sent me
  4. Aid, forbear to declare what was the aidance he deigned:
  5. Neither shall fugitive Time from centuries ever oblivious
  6. Veil in the blinds of night friendship he lavisht on me.
  7. But will I say unto you what you shall say to the many
  8. Thousands in turn, and make paper, old crone, to proclaim
  9. ---
  10. And in his death become noted the more and the more,
  11. Nor let spider on high that weaves her delicate webbing
  12. Practise such labours o'er Allius' obsolete name.
  13. For that ye weet right well what care Amathúsia two-faced
  14. Gave me, and how she dasht every hope to the ground,
  15. Whenas I burnt so hot as burn Trinacria's rocks or
  16. Mallia stream that feeds Œtéan Thermopylae;
  17. Nor did these saddened eyes to be dimmed by assiduous weeping
  18. Cease, and my cheeks with showers ever in sadness be wet.
  19. E'en as from aëry heights of mountain springeth a springlet
  20. Limpidest leaping forth from rocking felted with moss,
  21. Then having headlong rolled the prone-laid valley downpouring,
  22. Populous region amid wendeth his gradual way,
  23. Sweetest solace of all to the sweltering traveller wayworn,
  24. Whenas the heavy heat fissures the fiery fields;
  25. Or, as to seamen lost in night of whirlwind a-glooming
  26. Gentle of breath there comes fairest and favouring breeze,
  27. Pollux anon being prayed, nor less vows offered to Castor:—
  28. Such was the aidance to us Manius pleased to afford.
  29. He to my narrow domains far wider limits laid open,
  30. He too gave me the house, also he gave me the dame,
  31. She upon whom both might exert them, partners in love deeds.
  32. Thither graceful of gait pacing my goddess white-hued
  33. Came and with gleaming foot on the worn sole of the threshold
  34. Stood she and prest its slab creakihg her sandals the while;
  35. E'enso with love enflamed in olden days to her helpmate,
  36. Laodamía the home Protesiléan besought,
  37. Sought, but in vain, for ne'er wi' sacrificial blood shed
  38. Victims appeased the Lords ruling Celestial seats:
  39. Never may I so joy in aught (Rhamnusian Virgin!)
  40. That I engage in deed maugrè the will of the Lords.
  41. How starved altar can crave for gore in piety poured,
  42. Laodamia learnt taught by the loss of her man,
  43. Driven perforce to loose the neck of new-wedded help-mate,
  44. Whenas a winter had gone, nor other winter had come,
  45. Ere in the long dark nights her greeding love was so sated
  46. That she had power to live maugrè a marriage broke off,
  47. Which, as the Parcae knew, too soon was fated to happen
  48. Should he a soldier sail bound for those llian walls.
  49. For that by Helena's rape, the Champion-leaders of Argives
  50. Unto herself to incite Troy had already begun,
  51. Troy (ah, curst be the name) common tomb of Asia and Europe,
  52. Troy to sad ashes that turned valour and valorous men!
  53. Eke to our brother beloved, destruction ever lamented
  54. Brought she : 0 Brother for aye lost unto wretchedmost me,
  55. Oh, to thy wretchedmost brother lost the light of his life-tide,
  56. Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house:
  57. Perisht along wi' thyself forthright all joys we enjoyèd,
  58. Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days;
  59. Whom now art tombed so far nor 'mid familiar pavestones
  60. Nor wi' thine ashes stored near to thy kith and thy kin,
  61. But in that Troy obscene, that Troy of ill-omen, entombèd
  62. Holds thee, an alien earth-buried in uttermost bourne.
  63. Thither in haste so hot ('tis said) from allwhere the Youth-hood
  64. Grecian, farèd in hosts forth of their hearths and their homes,
  65. Lest with a stolen punk with fullest of pleasure should Paris
  66. Fairly at leisure and ease sleep in the pacific bed.
  67. Such was the hapless chance, most beautiful Laodamia,
  68. Tare fro' thee dearer than life, dearer than spirit itself,
  69. Him, that husband, whose love in so mighty a whirlpool of passion
  70. Whelmed thee absorbed and plunged deep in its gulfy abyss,
  71. E'en as the Grecians tell hard by Phenéus of Cylléne
  72. Drained was the marish and dried, forming the fattest of soils,
  73. Whenas in days long done to delve through marrow of mountains