Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Wont thou to vaunt whilòme of, knowing only Catullus
  2. (Lesbia!) nor to prefer Jupiter's self to myself.
  3. Then, too, I loved thee well, not as vulgar wretch his mistress
  4. But as a father his sons loves and his sons by the law.
  5. Now have I learnt thee aright; wherefor though burn I the hotter,
  6. Lighter and viler by far thou unto me hast become.
  7. "How can this be?" dost ask: 'tis that such injury ever
  8. Forces the hotter to love, also the less well to will.
  1. Cease thou of any to hope desirèd boon of well-willing,
  2. Or deem any shall prove pious and true to his dues.