Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Perisht along wi' thyself forthright all joys we enjoyèd,
  2. Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days;
  3. Whom now art tombed so far nor 'mid familiar pavestones
  4. Nor wi' thine ashes stored near to thy kith and thy kin,
  5. But in that Troy obscene, that Troy of ill-omen, entombèd
  6. Holds thee, an alien earth-buried in uttermost bourne.
  7. Thither in haste so hot ('tis said) from allwhere the Youth-hood
  8. Grecian, farèd in hosts forth of their hearths and their homes,
  9. Lest with a stolen punk with fullest of pleasure should Paris
  10. Fairly at leisure and ease sleep in the pacific bed.
  11. Such was the hapless chance, most beautiful Laodamia,
  12. Tare fro' thee dearer than life, dearer than spirit itself,