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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18867-0.txt b/18867-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a0810f --- /dev/null +++ b/18867-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4449 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Poems and Fragments of Catullus, by Catullus + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Poems and Fragments of Catullus + +Author: Catullus + +Translator: Robinson Ellis + +Release Date: July 19, 2006 [EBook #18867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CATULLUS *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi, Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +THE +POEMS AND FRAGMENTS +OF +CATULLUS, + +TRANSLATED IN THE METRES OF THE ORIGINAL + + +BY + +ROBINSON ELLIS, + +FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, +PROFESSOR OF LATIN IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON. + + +LONDON: +JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. +1871. + + +LONDON: +BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. + + + + +TO ALFRED TENNYSON. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The idea of translating Catullus in the original metres adopted by the +poet himself was suggested to me many years ago by the admirable, +though, in England, insufficiently known, version of Theodor Heyse +(Berlin, 1855). My first attempts were modelled upon him, and were so +unsuccessful that I dropt the idea for some time altogether. In 1868, +the year following the publication of my larger critical edition[A] of +Catullus, I again took up the experiment, and translated into English +glyconics the first Hymenaeal, _Collis o Heliconici_. Tennyson's Alcaics +and Hendecasyllables had appeared in the interval, and had suggested to +me the new principle on which I was to go to work. It was not sufficient +to reproduce the ancient metres, unless the ancient quantity was +reproduced also. Almost all the modern writers of classical metre had +contented themselves with making an accented syllable long, an +unaccented short; the most familiar specimens of hexameter, +Longfellow's _Evangeline_ and Clough's _Bothie of Tober-na-Vuolich_ and +_Amours de Voyage_ were written on this principle, and, as a rule, +stopped there. They almost invariably disregarded position, perhaps the +most important element of quantity. In the first line of _Evangeline_-- + + _This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,_ + +there are no less than five violations of position, to say nothing of +the shortening of a syllable so distinctly long as the _i_ in +_primeval_. Mr. Swinburne, in his Sapphics and Hendecasyllables, while +writing on a manifestly artistic conception of those metres, and, in my +judgment, proving their possibility for modern purposes by the superior +rhythmical effect which a classically trained ear enabled him to make in +handling them, neglects position as a rule, though his nice sense of +metre leads him at times to observe it, and uniformly rejects any +approach to the harsh combinations indulged in by other writers. The +nearest approach to quantitative hexameters with which I am acquainted +in modern English writers is the _Andromeda_ of Mr. Kingsley, a poem +which has produced little effect, but is interesting as a step to what +may fairly be called a new development of the metre. For the experiments +of the Elizabethan writers, Sir Philip Sidney and others, by that +strange perversity which so often dominates literature, were as +decidedly unsuccessful from an accentual, as the modern experiments from +a quantitative point of view. Sir Philip Sidney has given in his +_Arcadia_ specimens of hexameters, elegiacs, sapphics, asclepiads, +anacreontics, hendecasyllables. The following elegiacs will serve as a +sample. + + _Unto a caitif wretch, whom long affliction holdeth, + And now fully believ's help to bee quite perished; + Grant yet, grant yet a look, to the last moment of his anguish, + O you (alas so I finde) caus of his onely ruine: + Dread not awhit (O goodly cruel) that pitie may enter + Into thy heart by the sight of this Epistle I send: + And so refuse to behold of these strange wounds the recitall, + Lest it might m' allure home to thyself to return._ + +In these the classical laws of position are most carefully observed; +every dactyl ending in a consonant is followed by a word beginning with +a vowel or _h_--_afflīctĭŏn holdeth_, _momēnt ŏf hĭs anguish_, _caūse ŏf +hĭs onely_; _affliction wasteth_, _moment of his dolour_, _cause of his +dreary_, would have been as impossible to Sir Philip Sidney as _moērŏr +tĕnebat_, _momēntă pĕr curae_, _caūsă vĕl sola_ in a Latin writer of +hexameters. Similarly where the dactyl is incided after the second +syllable, the third syllable beginning a new word, the utmost care is +taken that that word shall begin not only with a syllable essentially +short, but, when the second syllable ends in a consonant, with a vowel: +_ōf thĭs ĕpistle_, but not _ōf thĭs dĭsaster_, still less _ōf thĭs +dĭrection._ The other element of quantity is less rigidly defined; for +(1) syllables strictly long, as _I_, _thy_, _so_, are allowed to be +short; (2) syllables made long by the accent falling upon them are in +some cases shortened, as _rŭīne_, _pĕrĭshēd_, _crŭēl_; (3) syllables +which the absence of the accent only allows to be long _in thesi_, are, +in virtue of the classical laws of position, permitted to rank as long +elsewhere--_momēnt of his_, _ōf this epistle_. It needs little +reflection to see that it is to one or other of these three +peculiarities that the failure of the Elizabethan writers of classical +metres must be ascribed. Pentameters like + + _Gratefulness, sweetness, holy love, hearty regard, + That the delights of life shall be to him dolorous, + And even in that love shall I reserve him a spite;_ + +sapphics like + + _Are then humane mindes privileg'd so meanly + As that hateful death can abridg them of power + With the vow of truth to record to all worlds + That we bee her spoils?_ + +hexameters like + + _Fīre nŏ lĭquor can cool: Neptūne's reālm would not avail us. + Nurs inwārd mălădiēs, which have not scope to bee breath'd out. + Oh nŏ nŏ, worthie shephērd, worth cān never enter a title;_ + +are too alien from ordinary pronunciation to please either an average +reader or a classically trained student. The same may be said of the +translation into English hexameters of the two first Eclogues of Virgil, +appended by William Webbe to his _Discourse of English Poetrie_ (1586, +recently reprinted by Mr. Arber). Here is his version of Ecl. I., 1-10. + + MELIBAEUS. + + _Tityrus, happilie then lyste tumbling under a beech tree, + All in a fine oate pipe these sweete songs lustilie chaunting: + We, poore soules goe to wracke, and from these coastes be remoued, + And fro our pastures sweete: thou Tityr, at ease in a shade plott + Makst thicke groues to resound with songes of brave Amarillis._ + + TITYRUS. + + _O Melibaeus, he was no man, but a God who releeude me: + Euer he shalbe my God: from this same Sheepcot his alters + Neuer, a tender lambe shall want, with blood to bedew them. + This good gift did he giue, to my steeres thus freelie to wander, + And to my selfe (thou seest) on pipe to resound what I listed._ + + _ib._ 50-56. + + _Here no unwoonted foode shall grieue young theaues who be laded, + Nor the infections foule of neighbours flocke shall annoie them. + Happie olde man. In shaddowy bankes and coole prettie places, + Heere by the quainted floodes and springs most holie remaining. + Here, these quicksets fresh which lands seuer out fro thy neighbors + And greene willow rowes which Hiblae bees doo rejoice in, + Oft fine whistring noise, shall bring sweete sleepe to thy sences._ + +The following stanzas are from a Sapphic ode into which Webbe +translated, or as we should say, transposed the fourth Eclogue of +Spenser's _Sheepheardes Calendar_. + + _Say, behold did ye euer her Angelike face, + Like to Phoebe fayre? or her heauenly hauour + And the princelike grace that in her remaineth? + haue yee the like seene?_ + + _Vnto that place Caliope dooth high her, + Where my Goddesse shines: to the same the Muser + After her with sweete Violines about them + cheerefully tracing._ + + _All ye Sheepheardes maides that about the greene dwell, + Speede ye there to her grace, but among ye take heede + All be Virgins pure that aproche to deck her, + dutie requireth._ + + _When ye shall present ye before her in place, + See ye not your selues doo demeane too rudely: + Bynd the fillets: and to be fine the waste gyrt + fast with a tawdryne._ + + _Bring the Pinckes therewith many Gelliflowres sweete, + And the Cullambynes: let vs haue the Wynesops, + With the Coronation that among the loue laddes + wontes to be worne much._ + + _Daffadowndillies all a long the ground strowe, + And the Cowslyppe with a prety paunce let heere lye. + Kyngcuppe and Lillies so beloude of all men + and the deluce flowre._ + +There are many faults in these verses; over quaintnesses of language, +constructions impossible in English, quantities of doubtful +correctness, harsh elisions, for Webbe has tried even elisions. Yet, if +I may trust my judgment, all of them can still be read with pleasure; +the sapphics may almost be called a success. This is even more true of +metres, where these faults are less perceptible or more easily avoided, +for instance, Asclepiads. Take the verses on solitariness, Arcadia, B. +II. fin. + + _O sweet woods, the delight ōf sŏlĭtāriness! + O how much I do like your solitariness! + Where man's mind hath a freed consideration + Of goodness to receive lovely direction._ + +or the hendecasyllables immediately preceding, + + _Reason tell me thy minde, if here be reason, + In this strange violence, to make resistance, + Where sweet graces erect the stately banner._ + +It is obvious that a very little more trouble would have converted these +into very perfect and very pleasing poems. Had Sir Philip Sidney written +every asclepiad on the model of _Where man's mind hath a freed +consideration_, every hendecasyllable like _Where sweet graces erect the +stately banner_, the adjustment of accent and quantity thus attained +might, I think, have induced greater poets than he to make the +experiment on a larger scale. But neither he nor his contemporaries +were permitted to grasp as a principle a regularity which they sometimes +secured by chance; nor, so far as I am aware, have the various revivals +of ancient metre in this country or Germany in any case consistently +carried out the _whole_ theory, without which the reproduction is +partial, and cannot look for a more than partial success. Even the four +specimens given in the posthumous edition of Clough's poems, two of them +elegiac, one alcaic, one in hexameters, though professedly constructed +on a quantitative basis, and, in one instance (_Trunks the forest +yielded, with gums ambrosial oozing, &c._) combining legitimate quantity +(in which accent and position are alike observed) with illegitimate (in +which position is observed, but accent disregarded) into a not +unpleasing rhythm, cannot be considered as more than imperfect +realizations of the true positional principle. Tennyson's three +specimens are, at least in English, still unique. It is to be hoped that +he will not suffer them to remain so. Systems of Glyconics and +Asclepiads are, if I mistake not, easily manageable, and are only +thought foreign to the genius of our language because they have never +been written on strict principles of art by a really great master. + +What, then, are the rules on which such rhythms become possible? They +are, briefly, these:--(1) accented syllables, _as a general rule_, are +long, though some syllables which count as long need not be accented, +as in + + _All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing,_ + +_blossoms_, though only accented on the first syllable, counts for a +spondee, the shortness of the second _o_ being partly helped out by the +two consonants which follow it; partly by the fact that the syllable is +_in thesi_; (2) the laws of position are to be observed, according to +the general rules of classical prosody: (_a_) dactyls terminating in a +consonant like _beautiful_, _bounteous_, or ending in a double vowel or +a diphthong like _all of you, surely may, come to thee_, must be +followed by a word beginning with a vowel or _y_ or _h_; dactyls +terminating in a vowel or _y_, like _slippery_, should be followed, +except in rare cases, by words beginning with a consonant; trochees, +whether composed of one word or more, should, if ending in a consonant, +be followed by a vowel, if ending in the vowel _a_, by a consonant, +thus, _planted around_ not _planted beneath_, _Aurora the sun's_ not +_Aurora a sun's_ (see however, lxiv. 253), but _unto a wood, any again, +sorry at all, you be amused_. (_b_) Syllables made up of a vowel +followed by two or more consonants, each of which is distinctly heard in +pronunciation, as _long_, _sins_, _part_, _band_, _waits_, _souls_, +_ears_, _must_, _heart_, _bright_, _strength_, _end_, _and_, _rapt_, +_hers_, _dealt_, mo_ment_, bo_soms_, _answers_, moun_tains_, bear_est_, +tum_bling_, gi_ving_, com_ing_, harbour_ing_, diffi_cult_, immi_nent_, +strata_gems_, utter_ance_, happi_est_, trem_bling_ly, can never rank as +short, even if unaccented and followed by a vowel, _h_ or _y_. Thus, to +go back to Longfellow's line, + + _This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,_ + +_forĕst_, _murmurĭng_, _pines ănd the_, are all inadmissible. But where +a vowel is followed by two consonants, one of which is unheard or only +heard slightly, as in _acc_use, sh_all_, _ass_emble, _diss_emble, +kind_ness_, com_pass_, _aff_ect, _app_ear, _ann_oy, or when the second +or third consonant is a liquid, as in _betray_, _beslime_, _besmear_, +_depress_, _dethrone_, _agree_, the vowel preceding is so much more +short than long as to be regularly admissible as short, rarely +admissible as long. On this principle I have allowed _disōrdĕrly̆_, +_tēnăntlĕss_, _heavĕnly̆_, to rank as dactyls. + +These rules are after all only an outline, and perhaps can never be made +more. It will be observed that they are more negative than positive. The +reason of this is not far to seek. The main difference between my verses +and those of other contemporary writers--the one point on which I claim +for myself the merit of novelty--is the strict observance throughout of +the rules of position. But the strict observance of position is in +effect the strict avoidance of unclassical collocations of syllables: it +is almost wholly negative. To illustrate my meaning I will instance the +poems written in pure iambics, the _Phaselus ille_ and _Quis hoc potest +uidere_. Heyse translates the first line of the former of these poems by + + _Die Galeotte, die ihr schauet, liebe Herrn,_ + +and this would be a fair representation of a pure iambic line, according +to the views of most German and most English writers. Yet not only is +_Die_ no short syllable, but _ihr_, itself long, is made more hopelessly +long by preceding three consonants in _schauet_, just as the last +syllable of _schauet_, although in itself short, loses its right to +stand for a true short in being followed by the first consonant of +_liebe_. My own translation, + + _The puny pinnace yonder you, my friends, discern,_ + +whatever its defects, is at least a pretty exact representation of a +pure iambic line. xxix. 6-8, are thus translated by Heyse:-- + + _Und jener soll in Uebermuthes Ueberfluss + Von einem Bett zum andern in die Runde gehn?_ + +by me thus, + + _Shall he in o'er-assumption, o'er-repletion he, + Sedately saunter every dainty couch along?_ + +The difference is purely negative; I have bound myself to avoid certain +positions forbidden by the laws of ancient prosody. To some I may seem +to have lost in vigour by the process; yet I believe the sense of +triumph over the difficulties of our language, the satisfaction of +approaching in a novel and perceptibly felt manner one of those +excellences which, as much as anything, contributes to the permanent +charm of Catullus, his dainty versification, will more than compensate +for any shortcomings which the difficulty of the task has made +inevitable. The same may be said of the elaborately artificial poem to +Camerius (c. lv.), and the almost unapproachable Attis (c. lxiii.). +Here, at least half the interest lies in the varied turns of the metre; +if these can be represented with anything like faithfulness, the gain in +exactness of prosody is enough, in my judgment, to counterbalance the +possible loss of freedom in expression. + +There is another circumstance which tends to make modern rules of +prosody necessarily negative. Quantity, in English revivals of ancient +metre, depends not only on position, but on accent. But accent varies +greatly in different words; _heavy level ever cometh any_, have the same +accent as _empty evil either boometh penny_; but the first syllable in +the former set of words is lighter than in the latter. Hence, though +accented, they may, on occasion, be considered and used as short; as, on +the same principle, _dolorous stratagem echoeth family_, usually +dactyls, may, on occasion, become tribrachs. But how lay down any +positive rule in matter necessarily so fluctuating? We cannot. All we +can do is to refuse admission as short syllables to any heavier accented +syllable. Here, then, much must be left to individual discretion. My +translation of the Attis will best show my own feeling in the matter. +But I am fully aware that in this respect I have fallen far short of +consistency. I have made _any_ sometimes short, more often long; _to_, +usually short, is lengthened in lxi. 26, lxvii. 19, lxviii. 143; _with_ +is similarly long, though not followed by a consonant, in lxi. 36; +_given_ is long in xxviii. 7, short in xi. 17, lxiv. 213; _are_ is short +in lxvii. 14; and more generally many syllables allowed to pass for +short in the Attis are elsewhere long. Nor have I scrupled to forsake +the ancient quantity in proper names; following Heyse, I have made the +first syllable of _Verona_ short in xxxv. 3, lxvii. 34, although it +retains its proper quantity in lxviii. 27. Again, _Pheneos_ is a dactyl +in lxviii. 111, while _Satrachus_ is an anapaest in xcv. 5. In many of +these instances I have acted consciously; if the writers of Greece and +Rome allowed many syllables to be doubtful, and almost as a principle +avoid perfect uniformity in the quantity of proper names, a greater +freedom may not unfairly be claimed by their modern imitators. If +Catullus could write _Pharsăliam coeunt, Pharsălia regna frequentant_, +similar license may surely be extended to me. I believe, indeed, that +nothing in my translation is as violent as the double quantity just +mentioned in Catullus; but if there is, I would remind my readers of +Goethe's answer to the boy who told him he had been guilty of a +hexameter with seven feet, and applying the remark to any seeming +irregularities in my own translation would say, _Lass die Bestie +stehen_. + +It would not be difficult to swell this Preface by enlarging on the +novelty of the attempt, and indirectly panegyrising my own undertaking. +I doubt whether any real advantage would thus be gained. If I have +merely produced an elaborate failure, however much I might expatiate on +the principles which guided me, my work would be an elaborate failure +still. I shall therefore say no more, and shall be contented if I please +the, even in this classically trained country, too limited number of +readers who can really hear with their ears--if, to use the borrowed +language of a great poet, I succeed in making myself vocal to the +intelligent alone. + +[Footnote A: The translation follows this edition (Oxford, 1867), in the +constitution of the text, as well as in the sectional division of the +poems.] + + + + +CATULLUS. + + +I. + + Who shall take thee, the new, the dainty volume, + Purfled glossily, fresh with ashy pumice? + + You, Cornelius; you of old did hold them + Something worthy, the petty witty nothings, + + While you venture, alone of all Italians, 5 + Time's vast chronicle in three books to circle, + Jove! how arduous, how divinely learned! + + Therefore welcome it, yours the little outcast, + This slight volume. O yet, supreme awarder, + Virgin, save it in ages on for ever. 10 + + +II. + + Sparrow, favourite of my own beloved, + Whom to play with, or in her arms to fondle, + She delighteth, anon with hardy-pointed + Finger angrily doth provoke to bite her: + + When my lady, a lovely star to long for, 5 + Bends her splendour awhile to tricksy frolic; + Peradventure a careful heart beguiling, + Pardie, heavier ache perhaps to lighten; + + Might I, like her, in happy play caressing + Thee, my dolorous heart awhile deliver! 10 + . . . . . . . . + I would joy, as of old the maid rejoiced + Racing fleetly, the golden apple eyeing, + Late-won loosener of the wary girdle. + + +III. + + Weep each heavenly Venus, all the Cupids, + Weep all men that have any grace about ye. + Dead the sparrow, in whom my love delighted, + The dear sparrow, in whom my love delighted. + + Yea, most precious, above her eyes, she held him, 5 + Sweet, all honey: a bird that ever hail'd her + Lady mistress, as hails the maid a mother. + + Nor would move from her arms away: but only + Hopping round her, about her, hence or hither, + Piped his colloquy, piped to none beside her. 10 + + Now he wendeth along the mirky pathway, + Whence, they tell us, is hopeless all returning. + + Evil on ye, the shades of evil Orcus, + Shades all beauteous happy things devouring, + Such a beauteous happy bird ye took him. 15 + + Ah! for pity; but ah! for him the sparrow, + Our poor sparrow, on whom to think my lady's + Eyes do angrily redden all a-weeping. + + +IV. + +1. + + The puny pinnace yonder you, my friends, discern, + Of every ship professes agilest to be. + Nor yet a timber o'er the waves alertly flew + She might not aim to pass it; oary-wing'd alike + To fleet beyond them, or to scud beneath a sail. 5 + + Nor here presumes denial any stormy coast + Of Adriatic or the Cyclad orbed isles, + A Rhodos immemorial, or that icy Thrace, + Propontis, or the gusty Pontic ocean-arm, + + Whereon, a pinnace after, in the days of yore 10 + A leafy shaw she budded; oft Cytorus' height + With her did inly whisper airy colloquy. + +2. + + Amastris, you by Pontus, you, the box-clad hill + Of high Cytorus, all, the pinnace owns, to both + Was ever, is familiar; in the primal years 15 + She stood upon your hoary top, a baby tree, + Within your haven early dipt a virgin oar: + + To carry thence a master o'er the surly seas, + A world of angry water, hail'd to left, to right + The breeze of invitation, or precisely set 20 + The sheets together op'd to catch a kindly Jove. + + Nor yet of any power whom the coasts adore + Was heard a vow to soothe them, all the weary way + From outer ocean unto glassy quiet here. + + But all the past is over; indolently now 25 + She rusts, a life in autumn, and her age devotes + To Castor and with him ador'd, the twin divine. + + +V. + + Living, Lesbia, we should e'en be loving. + Sour severity, tongue of eld maligning, + All be to us a penny's estimation. + + Suns set only to rise again to-morrow. + We, when sets in a little hour the brief light, 5 + Sleep one infinite age, a night for ever. + + Thousand kisses, anon to these an hundred, + Thousand kisses again, another hundred, + Thousand give me again, another hundred. + + Then once heedfully counted all the thousands, 10 + We'll uncount them as idly; so we shall not + Know, nor traitorous eye shall envy, knowing + All those myriad happy many kisses. + + +VI. + + But that, Flavius, hardly nice or honest + This thy folly, methinks Catullus also + E'en had known it, a whisper had betray'd thee. + + Some she-malady, some unhealthy wanton, + Fires thee verily: thence the shy denial. 5 + + Least, you keep not a lonely night of anguish; + Quite too clamorous is that idly-feigning + Couch, with wreaths, with a Syrian odour oozing; + Then that pillow alike at either utmost + Verge deep-dinted asunder, all the trembling 10 + Play, the strenuous unsophistication; + All, O prodigal, all alike betray thee. + + Why? sides shrunken, a sullen hip disabled, + Speak thee giddy, declare a misdemeanour. + + So, whatever is yours to tell or ill or 15 + Good, confess it. A witty verse awaits thee + And thy lady, to place ye both in heaven. + + +VII. + + Ask me, Lesbia, what the sum delightful + Of thy kisses, enough to charm, to tire me? + + Multitudinous as the grains on even + Lybian sands aromatic of Cyrene; + + 'Twixt Jove's oracle in the sandy desert 5 + And where royally Battus old reposeth; + + Yea a company vast as in the silence + Stars which stealthily gaze on happy lovers; + + E'en so many the kisses I to kiss thee + Count, wild lover, enough to charm, to tire me; 10 + + These no curious eye can wholly number, + Tongue of jealousy ne'er bewitch nor harm them. + + +VIII. + + Ah poor Catullus, learn to play the fool no more. + Lost is the lost, thou know'st it, and the past is past. + + Bright once the days and sunny shone the light on thee, + Still ever hasting where she led, the maid so fair, + By me belov'd as maiden is belov'd no more. 5 + + Was then enacting all the merry mirth wherein + Thyself delighted, and the maid she said not nay. + Ah truly bright and sunny shone the days on thee. + + Now she resigns thee; child, do thou resign no less, + Nor follow her that flies thee, or to bide in woe 10 + Consent, but harden all thy heart, resolve, endure. + + Farewell, my love. Catullus is resolv'd, endures, + He will not ask for pity, will not importune. + + But thou'lt be mourning thus to pine unask'd alway. + O past retrieval faithless! Ah what hours are thine! 15 + When comes a likely wooer? who protests thou'rt fair? + + Who brooks to love thee? who decrees to live thine own? + Whose kiss delights thee? whose the lips that own thy bite? + Yet, yet, Catullus, learn to bear, resolve, endure. + + +IX. + + Dear Veranius, you of all my comrades + Worth, you only, a many goodly thousands, + + Speak they truly that you your hearth revisit, + Brothers duteous, homely mother aged? + + Yes, believe them. O happy news, Catullus! 5 + + I shall see him alive, alive shall hear him, + Tribes Iberian, uses, haunts, declaring + + As his wont is; on him my neck reclining + Kiss his flowery face, his eyes delightful. + + Now, all men that have any mirth about you, 10 + Know ye happier any, any blither? + + +X. + + In the Forum as I was idly roaming + Varus took me a merry dame to visit. + She a lady, methought upon the moment, + Of some quality, not without refinement. + +1. + + So, arrived, in a trice we fell on endless 5 + Themes colloquial; how the fact, the falsehood + With Bithynia, what the case about it, + Had it helped me to profit or to money. + + Then I told her a very truth; no atom + There for company, praetor, hungry natives, 10 + Home might render a body aught the fatter: + + Then our praetor a castaway, could hugely + Mulct his company, had a taste to jeer them. + +2. + + Spoke another, 'Yet anyways, to bear you + Men were ready, enough to grace a litter. 15 + They grow quantities, if report belies not.' + Then supremely myself to flaunt before her, + + I 'So thoroughly could not angry fortune + Spite, I might not, afflicted in my province, + Get erected a lusty eight to bear me. 20 + + But so scrubby the poor sedan, the batter'd + Frame-work, nobody there nor here could ever + Lift it, painfully neck to nick adjusting.' + +3. + + Quoth the lady, belike a lady wanton, + 'Just for courtesy, lend me, dear Catullus, 25 + Those same nobodies. I the great Sarapis + Go to visit awhile.' Said I in answer, + + 'Thanks; but, lady, for all my easy boasting, + 'Twas too summary; there's a friend who knows me, + Cinna Gaius, his the sturdy bearers. 30 + + 'Mine or Cinna's, an inch alone divides us, + I use Cinna's, as e'en my own possession. + But you're really a bore, a very tiresome + Dame unmannerly, thus to take me napping.' + + +XI. + + Furius and Aurelius, O my comrades, + Whether your Catullus attain to farthest + Ind, the long shore lash'd by reverberating + Surges Eoan; + Hyrcan or luxurious horde Arabian, 5 + Sacan or grim Parthian arrow-bearer, + Fields the rich Nile discolorates, a seven-fold + River abounding; + Whether o'er high Alps he afoot ascending + Track the long records of a mighty Cæsar, 10 + Rhene, the Gauls' deep river, a lonely Britain + Dismal in ocean; + This, or aught else haply the gods determine, + Absolute, you, with me in all to part not; + Bid my love greet, bear her a little errand, 15 + Scarcely of honour. + Say 'Live on yet, still given o'er to nameless + Lords, within one bosom, a many wooers, + Clasp'd, as unlov'd each, so in hourly change all + Lewdly disabled. 20 + 'Think not henceforth, thou, to recal Catullus' + Love; thy own sin slew it, as on the meadow's + Verge declines, ungently beneath the plough-share + Stricken, a flower.' + + +XII. + + Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil + Left-hand practices o'er the merry wine-cup. + Watch occasion, anon remove the napkin. + Call this drollery? Trust me, friend, it is not. + 'Tis most beastly, a trick among a thousand. 5 + + Not believe me? believe a friendly brother, + Laughing Pollio; he declares a talent + Poor indemnification, he the parlous + Child of voluble humour and facetious. + + So face hendecasyllables, a thousand, 10 + Or most speedily send me back the napkin; + Gift not prized at a sorry valuation, + But for company; 'twas a friend's memento. + + Cloth of Saetabis, exquisite, from utmost + Iber, sent as a gift to me Fabullus 15 + And Veranius. Ought not I to love them + As Veranius even, as Fabullus? + + +XIII. + + Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus, + We'll dine merrily, dear my friend, together. + + Promise only to bring, your own, a dinner + Rich and goodly; withal a lily maiden, + Wine, and banter, a world of hearty laughing. 5 + + Promise only; betimes we dine, my gentle + Friend, most merrily; but, for your Catullus-- + Know he boasts but a pouch of empty cobwebs. + + Yet take contrary fee, the quintessential + Love, or sweeter if aught is, aught supremer, 10 + + Perfume savoury, mine; my love received it + Gift of every Venus, all the Cupids. + + Would you smell it? a god shall hear Fabullus + Pray unbody him only nose for ever. + + +XIV. + + Calvus, save that as eyes thou art beloved, + I could verily loathe thee for the morning's + Gift, Vatinius hardly more devoutly. + + Slain with poetry! done to death with abjects! + O what syllable earn'd it, act allow'd it? 5 + Gods, your malison on the sorry client + Sent that rascally rabble of malignants. + + Yet, if, freely to guess, the gift recherché + Some grammarian, haply Sulla, sent thee; + I repine not; a dear delight, a triumph 10 + This, thy drudgery thus to see rewarded. + + Gods! an horrible and a deadly volume! + + Sent so faithfully, friend, to thy Catullus, + Just to kill him upon a day, the festive, + Saturnalia, best of all the season. 15 + Sure, a drollery not without requital. + + For, come dawn, to the cases and the bookshops + I; there gather a Caesius and Aquinus, + With Suffenus, in every wretch a poison: + Such plague-prodigy thy remuneration! 20 + + Now good-morrow! away with evil omen + Whence ill destiny lamely bore ye, clumsy + Poet-rabble, an age's execration! + + +XIVB. + + Readers, any that in the future ever + Scan my fantasies, haply lay upon me + Hands adventurous of solicitation-- + + +XV. + + Lend thy bounty to me, to my beloved, + Kind Aurelius. I do ask a favour + + Fair and lawful; if you did e'er in earnest + Seek some virginal innocence to cherish, + Touch not lewdly the mistress of my passion. 5 + + Trust the people; avails not aught to fear them, + Such, who hourly within the streets repassing, + Run, good souls, on a busy quest or idle. + + You, you only the free, the felon-hearted, + Fright me, prodigal you of every virtue. 10 + + Well, let luxury run her heady riot, + Love flow over; enough abroad to sate thee: + This one trespass--a tiny boon--presume not. + + But should impious heat or humour headstrong + Drive thee wilfully, wretch, to such profaning, 15 + In one folly to dare a double outrage: + + Ah what misery thine; what angry fortune! + Heels drawn tight to the stretch shall open inward + Lodgment easy to mullet and to radish. + + +XVI. + + I'll traduce you, accuse you, and abuse you, + Soft Aurelius, e'en as easy Furius. + You that lightly a saucy verse resenting, + Misconceit me, sophisticate me wanton. + + Know, pure chastity rules the godly poet, 5 + Rules not poesy, needs not e'er to rule it; + Charms some verse with a witty grace delightful? + 'Tis voluptuous, impudent, a wanton. + + It shall kindle an icy thought to courage, + Not boy-fancies alone, but every frozen 10 + Flank immovable, all amort to pleasure. + + You my kisses, a million happy kisses, + Musing, read me a silky thrall to softness? + I'll traduce you, accuse you, and abuse you. + + +XVII. + +1. + + Kind Colonia, fain upon bridge more lengthy to gambol, + And quite ready to dance amain, fearing only the rotten + Legs too crazily steadied on planks of old resurrections, + Lest it plunge to the deep morass, there supinely to welter; + So surprise thee a sumptuous bridge thy fancy to pleasure, 5 + Passive under a Salian god's most lusty procession; + This rare favour, a laugh for all time, Colonia, grant me. + + In my township a citizen lives: Catullus adjures thee + Headlong into the mire below topsy-turvy to drown him. + Only, where the superfluent lake, the spongy putrescence, 10 + Sinks most murkily flushed, descends most profoundly the bottom. + + Such a ninny, a fool is he; witless even as any + Two years' urchin, across papa's elbow drowsily swaying. + +2. + + For though wed to a maiden in spring-tide youthfully budding, + Maiden crisp as a petulant kid, as airily wanton, 15 + Sweets more privy to guard than e'er grape-bunch shadowy-purpling; + He, he leaves her alone to romp idly, cares not a fouter. + Nor leans to her at all, the man's part; but helpless as alder + Lies, new-fell'd in a ditch, beneath axe Ligurian ham-strung, + As alive to the world, as if world nor wife were at issue. 20 + + Such this gaby, my own, my arch fool; he sees not, he hears not + Who himself is, or if the self is, or is not, he knows not. + + Him I'd gladly be lowering down thy bridge to the bottom, + If from stupor inanimate peradventure he wake him, + Leaving muddy behind him his sluggish heart's hesitation, 25 + As some mule in a glutinous sludge her rondel of iron. + + +XXI. + + Sire and prince-patriarch of hungry starvelings, + Lean Aurelius, all that are, that have been, + That shall ever in after years be famish'd; + + Wouldst thou lewdly my dainty love to folly + Tempt, and visibly? thou be near, be joking 5 + Cling and fondle, a hundred arts redouble? + + O presume not: a wily wit defeated + Pays in scandalous incapacitation. + + Yet didst folly to fulness add, 'twere all one; + Now shall beauty to thirst be train'd or hunger's 10 + Grim necessity; this is all my sorrow. + + Then hold, wanton, upon the verge; to-morrow + Comes preposterous incapacitation. + + +XXII. + + Suffenus, he, dear Varus, whom, methinks, you know, + Has sense, a ready tongue to talk, a wit urbane, + And writes a world of verses, on my life no less. + + Ten times a thousand he, believe me, ten or more, + Keeps fairly written; not on any palimpsest, 5 + As often, enter'd, paper extra-fine, sheets new, + New every roller, red the strings, the parchment-case + Lead-rul'd, with even pumice all alike complete. + + You read them: our choice spirit, our refin'd rare wit, + Suffenus, O no ditcher e'er appeared more rude, 10 + No looby coarser; such a shock, a change is there. + + How then resolve this puzzle? He the birthday-wit, + For so we thought him--keener yet, if aught is so-- + Becomes a dunce more boorish e'en than hedge-born boor, + If e'er he faults on verses; yet in heart is then 15 + Most happy, writing verses, happy past compare, + So sweet his own self, such a world at home finds he. + + Friend, 'tis the common error; all alike are wrong, + Not one, but in some trifle you shall eye him true + Suffenus; each man bears from heaven the fault they send, 20 + None sees within the wallet hung behind, our own. + + +XXIII. + + Needy Furius, house nor hoard possessing, + Bug or spider, or any fire to thaw you, + Yet most blest in a father and a step-dame, + Each for penury fit to tooth a flint-stone: + Is not happiness yours? a home united? 5 + Son, sire, mother, a lathy dame to match him. + + Who can wonder? in all is health, digestion, + Pure and vigorous, hours without a trouble. + Fires ye fear not, or house's heavy downfal, + Deeds unnatural, art in act to poison, 10 + Dangers myriad accidents befalling. + + Then your bodies? in every limb a shrivell'd + Horn, all dryness in all the world whatever, + Tann'd or frozen or icy-lean with ages. + Sure superlative happiness surrounds thee. 15 + Thee sweat frets not, an o'er-saliva frets not, + Frets not snivel or oozy rheumy nostril. + + Yet such purity lacks not e'en a purer. + White those haunches as any cleanly-silver'd + Salt, it takes you a month to barely dirt them. 20 + Then like beans, or inert as e'er a pebble, + Those impeccable heavy loins, a finger's + Breadth from apathy ne'er seduced to riot. + + Such prosperity, such superb profusion, + Slight not, Furius, idly nor reject not. 25 + As for sesterces, all the would-be fortune, + Cease to wish it; enough, methinks, the present. + + +XXIV. + + O thou blossom of all the race Juventian + Not now only, but all as yet arisen, + All to flower in after-years arising; + + Midas' treasury better you presented + Him that owns not a slave nor any coffer, 5 + Ere you suffer his alien arm's presuming. + + What? you fancy him all refin'd perfection? + Perfect! truly, without a slave, a coffer. + + Slight, reject it, away with it; for all that + He, he owns not a slave nor any coffer. 10 + + +XXV. + + Smooth Thallus, inly softer you than any furry rabbit, + Or glossy goose's oily plumes, or velvet earlap yielding, + Or feeble age's heavy thighs, or flimsy filthy cobweb; + + And Thallus, hungry rascal you, as hurricane rapacious, + When winks occasion on the stroke, the gulls agape declaring: 5 + + Return the mantle home to me, you watch'd your hour to pilfer, + The fleecy napkin and the rings from Thynia quaintly graven, + Whatever you parade as yours, vain fool, a sham reversion: + + Unglue the nails adroit to steal, unclench the spoil, deliver, + Lest yet that haunch voluptuous, those tender hands caressant, 10 + Should take an ugly print severe, the scourge's heavy branding; + + And strange to bruises you should heave, as heaves in open Ocean, + Some little hoy surprised adrift, when wails the windy water. + + +XXVI. + + Draughts, dear Furius, if my villa faces, + 'Tis not showery south, nor airy wester, + North's grim fury, nor east; 'tis only fifteen + Thousand sesterces, add two hundred over. + Draft unspeakable, icy, pestilential! 5 + + +XXVII. + + Boy, young caterer of Falernian olden, + Brim me cups of a fiercer harsher essence; + So Postumia, queen of healths presiding, + Bids, less thirsty the thirsty grape, the toper. + But dull water, avaunt. Away the wine-cup's 5 + Sullen enemy; seek the sour, the solemn! + Here Thyonius hails his own elixir. + + +XXVIII. + + Starving company, troop of hungry Piso, + Light of luggage, of outfit expeditious, + You, Veranius, you, my own Fabullus, + + Say, what fortune? enough of empty masters, + Frost and famine, a lingering probation? 5 + + Stands your diary fair? is any profit + Enter'd _given_? as I to serve a praetor + Count each beggarly gift a timely profit. + + Trust me, Memmius, you did aptly finger + My passivity, fool'd me most supinely. 10 + + Friends, confess it; in e'en as hard a fortune + You stand mulcted, on you a like abashless + Rake rides heavily. Court the great who wills it! + + Gods and goddesses evil heap upon ye, + Rogues to Romulus and to Remus outcast. 15 + + +XXIX. + + Can any brook to see it, any tamely bear-- + If any, gamester, epicure, a wanton, he-- + Mamurra's own whatever all the curly Gauls + Did else inherit, or the lonely Briton isle? + Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus? 5 + + Shall he, in o'er-assumption, o'er-repletion he, + Sedately saunter every dainty couch along, + A bright Adonis, as the snowy dove serene? + Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus? + Look idly, gamester, epicure, a wanton, you. 10 + + Unique commander, and was only this the plea + Detain'd you in that islet angle of the west, + To gorge the shrunk seducer irreclaimable + With haply twice a million, add a million yet? + What else was e'er unhealthy prodigality? 15 + + The waste? to lust a little? on the belly less? + Begin; a glutted hoard paternal; ebb the first. + To this, the booty Pontic; add the spoil from out + Iberia, known to Tagus' amber ory stream. + Not only Gaul, nor only quail the Briton isles. 20 + + What help a rogue to fondle? is not all his act + To swallow monies, empty purses heap on heap? + But you--to please him only, shame to Rome, to me! + Could you the son, the father, idly ruin all? + + +XXX. + + False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal, + Doth thy pity depart? Shall not a friend, traitor, a friend recal + + Love? what courage is here me to betray, me to repudiate? + . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 + Never sure did a lie, never a sin, please the celestials. + + This you heed not; alas! leave me to new misery, desolate. (5) + O where now shall a man trust? liveth yet any fidelity? + + You, you only did urge love to be free, life to surrender, you. + Guiding into the snare, falsely secure, prophet of happiness. 10 + + Now you leave me, retract, every deed, every word allow + Into nullity winds far to remove, vapoury clouds to bear. (10) + + You forget me, but yet surely the Gods, surely remembereth + Faith; hereafter again honour awakes, causeth a wretch to rue. + + +XXXI. + + O thou of islands jewel and of half-islands, + Fair Sirmio, whatever o'er the lakes' clear rim + Or waste of ocean, Neptune holds, a two-fold pow'r; + What joy have I to see thee, and to gaze what glee! + + Scarce yet believing Thunia past, the fair champaign 5 + Bithunian, yet in safety thee to greet once more. + From cares to part us--where is any joy like this? + + Then drops the soul her fardel, as the travel-tir'd + World-weary wand'rer touches home, returns, sinks down + In joy to slumber on the bed desir'd so long. 10 + This meed, this only counts for e'en an age all toil. + + O take a welcome, lovely Sirmio, thy lord's, + And greet him happy; greet him all the lake Lydian; + Laugh out whatever laughter at the hearth rings clear. + + +XXXII. + + List, I charge thee, my gentle Ipsithilla, + Lovely ravisher and my dainty mistress, + Say we'll linger a lazy noon together. + + Suits my company? lend a farther hearing: + See no jealousy make the gate against me, 5 + See no fantasy lead thee out a-roaming. + Keep close chamber; anon in all profusion + Count me kisses again again returning. + + Bides thy will? with a sudden haste command me; + Full and wistful, at ease reclin'd, a lover 10 + Here I languish alone, supinely dreaming. + + +XXXIII. + + Master-robber of all that haunt the bath-rooms, + Old Vibennius, and his heir the wanton; + (His the dirtier hands, the greedy father, + Yours the filthier heart, his heir as hungry;) + + Please your knaveries hoist a sail for exile, 5 + Pains and privacy? since by this the father's + Thefts are palpable, and a rusty favour, + Son, picks never a penny from the people. + + +XXXIV. + + Great Diana protecteth us, + Maids and boyhood in innocence. + Maidens virtuous, innocent + Boys, your song be Diana. + Hail, Latonia, thou that art 5 + Throned daughter of enthronis'd + Jove; near Delian olive of + Mighty mother y-boren. + Queen of mountainous heights, of all + Forests leafy, delightable; 10 + Glens in bowery depths remote, + Rivers wrathfully sounding. + Thee, Lucina, the travailing + Mother haileth, a sovereign + Juno; Trivia thou, the bright 15 + Moon, a glory reflected. + Thou thine annual orb anew, + Goddess, monthly remeasuring, + Farmsteads lowly with affluent + Corn dost fill to the flowing. 20 + Be thy heavenly name whate'er + Name shall please thee, in hallowing; + Still keep safely the glorious + Race of Romulus olden. + + +XXXV. + +1. + + Take Caecilius, him the tender-hearted + Bard, my paper, a wish from his Catullus. + Come from Larius, haste to leave the new-built + Comum's watery city, seek Verona. + + Some particular intimate reflexions 5 + One would tell thee, a friend we love together. + +2. + + So he'll quickly devour the way, if only + He's no booby; for all a snowy maiden + Chide imperious, and her hands around him + Both in jealousy clasp'd, refuse departure. 10 + + She, if only report the truth bely not, + Doats, as hardly within her own possession. + +3. + + For since lately she read his high-preluding + Queen of Dindymus, all her heart is ever + Melting inly with ardour and with anguish. 15 + + Maiden, laudable is that high emotion, + Muse more rapturous, you, than any Sappho. + The Great Mother he surely sings divinely. + + +XXXVI. + +1. + + Vilest paper of all dishonour, annals + Of Volusius, hear my lovely lady's + + Vow, and pay it; awhile she swore to Venus + And fond Cupid, if ever I returning + Ceased from enmity, left to launch iambics, 5 + + She would surely devote the sorry poet's + Choicest rarities unto sooty Vulcan, + The lame deity, there to blaze lamenting. + + With such drollery, such supreme defiance, + Swore strange oath to the gods the naughty wanton. 10 + +2. + + Now, O heavenly child of azure Ocean, + Queen of Idaly, queen of Urian highlands, + + Who Ancona the fair, the reedy Cnidos + Hauntest, Amathus and the lawny Golgi, + Or Dyrrhachium, hostel Adriatic; 15 + + Hear thy votaress, answer her petition; + 'Tis most graceful, a dainty thought to charm thee. + + But ye verses, away to fire, to burning, + Rank rusticities, empty vapid annals + Of Volusius, heap of all dishonour. 20 + + +XXXVII. + +1. + + O frowsy tavern, frowsy fellowship therein, + Ninth post in order next beyond the twins cap-crown'd, + + Shall manly service none but you alone employ, + Shall you alone whatever in the world smiles fair, + Possess it, every other hold to lack esteem? 5 + + Or if in idiot impotence arow you sit, + One hundred, yes two hundred, am not I, think you, + A man to bring mine action on your whole row there? + + So think not, he that likes not; answer how you may, + With scorpion I, with emblem all your haunt will scrawl. 10 + +2. + + For she the bright one, lately fled beyond these arms, + The maid belov'd as maiden is belov'd no more, + Whom I to win, stood often in the breach, fought long, + + Has sat amongst you. Her the grand, the great, all, all + Do dearly love her; yea, beshrew the damned wrong, 15 + Each slight seducer, every lounger highway-born, + + You chiefly, peerless paragon of the tribe long-lock'd, + Rude Celtiberia's child, the bushy rabbit-den, + + Egnatius, so modish in the big bush-beard, + And teeth a native lotion hardly scours quite pure. 20 + + +XXXVIII. + + Cornificius, ill is your Catullus, + Ill, ah heaven, a weary weight of anguish, + More more weary with every day, with each hour. + + You deny me the least, the very lightest + Help, one whisper of happy thought to cheer me. 5 + + Nay, I'm sorrowful. You to slight my passion? + Ah! one word, but a tiny word to cheer me, + Sad as ever a tear Simonidean. + + +XXXIX. + +1. + + Egnatius, spruce owner of superb white teeth, + Smiles sweetly, smiles for ever: is the bench in view + Where stands a pleader just prepar'd to rouse our tears, + + Egnatius smiles sweetly; near the pyre they mourn + Where weeps a mother o'er the lost, the kind one son, 5 + Egnatius smiles sweetly; what the time or place + + Or thing soe'er, smiles sweetly; such a rare complaint + Is his, not handsome, scarce to please the town, say I. + +2. + + So take a warning for the nonce, my friend; town-bred + Were you, a Sabine hale, a pearly Tiburtine, 10 + A frugal Umbrian body, Tuscan huge of paunch, + + A grim Lanuvian black of hue, prodigious-tooth'd, + A Transpadane, my country not to pass untax'd, + In short whoever cleanly cares to rinse foul teeth, + + Yet sweetly smiling ever I would have you not, 15 + For silly laughter, it's a silly thing indeed. + +3. + + Well: you're a Celtiberian; in the parts thereby + What pass'd the night in water, every man, come dawn, + Scours clean the foul teeth with it and the gums rose-red; + + So those Iberian snowy teeth, the more they shine, 20 + So much the deeper they proclaim the draught impure. + + +XL. + + What fatality, what chimera drives thee + Headlong, Ravidus, on to my iambics? + + What fell deity, most malign to listen, + Fires thy fury to quarrel unavailing? + + Wouldst thou busy the breath of half the people? 5 + Break with clamour at any cost the silence? + + Thou wilt do it; a wretch that hop'd my darling + Love to fondle, a sure retaliation. + + +XLI. + + Ameana, the maiden of the people, + Asks me sesterces, all the many thousands. + + Maiden she with a nose not wholly faultless, + Bankrupt Formian, your declar'd devotion. + + Wherefore look to the maiden, her relations: 5 + Call her family, summon all the doctors. + + Your poor maiden is oddly touch'd; a mirror + Sure would lend her a soberer reflexion. + + +XLII. + +1. + + Come all hendecasyllables whatever, + Wheresoever ye house you, all whatever. + + I the game of an impudent adultress? + She refuse to return to me the tablets + Where you syllable? O ye can't be silent. 5 + Up, have after her, ask renunciation. + + Would ye know her? a woman, you shall eye her + Strutting loftily, whiles she laughs a loud laugh + Vast and vulgar, a Gaulish hound beseeming. + Form your circle about her, ask her, urge her. 10 + + 'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over. + Hark, the note-book, adultress, hand it over.' + +2. + + What? you scorn us? O ugly filth, detested + Trull, whatever is all abomination. + + Nay then, louder. Enough as yet it is not. 15 + If this only remains, perhaps the dog-like + Face may colour, a brassy blush may yield us. + Swell your voices in higher harsher yellings, + + 'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over; + Hark, the note-book; adultress, hand it over.' 20 + + Look, she moves not at all: we waste the moments. + Change your quality, try another issue. + Such composure a sweeter air may alter. + 'Pure and virtuous, hand the note-book over.' + + +XLIII. + + Hail, fair virgin, a nose among the larger, + Feet not dainty, nor eyes to match a raven, + Mouth scarce tenible, hands not wholly faultless, + Tongue most surely not absolute refinement, + Bankrupt Formian, your declar'd devotion. 5 + Thou the beauty, the talk of all the province? + Thou my Lesbia tamely think to rival? + O preposterous, empty generation! + + +XLIV. + + O thou my Sabine farmstead or my Tiburtine, + For who Catullus would not harm, avow, kind souls, + Thou surely art at Tibur; and who quarrel will + Sabine declare thee, stake the world to prove their say: + + But be'st a Sabine, be'st a very Tiburtine, 5 + At thy suburban villa what delight I knew + To spit the tiresome cough away, my lungs' ill guest, + My belly brought me, not without a sad weak sin, + Because a costly dinner I desir'd too much. + + For I, to feast with Sestius, that host unmatch'd, 10 + A speech of his, pure poison, every line deep-drugg'd, + His speech against the plaintiff Antius, read through. + + Whereat a cold chill, soon a gusty cough in fits, + Shook, shook me ever, till to thy retreat I fled, + There duly dosed with nettle and repose found cure. 15 + So, now recruited, thanks superlative, dear farm, + I give thee, who so lightly didst avenge that sin. + + And trust me, farm, if ever I again take up + With Sextius' black charges, I'll rebel no more; + But let the chill things damn to cold, to cough, not me 20 + That read the volume--no, but him, the man's vain self. + + +XLV. + +1. + + While Septimius in his arms his Acme + Fondled closely, 'My own,' said he, 'my Acme, + + If I love not as unto death, nor hold me + Ever faithfully well-prepar'd to largest + Strain of fiery wooer yet to love thee, 5 + + Then in Libya, then may I alone in + Burning India face a sulky lion.' + + Scarce he ended, upon the right did eager + Love sneeze amity; 'twas before to leftward. + +2. + + Acme quietly back her head reclining 10 + Towards her boy, with a rosy mouth delightful + Kissed his passionate eyes elately swimming, + + Then 'Septimius, O my life' she murmur'd, + 'So may he that is in this hour ascendant + + Rule us ever, as in me burns a greater 15 + Fire, a fiercer, in every vein triumphing.' + + Scarce she ended, upon the right did eager + Love sneeze amity; 'twas before to leftward. + +3. + + So, that augury joyous each possessing, + Loves, is lov'd with an even emulation. 20 + + Poor Septimius, all to please his Acme, + Recks not Syria, recks not any Britain. + + In Septimius only faithful Acme + Makes her softnesses, holds her happy pleasures. + + When did mortal on any so rejoicing 25 + Look, on union hallow'd as divinely? + + +XLVI. + + Now soft spring with her early warmth returneth, + Now doth Zephyrus, health benignly breathing, + Still the boisterous equinoctial heaven. + + Leave we Phrygia, leave the plains, Catullus, + Leave Nicaea, the sultry soil of harvest: 5 + On for Asia, for the starry cities. + Now all flurry the soul is out a-ranging, + Now with vigour aflame the feet renew them. + + Farewell company true, my lovely comrades. + You so joyfully borne from home together, 10 + Now o'er many a weary way returning. + + +XLVII. + + Porcius, Socration, the greedy Piso's + Tools of thievery, rogues to famish ages, + + So that filthy Priapus ousts to please you + My Veranius even and Fabullus? + + What? shall you then at early noon carousing 5 + Lap in luxury? they, my jolly comrades, + Search the streets on a quest of invitation? + + +XLVIII. + + If, Juventius, I the grace win ever + Still on beauteous honied eyes to kiss thee, + I would kiss them a million, yet a million. + + Yea, nor count me to win the full attainment, + Not, tho' heavier e'en than ears at harvest, 5 + Fall my kisses, a wealthy crop delightful. + + +XLIX. + + Greatest speaker of any born a Roman, + Marcus Tullius, all that are, that have been, + That shall ever in after-years be famous; + + Thanks superlative unto thee Catullus + Renders, easily last among the poets. 5 + + He as easily last among the poets + As thou surely the first among the pleaders. + + +L. + +1. + + Dear Lucinius, yestereve we linger'd + Scrawling fancies, a hundred, in my tablets, + Wits in combat; a treaty this between us. + + Scribbling drolleries each of us together + Launched one arrowy metre and another, 5 + Tenders jocular o'er the merry wine-cup. + +2. + + So quite sorely with all your humour heated + Gay Lucinius, I that eve departed. + + Food my misery could not any lighten, + Sleep nor quiet upon my eyes descended. 10 + + Still untamable o'er the couch did I then + Turn and tumble, in haste to see the day-light, + Hear your prattle again, again be with you. + +3. + + Then, when weary with all the worry, numb'd, dead, + Sank my body, upon the bed reposing, 15 + This, O humorous heart, did I, a poem + Write, my tedious anguish all revealing. + + O beware then of hardihood; a lover's + Plea for charity, dear my friend, reject not: + What if Nemesis haply claim repayment? 20 + She is tyrannous. O beware offending. + + +LI. + + He to me like unto the Gods appeareth, + He, if I dare speak it, ascends above them, + Face to face who toward thee attently sitting + Gazes or hears thee + + Lovely in sweet laughter; alas within me 5 + Every lost sense falleth away for anguish; + When as I look'd on thee, upon my lips no + Whisper abideth, + Straight my tongue froze, Lesbia; soon a subtle + Fire thro' each limb streameth adown; with inward 10 + Sound the full ears tinkle, on either eye night's + Canopy darkens. + Ease alone, Catullus, alone afflicts thee; + Ease alone breeds error of heady riot; + Ease hath entomb'd princes of old renown and 15 + Cities of honour. + + +LII. + + Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die? + If in the curule chair a hump sits, Nonius; + A would-be consul lies in hope, Vatinius; + Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die? + + +LIII. + + How I laughed at a wag amid the circle! + He, when Calvus in high denunciation + Of Vatinius had declaim'd divinely, + Hands uplifted as in supreme amazement, + Cried 'God bless us! a wordy cockalorum!' 5 + + +LIV. + + Otho's head is a very dwarf; a rustic's + Shanks has Herius, only semi-cleanly; + Libo's airs to a fume of art refine them. + . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . 5 + _Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics_. + . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . + [_So may destiny doom me quite to silence_] + As I care not if every line offend thee 10 + And Sufficius, age in youth's revival. + . . . . . . . . + Thou shalt kindle at innocent iambics, + Mighty general, once again returning. + + +LV. + +1. + + List, I beg, provided you're in humour, + Speak your privacy, show what alley veils you. + You I sought on Campus, I, the lesser, + You on Circus, in all the bills but you, sir. + You with father Jove in holy temple. 5 + Then, where flocks the parade to Magnus' arches, + + Friend, I hail'd each lady promenader, + Each, I found, did face me quite sedately. + +2. + + What? they steal, I loudly cried protesting, + My Camerius? out upon the wenches! 10 + Answer'd one and lightly bared a bosom, + 'See! what bowery roses; here he hides him.' + + Yea 'twould task e'en Hercules to bear you, + You so scornful, friend, in your refusing. + +3. + + Not tho' I were warder of the Cretans, 15 + Not tho' Pegasus on his airy pinion, + + Perseus feathery-footed, I a Ladas, + Rhesus' chariot yok'd to snowy coursers, + Add each feathery sandal, every flying + Power, ask fleetness of all the winds of heaven, 20 + Mine, Camerius, and to me devoted; + Yet with drudgery sorely spent should I, yet + + Worn, outworn with languor unto languor + Faint, O friend, in an empty quest to find you. + +4. + + Say, where think you anon to be; declare it, 25 (15) + Fair and free, submit, commit to daylight. + What? still thrall to the lovely lily ladies? + Keep close mouth, lock fast the tongue within it, + Love's felicity falls without fruition; + Venus still is free to talk, a babbler. 30 (20) + Yet close palate, an if ye will it; only + In my love some part to bear refuse not. + + +LVII. + + O rare sympathies! happy rakes united! + There Mamurra the woman, here a Caesar. + + Who can wonder? An ugly brand on either, + His, true Formian, his, politely Roman, + Rests indelible, in the bone residing. 5 + + Either infamous, each a twin dishonour, + Bookish brethren, a dainty pair pedantic; + + One adultrous, as hungry he; with equal + Parts in women, a lusty corporation. + O rare sympathies! happy rakes united! 10 + + +LVIII. + + That bright Lesbia, Caelius, the self-same + Peerless Lesbia, she than whom Catullus + Self nor family more devoutly cherish'd, + By foul roads, or in every shameful alley, + Strains the vigorous issue of the people. 5 + + +LIX. + + Poor Rufa from Bononia Rufulus gallants, + Menenius' errant lady, she that in grave-yards + (You've seen her often) snaps from every pile her meal, + When hotly chasing dusty loaves the fire rolls down, + She felt some half-shorn corpseman and his hand's big blow. 5 + + +LX. + + Hadst thou a Libyan lioness on heights all stone, + A Scylla, barking wolvish at the loins' last verge, + To bear thee, O black-hearted, O to shame forsworn, + That unto supplication in my last sad need + Thou mightst not harken, deaf to ruth, a beast, no man? 5 + + +LXI. + + God, on verdurous Helicon + Dweller, child of Urania, + Thou that draw'st to the man the fair + Maiden, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus: 5 + + Wreathe thy brows in amaracus' + Fragrant blossom; an aureat + Veil be round thee; approach, in all + Joy, approach with a luminous + Foot, a sandal of amber. 10 + + Come, for jolly the time, awake. + Chant in melody musical + Hymns of bridal; on earth a foot + Beating, hands to the winds above + Torches oozily swinging. 15 + + Such, as she that on Idaly + Venus dwelleth, appear'd before + Him, the Phrygian arbiter, + So with Mallius happily + Happy Junia weddeth. 20 + + Like some myrtle of Asia + Bright in airily blossoming + Boughs, the wood Hamadryades + Nurse with showery dew, to be + Theirs, a tender plaything. 25 + + So come to us in haste; away, + Leave thy Thespian hollow-arch'd + Rock, muse-haunted, Aonian, + Drench'd in spray from aloft, the cold + Drift of Nymph Aganippe. 30 + + Homeward summon a sovereign + Wife most passionate, holden in + Love fast prisoner: ivy not + Closer closes an elm around, + Interchangeably trailing. 35 + + You too with him, O you for whom + Comes as joyous a time, your own. + Virgins stainless of heart, arise. + Chant in unison, Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 40 + + That, more readily listening, + Whiles your song to familiar + Duty calls him, he hie apace, + Lord of fair paramours, of youth's + Fair affection uniter. 45 + + + Who more worthy than he to list + Lovers wearily languishing? + Bends from heaven a sovereign + God adorabler? Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 50 + + You the father in years for his + Child beseecheth; a virginal + Zone falls slackly to earth for you, + You half-fear in his hankering + Lists the groomsman approaching. 55 + + You from motherly lap the bright + Girl can sever; your hand divine + Gives dominion, ushering + Warm the lover. O Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 60 + + Nought delightful, if you be far, + Nought unharmed of envious + Tongues, Love wins him: if you be near + Much he wins him. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 65 + + Houses cannot, if you be far, + Yield their children, a babe renew + Sire or mother: if you be near, + Comes renewal. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 70 + + If your great ceremonial + Fail, no champion yeomanry + Guards the border. If you be near + Arms the border. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 75 + + + Fling the portal apart. The bride + Waits. O see ye the luminous + Torch-flakes ruddily flickering? + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 80 + + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . + Nought she hears us: her innocent (80) + Eyes do weep to be going. 85 + + Weep not, lady; for envious + Tongue no lovelier owneth, Au- + Runculeia; nor any more + Fair saw rosily bright the dawn (85) + Leave his chamber in Ocean. 90 + + Such in many a flowering + Garden, trimm'd for a lord's delight, + Stands some delicate hyacinth. + Yet you tarry. The day declines. (90) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 95 + + Forth, fair bride, to the people, if + So it likes you, a-listening + Words that please us. O eye ye yon + Torches ruddily flickering? (95) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 100 + + Husband never of yours shall haunt + Stained wanton, a mutinous + Fancy shamefully following, + Tire not ever, or e'er from your (100) + Dainty bosom unyoke him. 105 + + He more lithe than a vine amid + Trees, that, mazily folded, it + Clasps and closes, in amorous + Arms shall close thee. The day declines. (105) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 110 + + Couch of pleasure, _O odorous + Couch, whose gorgeous apparellings, + Silver-purple, on Indian + Woods do rest them; adown_ the bright + Feet in ivory glisten; 115 + + When thy lord in his hour attains, + What large extasy, while the night (110) + Fleets, or noon the meridian + Passes thoro'. The day declines. + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 120 + + + Lift the torches aloft in air, + Boys: the fiery veil is here. (115) + Come, to measure your hymn rehearse. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 125 + + Nor withhold ye the countryman's + Ribald raillery Fescenine. (120) + Nor if happily boys declare + Thy dominion attaint, refuse, + Youth, the nuts to be flinging. 130 + + Fling, O womanish youth; the boys + Ask thee charity. Time agone (125) + Toys and folly; to-day begins + Our high duty, Talassius. + Hasten, youth, to be flinging. 135 + + Thou didst surely but yestereve + Mock the women, a favourite (130) + Far above them: anon the first + Beard, the razor. Alack, alas! + Hasten, youth, to be flinging. 140 + + You, whom odorous oils declare + Bridegroom, swerve not; a slippery (135) + Love calls lightly, but yet refrain. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 145 + + Lawful only did e'er delight + You, we know; but it is not, O (140) + Husband, lawful as heretofore. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 150 + + Bride, thou also, if he demand + Aught, refuse not, assent, obey. (145) + Love can angrily pipe adieu. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 155 + + Look! thy mansion, a sovereign + Home most goodly, by him to thee (150) + Given. Reign as a queen within, + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 160 + + Still when hoary decrepitude, + Shaking wintery brows benign, (155) + Nods a tremulous Yes to all. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 165 + + + With fair augury smite the blest + Threshold, sunnily glistening (160) + Feet: yon ivory door approach, + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 170 + + See one seated, a banqueter. + 'Tis thy lord on a Tyrian (165) + Couch: his spirit is all to thee. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 175 + + Not less surely in him than in + Thee love lighteth a bosoming (170) + Flame; but deeper, a fire within. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 180 + + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 185 + + Thou, whose purple her arm, the slim + Arm, props happily, boy, depart. (175) + Time the bride be at entering. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 190 + + You in chastity tried the long + Years, good women of agedest (180) + Husbands, lay ye the bride to-night. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 195 + + + Husband, stay not: a bride within + Coucheth ready, the flowering (185) + Spring less lovely; a countenance + White as parthenice, beyond + Yellow poppy to gaze on. 200 + + Thou, so help me the favouring + Gods immortal, as heavenly (190) + Fair art also, adorned of + Venus' bounty. The day declines. + Come nor tarry to greet her. 205 + + Not too slothfully tarrying, + Thou art here. Benediction of (195) + Venus help thee, a man without + Shame of blameless, a love that is + Honest frankly revealing. 210 + + Dust of infinite Africa, + Stars that sparkle, a myriad (200) + Host, who measureth, your delights + He shall tell them, ineffable, + Multitudinous, over. 215 + + Make your happy delight, renew'd + Soon in children. A glorious (205) + Name and olden is ill without + Children, unto the first a new + Stock as goodly begetting. 220 + + Some Torquatus, a beauteous + Babe, on motherly breasts to thee (210) + Stretching, father, his innocent + Hands, smile softly from inchoate + Lips half-open a welcome. 225 + + Like his father, a Mallius + New presented, of every (215) + Eyeing stranger allowed his own; + Mother's chastity moulded in + Features childly revealing. 230 + + Glory speak of him issuing + Child of mother as excellent (220) + She, as only that age-renown'd + Wife, whose story Telemachus + Blazons, Penelopea. 235 + + Virgins, close ye the door. Enough + This our carol. O happiest (225) + Lovers, jollity live with you. + Still that genial youth to love's + Consummation attend ye. 240 + + +LXII. + +YOUTHS. + + Hesper is here; rise youths, rise all of you; high on Olympus + Hesper his orb long-look'd for aloft 'gins slowly to kindle. + Time is now to arise, from tables costly to part us; + Now doth a virgin approach, now soundeth a glad Hymenaeal. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 5 + +VIRGINS. + + See ye yon youthful band? O, maidens, rise ye to meet them. + Comes not Night's bright bearer a fire o'er Oeta revealing? + Surely; for even now, in a moment all have arisen, + Not for nought have arisen; a song waits, goodly to gaze on. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 10 + +YOUTHS. + + No light victory this, O comrades, ready before us. + Busy the virgins muse, their practis'd ditty recalling, + Muse nor shall miscarry; a song for memory waits us. + Rightly; for all their souls do inwards labour in issue. + + We--our thoughts one way, our ears have drifted another, 15 + So comes worthy defeat; no victory calls to the careless. + Come then, in even race let thought their melody rival; + They must open anon; 'twere better anon be replying. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Hesper, moveth in heaven a light more tyrannous ever? 20 + Thou from a mother's arms canst wrest her daughter asunder, + Wrest from a mother's arms her daughter woefully clinging, + Then to the burning youth his virgin beauty deliver. + Foes in a new-sack'd town, when wrought they crueller ever? + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 25 + +YOUTHS. + + Hesper, shineth in heaven a light more genial ever? + Thou with a bridal flame true lovers' unity crownest, + All which duly the men, which plighted duly the parents, + Then completed alone, when thou in splendour awakest. + When shone an happier hour than thy god-speeded arriving? 30 + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Sisters, Hesper a fellow of our bright company taketh. + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 35 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + + _Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus._ + +YOUTHS. + + . . . . . . . . . . . 40 + . . . . . . . . . . + Hesper, awaiting thee each sentinel holdeth alarum. + Night veils love's false thieves; thieves still when, Hesper, another + Name, but unalter'd still, thou tak'st them surely, returning. (35) + Yet be the maidens pleas'd in woeful fancy to chide thee. 45 + Maybe for all they chide, their hearts do inly desire thee. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Look in a garden-croft when a flower privily growing, + Hid from grazing kine, by ploughshare never y-broken, (40) + Strok'd by the breeze, by the sun nurs'd sturdily, rear'd by + the showers; 50 + Many a wistful boy, and maidens many desire it: + + Yet if a slender nail hath nipt his bloom to deflour it, + Never a wistful boy, nor maidens any desire it: + + Such is a girl untoy'd with as yet, yet lovely to kinsmen; (45) + Once her body profan'd, herflow'r of chastity blighted, 55 + Boys no more she delights, nor seems so lovely to maidens; + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +YOUTHS. + + Look as a lone lorn vine in a bare field sorrily growing, + Never an arm uplifts, no grape to maturity ripens, (50) + + Only with headlong weight her tender body declining, 60 + Bows, till topmost spray and roots meet feebly together; + Her no peasant swain, nor bullock tendeth her ever; + + Yet to the bachelor elm if marriage-fortune unite her, + Many a peasant tills and bullocks many about her; (55) + + Such is a maid untoy'd with as yet, in loneliness aging; 65 + Wins she a bridegroom meet, in time's warm fulness arriving, + So to the man more dear, and less unlovely to parents. + + O then, clasp thy love, nor fight, fair maiden, against him. + Sin 'twere surely to fight; thy father gave to his arms thee, (60) + Father's self and mother; obey nor wrongly defy them. 70 + . . . . . . . . . . + + Virgin's crown thou claim'st not alone, but partly the parents, + Father's one whole part, one goes to the mother allotted, + Rests one only to thee; O fight not with them alone thou, + Both to a son their rights and both their dowry deliver. 75 (65) + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + + +LXIII. + + In a swift ship Attis hasting over ocean a mariner + When he gained the wood, the Phrygian, with a foot of agility, + When he near'd the leafy forest, dark sanctuary divine; + By unearthly fury frenzied, a bewildered agony, + With a flint of edge he shatter'd to the ground his humanity. 5 + Then aghast to see the lost limbs, the deform'd inutility, + While still the gory dabble did anew the soil pollute, + With a snowy palm the woman took affrayed a taborine. + Taborine, the trump that hails thee, Cybele, thy initiant. + Then a dainty finger heaving to the tremulous hide o' the bull, 10 + He began this invocation to the company, spirit-awed. + + "To the groves, ye sexless eunuchs, in assembly to Cybele, + Lost sheep that err rebellious to the lady Dindymene; + Ye, who all awing for exile in a country of aliens, + My unearthly rule obeying to be with me, my retinue, 15 + Could aby the surly salt seas' mid inexorability, + Could in utter hate to lewdness your sex dishabilitate; + + Let a gong clash glad emotion, set a giddy fury to roam, + All slow delay be banish'd, thither his ye thither away + To the Phrygian home, the wild wood, to the sanctuary divine; 20 + + Where rings the noisy cymbal, taborines are in echoing, + On a curved oat the Phrygian deep pipeth a melody, + With a fury toss the Maenads clad in ivies a frolic head, + To a barbarous ululation the religious orgy wakes, + Where fleets across the silence Cybele's holy family; 25 + Thither his we, so beseems us; to a mazy measure away." + + Thus as Attis, a woman, Attis, not a woman, urg'd the rest, + On a sudden yell'd in huddling agitation every tongue, + Taborines give airy murmur, give a clangorous echo gongs, + With a rush the brotherhood hastens to the woods, the bosom of Ide. 30 + Then in agony, breathless, errant, flush'd wearily, cometh on + Taborine behind him, Attis, thoro' leafy glooms a guide, + As a restive heifer yields not to the cumbrous onerous yoke. + Thither his the votaress eunuchs with an emulous alacrity. + Now faintly sickly plodding to the goddess's holy shrine, 35 + They took the rest which easeth long toil, nor ate withal. + Slow sleep descends on eyelids ready drowsily to decline, + In a soft repose departeth the devout spirit-agony. + When awoke the sun, the golden, that his eyes heaven-orient + Scann'd lustrous air, the rude seas, earth's massy solidity, 40 + When he smote the shadowy twilight with his healthy team sublime, + Then arous'd was Attis; o'er him sleep hastily fled away + To Pasithea's arms immortal with a tremulous hovering. + But awaked from his reposing, the delirious anguish o'er, + When as Attis' heart recalled him to the past solitarily, 45 + Saw clearly where he stood, what, an annihilate apathy, + With a soul that heaved within him, to the water he fled again. + Then as o'er the waste of ocean with a rainy eye he gazed + To the land of home he murmur'd miserable a soliloquy. + + + "Mother-home of all affection, dear home, my nativity, 50 + Whom in anguish I deserting, as in hatred a runaway + From a master, hither have hurried to the lonely woods of Ide, + + To be with the snows, the wild beasts, in a wintery domicile, + To be near each savage houser that a surly fury provokes, + What horizon, O beloved, may attain to thee anywhere? 55 + + Yet an eyeless orb is yearning ineffectually to thee. + For a little ere returneth the delirious hour again. + + Shall a homeless Attis hie him to the groves uninhabited? + Shall he leave a country, wealth, friends? bid a sire, a mother, adieu? + The palaestra lost, the forum, the gymnasium, the course? 60 + + O unhappy, fall a-weeping, thou unhappy soul, for aye. + + For is honour of any semblance, any beauty but of it I? + Who, a woman here, in order was a man, a youth, a boy, + To the sinewy ring a fam'd flower, the gymnasium's applause. + + With a throng about the portal, with a populace in the gate, 65 + With a flowery coronal hanging upon every column of home, + When anew my chamber open'd, as awoke the sunny morn. + + O am I to live the god's slave? feodary be to Cybele? + Or a Maenad I, an eunuch? or a part of a body slain? + + Or am I to range the green tracts upon Ida snowy-chill? 70 + Be beneath the stately caverns colonnaded of Asia? + Be with hind that haunts the covert, or in hursts that house the boar? + + Woe, woe the deed accomplish'd! woe, woe, the shame to me!" + + From rosy lips ascending when approached the gusty cry + To celestial ears recording such a message inly borne, 75 + Cybele, the thong relaxing from a lion-haled yoke, + Said, aleft the goad addressing to the foe that awes the flocks-- + + + "Come, a service; haste, my brave one; let a fury the madman arm, + Let a fury, a frenzy prick him to return to the wood again, + This is he my hest declineth, the unheedy, the runaway. 80 + + From an angry tail refuse not to abide the sinewy stroke, + To a roar let all the regions echo answer everywhere, + On a nervy neck be tossing that uneasy tawny mane." + + So in ire she spake, adjusting disunitedly then her yoke + At his own rebuke the lion doth his heart to a fury spur, 85 + With a step, a roar, a bursting unarrested of any brake. + But anear the foamy places when he came, to the frothy beach, + When he saw the sexless Attis by the seas' level opaline, + Then he rushed upon him; affrighted to the wintery wood he flew, + Cybele's for aye, for all years, in her order a votaress. 90 + Holy deity, great Cybele, holy lady Dindymene, + Be to me afar for ever that inordinate agony. + O another hound to madness, O another hurry to rage! + + +LXIV. + + Born on Pelion height, so legend hoary relateth, + Pines once floated adrift on Neptune billowy streaming + On to the Phasis flood, to the borders Æætean. + Then did a chosen array, rare bloom of valorous Argos, + Fain from Colchian earth her fleece of glory to ravish, 5 + Dare with a keel of swiftness adown salt seas to be fleeting, + Swept with fir-blades oary the fair level azure of Ocean. + Then that deity bright, who keeps in cities her high ward, + Made to delight them a car, to the light breeze airily scudding, + Texture of upright pine with a keel's curved rondure uniting. 10 + That first sailer of all burst ever on Amphitrite. + + Scarcely the forward snout tore up that wintery water, + Scarcely the wave foamed white to the reckless harrow of oarsmen, + Straight from amid white eddies arose wild faces of Ocean, + Nereid, earnest-eyed, in wonderous admiration. 15 + Then, not after again, saw ever mortal unharmed + Sea-born Nymphs unveil limbs flushing naked about them. + Stark to the nursing breasts from foam and billow arising. + Then, so stories avow, burn'd Peleus hotly to Thetis, + Then to a mortal lover abode not Thetis unheeding, 20 + Then did a father agree Peleus with Thetis unite him. + + O in an aureat hour, O born in bounteous ages, + God-sprung heroes, hail: hail, mother of all benediction, + You my song shall address, you melodies everlasting. + Thee most chiefly, supreme in glory of heavenly bridal, 25 + Peleus, stately defence of Thessaly. Iuppiter even + Gave thee his own fair love, thy mortal pleasure approving. + Thee could Thetis inarm, most beauteous Ocean-daughter? + Tethys adopt thee, her own dear grandchild's wooer usurping? + Ocean, who earth's vast globe with a watery girdle inorbeth? 30 + + When the delectable hour those days did fully determine, + Straightway then in crowds all Thessaly flock'd to the palace, + Thronging hosts uncounted, a company joyous approaching. + Many a gift they carry, delight their faces illumines. + Left is Scyros afar, and Phthia's bowery Tempe, 35 + Vacant Crannon's homes, unvisited high Larisa, + Towards Pharsalia's halls, Pharsalia's only they hie them. + + Bides no tiller afield; necks soften of oxen in idlesse; + Feel not a prong'd crook'd hoe lush vines all weedily trailing; + Tears no steer deep clods with a downward coulter unearthed; 40 + Prunes no hedger's bill broad-verging verdurous arbours; + Steals a deforming rust on ploughs left rankly to moulder. + + But that sovran abode, each sumptuous inly retiring + Chamber, aflame with gold, with silver is all resplendent; + Thrones gleam ivory-white; cup-crown'd blaze brightly the tables; 45 + All the domain with treasure of empery gaudily flushes. + + There, set deeply within the remotest centre, a bridal + Bed doth a goddess inarm; smooth ivory glossy from Indies, + Robed in roseate hues, rich seashells' purple adorning. + + + It was a broidery freak'd with tissue of images olden, 50 + One whose curious art did blazon valour of heroes. + Gazing forth from a beach of Dia the billow-resounding, + Look'd on a vanish'd fleet, on Theseus quickly departing, + Restless in unquell'd passion, a feverous heart, Ariadne. + Scarcely her eyes yet seem their seeming clearly to vision. 55 + You might guess that arous'd from slumber's drowsy betrayal, + Sand-engirded, alone, then first she knew desolation. + He the betrayer--his oars with fugitive hurry the waters + Beat, each promise of old to the winds given idly to bear them. + + Him from amid shore-weeds doth Minos' daughter, in anguish 60 + Rigid, a Bacchant-form, dim-gazing stonily follow, + Stonily still, wave-tost on a sea of troublous affliction. + Holds not her yellow locks the tiara's feathery tissue; + Veils not her hidden breast light brede of drapery woven; + Binds not a cincture smooth her bosom's orbed emotion. 65 + Widely from each fair limb that footward-fallen apparel + Drifts its lady before, in billowy salt loose-playing. + + Not for silky tiara nor amice gustily floating + Recks she at all any more; thee, Theseus, ever her earnest + Heart, all clinging thought, all chained fancy requireth. 70 + Ah unfortunate! whom with miseries ever crazing, + Thorns in her heart deep planted, affray'd Erycina to madness, + From that earlier hour, when fierce for victory Theseus + Started alert from a beach deep-inleted of Piræus, + Gain'd Gortyna's abode, injurious halls of oppression. 75 + + Once, 'tis sung in stories, a dire distemper atoning + Death of an ill-blest prince, Androgeos, angrily slaughter'd, + Taxed of her youthful array, her maidenly bloom fresh-glowing, + Feast to the monster bull, Cecropia, ransom-laden. + Then, when a plague so deadly, the garrison undermining, 80 + Spent that slender city, his Athens dearly to rescue, + Sooner life Theseus and precious body did offer, + Ere his country to Crete freight corpses, a life in seeming. + So with a ship fast-fleeted, a gale blown gently behind him, + Push'd he his onward journey to Minos' haughty dominion. 85 + + Him for very delight when a virgin fondly desiring + Gazed on, a royal virgin, in odours silkily nestled, + Pure from a maiden's couch, from a mother's pillowy bosom, + Like some myrtle, anear Eurotas' water arising, + Like earth's myriad hues, spring's progeny, rais'd to the breezes; 90 + Droop'd not her eyes their gaze unquenchable, ever-burning + Save when in each charm'd limb to the depths enfolded, a sudden + Flame blazed hotly within her, in all her marrow abiding. + + O thou cruel of heart, thou madding worker of anguish, + Boy immortal, of whom joy springs with misery blending, 95 + Yea, thou queen of Golgi, of Idaly leaf-embower'd, + O'er what a fire love-lit, what billows wearily tossing, + Drave ye the maid, for a guest so sunnily lock'd deep sighing. + What most dismal alarms her swooning fancy did echo! + Oft what a sallower hue than gold's cold glitter upon her! 100 + Whiles, heart-hungry in arms that monster deadly to combat, + Theseus drew towards death or victory, guerdon of honour. + Yet not lost the devotion, or offer'd idly the virgin's + Gifts, as her unvoic'd lips breathed incense faintly to heaven. + + As on Taurus aloft some oak agitatedly waving 105 + Tosses his arms, or a pine cone-mantled, oozily rinded, + When as his huge gnarled trunk in furious eddies a whirlwind + Riving wresteth amain; down falleth he, upward hoven, + Falleth on earth; far, near, all crackles brittle around him, + So to the ground Theseus his fallen foeman abasing, 110 + Slew, that his horned front toss'd vainly, a sport to the breezes. + Thence in safety, a victor, in height of glory returned, + Guiding errant feet to a thread's impalpable order. + Lest, upon egress bent thro' tortuous aisles labyrinthine, + Walls of blindness, a maze unravell'd ever, elude him. 115 + + Yet, for again I come to the former story, beseems not + Linger on all done there; how left that daughter a gazing + Father, a sister's arms, her mother woefully clinging, + Mother, who o'er that child moan'd desperate, all heart-broken; + How not in home that maid, in Theseus only delighted; 120 + How her ship on a shore of foaming Dia did harbour; + How, when her eyes lay bound in slumber's shadowy prison, + He forsook, forgot her, a wooer traitorous-hearted: + + Oft, say stories, at heart with frenzied fantasy burning, + Pour'd she, a deep-wrung breast, clear-ringing cries of oppression; 125 + Sometimes mournfully clomb to the mountain's rugged ascension, + Straining thence her vision across wide surges of ocean; + Now to the brine ran forth, upsplashing freshly to meet her, + Lifting raiment fine her thighs which softly did open; + Last, when sorrow had end, these words thus spake she lamenting, 130 + While from a mouth tear-stain'd chill sobs gushed dolorous ever. + + + 'Look, is it here, false heart, that rapt from country, from altar, + Household altar ashore, I wander, falsely deserted? + Ah! is it hence, Theseus, that against high heaven a traitor + Homeward thou thy vileness, alas thy perjury bearest? 135 + + Might not a thought, one thought, thy cruel counsel abating + Sway thee tender? at heart rose no compassion or any + Mercy, to bend thy soul, or me for pity deliver? + + Yet not this thy promise of old, thy dearly remembered + Voice, not these the delights thou bad'st thy poor one inherit; 140 + Nay, but wedlock happy, but envied joy hymeneal; + All now melted in air, with a light wind emptily fleeting. + + + Let not a woman trust, since that first treason, a lover's + Desperate oath, none hope true lover's promise is earnest. + They, while fondly to win their amorous humour essayeth, 145 + Fear no covetous oath, all false free promises heed not; + They if once lewd pleasure attain unruly possession, + Lo they fear not promise, of oath or perjury reck not. + + Yet indeed, yet I, when floods of death were around thee, + Set thee on high, did rather a brother choose to defend not, 150 + Ere I, in hate's last hour, false heart, fail'd thee to deliver. + + Now, for a goodly reward, to the beasts they give me, the flying + Fowls; no handful of earth shall bury me, pass'd to the shadows. + + + What grim lioness yeaned thee, aneath what rock's desolation? + What wild sea did bear, what billows foamy regorged thee? 155 + Seething sand, or Scylla the snare, or lonely Charybdis? + If for a life's dear joy comes back such only requital? + + Hadst not a will with spousal an honour'd wife to receive me? + Awed thee a father stern, cross age's churlish avising? + Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden, 160 + Might'st have led me, to wait, joy-filled, a retainer upon thee, + Now in waters clear thy feet like ivory laving, + Clothing now thy bed with crimson's gorgeous apparel. + + Yet to the brutish winds why moan I longer unheeded, + Crazy with an ill wrong? They senseless, voiceless, inhuman 165 + Utter'd cry they hear not, in answers hollow reply not. + He rides far already, the mid sea's boundary cleaving, + Strays no mortal along these weeds stretched lonely about me. + Thus to my utmost need chance, spitefuller injury dealing, + Grudges an ear, where yet might lamentation have entry. 170 + + + Jove, almighty, supreme, O would that never in early + Time on Gnossian earth great Cecrops' navies had harbour'd, + Ne'er to that unquell'd bull with a ransom of horror atoning, + Moor'd on Crete his cable a shipman's wily dishonour. + Never in youth's fair shape such ruthless stratagem hiding 175 + He, that vile one, a guest found with us a safe habitation. + + Whither flee then afar? what hope, poor lost one, upholds thee? + Mountains Idomenean? alas, broad surges of ocean + Part us, a rough rude space of flowing water, asunder. + Trust in a father's help? how trust, whom darkly deserting, 180 + Him I turned to alone, my brother's bloody defier? + Nay, but a loyal lover, a hand pledg'd surely, shall ease me. + Surely; for o'er wide water his oars move flexibly fleeting. + + Also a desert lies this region, a tenantless island, + Nowhere open way, seas splash in circle around me, 185 + Nowhere flight, no glimmer of hope; all mournfully silent, + Loneliness all, all points me to death, death only remaining. + + + Yet these luminous orbs shall sink not feebly to darkness, + Yet from grief-worn limbs shall feeling wholly depart not, + Till to the gods I cry, the betrayed, for justice on evil, 190 + Sue for life's last mercy the great federation of heaven. + + Then, O sworn to requite man's evil wrathfully, Powers + Gracious, on whose grim brows, with viper tresses inorbed, + Looks red-breathing forth your bosom's feverous anger; + + Now, yea now come surely, to these loud miseries harken, 195 + All I cry, the afflicted, of inmost marrow arising, + Desolate, hot with pain, with blinding fury bewilder'd. + + Yet, for of heart they spring, grief's children truly begotten, + Verily, Gods, these moans you will not idly to perish. + But with counsel of evil as he forsook me deceiving, 200 + Death to his house, to his heart, bring also counsel of evil. + + + When from an anguish'd heart these words stream'd sorrowful upwards, + Words which on iron deeds did sue for deadly requital, + Bow'd with a nod of assent almighty the ruler of heaven. + With that dreadful motion aneath earth's hollow, the ruffled 205 + Ocean shook, and stormy the stars 'gan tremble in ether. + Thereto his heart thick-sown with blindness cloudily dark'ning, + Thought not of all those words, Theseus, from memory fallen, + Words which his heedful soul had kept immovable ever. + Nor to his eager sire fair token of happy returning 210 + Rais'd, when his eyes safe-sighted Erectheus' populous haven. + Once, so stories tell, when Pallas' city behind him + Leaving, Theseus' fleet to the winds given hopefully parted, + Clasping then his son spake Aegeus, straitly commanding. + + + Son, mine only delight, than life more lovely to gaze on, 215 + Son, whom needs it faints me to launch full-tided on hazards, + Whom my winter of years hath laid so lately before me: + + Since my fate unkindly, thy own fierce valour unheeding, + Needs must wrest thee away, ere yet these dimly-lit eye-balls + Feed to the full on thee, thy worshipt body beholding; 220 + + Neither in exultation of heart I send thee a-warring; + Nor to the fight shalt bear fair fortune's happier earnest; + Rather, first in cries mine heart shall lighten her anguish, + When greylocks I sully with earth, with sprinkle of ashes; + + Next to the swaying mast shall a sail hang duskily swinging; 225 + So this grief, mine own, this burning sorrow within me, + Want not a sign, dark shrouds of Iberia, sombre as iron. + + Then, if haply the queen, lone ranger on haunted Itonus, + Pleas'd to defend our people, Erectheus' safe habitations, + Frown not, allow thine hand that bull all redly to slaughter, 230 + + Look that warily then deep-laid in steady remembrance, + These our words grow greenly, nor age move on to deface them; + + Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome, + See that on each straight yard down droop their funeral housings, + Whitely the tight-strung cordage a sparkling canvas aloft swing, 235 + + Which to behold straightway with joy shall cheer me, with inward + Joy, when a prosperous hour shall bring to thee happy returning. + + So for a while that charge did Theseus faithfully cherish. + Last, it melted away, as a cloud which riven in ether + Breaks to the blast, high peak and spire snow-silvery leaving. 240 + But from a rock's wall'd eyrie the father wistfully gazing, + Father whose eyes, care-dimm'd, wore hourly for ever a-weeping, + Scarcely the wind-puff'd sail from afar 'gan darken upon him, + Down the precipitous heights headlong his body he hurried, + Deeming Theseus surely by hateful destiny taken. 245 + So to a dim death-palace, alert from victory, Theseus + Came, what bitter sorrow to Minos' daughter his evil + Perjury gave, himself with an even sorrow atoning. + She, as his onward keel still moved, still mournfully follow'd; + Passion-stricken, her heart a tumultuous image of ocean. 250 + + Also upon that couch, flush'd youthfully, breathless Iacchus + Roam'd with a Satyr-band, with Nisa-begot Sileni; + Seeking thee, Ariadna, aflame thy beauty to ravish. + Wildly behind they rushed and wildly before to the folly, + Euhoe rav'd, Euhoe with fanatic heads gyrated; 255 + Some in womanish hands shook rods cone-wreathed above them, + Some from a mangled steer toss'd flesh yet gorily streaming; + Some girt round them in orbs, snakes gordian, intertwining; + Some with caskets deep did blazon mystical emblems, + Emblems muffled darkly, nor heard of spirit unholy. 260 + Part with a slender palm taborines beat merrily jangling; + Now with a cymbal slim would a sharp shrill tinkle awaken; + Often a trumpeter horn blew murmurous, hoarsely resounding. + Rose on pipes barbaric a jarring music of horror. + + Such, wrought rarely, the shapes this quilt did richly apparel, 265 + Where to the couch close-clasped it hung thick veils of adorning. + So to the full heart-sated of all their curious eying, + Thessaly's youth gave place to the Gods high-throned in heaven. + As, when dawn is awake, light Zephyrus even-breathing + Brushes a sleeping sea, which slant-wise curved in edges 270 + Breaks, while mounts Aurora the sun's high journey to welcome; + They, first smitten faintly by his most airy caressing, + Move slow on, light surges a plashing silvery laughter; + Soon with a waxing wind they crowd them apace, thick-fleeting, + Swim in a rose-red glow and far off sparkle in Ocean; 275 + So thro' column'd porch and chambers sumptuous hieing, + Thither or hither away, that company stream'd, home-wending. + + First from Pelion height, when they were duly departed, + Chiron came, in his hand green gifts of flowery forest. + All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing 280 + Breeds on mountainous heights, what near each showery river + Swells to the warm west-wind, in gales of foison alighting; + These did his own hands bear in girlonds twined of all hues, + That to the perfume sweet for joy laugh'd gaily the palace. + Follow'd straight Penios, awhile his bowery Tempe, 285 + Tempe, shrined around in shadowy woods o'erhanging, + Left to the bare-limb'd maids Magnesian, airily ranging. + No scant carrier he; tall root-torn beeches his heavy + Burden, bays stemm'd stately, in heights exalted ascending. + Thereto the nodding plane, and that lithe sister of youthful 290 + Phaethon flame-enwrapt, and cypress in air upspringing: + These in breadths inwoven he heap'd close-twin'd to the palace, + Whereto the porch wox green, with soft leaves canopied over. + + Him did follow anear, deep heart and wily, Prometheus, + Scarr'd and wearing yet dim traces of early dishonour, 295 + All which of old his body to flint fast-welded in iron, + Bore and dearly abied, on slippery crags suspended. + Last with his awful spouse, with children goodly, the sovran + Father approach'd; thou, Phoebus, alone, his warder in heaven, + Left, with that dear sister, on Idrus ranger eternal. 300 + Peleus sister alike and brother in high misprision + Held, nor lifted a torch when Thetis wedded at even. + So when on ivory thrones they rested, snowily gleaming, + Many a feast high-pil'd did load each table about them; + Whiles to a tremor of age their gray infirmity rocking, 305 + Busy began that chant which speaketh surely the Parcae. + + Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding, + Fell bright-white to the feet, with a purple border of issue. + Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush'd rosy beneath them; + Still each hand fulfilled its pious labour eternal. 310 + Singly the left upbore in wool soft-hooded a distaff, + Whereto the right large threads down drawing deftly, with upturn'd + Fingers shap'd them anew; then thumbs earth-pointed in even + Balance twisted a spindle on orb'd wheels smoothly rotating. + So clear'd softly between and tooth-nipt even it ever 315 + Onward moved; still clung on wan lips, sodden as ashes, + Shreds all woolly from out that soft smooth surface arisen. + Lastly before their feet lay fells, white, fleecy, refulgent, + Warily guarded they in baskets woven of osier. + They, as on each light tuft their voice smote louder approaching, 320 + Pour'd grave inspiration, a prophet chant to the future, + Chant which an after-time shall tax of vanity never. + + + O in valorous acts thy wondrous glory renewing, + Rich Aemathia's arm, great sire of a goodlier issue, + Hark on a joyous day what prophet-story the sisters 325 + Open surely to thee; and you, what followeth after, + Guide to a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Soon shall approach, and bear the delight long-wish'd for of husbands, + Hesper, a bride shall approach in starlight happy presented, + Softly to sway thy soul in love's completion abiding, 330 + Soon in a trance with thee of slumber dreamy to mingle, + Making smooth round arms thy clasp'd throat sinewy pillow. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Never hath house closed yet o'er loves so blissful uniting, + Never love so well his children in harmony knitten, 335 + So as Thetis agrees, as Peleus bendeth according. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + You shall a son see born that knows not terror, Achilles, + One whose back no foe, whose front each knoweth in onset; + Often a conqueror, he, where feet course swiftly together, 340 + Steps of a fire-fleet doe shall leave in his hurry behind him. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Him to resist in war, no champion hero ariseth, + Then on Phrygian earth when carnage Trojan is utter'd; + Then when a long sad strife shall Troy's crown'd city beleaguer, 345 + Waste her a third false heir from Pelops wary descending. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + His unmatchable acts, his deeds of glorious honour, + Oft shall mothers speak o'er sons untimely departed; + While from crowns earth-bow'd fall loosen'd silvery tresses, 350 + Beat on shrivell'd breasts weak palms their dusky defacing. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + As some labourer ears close-cluster'd lustily lopping, + Under a flaming sun, mows fields ripe-yellow in harvest, + _So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles_, + Charge Troy's children afield and fell them grimly with iron. 355 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Deeds of such high glory Scamander's river avoucheth, + Hurried in eddies afar thro' boisterous Hellespontus; + Then when a slaughter'd heap his pathway watery choking, + Brimmeth a warm red tide and blood with water allieth. 360 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Voucher of him last riseth a prey untimely devoted + E'en to the tomb, which mounded in heaps, high, spherical, earthen, + Grants to the snow-white limbs, to the stricken maiden a welcome. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. 365 + + Scarcely the war-worn Greeks shall win such favour of heaven, + Neptune's bonds of stone from Dardan city to loosen, + Dankly that high-heav'd grave shall gory Polyxena crimson. + She as a lamb falls smitten a twin-edg'd falchion under, + Boweth on earth weak knees, her limbs down flingeth unheeding. 370 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Up then, fair paramours, in fond love happily mingle. + Now in blessed treaty the bridegroom welcome a goddess; + Now give a bride long-veil'd to her husband's passionate yearning. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. 375 + + Her when duly the nurse with day-light early revisits, + Necklace of yester-night--she shall not clasp it about her. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Nor shall a mother fond, o'er brawls unlovely dishearten'd, + Lay her alone, or cease the delight of children awaiting. 380 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + In such prelude old, such good-night ditty to Peleus, + Sang their deep divination, ineffable, holy, the Parcae. + Such as in ages past, upon houses godly descending, + Houses of heroes came, in mortal company present, 385 + Gods high-throned in heaven, while yet was worship in honour. + + Often a sovran Jove, in his own bright temple appearing, + Yearly, whene'er his day did rites ceremonial usher, + Gazed on an hundred slain, on strong bulls heavily falling. + Often on high Parnassus a roving Liber in hurried 390 + Frenzy the Thyiads drave, their locks blown loosely, before him. + While all Delphi's city in eager jealousy trooping, + Blithely receiv'd their god on fuming festival altars. + Mavors often amidst encounter mortal of armies, + Streaming Triton's queen, or maid Ramnusian awful, 395 + Stood in body before them, a fainting host to deliver. + + Only when heinous sin earth's wholesome purity blasted, + When from covetous hearts fled justice sadly retreating, + Then did a brother his hands dye deep in blood of a brother, + Lightly the son forgat his parents' piteous ashes. 400 + Lightly the son's young grave his father pray'd for, an unwed + Maiden, a step-dame fair in freer luxury clasping. + Then did mother unholy to son that knew not abase her, + Shamefully, fear'd not unholy the blessed dead to dishonour. + Human, inhuman alike, in wayward infamy blending, 405 + Turned far from us away that righteous counsel of heaven. + Therefore proudly the Gods such sinful company view not, + Bear not day-light clear upon immortality breathing. + + +LXV. + + Though, outworn with sorrow, with hours of torturous anguish, + Ortalus, I no more tarry the Muses among; + Though from a fancy deprest fair blooms of poesy budding + Rise not at all; such grief rocks me, uneasily stirr'd: + + Coldly but even now mine own dear brother in ebbing 5 + Lethe his ice-wan feet laveth, a shadowy ghost. + He whom Troy's deep bosom, a shore Rhoetean above him, + Rudely denies these eyes, heavily crushes in earth. + + Ah! no more to address thee, or hear thy kindly replying, + Brother! O e'en than life round me delightfuller yet, 10 + Ne'er to behold thee again! Still love shall fail not alone in + Fancy to muse death's dark elegy, closely to weep. + Closely as under boughs of dimmest shadow the pensive + Daulian ever moans Itys in agony slain. + + Yet mid such desolation a verse I tender of ancient 15 + Battiades, new-drest, Ortalus, wholly for you. + Lest to the roving winds these words all idly deliver'd, + Seem too soon from a frail memory fallen away. + + E'en as a furtive gift, sent, some love-apple, a-wooing, + Leaps from breast of a coy maiden, a canopy pure; 20 + There forgotten alas, mid vestments silky reposing,-- + Soon as a mother's step starts her, it hurleth adown: + Straight to the ground, dash'd forth ungently, the gift shoots headlong; + She in tell-tale cheeks glows a disorderly shame. + + +LXVI. + + He whose glance scann'd clearly the lights uncounted of ether, + Found when arises a star, sinks in his haven again, + How yon eclipsed sun glares luminous obscuration, + How in seasons due vanishes orb upon orb; + How 'neath Latmian heights fair Trivia stealthily banish'd 5 + Falls, from her upward path lured by a lover awhile; + That same sage, that Conon, a lock of great Berenice + Saw me, in heavenly-bright deification afar + Lustrous, a gleaming glory; to gods full many devoted, + Whiles she her arms in prayer lifted, as ivory smooth; 10 + In that glorious hour when, flush'd with a new hymeneal, + Hotly the King to deface outer Assyria sped, + Bearing ensigns sweet of that soft struggle a night brings, + When from a virgin's arms spoils he had happily won. + + Stands it an edict true that brides hate Venus? or ever 15 + Falsely the parents' joy dashes a showery tear, + When to the nuptial door they come in rainy beteeming? + Now to the Gods I swear, tears be hypocrisy then. + So mine own queen taught me in all her weary lamentings, + Whiles her bridegroom bold set to the battle a face. 20 + What? for an husband lost thou weptst not gloomily lying? + Rather a brother dear, forced for a while to depart? + This, when love's sharp grief was gnawing inly to waste thee! + Ah poor wife! whose soul steep'd in unhappiness all, + Fell from reason away, nor abode thy senses! A nobler 25 + Spirit had I erewhile known thee, a fiery child. + + Pass'd that deed forgotten, a royal wooer had earn'd thee? + Deed that braver none ventureth ever again? + Yet what sorrow to lose thy lord, what murmur of anguish! + Jove, how rain'd those tears brush'd from a passionate eye! 30 + Who is this could wean thee, a God so mighty, to falter? + May not a lover live from the beloved afar? + Then for a spouse so goodly, before each spirit of heaven, + Me thou vowd'st, with slain oxen, a vast hecatomb, + Home if again he alighted. Awhile and Asia crouching 35 + Humbly to Egypt's realm added a boundary new; + I, in starry return to the ranks dedicated of heaven, + Debt of an ancient vow sum in a bounty to-day. + + Full of sorrow was I, fair queen, thy brows to abandon, + Full of sorrow; in oath answer, adorable head. 40 + Evil on him that oath who sweareth falsely soever! + Yet in a strife with steel who can a victory claim? + Steel could a mountain abase, no loftier any thro' heaven's + Cupola Thia's child lifteth his axle above, + Then, when a new-born sea rose Mede-uplifted; in Athos' 45 + Centre his ocean-fleet floated a barbarous host. + What shall a weak tress do, when powers so mighty resist not? + Jove! may Chalybes all perish, a people accurst, + Perish who earth's hid veins first labour'd dimly to quarry, + Clench'd in a molten mass iron, a ruffian heart! 50 + + Scarcely the sister-locks were parted dolefully weeping, + Straight that brother of young Memnon, in Africa born, + Came, and shook thro' heaven his pennons oary, before me, + Winged, a queen's proud steed, Locrian Arsinoë. + So flew with me aloft thro' darkening shadow of heaven, 55 + There to a god's pure breast laid me, to Venus's arms. + Him Zephyritis' self had sent to the task, her servant, + She from realms of Greece borne to Canopus of yore. + There, that at heav'n's high porch, not one sole crown, Ariadne's, + Golden above those brows Ismaros' youth did adore, 60 + Starry should hang, set alone; but luminous I might glisten, + Vow'd to the Gods, bright spoil won from an aureat head; + While to the skies I clomb still ocean-dewy, the Goddess + Placed me amid star-spheres primal, a glory to be. + + Close to the Virgin bright, to the Lion sulkily gleaming, 65 + Nigh Callisto, a cold child Lycaonian, I + Wheel obliquely to set, and guide yon tardy Bootes + Where scarce late his car dewy descends to the sea. + Yet tho' nightly the Gods' immortal steps be above me, + Tho' to the white waves dawn gives me, to Tethys, again; 70 + (Maid of Ramnus, a grace I here implore thee, if any + Word should offend; so much cannot a terror alarm, + I should veil aught true; not tho' with clamorous uproar + Rend me the stars; I speak verities hidden at heart): + Lightly for all I reck, so more I sorrow to part me 75 + Sadly from her I serve, part me forever away. + With her, a virgin as yet, I quaff'd no sumptuous essence; + With her, a bride, I drain'd many a prodigal oil. + + Now, O you whom gladly the marriage cresset uniteth, + See to the bridegroom fond yield ye not amorous arms, 80 + Throw not back your robes, nor bare your bosom assenting, + Save from an onyx stream sweetness, a bounty to me. + Yours, in a loyal bed which seek love's privilege, only; + Yieldeth her any to bear loathed adultery's yoke, + Vile her gifts, and lightly the dust shall drink them unheeding. 85 + Not of vile I seek gifts, nor of infamous, I. + Rather, O unstain'd brides, may concord tarry for ever + With ye at home, may love with ye for ever abide. + Thou, fair queen, to the stars if looking haply, to Venus + Lights thou kindle on eves festal of high sacrifice, 90 + Leave me the lock, thine own, nor blood nor bounty requiring. + Rather a largesse fair pay to me, envy me not. + Stars dash blindly in one! so might I glitter a royal + Tress, let Orion glow next to Aquarius' urn. + + +LXVII. + +CATULLUS. + + O to the goodman fair, O welcome alike to the father, + Hail, and Jove's kind grace shower his help upon you! + Door, that of old, men say, wrought Balbus ready obeisance, + Once, when his home, time was, lodged him, a master in years; + Door, that again, men say, grudg'd aught but a spiteful obeisance, 5 + Soon as a corpse outstretch'd starkly declar'd you a bride. + Come, speak truly to me; what shameful rumour avouches + Duty of years forsworn, honour in injury lost? + +DOOR. + + So be the tenant new, Caecilius, happy to own me, + I'm not guilty, for all jealousy says it is I. 10 + Never a fault was mine, nor man shall whisper it ever; + Only, my friend, your mob's noisy "The door is a rogue." + Comes to the light some mischief, a deed uncivil arising, + Loudly to me shout all, "Door, you are wholly to blame." + +CATULLUS. + + 'Tis not enough so merely to say, so think to decide it. 15 + Better, who wills should feel, see it, who wills, to be true. + +DOOR. + + How then? if here none asks, nor labours any to know it. + +CATULLUS. + + Nay, _I_ ask it; away scruple; your hearer is I. + +DOOR. + + First, what rumour avers, they gave her to us a virgin-- + They lie on her. A light lady! be sure, not alone 20 + Clipp'd her an husband first; weak stalk from a garden, a pointless + Falchion, a heart did ne'er fully to courage awake. + No; to the son's own bed, 'tis said, that father ascended, + Vilely; with act impure stain'd the facinorous house. + Whether a blind fierce lust in his heart burnt sinfully flaming, 25 + Or that inert that son's vigour, amort to delight, + Needed a sturdier arm, that franker quality somewhere, + Looser of youth's fast-bound girdle, a virgin as yet. + +CATULLUS. + + Truly a noble father, a glorious act of affection! + Thus in a son's kind sheets lewdly to puddle, his own. 30 + +DOOR. + + Yet not alone of this, her crag Chinaean abiding + Under, a watch-tower set warily, Brixia tells, + Brixia, trails whereby his waters Mella the golden, + Mother of her, mine own city, Verona the fair. + Add Postumius yet, Cornelius also, a twice-told 35 + Folly, with whom our light mistress adultery knew. + Asks some questioner here "What? a door, yet privy to lewdness? + You, from your owner's gate never a minute away? + Strange to the talk o' the town? since here, stout timber above you, + Hung to the beam, you shut mutely or open again." 40 + Many a shameful time I heard her stealthy profession, + While to the maids her guilt softly she hinted alone. + Spoke unabash'd her amours and named them singly, opining + Haply an ear to record fail'd me, a voice to reveal. + There was another; enough; his name I gladly dissemble; 45 + Lest his lifted brows blush a disorderly rage. + Sir, 'twas a long lean suitor; a process huge had assail'd him; + 'Twas for a pregnant womb falsely declar'd to be true. + +LXVIII. + + If, when fortune's wrong with bitter misery whelms thee, + Thou thy sad tear-scrawl'd letter, a mark to the storm, + Send'st, and bid'st me to succour a stranded seaman of Ocean, + Toss'd in foam, from death's door to return thee again; + Whom nor softly to rest love's tender sanctity suffers, 5 + Lost on a couch of lone slumber, unhappily lain; + Nor with melody sweet of poets hoary the Muses + Cheer, while worn with grief nightly the soul is awake: + Well-contented am I, that thou thy friendship avowest, + Ask'st the delights of love from me, the pleasure of hymns; 10 + Yet lest all unnoted a kindred story bely thee, + Deeming, Mallius, I calls of humanity shun; + Hear what a grief is mine, what storm of destiny whelms me. + Cease to demand of a soul's misery joy's sacrifice. + + Once, what time white robes of manhood first did array me, 15 + Whiles in jollity life sported a spring holiday, + Youth ran riot enow; right well she knows me, the Goddess, + She whose honey delights blend with a bitter annoy. + Henceforth dies sweet pleasure, in anguish lost of a brother's + Funeral. O poor soul, brother, O heavily ta'en, 20 + You all happier hours, you, dying brother, effaced; + All our house lies low mournfully buried in you; + Quench'd untimely with you joy waits not ever a morrow, + Joy which alive your love's bounty fed hour upon hour; + Now, since thou liest dead, heart-banish'd wholly desert me 25 + Vanities all, each gay freak of a riotous heart. + + How then obey? You write 'Let not Verona, Catullus, + Stay thee, if here each proud quality, Rome's eminence, + Freely the light limbs warms thou leavest coldly to languish,' + Infamy lies not there, Mallius, only regret. 30 + So forgive me, if I, whom grief so rudely bereaveth, + Deal not a joy myself know not, a beggar in all. + Books--if they're but scanty, a store full meagre, around me, + Rome is alone my life's centre, a mansion of home, + Rome my abode, house, hearth; there wanes and waxes a life's span; 35 + Hither of all those choice cases attends me but one. + Therefore deem not thou aught spiteful bids me deny thee; + Say not 'his heart is false, haply, to jealousy leans,' + If nor books I send nor flatter sorrow to silence. + Trust me, were either mine, either unask'd should appear. 40 + + + Goddesses, hide I may not in how great trial upheld me + Allius, how no faint charities held me to life. + Nor shall time borne fleetly nor years' oblivion ever + Make such zeal to the night fade, to the darkness, away. + As from me you learn it, of you shall many a thousand 45 + Learn it again. Grow old, scroll, to declare it anew. + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + So to the dead increase honour in year upon year. 50 + Nor to the spider, aloft her silk-slight flimsiness hanging, + Allius aye unswept moulder, a memory dim. (50) + + Well you wot, how sore the deceit Amathusia wrought me, + Well what a thing in love's treachery made me to fall; + Ready to burst in flame, as burn Trinacrian embers, 55 + Burn near Thermopylae's Oeta the fiery springs. + Sad, these piteous eyes did waste all wearily weeping, (55) + Sad, these cheeks did rain ceaseless a showery woe. + Wakeful, as hill-born brook, which, afar off silvery gleaming, + O'er his moss-grown crags leaps with a tumble adown; 60 + Brook which awhile headlong o'er steep and valley descending, + Crosses anon wide ways populous, hastes to the street; (60) + Cheerer in heats o' the sun to the wanderer heavily fuming, + Under a drought, when fields swelter agape to the sky. + + Then as tossing shipmen amid black surges of Ocean, 65 + See some prosperous air gently to calm them arise, + Safe thro' Pollux' aid or Castor, alike entreated; (65) + Mallius e'en such help brought me, a warder of harm. + He in a closed field gave scope of liberal entry; + Gave me an house of love, gave me the lady within, 70 + Busily there to renew love's even duty together; + Thither afoot mine own mistress, a deity bright, (70) + Came, and planted firm her sole most sunny; beneath her + Lightly the polish'd floor creak'd to the sandal again. + + So with passion aflame came wistful Laodamia 75 + Into her husband's home, Protesilaus, of yore; + Home o'er-lightly begun, ere slaughter'd victim atoning (75) + Waited of heaven's high-thron'd company grace to agree. + Nought be to me so dear, O Maid Ramnusian, ever, + I should against that law match me with opposite, I. 80 + Bloodless of high sacrifice, how thirsts each desolate altar! + This, when her husband fell, Laodamia did heed, (80) + Rapt from a bridegroom new, from his arms forced early to part her. + Early; for hardly the first winter, another again, + Yet in many a night's long dream had sated her yearning, 85 + So that love might wear cheerly, the master away; + Which not long should abide, so presag'd surely the Parcae, (85) + If to the wars her lord hurry, for Ilion arm. + + Now to revenge fair Helen, had Argos' chiefs, her puissance, + Set them afield; for Troy rous'd them, a cry not of home, 90 + Troy, dark death universal, of Asia grave and Europe, + Altar of heroes Troy, Troy of heroical acts, (90) + + Now to my own dear brother abhorred worker of ancient + Death. Ah woeful soul, brother, unhappily lost, + Ah fair light unblest, in darkness sadly receding, 95 + All our house lies low, brother, inearthed in you, + Quench'd untimely with you, joy waits not ever a morrow, (95) + Joy which alive your love's bounty fed hour upon hour. + Now on a distant shore, no kind mortality near him, + Far all household love, every familiar urn, 100 + Tomb'd in Troy the malign, in Troy the unholy reposing, + Strangely the land's last verge holds him, a dungeon of earth. (100) + + Thither in haste all Greece, one armed people assembling, + Flock'd on an ancient day, left the recesses of home, + Lest in a safe content, unreach'd, his stolen adultress. 105 + Paris inarm, in soft luxury quietly lain. + + E'en such chance, fair queen, such misery, Laodamia, (105) + Brought thee a loss as life precious, as heavenly breath. + Loss of a bridegroom dear; such whirling passion in eddies + Suck'd thee adown, so drew sheer to a sudden abyss, 110 + Deep as Graian abyss near Pheneos o'er Cyllene, + Strainer of ooze impure milk'd from a watery fen; (110) + Hewn, so stories avouch, in a mountain's kernel; an hero + Hew'd it, falsely declar'd Amphytrionian, he, + When those monster birds near grim Stymphalus his arrow 115 + Smote to the death; such task bade him a dastardly lord. + So that another God might tread that portal of heaven (115) + Freely, nor Hebe fair wither a chaste eremite. + Yet than abyss more deep thy love, thy depth of emotion; + Love which school'd thy lord, made of a master a thrall. 120 + + Not to a grandsire old so priz'd, so lovely the grandson + One dear daughter alone rears i' the soft of his years; (120) + He, long-wish'd for, an heir of wealth ancestral arriving,-- + Scarcely the tablets' marge holds him, a name to the will, + Straight all hopes laugh'd down, each baffled kinsman usurping 125 + Leaves to repose white hairs, stretches, a vulture, away; + Not in her own fond mate so turtle snowy delighteth, (125) + Tho' unabash'd, 'tis said, she the voluptuous hours + Snatches a thousand kisses, in amorous extasy biting. + Yet, more lightly than all ranges a womanly will. 130 + Great their love, their frenzy; but all their frenzy before thee + Fail'd, once clasp'd thy lord splendid in aureat hair. (130) + + Worthy in all or part thee, Laodamia, to rival, + Sought me my own sweet love, journey'd awhile to my arms. + Round her playing oft ran Cupid thither or hither, 135 + Lustrous, array'd in bright broidery, saffron of hue. + What, to Catullus alone if a wayward fancy resort not? (135) + Must I pale for a stray frailty, the shame of an hour? + Nay; lest all too much such jealous folly provoke her. + Juno's self, a supreme glory celestial, oft 140 + Crushes her eager rage, in wedlock-injury flaring, + Knowing yet right well Jove, what a losel is he. (140) + + Yet, for a man with Gods shall never lawfully match him + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 145 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 150 + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 155 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 160 + . . . . . . . . . . . + Lift thy father, a weak burden, unholpen, abhorr'd. + Not that a father's hand my love led to me, nor odours + Wafted her home on rich airs, of Assyria born; + Stealthy the gifts she gave me, a night unspeakable o'er us, 165 (145) + Gifts from her husband's dreams verily stolen, his own. + Then 'tis enough for me, if mine, mine only remaineth + That one day, whose stone shines with an happier hue. + + So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little + Verse to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon. 170 (150) + So your household names no rust nor seamy defacing + Soil this day, that new morrow, the next to the last. + Gifts full many to these heaven send as largely requiting, + Gifts Themis ever wont deal to the pious of yore. + Joys come plenty to thee, to thy own fair lady together, 175 (155) + Come to that house of mirth, come to the lady within; + Joy to the forward friend, our love's first fashioner, Anser, + Author of all this fair history, founder of all. + Lastly beyond them, above them, on her more lovely than even + Life, my lady, for whose life it is happy to be. 180 (160) + + +LXIX. + + Rufus, it is no wonder if yet no woman assenting + Softly to thine embrace tender a delicate arm. + Not tho' a gift should seek, some robe most filmy, to move her; + Not for a cherish'd gem's clarity, lucid of hue. + + Deep in a valley, thy arms, such evil story maligns thee, 5 + Rufus, a villain goat houses, a grim denizen. + All are afraid of it, all; what wonder? a rascally creature, + Verily! not with such company dally the fair. + + Slay, nor pity the brute, our nostril's rueful aversion. + Else admire not if each ravisher angrily fly. 10 + + +LXX. + + Saith my lady to me, no man shall wed me, but only + Thou; no other if e'en Jove should approach me to woo; + Yea; but a woman's words, when a lover fondly desireth, + Limn them on ebbing floods, write on a wintery gale. + + +LXXII. + + Lesbia, thou didst swear thou knewest only Catullus, + Cared'st not, if him thine arms chained, a Jove to retain. + Then not alone I loved thee, as each light lover a mistress, + Lov'd as a father his own sons, or an heir to the name. + + Now I know thee aright; so, if more hotly desiring, 5 + Yet must count thee a soul cheaper, a frailty to scorn. + 'Friend,' thou say'st, 'you cannot.' Alas! such injury leaveth + Blindly to doat poor love's folly, malignly to will. + + +LXXIII. + + Never again think any to work aught kindly soever, + Dream that in any abides honour, of injury free. + Love is a debt in arrear; time's parted service avails not; + Rather is only the more sorrow, a heavier ill: + Chiefly to me, whom none so fierce, so deadly deceiving 5 + Troubleth, as he whose friend only but inly was I. + + +LXXIV. + + Gellius heard that his uncle in ire exploded, if any + Dared, some wanton, a fault practise, a levity speak. + Not to be slain himself, see Gellius handle his uncle's + Lady; no Harpocrates muter, his uncle is hush'd. + So what he aim'd at, arriv'd at, anon let Gellius e'en this 5 + Uncle abuse; not a word yet will his uncle assay. + + +LXXVIII. + + Brothers twain has Gallus, of whom one owns a delightful + Son; his brother a fair lady, delightfuller yet. + Gallant sure is Gallus, a pair so dainty uniting; + Lovely the lady, the lad lovely, a company sweet. + Foolish sure is Gallus, an o'er-incurious husband; 5 + Uncle, a wife once taught luxury, stops not at one. + + +LXXIX. + + Lesbius, handsome is he. Why not? if Lesbia loves him + Far above all your tribe, angry Catullus, or you. + Only let all your tribe sell off, and follow, Catullus, + Kiss but his handsome lips children, a plenary three. + + +LXXXI. + + What? not in all this city, Juventius, ever a gallant + Poorly to win love's fresh favour of amorous you, + Only the lack-love signor, a wretch from sickly Pisaurum, + Guest of your hearth, no gilt statue as ashy as he? + Now your very delight, whose faithless fancy Catullus 5 + Banisheth, Ah light-reck'd lightness, apostasy vile! + + +LXXXII. + + Wouldst thou, Quintius, have me a debtor ready to owe thee + Eyes, or if earth have joy goodlier any than eyes? + One thing take not from me, to me more goodly than even + Eyes, or if earth have joy goodlier any than eyes. + + +LXXXIII. + + Lesbia while her lord stands near, rails ever upon me. + This to the fond weak fool seemeth a mighty delight. + Dolt, you see not at all. Could she forget me, to rail not, + Nought were amiss; if now scold she, or if she revile, + 'Tis not alone to remember; a shrewder stimulus arms her, 5 + Anger; her heart doth burn verily, thus to revile. + + +LXXXIV. + + _Stipends_ Arrius ever on opportunity _shtipends_, + _Ambush_ as _hambush_ still Arrius used to declaim. + Then, hoped fondly the words were a marvel of articulation, + While with an _h_ immense '_hambush_' arose from his heart. + So his mother of old, so e'en spoke Liber his uncle, 5 + Credibly; so grandsire, grandam alike did agree. + + Syria took him away; all ears had rest for a moment; + Lightly the lips those words, slightly could utter again. + None was afraid any more of a sound so clumsy returning; + Sudden a solemn fright seized us, a message arrives. 10 + 'News from Ionia country; the sea, since Arrius enter'd, + Changed; 'twas _Ionian_ once, now 'twas _Hionian_ all.' + + +LXXXV. + + Half I hate, half love. How so? one haply requireth. + Nay, I know not; alas feel it, in agony groan. + + +LXXXVI. + + Lovely to many a man is Quintia; shapely, majestic, + Stately, to me; each point singly 'tis easy to grant. + 'Lovely' the whole, I grant not; in all that bodily largeness, + Lives not a grain of salt, breathes not a charm anywhere. + Lesbia--she is lovely, an even temper of utmost 5 + Beauty, that every charm stealeth of every fair. + + +LXXXVII & LXXV. + + Ne'er shall woman avouch herself so rightly beloved, + Friend, as rightly thou art, Lesbia, lovely to me. + Ne'er was a bond so firm, no troth so faithfully plighted, + Such as against our love's venture in honour am I. + + Now so sadly my heart, dear Lesbia, draws me asunder, 5 + So in her own misspent worship uneasily lost, + Wert thou blameless in all, I may not longer approve thee, + Do anything thou wilt, cannot an enemy be. + + +LXXVI. + + If to a man bring joy past service dearly remember'd, + When to the soul her thought speaks, to be blameless of ill; + Faith not rudely profan'd, nor in oath or charter abused + Heaven, a God's mis-sworn sanctity, deadly to men. + Then doth a life-long pleasure await thee surely, Catullus, 5 + Pleasure of all this love's traitorous injury born. + + Whatso a man may speak, whom charity leads to another, + Whatso enact, by me spoken or acted is all. + Waste on a traitorous heart, nor finding kindly requital. + Therefore cease, nor still bleed agoniz'd any more. 10 + + Make thee as iron a soul, thyself draw back from affliction. + Yea, tho' a God say nay, be not unhappy for aye. + What? it is hard long love so lightly to leave in a moment? + Hard; yet abides this one duty, to do it: obey. + Here lies safety alone, one victory must not fail thee. 15 + One last stake to be lost haply, perhaps to be won. + + O great Gods immortal, if you can pity or ever + Lighted above dark death's shadow, a help to the lost; + Ah! look, a wretch, on me; if white and blameless in all I + Liv'd, then take this long canker of anguish away. 20 + If to my inmost veins, like dull death drowsily creeping, + Every delight, all heart's pleasure it wholly benumbs. + + Not anymore I pray for a love so faulty returning, + Not that a wanton abide chastely, she may not again. + Only for health I ask, a disease so deadly to banish. 25 + Gods vouchsafe it, as I ask, that am harmless of ill. + + +LXXVII. + + Rufus, a friend so vainly believ'd, so wrongly relied in, + (Vainly? alas the reward fail'd not, a heavier ill;) + Could'st thou thus steal on me, a lurking viper, an aching + Fire to the bones, nor leave aught to delight any more? + Nought to delight any more! ah cruel poison of equal 5 + Lives! ah breasts that grew each to the other awhile! + Yet far most this grieves me, to think thy slaver abhorred + Foully my own love's lips soileth, a purity rare. + Thou shalt surely atone thine injury: centuries harken, + Know thee afar; grow old, fame, to declare him anew. 10 + + +LXXXVIII. + + Gellius, how if a man in lust with a mother, a sister + Rioteth, one uncheck'd night, to iniquity bare? + How if a man's dark passion an aunt's own chastity spare not? + Canst thou tell what vast infamy lieth on him? + + Infamy lieth on him, no farthest Tethys, or ancient 5 + Ocean, of hundred streams father, abolisheth yet. + Infamy none o'ersteps, nor ventures any beyond it. + Not tho' a scorpion heat melt him, his own paramour. + + +LXXXIX. + + Gellius--he's full meagre. It is no wonder, a friendly + Mother, a sister is his loveable, healthy withal. + Then so friendly an uncle, a world of pretty relations. + Must not a man so blest meagre abide to the last? + Yea, let his hand touch only what hands touch only to trespass; 5 + Reason enough to become meagre, enough to remain. + + +XC. + + Rise from a mother's shame with Gellius hatefully wedded, + One to be taught gross rites Persic, a Magian he. + Weds with a mother a son, so needs should a Magian issue, + Save in her evil creed Persia determineth ill. + Then shall a son, so born, chant down high favour of heaven, 5 + Melting lapt in flame fatly the slippery caul. + + +XCI. + + Think not a hope so false rose, Gellius, in me to find thee + Faithful in all this love's anguish ineffable yet, + For that in heart I knew thee, had in thee honour imagin'd, + Held thee a soul to abhor vileness or any reproach. + + Only in her, I knew, thou found'st not a mother, a sister, 5 + Her that awhile for love wearily made me to pine. + Yea tho' mutual use did bind us straitly together, + Scarcely methought could lie cause to desert me therein. + + Thou found'st reason enow; so joys thy spirit in every + Shame, wherever is aught heinous, of infamy born. 10 + + +XCII. + + Lesbia doth but rail, rail ever upon me, nor endeth + Ever. A life I stake, Lesbia loves me at heart. + Ask me a sign? Our score runs parallel. I that abuse her + Ever, a life to the stake, Lesbia, love thee at heart. + + +XCIII. + + Lightly methinks I reck if Cæsar smile not upon me: + Care not, whether a white, whether a swarth-skin, is he. + + +XCIV. + + Mentula--wanton is he; his calling sure is a wanton's. + Herbs to the pot, 'tis said wisely, the name to the man. + + +XCV. + + Nine times winter had end, nine times flush'd summer in harvest, + Ere to the world gave forth Cinna, the labour of years, + Zmyrna; but in one month Hortensius hundred on hundred + Verses, an unripe birth feeble, of hurry begot. + + Zmyrna to far Satrachus, to the stream of Cyprus, ascendeth; 5 + Zmyrna with eyes unborn study the centuries hoar. + Padus her own ill child shall bury, Volusius' annals; + In them a mackerel oft house him, a wrapper of ease. + + Dear to my heart be a friend's unbulky memorial ever; + Cherish an Antimachus, weighty as empty, the mob. 10 + + +XCVI. + + If to the silent dead aught sweet or tender ariseth, + Calvus, of our dim grief's common humanity born; + When to a love long cold some pensive pity recals us, + When for a friend long lost wakes some unhappy regret; + Not so deeply, be sure, Quintilia's early departing 5 + Grieves her, as in thy love dureth a plenary joy. + + +XCVIII. + + Asks some booby rebuke, some prolix prattler a judgment? + Vettius, all were said verily truer of you. + Tongue so noisome as yours, come chance, might surely on order + Bend to the mire, or lick dirt from a beggarly shoe. + Would you on all of us, all, bring, Vettius, utterly ruin? 5 + Speak; not a doubt, 'twill come utterly, ruin on all. + + +XCIX. + + Dear one, a kiss I stole, while you did wanton a-playing, + Sweet ambrosia, love, never as honily sweet. + + Dearly the deed I paid for; an hour's long misery waning + Ended, as I agoniz'd hung to the point of a cross, + Hoping vain purgation; alas! no potion of any 5 + Tears could abate that fair angriness, youthful as you. + + Hardly the sin was in act, your lips did many a falling + Drop dilute, which anon every finger away + Cleansed apace, lest still my mouth's infection abiding + Stain, like slaver abhorr'd breath'd from a foul fricatrice. 10 + + Add, that a booty to love in misery me to deliver + You did spare not, a fell worker of all agonies, + So that, again transmuted, a kiss ambrosia seeming + Sugary, turn'd to the strange harshness of harsh hellebore. + + Then such dolorous end since your poor lover awaiteth, 15 + Never a kiss will I venture, a theft any more. + + +C. + + Quintius, Aufilena; to Caelius, Aufilenus; + Lovers each, fair flower either of youths Veronese. + One to the brother bends, and one to the sister. A noble + Friendship, if e'er was true friendship, a rare brotherhood. + + Ask me to which I lean? You, Caelius: yours a devotion 5 + Single, a faith of tried quality, steady to me; + Into my inmost veins when love sank fiercely to burn them. + Mighty be your bright love, Caelius, happy be you! + + +CI. + + Borne o'er many a land, o'er many a level of ocean, + Here to the grave I come, brother, of holy repose, + Sadly the last poor gifts, death's simple duty, to bring thee; + Unto the silent dust vainly to murmur a cry. + + Since thy form deep-shrouded an evil destiny taketh 5 + From me, O hapless ghost, brother, O heavily ta'en, + Yet this bounty the while, these gifts ancestral of usance + Homely, the sad slight store piety grants to the tomb; + Drench'd in a brother's tears, and weeping freshly, receive them; + Yea, take, brother, a long Ave, a timeless adieu. 10 + + +CII. + + If to a friend sincere, Cornelius, e'er was a secret + Trusted, a friend whose soul steady to honour abides; + Me to the same brotherhood doubt not to be inly devoted, + Sworn upon oath, to the last secret, an Harpocrates. + + +CIII. + + Briefly, the sesterces all, give back, full quantity, Silo, + Then be a bully beyond exorability, you: + Else, if money be all, O cease so lewdly to practise + Bawd, yet bully beyond exorability, you. + + +CIV. + + What? should a lover adore, yet cruelly slander adoring? + I my lady, than eyes goodlier easily she? + Nay, I rail not at all. How rail, so blindly desiring? + Tappo alone dare brave all that is heinous, or you. + + +CV. + + Mentula toils, Pimplea, the Muses' mountain, ascending: + They with pitchforks hurl Mentula dizzily down. + + +CVI. + + Walks with a salesman a beauty, your eyes that beauty discerning? + Doubt not your eyes speak true; Sir, 'tis a beauty to sell. + + +CVII. + + If to delight man's wish, joy e'er unlook'd for, unhop'd for, + Falleth, a joy were such proper, a bliss to the soul. + Then 'tis a joy to the soul, like gold of Lydia precious, + Lesbia mine, that thou com'st to delight me again. + + Com'st yet again long-hop'd, long-look'd for vainly, returnest 5 + Freely to me. O day white with a luckier hue! + Lives there happier any than I, I only? a fairer + Destiny? Life so sweet know ye, or aught parallel? + + +CVIII. + + Loathly Cominius, if e'er this people's voice should arraign thee, + Hoary with all unclean infamy, worthy to die; + First should a tongue, I doubt not, of old so deadly to goodness, + Fall extruded, of each vulture a hungry regale; + Gouged be the carrion eyes some crow's black maw to replenish, 5 + Stomach a dog's fierce teeth harry, a wolf the remains. + + +CIX. + + Think you truly, belov'd, this bond of duty between us, + Lasteth, an ever-new jollity, ne'er to decease? + Grant it, Gods immortal, assure her promise in earnest; + Yea, be the lips sincere; yea, be the words from her heart. + So still rightly remain our lovers' charter, a life-long 5 + Friendship in us, whose faith fades not away to the last. + + +CX. + + Aufilena, the fair, if kind, is a favourite ever; + Asks she a price, then yields frankly? the price is her own. + You, that agreed to be kind, now vilely the treaty dishonour, + Give not at all, nor again take;--'tis a wrong to a wrong. + + Not to deceive were noble, a chastity ne'er had assented, 5 + Aufilena; but you--blindly to grasp at a gain, + Yet to withhold the effects,--'tis a greed more loathly than harlot's + Vileness, a wretch whose limbs ply to the lusts of a town. + + +CXI. + + One lord only to love, one, Aufilena, to live for, + Praise can a bride nowhere goodlier any betide; + Yet, when a niece with an uncle is even mother or even + Cousin--of all paramours this were as heinous as all. + + +CXII. + + Naso, if you show much, your company shows but a very + Little; a man you show, Naso, a woman in one. + + +CXIII. + + Pompey the first time consul, as yet Maecilia counted + Two paramours; reappears Pompey a consul again, + Two still, Cinna, remain; but grown, each unit an even + Thousand. Truly the stock's fruitful: adultery breeds. + + +CXIV. + + Rightly a lordly demesne makes Firman Mentula count for + Wealthy! the rich fine things, then the variety there! + Game in plenty to choose, fish, field, and meadow with hunting; + Only the waste exceeds strangely the quantity still. + Wealthy? perhaps I grant it; if all, wealth asks for, is absent. 5 + Praise the demesne? no doubt; only be needy the man. + + +CXV. + + Acres thirty in all, good grass, own Mentula master; + Forty to plough; bare seas, arid or empty, the rest. + Poorly methinks might Croesus a man so sumptuous equal, + Counted in one rich park owner of all he can ask. + Grass or plough, big woods, much mountain, mighty morasses; 5 + On to the farthest North, on to the boundary main. + + Vastness is all that is here; yet Mentula reaches a vaster-- + Man? not so; 'tis a vast mountainous ominous He. + + +CXVI. + + Oft with a studious heart, which hunted closely, requiring + Skill great Battiades' poesies haply to send, + Laying thus thy rage in rest, lest everlasting + Darts should reach me, to wound still an assailable head: + + Barren now I see that labour of any requital, 5 + Gellius; here all prayers fall to the ground, nor avail. + No; but a robe I carry, the barbs, thy folly, to muffle; + Mine strike sure; thy deep injury _they_ shall atone. + + + + +FRAGMENTS. + + +II. + + Here I give to be thine a fair grove, an holy, Priapus, + Where thy Lampsacus holds thee in chamber seemly, Priapus; + God, in every city, thou, most ador'd on a sea-shore + Hellespontian, eminent most of oystery sea-shores. + + +IV. + + Rapidly the spirit in an agony fled away. + + +V. + + Where yon lucent mast-top, a cup of silver, arises. + + + + +NOTES. + + +VIII. 2. + + _Lost is the lost, thou know'st it, and the past is past._ + +I am indebted for this expression to a translation of this poem by Dr. +J.A. Symonds, the whole of which I should have quoted here, had it not +been unfortunately mislaid. + + +XIV. 20. + + _Plague-prodigy._ + + Proves a plague-prodigy to God and man. + +BROWNING, _Ring and Book_, v. 664. + + +XVII. 26. + + _Rondel._ + +The round plate of iron which, according to Rich, Companion to the Latin +Dictionary, p. 609, formed the lower part of the sock worn by horses, +mules, &c., when on a journey, and, unlike our horse-shoes, was +removable at the end of it. + + +XXII. 11. + + _Looby_ + +a clown. + + Let me now the vices trace, + From his father's scoundrel race. + What could give the looby such airs? + Were they masons? were they butchers? + +TICKELL, _Theristes or the Lordling_, 23-26. + + +XXIII. + +For a spirited, though coarse, version of this poem, see Cotton's Poems, +p. 608, ed. 1689. + + 6 _Lathy._ + + On a lathy horse, all legs and length. + +BROWNING, _Flight of the Duchess_, v. 21. + + +XXIX. 8. + +The connexion between Adonis and the dove is specially referred to by +Diogenianus (_Praef._ p. 180 in Leutsch and Schneidewin's +_Paroemiographi Graeci_). It formed part of the legends of Cyprus, and +was alluded to by the lyric poet Timocreon (_Bergk. Poetae Lyrici +Graeci_, p. 1203). Compare Browning:-- + + Pompilia was no pigeon, Venus' Pet. + +_Ring and Book_, v. 701. + + +XXXV. 7. + + _So he'll quickly devour the way,_ + +move quickly over the road. So Shakespeare: + + Starting so + He seem'd in running to devour the way, + Staying no longer question. + +_2nd Part of Henry IV._, Act i. sc. 1. + + +XXXVII. 10. + + _With scorpion I, with emblem all your haunt will scrawl._ + +A member of the Saraceni family at Vicenza, finding that a beautiful +widow did not favour him, scribbled filthy pictures over the door. The +affair was brought before the Council of Ten at Venice. + +TROLLOPE'S _Paul the Pope_, p. 158. + + +XLIII. 3. + + _Mouth scarce tenible,_ + +easily running over. + + +XLV. 7. + + _A sulky lion._ + +Properly "green-eyed." The epithet would seem to be not merely +picturesque; the glaring of the eyes would be more marked in proportion +as the beast was in a fiercer and more excitable state. + + +LI. 5-12. + + I watch thy grace; and in its place + My heart a charmed slumber keeps, + While I muse upon thy face; + And a languid fire creeps + Thro' my veins to all my frame, + Dissolvingly and slowly: soon + From thy rose-red lips my name + Floweth; and then, as in a swoon, + With dinning sound my ears are rife, + My tremulous tongue faltereth, + I lose my colour, I lose my breath, + I drink the cup of a costly death, + Brimmed with delicious draughts of warmest life. + +TENNYSON, _Eleänore_. + + +LIV. 6. + + _Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics_. + +This line is quoted as Catullus's by Porphyrion on Hor. c. 1. 16, 24. +His words, _Catullus cum maledicta minaretur_, compared with the last +lines of this poem, _Irascere iterum meis iambis Inmerentibus, unice +imperator_, seem to justify my view that they belong here. See my large +edition, p. 217, fragm. I. The following line, _So may destiny, &c._, is +a supplement of my own: it forms a natural introduction to the _Si non +uellem_ of v. 10. + + +LV. + +This is the only instance where Catullus has introduced a spondee into +the second foot of the phalaecian, which then becomes decasyllabic. The +alternation of this decasyllabic rhythm with the ordinary +hendecasyllable is studiously artistic; I have retained it throughout. +In the series of dactylic lines 17-22, Catullus no doubt intended to +convey the idea of rapidity, as, in the spondaic line immediately +following, of labour. + + 4 _You on Circus, in all the bills but you, Sir._ + +There seems to be no authority for the meaning ordinarily assigned to +_libellis_, "book-shops." I prefer to explain the word placards, either +announcing the sale of Camerius's effects, which would imply that he was +in debt, or describing him as a lost article. + + +LXI. + +In the rhythm of this poem, I have been obliged to deviate in two points +from Catullus. (1) In him the first foot of each line is nearly always a +trochee, only rarely a spondee: the monotonous effect of a positional +trochee in English, to say nothing of the difficulty, induced me to +substitute a spondee more frequently. (2) I have been rather less +scrupulous in allowing the last foot of the glyconic lines to be a +dactyl (-uu), in place of the more correct cretic (-u-). + +108. The words in italics are a supplement of my own. + + +LXII. 39-61. + + _Look in a garden croft, when a flower privily growing, &c._ + + _Opinion._ Look how a flower that close in closes grows, + Hid from rude cattle, bruised with no ploughs, + Which th' air doth stroke, sun strengthen, showers shoot higher, + It many youths and many maids desire; + The same, when cropt by cruel hand 'tis wither'd, + No youths at all, no maidens have desired; + So a virgin while untouch'd she doth remain + Is dear to hers; but when with body's stain + Her chaster flower is lost, she leaves to appear + Or sweet to young men or to maidens dear. + + _Truth._ Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet Hymen yield, + For as a lone vine in a naked field + Never extols her branches, never bears + Ripe grapes, but with a headlong heaviness wears + Her tender body, and her highest sprout + Is quickly levell'd with her fading root; + By whom no husbandmen, no youths will dwell; + But if by fortune she be married well, + To the elm her husband, many husbandmen + And many youths inhabit by her then; + So whilst a virgin doth untouch'd abide, + All unmanur'd she grows old with her pride; + But when to equal wedlock, in fit time, + Her fortune and endeavour lets her climb, + Dear to her love and parents she is held. + Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet Hymen yield. + +BEN JONSON, _The Barriers_. + + +LXIII. + +In the metre of this poem Catullus observes the following general type-- + +--´ | --´ -- +uu- u- -u -- | uu- uuu u- (so Heyse.) + uu | uu + +Except in 18, _Hilarate aere citatis erroribus animum_, 53, _Et earum +omnia adirem furibunda latibula_, where the Ionic a minore, which seems +to have been the original basis of the rhythm, is preserved intact in +the former half of the line. I have followed Catullus generally with +exactness, but with an occasional resolution of one long into two short +syllables, where it has not been introduced by the poet, _e.g._ in 31, +34, 49, 64, 65, 68, 79. In v. 10 I have ventured on a license which +Catullus does not admit, but which is, I think, justified by other and +earlier specimens of the metre, an anaclasis of the original Ionic a +minore at the end of the line. In reading this poem it should never be +forgotten that there is a pause in the middle of each line, which +practically divides it into two halves. Tennyson, in his _Boadicea_, +written on the model of the _Attis_, divides each verse similarly in the +middle; but in the first half he has changed the rhythm of Catullus to a +trochaic rhythm, in the second, while producing much of the effect of +the _Attis_ by the accumulation of short syllables at the end of the +line, he has not bound himself to the same strictly defined feet as +Catullus, and generally has preferred to take from the somewhat +emasculate character of the verse by adding an unaccented syllable at +the close. + + +LXIII. + + 8 _Taborine_ + + Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets blow. + +_Troilus and Cressida_, Act iv. sc. 5. + + 16 _Aby_ + +abide; as, I think, in Spenser's _Faerie Queene_, vi. 2, 19. + + But he was fierce and whot, + Ne time would give, nor any termes aby. + +Below, lxiv. 297, I have used it in its more common meaning of atoning +for, _Faerie Queene_, iv. 1, 53. + + Yet thou, false Squire, his fault shalt deare aby, + And with thy punishment his penance shalt supply. + +_Midsummer Night's Dream_, iii. 2. + + Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. + + 24 _Ululation._ + + There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud + Resounded through the air without a star. + +LONGFELLOW'S _Dante Inf_. iii. 22. + + 41 _When he smote the shadowy twilight with his healthy team sublime._ + + Ere yet they blind the stars, and the wild team + Which love thee, yearning for thy yoke, arise, + And shake the darkness from their loosen'd manes, + And beat the twilight into flakes of fire. + +TENNYSON, _Tithonus_. + + 83 _On a nervy neck._ + + Four maned lions hale + The sluggish wheels; solemn their toothed maws, + Their surly eyes brow-hidden, heavy paws + Uplifted drowsily, and nervy tails + Covering their tawny brushes. + +KEATS, _Endymion_, II. ad fin. + + +LXIV. 160. + + _Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden._ + +I have combined _thou_ with _your_ purposely, to suggest the idea +conveyed in _uestras_ as opposed to _potuisti_, the family abode as +opposed to the individual Theseus. + + 183 _Flexibly fleeting_ + +bent as they move rapidly through the water. + + 186 _No glimmer of hope_ + +from Heyse, + + Keinerlei Flucht, kein Schimmer der Hoffnung, stumm liegt Alles. + + 258 _Gordian._ + + She was a gordian shape of dazzling hue, + Vermilion-spotted, golden, green, and blue. + +KEATS, _Lamia_, Part I. + + 308 _Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush' d rosy beneath them._ + +I have attempted here to give what I conceive Catullus may have meant to +convey by the remarkable collocation _At roseo niueae residebant uertice +uittae_. Properly, the wreaths are rosy, the locks snow-white; but the +colour of the wreaths is so blent with the colour of the locks that each +is lost in the other, and an inversion of epithets becomes possible. + + _So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles._ + +A verse seems to have been lost here, which I have thus supplied. + + +LXVIII. 149. + + _So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little + Verse, to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon_. + + These little rites, a stone, a verse, receive, + 'Tis all a father, all a friend can give. + +POPE, _Epitaph on the children of Lord Digby._ + + +LXIX. 4. + + _Clarity_ + +clearness, transparency. + + Here clarity of candour, history's soul, + The critical mind in short. + +BROWNING, _Ring and Book_, i. 925. + + +LXX. + +Sir Philip Sidney thus translates this poem:-- + + Unto no body my woman saith shee had rather a wife be, + Then to myself, not though Jove grew a suter of hers. + These be her words, but a woman's words to a love that is eager, + Midde [windes?] or waters stream do require to be writ. + + +XCIX. 10. + + _Fricatrice._ + + To a lewd harlot, a base fricatrice. + +BEN JONSON, _The Fox_, iv. 2. + + +THE END. + +BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Poems and Fragments of Catullus, by Catullus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CATULLUS *** + +***** This file should be named 18867-0.txt or 18867-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/8/6/18867/ + +Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi, Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Poems and Fragments of Catullus + +Author: Catullus + +Translator: Robinson Ellis + +Release Date: July 19, 2006 [EBook #18867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CATULLUS *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi, Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +THE +POEMS AND FRAGMENTS +OF +CATULLUS, + +TRANSLATED IN THE METRES OF THE ORIGINAL + + +BY + +ROBINSON ELLIS, + +FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, +PROFESSOR OF LATIN IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON. + + +LONDON: +JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. +1871. + + +LONDON: +BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. + + + + +TO ALFRED TENNYSON. + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The preface uses macrons and breves above some +letters to indicate stresses. I have rendered the letters with breve +inside parenthesis (like th(i)s) and the letters with macron inside +square brackets (like th[i]s).] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The idea of translating Catullus in the original metres adopted by the +poet himself was suggested to me many years ago by the admirable, +though, in England, insufficiently known, version of Theodor Heyse +(Berlin, 1855). My first attempts were modelled upon him, and were so +unsuccessful that I dropt the idea for some time altogether. In 1868, +the year following the publication of my larger critical edition[A] of +Catullus, I again took up the experiment, and translated into English +glyconics the first Hymenaeal, _Collis o Heliconici_. Tennyson's Alcaics +and Hendecasyllables had appeared in the interval, and had suggested to +me the new principle on which I was to go to work. It was not sufficient +to reproduce the ancient metres, unless the ancient quantity was +reproduced also. Almost all the modern writers of classical metre had +contented themselves with making an accented syllable long, an +unaccented short; the most familiar specimens of hexameter, +Longfellow's _Evangeline_ and Clough's _Bothie of Tober-na-Vuolich_ and +_Amours de Voyage_ were written on this principle, and, as a rule, +stopped there. They almost invariably disregarded position, perhaps the +most important element of quantity. In the first line of _Evangeline_-- + + _This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,_ + +there are no less than five violations of position, to say nothing of +the shortening of a syllable so distinctly long as the _i_ in +_primeval_. Mr. Swinburne, in his Sapphics and Hendecasyllables, while +writing on a manifestly artistic conception of those metres, and, in my +judgment, proving their possibility for modern purposes by the superior +rhythmical effect which a classically trained ear enabled him to make in +handling them, neglects position as a rule, though his nice sense of +metre leads him at times to observe it, and uniformly rejects any +approach to the harsh combinations indulged in by other writers. The +nearest approach to quantitative hexameters with which I am acquainted +in modern English writers is the _Andromeda_ of Mr. Kingsley, a poem +which has produced little effect, but is interesting as a step to what +may fairly be called a new development of the metre. For the experiments +of the Elizabethan writers, Sir Philip Sidney and others, by that +strange perversity which so often dominates literature, were as +decidedly unsuccessful from an accentual, as the modern experiments from +a quantitative point of view. Sir Philip Sidney has given in his +_Arcadia_ specimens of hexameters, elegiacs, sapphics, asclepiads, +anacreontics, hendecasyllables. The following elegiacs will serve as a +sample. + + _Unto a caitif wretch, whom long affliction holdeth, + And now fully believ's help to bee quite perished; + Grant yet, grant yet a look, to the last moment of his anguish, + O you (alas so I finde) caus of his onely ruine: + Dread not awhit (O goodly cruel) that pitie may enter + Into thy heart by the sight of this Epistle I send: + And so refuse to behold of these strange wounds the recitall, + Lest it might m' allure home to thyself to return._ + +In these the classical laws of position are most carefully observed; +every dactyl ending in a consonant is followed by a word beginning with +a vowel or _h_--_affl[i]ct(i)(o)n holdeth_, _mom[e]nt (o)f h(i)s +anguish_, _ca[u]se (o)f h(i)s onely_; _affliction wasteth_, _moment of +his dolour_, _cause of his dreary_, would have been as impossible to Sir +Philip Sidney as _mo[e]r(o)r t(e)nebat_, _mom[e]nt(a) p(e)r curae_, +_ca[u]s(a) v(e)l sola_ in a Latin writer of hexameters. Similarly where +the dactyl is incided after the second syllable, the third syllable +beginning a new word, the utmost care is taken that that word shall +begin not only with a syllable essentially short, but, when the second +syllable ends in a consonant, with a vowel: _[o]f th(i)s (e)pistle_, +but not _[o]f th(i)s d(i)saster_, still less _[o]f th(i)s d(i)rection._ +The other element of quantity is less rigidly defined; for (1) syllables +strictly long, as _I_, _thy_, _so_, are allowed to be short; (2) +syllables made long by the accent falling upon them are in some cases +shortened, as _r(u)[i]ne_, _p(e)r(i)sh[e]d_, _cr(u)[e]l_; (3) syllables +which the absence of the accent only allows to be long _in thesi_, are, +in virtue of the classical laws of position, permitted to rank as long +elsewhere--_mom[e]nt of his_, _[o]f this epistle_. It needs little +reflection to see that it is to one or other of these three +peculiarities that the failure of the Elizabethan writers of classical +metres must be ascribed. Pentameters like + + _Gratefulness, sweetness, holy love, hearty regard, + That the delights of life shall be to him dolorous, + And even in that love shall I reserve him a spite;_ + +sapphics like + + _Are then humane mindes privileg'd so meanly + As that hateful death can abridg them of power + With the vow of truth to record to all worlds + That we bee her spoils?_ + +hexameters like + + _F[i]re n(o) l(i)quor can cool: Nept[u]ne's re[a]lm would not avail us. + Nurs inw[a]rd m(a)l(a)di[e]s, which have not scope to bee breath'd out. + Oh n(o) n(o), worthie sheph[e]rd, worth c[a]n never enter a title;_ + +are too alien from ordinary pronunciation to please either an average +reader or a classically trained student. The same may be said of the +translation into English hexameters of the two first Eclogues of Virgil, +appended by William Webbe to his _Discourse of English Poetrie_ (1586, +recently reprinted by Mr. Arber). Here is his version of Ecl. I., 1-10. + + MELIBAEUS. + + _Tityrus, happilie then lyste tumbling under a beech tree, + All in a fine oate pipe these sweete songs lustilie chaunting: + We, poore soules goe to wracke, and from these coastes be remoued, + And fro our pastures sweete: thou Tityr, at ease in a shade plott + Makst thicke groues to resound with songes of brave Amarillis._ + + TITYRUS. + + _O Melibaeus, he was no man, but a God who releeude me: + Euer he shalbe my God: from this same Sheepcot his alters + Neuer, a tender lambe shall want, with blood to bedew them. + This good gift did he giue, to my steeres thus freelie to wander, + And to my selfe (thou seest) on pipe to resound what I listed._ + + _ib._ 50-56. + + _Here no unwoonted foode shall grieue young theaues who be laded, + Nor the infections foule of neighbours flocke shall annoie them. + Happie olde man. In shaddowy bankes and coole prettie places, + Heere by the quainted floodes and springs most holie remaining. + Here, these quicksets fresh which lands seuer out fro thy neighbors + And greene willow rowes which Hiblae bees doo rejoice in, + Oft fine whistring noise, shall bring sweete sleepe to thy sences._ + +The following stanzas are from a Sapphic ode into which Webbe +translated, or as we should say, transposed the fourth Eclogue of +Spenser's _Sheepheardes Calendar_. + + _Say, behold did ye euer her Angelike face, + Like to Phoebe fayre? or her heauenly hauour + And the princelike grace that in her remaineth? + haue yee the like seene?_ + + _Vnto that place Caliope dooth high her, + Where my Goddesse shines: to the same the Muser + After her with sweete Violines about them + cheerefully tracing._ + + _All ye Sheepheardes maides that about the greene dwell, + Speede ye there to her grace, but among ye take heede + All be Virgins pure that aproche to deck her, + dutie requireth._ + + _When ye shall present ye before her in place, + See ye not your selues doo demeane too rudely: + Bynd the fillets: and to be fine the waste gyrt + fast with a tawdryne._ + + _Bring the Pinckes therewith many Gelliflowres sweete, + And the Cullambynes: let vs haue the Wynesops, + With the Coronation that among the loue laddes + wontes to be worne much._ + + _Daffadowndillies all a long the ground strowe, + And the Cowslyppe with a prety paunce let heere lye. + Kyngcuppe and Lillies so beloude of all men + and the deluce flowre._ + +There are many faults in these verses; over quaintnesses of language, +constructions impossible in English, quantities of doubtful +correctness, harsh elisions, for Webbe has tried even elisions. Yet, if +I may trust my judgment, all of them can still be read with pleasure; +the sapphics may almost be called a success. This is even more true of +metres, where these faults are less perceptible or more easily avoided, +for instance, Asclepiads. Take the verses on solitariness, Arcadia, B. +II. fin. + + _O sweet woods, the delight [o]f s(o)l(i)t[a]riness! + O how much I do like your solitariness! + Where man's mind hath a freed consideration + Of goodness to receive lovely direction._ + +or the hendecasyllables immediately preceding, + + _Reason tell me thy minde, if here be reason, + In this strange violence, to make resistance, + Where sweet graces erect the stately banner._ + +It is obvious that a very little more trouble would have converted these +into very perfect and very pleasing poems. Had Sir Philip Sidney written +every asclepiad on the model of _Where man's mind hath a freed +consideration_, every hendecasyllable like _Where sweet graces erect the +stately banner_, the adjustment of accent and quantity thus attained +might, I think, have induced greater poets than he to make the +experiment on a larger scale. But neither he nor his contemporaries +were permitted to grasp as a principle a regularity which they sometimes +secured by chance; nor, so far as I am aware, have the various revivals +of ancient metre in this country or Germany in any case consistently +carried out the _whole_ theory, without which the reproduction is +partial, and cannot look for a more than partial success. Even the four +specimens given in the posthumous edition of Clough's poems, two of them +elegiac, one alcaic, one in hexameters, though professedly constructed +on a quantitative basis, and, in one instance (_Trunks the forest +yielded, with gums ambrosial oozing, &c._) combining legitimate quantity +(in which accent and position are alike observed) with illegitimate (in +which position is observed, but accent disregarded) into a not +unpleasing rhythm, cannot be considered as more than imperfect +realizations of the true positional principle. Tennyson's three +specimens are, at least in English, still unique. It is to be hoped that +he will not suffer them to remain so. Systems of Glyconics and +Asclepiads are, if I mistake not, easily manageable, and are only +thought foreign to the genius of our language because they have never +been written on strict principles of art by a really great master. + +What, then, are the rules on which such rhythms become possible? They +are, briefly, these:--(1) accented syllables, _as a general rule_, are +long, though some syllables which count as long need not be accented, +as in + + _All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing,_ + +_blossoms_, though only accented on the first syllable, counts for a +spondee, the shortness of the second _o_ being partly helped out by the +two consonants which follow it; partly by the fact that the syllable is +_in thesi_; (2) the laws of position are to be observed, according to +the general rules of classical prosody: (_a_) dactyls terminating in a +consonant like _beautiful_, _bounteous_, or ending in a double vowel or +a diphthong like _all of you, surely may, come to thee_, must be +followed by a word beginning with a vowel or _y_ or _h_; dactyls +terminating in a vowel or _y_, like _slippery_, should be followed, +except in rare cases, by words beginning with a consonant; trochees, +whether composed of one word or more, should, if ending in a consonant, +be followed by a vowel, if ending in the vowel _a_, by a consonant, +thus, _planted around_ not _planted beneath_, _Aurora the sun's_ not +_Aurora a sun's_ (see however, lxiv. 253), but _unto a wood, any again, +sorry at all, you be amused_. (_b_) Syllables made up of a vowel +followed by two or more consonants, each of which is distinctly heard in +pronunciation, as _long_, _sins_, _part_, _band_, _waits_, _souls_, +_ears_, _must_, _heart_, _bright_, _strength_, _end_, _and_, _rapt_, +_hers_, _dealt_, mo_ment_, bo_soms_, _answers_, moun_tains_, bear_est_, +tum_bling_, gi_ving_, com_ing_, harbour_ing_, diffi_cult_, immi_nent_, +strata_gems_, utter_ance_, happi_est_, trem_bling_ly, can never rank as +short, even if unaccented and followed by a vowel, _h_ or _y_. Thus, to +go back to Longfellow's line, + + _This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,_ + +_for(e)st_, _murmur(i)ng_, _pines (a)nd the_, are all inadmissible. But +where a vowel is followed by two consonants, one of which is unheard or +only heard slightly, as in _acc_use, sh_all_, _ass_emble, _diss_emble, +kind_ness_, com_pass_, _aff_ect, _app_ear, _ann_oy, or when the second +or third consonant is a liquid, as in _betray_, _beslime_, _besmear_, +_depress_, _dethrone_, _agree_, the vowel preceding is so much more +short than long as to be regularly admissible as short, rarely +admissible as long. On this principle I have allowed _dis[o]rd(e)rl(y)_, +_t[e]n(a)ntl(e)ss_, _heav(e)nl(y)_, to rank as dactyls. + +These rules are after all only an outline, and perhaps can never be made +more. It will be observed that they are more negative than positive. The +reason of this is not far to seek. The main difference between my verses +and those of other contemporary writers--the one point on which I claim +for myself the merit of novelty--is the strict observance throughout of +the rules of position. But the strict observance of position is in +effect the strict avoidance of unclassical collocations of syllables: it +is almost wholly negative. To illustrate my meaning I will instance the +poems written in pure iambics, the _Phaselus ille_ and _Quis hoc potest +uidere_. Heyse translates the first line of the former of these poems by + + _Die Galeotte, die ihr schauet, liebe Herrn,_ + +and this would be a fair representation of a pure iambic line, according +to the views of most German and most English writers. Yet not only is +_Die_ no short syllable, but _ihr_, itself long, is made more hopelessly +long by preceding three consonants in _schauet_, just as the last +syllable of _schauet_, although in itself short, loses its right to +stand for a true short in being followed by the first consonant of +_liebe_. My own translation, + + _The puny pinnace yonder you, my friends, discern,_ + +whatever its defects, is at least a pretty exact representation of a +pure iambic line. xxix. 6-8, are thus translated by Heyse:-- + + _Und jener soll in Uebermuthes Ueberfluss + Von einem Bett zum andern in die Runde gehn?_ + +by me thus, + + _Shall he in o'er-assumption, o'er-repletion he, + Sedately saunter every dainty couch along?_ + +The difference is purely negative; I have bound myself to avoid certain +positions forbidden by the laws of ancient prosody. To some I may seem +to have lost in vigour by the process; yet I believe the sense of +triumph over the difficulties of our language, the satisfaction of +approaching in a novel and perceptibly felt manner one of those +excellences which, as much as anything, contributes to the permanent +charm of Catullus, his dainty versification, will more than compensate +for any shortcomings which the difficulty of the task has made +inevitable. The same may be said of the elaborately artificial poem to +Camerius (c. lv.), and the almost unapproachable Attis (c. lxiii.). +Here, at least half the interest lies in the varied turns of the metre; +if these can be represented with anything like faithfulness, the gain in +exactness of prosody is enough, in my judgment, to counterbalance the +possible loss of freedom in expression. + +There is another circumstance which tends to make modern rules of +prosody necessarily negative. Quantity, in English revivals of ancient +metre, depends not only on position, but on accent. But accent varies +greatly in different words; _heavy level ever cometh any_, have the same +accent as _empty evil either boometh penny_; but the first syllable in +the former set of words is lighter than in the latter. Hence, though +accented, they may, on occasion, be considered and used as short; as, on +the same principle, _dolorous stratagem echoeth family_, usually +dactyls, may, on occasion, become tribrachs. But how lay down any +positive rule in matter necessarily so fluctuating? We cannot. All we +can do is to refuse admission as short syllables to any heavier accented +syllable. Here, then, much must be left to individual discretion. My +translation of the Attis will best show my own feeling in the matter. +But I am fully aware that in this respect I have fallen far short of +consistency. I have made _any_ sometimes short, more often long; _to_, +usually short, is lengthened in lxi. 26, lxvii. 19, lxviii. 143; _with_ +is similarly long, though not followed by a consonant, in lxi. 36; +_given_ is long in xxviii. 7, short in xi. 17, lxiv. 213; _are_ is short +in lxvii. 14; and more generally many syllables allowed to pass for +short in the Attis are elsewhere long. Nor have I scrupled to forsake +the ancient quantity in proper names; following Heyse, I have made the +first syllable of _Verona_ short in xxxv. 3, lxvii. 34, although it +retains its proper quantity in lxviii. 27. Again, _Pheneos_ is a dactyl +in lxviii. 111, while _Satrachus_ is an anapaest in xcv. 5. In many of +these instances I have acted consciously; if the writers of Greece and +Rome allowed many syllables to be doubtful, and almost as a principle +avoid perfect uniformity in the quantity of proper names, a greater +freedom may not unfairly be claimed by their modern imitators. If +Catullus could write _Phars(a)liam coeunt, Phars(a)lia regna +frequentant_, similar license may surely be extended to me. I believe, +indeed, that nothing in my translation is as violent as the double +quantity just mentioned in Catullus; but if there is, I would remind my +readers of Goethe's answer to the boy who told him he had been guilty of +a hexameter with seven feet, and applying the remark to any seeming +irregularities in my own translation would say, _Lass die Bestie +stehen_. + +It would not be difficult to swell this Preface by enlarging on the +novelty of the attempt, and indirectly panegyrising my own undertaking. +I doubt whether any real advantage would thus be gained. If I have +merely produced an elaborate failure, however much I might expatiate on +the principles which guided me, my work would be an elaborate failure +still. I shall therefore say no more, and shall be contented if I please +the, even in this classically trained country, too limited number of +readers who can really hear with their ears--if, to use the borrowed +language of a great poet, I succeed in making myself vocal to the +intelligent alone. + +[Footnote A: The translation follows this edition (Oxford, 1867), in the +constitution of the text, as well as in the sectional division of the +poems.] + + + + +CATULLUS. + + +I. + + Who shall take thee, the new, the dainty volume, + Purfled glossily, fresh with ashy pumice? + + You, Cornelius; you of old did hold them + Something worthy, the petty witty nothings, + + While you venture, alone of all Italians, 5 + Time's vast chronicle in three books to circle, + Jove! how arduous, how divinely learned! + + Therefore welcome it, yours the little outcast, + This slight volume. O yet, supreme awarder, + Virgin, save it in ages on for ever. 10 + + +II. + + Sparrow, favourite of my own beloved, + Whom to play with, or in her arms to fondle, + She delighteth, anon with hardy-pointed + Finger angrily doth provoke to bite her: + + When my lady, a lovely star to long for, 5 + Bends her splendour awhile to tricksy frolic; + Peradventure a careful heart beguiling, + Pardie, heavier ache perhaps to lighten; + + Might I, like her, in happy play caressing + Thee, my dolorous heart awhile deliver! 10 + . . . . . . . . + I would joy, as of old the maid rejoiced + Racing fleetly, the golden apple eyeing, + Late-won loosener of the wary girdle. + + +III. + + Weep each heavenly Venus, all the Cupids, + Weep all men that have any grace about ye. + Dead the sparrow, in whom my love delighted, + The dear sparrow, in whom my love delighted. + + Yea, most precious, above her eyes, she held him, 5 + Sweet, all honey: a bird that ever hail'd her + Lady mistress, as hails the maid a mother. + + Nor would move from her arms away: but only + Hopping round her, about her, hence or hither, + Piped his colloquy, piped to none beside her. 10 + + Now he wendeth along the mirky pathway, + Whence, they tell us, is hopeless all returning. + + Evil on ye, the shades of evil Orcus, + Shades all beauteous happy things devouring, + Such a beauteous happy bird ye took him. 15 + + Ah! for pity; but ah! for him the sparrow, + Our poor sparrow, on whom to think my lady's + Eyes do angrily redden all a-weeping. + + +IV. + +1. + + The puny pinnace yonder you, my friends, discern, + Of every ship professes agilest to be. + Nor yet a timber o'er the waves alertly flew + She might not aim to pass it; oary-wing'd alike + To fleet beyond them, or to scud beneath a sail. 5 + + Nor here presumes denial any stormy coast + Of Adriatic or the Cyclad orbed isles, + A Rhodos immemorial, or that icy Thrace, + Propontis, or the gusty Pontic ocean-arm, + + Whereon, a pinnace after, in the days of yore 10 + A leafy shaw she budded; oft Cytorus' height + With her did inly whisper airy colloquy. + +2. + + Amastris, you by Pontus, you, the box-clad hill + Of high Cytorus, all, the pinnace owns, to both + Was ever, is familiar; in the primal years 15 + She stood upon your hoary top, a baby tree, + Within your haven early dipt a virgin oar: + + To carry thence a master o'er the surly seas, + A world of angry water, hail'd to left, to right + The breeze of invitation, or precisely set 20 + The sheets together op'd to catch a kindly Jove. + + Nor yet of any power whom the coasts adore + Was heard a vow to soothe them, all the weary way + From outer ocean unto glassy quiet here. + + But all the past is over; indolently now 25 + She rusts, a life in autumn, and her age devotes + To Castor and with him ador'd, the twin divine. + + +V. + + Living, Lesbia, we should e'en be loving. + Sour severity, tongue of eld maligning, + All be to us a penny's estimation. + + Suns set only to rise again to-morrow. + We, when sets in a little hour the brief light, 5 + Sleep one infinite age, a night for ever. + + Thousand kisses, anon to these an hundred, + Thousand kisses again, another hundred, + Thousand give me again, another hundred. + + Then once heedfully counted all the thousands, 10 + We'll uncount them as idly; so we shall not + Know, nor traitorous eye shall envy, knowing + All those myriad happy many kisses. + + +VI. + + But that, Flavius, hardly nice or honest + This thy folly, methinks Catullus also + E'en had known it, a whisper had betray'd thee. + + Some she-malady, some unhealthy wanton, + Fires thee verily: thence the shy denial. 5 + + Least, you keep not a lonely night of anguish; + Quite too clamorous is that idly-feigning + Couch, with wreaths, with a Syrian odour oozing; + Then that pillow alike at either utmost + Verge deep-dinted asunder, all the trembling 10 + Play, the strenuous unsophistication; + All, O prodigal, all alike betray thee. + + Why? sides shrunken, a sullen hip disabled, + Speak thee giddy, declare a misdemeanour. + + So, whatever is yours to tell or ill or 15 + Good, confess it. A witty verse awaits thee + And thy lady, to place ye both in heaven. + + +VII. + + Ask me, Lesbia, what the sum delightful + Of thy kisses, enough to charm, to tire me? + + Multitudinous as the grains on even + Lybian sands aromatic of Cyrene; + + 'Twixt Jove's oracle in the sandy desert 5 + And where royally Battus old reposeth; + + Yea a company vast as in the silence + Stars which stealthily gaze on happy lovers; + + E'en so many the kisses I to kiss thee + Count, wild lover, enough to charm, to tire me; 10 + + These no curious eye can wholly number, + Tongue of jealousy ne'er bewitch nor harm them. + + +VIII. + + Ah poor Catullus, learn to play the fool no more. + Lost is the lost, thou know'st it, and the past is past. + + Bright once the days and sunny shone the light on thee, + Still ever hasting where she led, the maid so fair, + By me belov'd as maiden is belov'd no more. 5 + + Was then enacting all the merry mirth wherein + Thyself delighted, and the maid she said not nay. + Ah truly bright and sunny shone the days on thee. + + Now she resigns thee; child, do thou resign no less, + Nor follow her that flies thee, or to bide in woe 10 + Consent, but harden all thy heart, resolve, endure. + + Farewell, my love. Catullus is resolv'd, endures, + He will not ask for pity, will not importune. + + But thou'lt be mourning thus to pine unask'd alway. + O past retrieval faithless! Ah what hours are thine! 15 + When comes a likely wooer? who protests thou'rt fair? + + Who brooks to love thee? who decrees to live thine own? + Whose kiss delights thee? whose the lips that own thy bite? + Yet, yet, Catullus, learn to bear, resolve, endure. + + +IX. + + Dear Veranius, you of all my comrades + Worth, you only, a many goodly thousands, + + Speak they truly that you your hearth revisit, + Brothers duteous, homely mother aged? + + Yes, believe them. O happy news, Catullus! 5 + + I shall see him alive, alive shall hear him, + Tribes Iberian, uses, haunts, declaring + + As his wont is; on him my neck reclining + Kiss his flowery face, his eyes delightful. + + Now, all men that have any mirth about you, 10 + Know ye happier any, any blither? + + +X. + + In the Forum as I was idly roaming + Varus took me a merry dame to visit. + She a lady, methought upon the moment, + Of some quality, not without refinement. + +1. + + So, arrived, in a trice we fell on endless 5 + Themes colloquial; how the fact, the falsehood + With Bithynia, what the case about it, + Had it helped me to profit or to money. + + Then I told her a very truth; no atom + There for company, praetor, hungry natives, 10 + Home might render a body aught the fatter: + + Then our praetor a castaway, could hugely + Mulct his company, had a taste to jeer them. + +2. + + Spoke another, 'Yet anyways, to bear you + Men were ready, enough to grace a litter. 15 + They grow quantities, if report belies not.' + Then supremely myself to flaunt before her, + + I 'So thoroughly could not angry fortune + Spite, I might not, afflicted in my province, + Get erected a lusty eight to bear me. 20 + + But so scrubby the poor sedan, the batter'd + Frame-work, nobody there nor here could ever + Lift it, painfully neck to nick adjusting.' + +3. + + Quoth the lady, belike a lady wanton, + 'Just for courtesy, lend me, dear Catullus, 25 + Those same nobodies. I the great Sarapis + Go to visit awhile.' Said I in answer, + + 'Thanks; but, lady, for all my easy boasting, + 'Twas too summary; there's a friend who knows me, + Cinna Gaius, his the sturdy bearers. 30 + + 'Mine or Cinna's, an inch alone divides us, + I use Cinna's, as e'en my own possession. + But you're really a bore, a very tiresome + Dame unmannerly, thus to take me napping.' + + +XI. + + Furius and Aurelius, O my comrades, + Whether your Catullus attain to farthest + Ind, the long shore lash'd by reverberating + Surges Eoan; + Hyrcan or luxurious horde Arabian, 5 + Sacan or grim Parthian arrow-bearer, + Fields the rich Nile discolorates, a seven-fold + River abounding; + Whether o'er high Alps he afoot ascending + Track the long records of a mighty Csar, 10 + Rhene, the Gauls' deep river, a lonely Britain + Dismal in ocean; + This, or aught else haply the gods determine, + Absolute, you, with me in all to part not; + Bid my love greet, bear her a little errand, 15 + Scarcely of honour. + Say 'Live on yet, still given o'er to nameless + Lords, within one bosom, a many wooers, + Clasp'd, as unlov'd each, so in hourly change all + Lewdly disabled. 20 + 'Think not henceforth, thou, to recal Catullus' + Love; thy own sin slew it, as on the meadow's + Verge declines, ungently beneath the plough-share + Stricken, a flower.' + + +XII. + + Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil + Left-hand practices o'er the merry wine-cup. + Watch occasion, anon remove the napkin. + Call this drollery? Trust me, friend, it is not. + 'Tis most beastly, a trick among a thousand. 5 + + Not believe me? believe a friendly brother, + Laughing Pollio; he declares a talent + Poor indemnification, he the parlous + Child of voluble humour and facetious. + + So face hendecasyllables, a thousand, 10 + Or most speedily send me back the napkin; + Gift not prized at a sorry valuation, + But for company; 'twas a friend's memento. + + Cloth of Saetabis, exquisite, from utmost + Iber, sent as a gift to me Fabullus 15 + And Veranius. Ought not I to love them + As Veranius even, as Fabullus? + + +XIII. + + Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus, + We'll dine merrily, dear my friend, together. + + Promise only to bring, your own, a dinner + Rich and goodly; withal a lily maiden, + Wine, and banter, a world of hearty laughing. 5 + + Promise only; betimes we dine, my gentle + Friend, most merrily; but, for your Catullus-- + Know he boasts but a pouch of empty cobwebs. + + Yet take contrary fee, the quintessential + Love, or sweeter if aught is, aught supremer, 10 + + Perfume savoury, mine; my love received it + Gift of every Venus, all the Cupids. + + Would you smell it? a god shall hear Fabullus + Pray unbody him only nose for ever. + + +XIV. + + Calvus, save that as eyes thou art beloved, + I could verily loathe thee for the morning's + Gift, Vatinius hardly more devoutly. + + Slain with poetry! done to death with abjects! + O what syllable earn'd it, act allow'd it? 5 + Gods, your malison on the sorry client + Sent that rascally rabble of malignants. + + Yet, if, freely to guess, the gift recherch + Some grammarian, haply Sulla, sent thee; + I repine not; a dear delight, a triumph 10 + This, thy drudgery thus to see rewarded. + + Gods! an horrible and a deadly volume! + + Sent so faithfully, friend, to thy Catullus, + Just to kill him upon a day, the festive, + Saturnalia, best of all the season. 15 + Sure, a drollery not without requital. + + For, come dawn, to the cases and the bookshops + I; there gather a Caesius and Aquinus, + With Suffenus, in every wretch a poison: + Such plague-prodigy thy remuneration! 20 + + Now good-morrow! away with evil omen + Whence ill destiny lamely bore ye, clumsy + Poet-rabble, an age's execration! + + +XIVB. + + Readers, any that in the future ever + Scan my fantasies, haply lay upon me + Hands adventurous of solicitation-- + + +XV. + + Lend thy bounty to me, to my beloved, + Kind Aurelius. I do ask a favour + + Fair and lawful; if you did e'er in earnest + Seek some virginal innocence to cherish, + Touch not lewdly the mistress of my passion. 5 + + Trust the people; avails not aught to fear them, + Such, who hourly within the streets repassing, + Run, good souls, on a busy quest or idle. + + You, you only the free, the felon-hearted, + Fright me, prodigal you of every virtue. 10 + + Well, let luxury run her heady riot, + Love flow over; enough abroad to sate thee: + This one trespass--a tiny boon--presume not. + + But should impious heat or humour headstrong + Drive thee wilfully, wretch, to such profaning, 15 + In one folly to dare a double outrage: + + Ah what misery thine; what angry fortune! + Heels drawn tight to the stretch shall open inward + Lodgment easy to mullet and to radish. + + +XVI. + + I'll traduce you, accuse you, and abuse you, + Soft Aurelius, e'en as easy Furius. + You that lightly a saucy verse resenting, + Misconceit me, sophisticate me wanton. + + Know, pure chastity rules the godly poet, 5 + Rules not poesy, needs not e'er to rule it; + Charms some verse with a witty grace delightful? + 'Tis voluptuous, impudent, a wanton. + + It shall kindle an icy thought to courage, + Not boy-fancies alone, but every frozen 10 + Flank immovable, all amort to pleasure. + + You my kisses, a million happy kisses, + Musing, read me a silky thrall to softness? + I'll traduce you, accuse you, and abuse you. + + +XVII. + +1. + + Kind Colonia, fain upon bridge more lengthy to gambol, + And quite ready to dance amain, fearing only the rotten + Legs too crazily steadied on planks of old resurrections, + Lest it plunge to the deep morass, there supinely to welter; + So surprise thee a sumptuous bridge thy fancy to pleasure, 5 + Passive under a Salian god's most lusty procession; + This rare favour, a laugh for all time, Colonia, grant me. + + In my township a citizen lives: Catullus adjures thee + Headlong into the mire below topsy-turvy to drown him. + Only, where the superfluent lake, the spongy putrescence, 10 + Sinks most murkily flushed, descends most profoundly the bottom. + + Such a ninny, a fool is he; witless even as any + Two years' urchin, across papa's elbow drowsily swaying. + +2. + + For though wed to a maiden in spring-tide youthfully budding, + Maiden crisp as a petulant kid, as airily wanton, 15 + Sweets more privy to guard than e'er grape-bunch shadowy-purpling; + He, he leaves her alone to romp idly, cares not a fouter. + Nor leans to her at all, the man's part; but helpless as alder + Lies, new-fell'd in a ditch, beneath axe Ligurian ham-strung, + As alive to the world, as if world nor wife were at issue. 20 + + Such this gaby, my own, my arch fool; he sees not, he hears not + Who himself is, or if the self is, or is not, he knows not. + + Him I'd gladly be lowering down thy bridge to the bottom, + If from stupor inanimate peradventure he wake him, + Leaving muddy behind him his sluggish heart's hesitation, 25 + As some mule in a glutinous sludge her rondel of iron. + + +XXI. + + Sire and prince-patriarch of hungry starvelings, + Lean Aurelius, all that are, that have been, + That shall ever in after years be famish'd; + + Wouldst thou lewdly my dainty love to folly + Tempt, and visibly? thou be near, be joking 5 + Cling and fondle, a hundred arts redouble? + + O presume not: a wily wit defeated + Pays in scandalous incapacitation. + + Yet didst folly to fulness add, 'twere all one; + Now shall beauty to thirst be train'd or hunger's 10 + Grim necessity; this is all my sorrow. + + Then hold, wanton, upon the verge; to-morrow + Comes preposterous incapacitation. + + +XXII. + + Suffenus, he, dear Varus, whom, methinks, you know, + Has sense, a ready tongue to talk, a wit urbane, + And writes a world of verses, on my life no less. + + Ten times a thousand he, believe me, ten or more, + Keeps fairly written; not on any palimpsest, 5 + As often, enter'd, paper extra-fine, sheets new, + New every roller, red the strings, the parchment-case + Lead-rul'd, with even pumice all alike complete. + + You read them: our choice spirit, our refin'd rare wit, + Suffenus, O no ditcher e'er appeared more rude, 10 + No looby coarser; such a shock, a change is there. + + How then resolve this puzzle? He the birthday-wit, + For so we thought him--keener yet, if aught is so-- + Becomes a dunce more boorish e'en than hedge-born boor, + If e'er he faults on verses; yet in heart is then 15 + Most happy, writing verses, happy past compare, + So sweet his own self, such a world at home finds he. + + Friend, 'tis the common error; all alike are wrong, + Not one, but in some trifle you shall eye him true + Suffenus; each man bears from heaven the fault they send, 20 + None sees within the wallet hung behind, our own. + + +XXIII. + + Needy Furius, house nor hoard possessing, + Bug or spider, or any fire to thaw you, + Yet most blest in a father and a step-dame, + Each for penury fit to tooth a flint-stone: + Is not happiness yours? a home united? 5 + Son, sire, mother, a lathy dame to match him. + + Who can wonder? in all is health, digestion, + Pure and vigorous, hours without a trouble. + Fires ye fear not, or house's heavy downfal, + Deeds unnatural, art in act to poison, 10 + Dangers myriad accidents befalling. + + Then your bodies? in every limb a shrivell'd + Horn, all dryness in all the world whatever, + Tann'd or frozen or icy-lean with ages. + Sure superlative happiness surrounds thee. 15 + Thee sweat frets not, an o'er-saliva frets not, + Frets not snivel or oozy rheumy nostril. + + Yet such purity lacks not e'en a purer. + White those haunches as any cleanly-silver'd + Salt, it takes you a month to barely dirt them. 20 + Then like beans, or inert as e'er a pebble, + Those impeccable heavy loins, a finger's + Breadth from apathy ne'er seduced to riot. + + Such prosperity, such superb profusion, + Slight not, Furius, idly nor reject not. 25 + As for sesterces, all the would-be fortune, + Cease to wish it; enough, methinks, the present. + + +XXIV. + + O thou blossom of all the race Juventian + Not now only, but all as yet arisen, + All to flower in after-years arising; + + Midas' treasury better you presented + Him that owns not a slave nor any coffer, 5 + Ere you suffer his alien arm's presuming. + + What? you fancy him all refin'd perfection? + Perfect! truly, without a slave, a coffer. + + Slight, reject it, away with it; for all that + He, he owns not a slave nor any coffer. 10 + + +XXV. + + Smooth Thallus, inly softer you than any furry rabbit, + Or glossy goose's oily plumes, or velvet earlap yielding, + Or feeble age's heavy thighs, or flimsy filthy cobweb; + + And Thallus, hungry rascal you, as hurricane rapacious, + When winks occasion on the stroke, the gulls agape declaring: 5 + + Return the mantle home to me, you watch'd your hour to pilfer, + The fleecy napkin and the rings from Thynia quaintly graven, + Whatever you parade as yours, vain fool, a sham reversion: + + Unglue the nails adroit to steal, unclench the spoil, deliver, + Lest yet that haunch voluptuous, those tender hands caressant, 10 + Should take an ugly print severe, the scourge's heavy branding; + + And strange to bruises you should heave, as heaves in open Ocean, + Some little hoy surprised adrift, when wails the windy water. + + +XXVI. + + Draughts, dear Furius, if my villa faces, + 'Tis not showery south, nor airy wester, + North's grim fury, nor east; 'tis only fifteen + Thousand sesterces, add two hundred over. + Draft unspeakable, icy, pestilential! 5 + + +XXVII. + + Boy, young caterer of Falernian olden, + Brim me cups of a fiercer harsher essence; + So Postumia, queen of healths presiding, + Bids, less thirsty the thirsty grape, the toper. + But dull water, avaunt. Away the wine-cup's 5 + Sullen enemy; seek the sour, the solemn! + Here Thyonius hails his own elixir. + + +XXVIII. + + Starving company, troop of hungry Piso, + Light of luggage, of outfit expeditious, + You, Veranius, you, my own Fabullus, + + Say, what fortune? enough of empty masters, + Frost and famine, a lingering probation? 5 + + Stands your diary fair? is any profit + Enter'd _given_? as I to serve a praetor + Count each beggarly gift a timely profit. + + Trust me, Memmius, you did aptly finger + My passivity, fool'd me most supinely. 10 + + Friends, confess it; in e'en as hard a fortune + You stand mulcted, on you a like abashless + Rake rides heavily. Court the great who wills it! + + Gods and goddesses evil heap upon ye, + Rogues to Romulus and to Remus outcast. 15 + + +XXIX. + + Can any brook to see it, any tamely bear-- + If any, gamester, epicure, a wanton, he-- + Mamurra's own whatever all the curly Gauls + Did else inherit, or the lonely Briton isle? + Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus? 5 + + Shall he, in o'er-assumption, o'er-repletion he, + Sedately saunter every dainty couch along, + A bright Adonis, as the snowy dove serene? + Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus? + Look idly, gamester, epicure, a wanton, you. 10 + + Unique commander, and was only this the plea + Detain'd you in that islet angle of the west, + To gorge the shrunk seducer irreclaimable + With haply twice a million, add a million yet? + What else was e'er unhealthy prodigality? 15 + + The waste? to lust a little? on the belly less? + Begin; a glutted hoard paternal; ebb the first. + To this, the booty Pontic; add the spoil from out + Iberia, known to Tagus' amber ory stream. + Not only Gaul, nor only quail the Briton isles. 20 + + What help a rogue to fondle? is not all his act + To swallow monies, empty purses heap on heap? + But you--to please him only, shame to Rome, to me! + Could you the son, the father, idly ruin all? + + +XXX. + + False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal, + Doth thy pity depart? Shall not a friend, traitor, a friend recal + + Love? what courage is here me to betray, me to repudiate? + . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 + Never sure did a lie, never a sin, please the celestials. + + This you heed not; alas! leave me to new misery, desolate. (5) + O where now shall a man trust? liveth yet any fidelity? + + You, you only did urge love to be free, life to surrender, you. + Guiding into the snare, falsely secure, prophet of happiness. 10 + + Now you leave me, retract, every deed, every word allow + Into nullity winds far to remove, vapoury clouds to bear. (10) + + You forget me, but yet surely the Gods, surely remembereth + Faith; hereafter again honour awakes, causeth a wretch to rue. + + +XXXI. + + O thou of islands jewel and of half-islands, + Fair Sirmio, whatever o'er the lakes' clear rim + Or waste of ocean, Neptune holds, a two-fold pow'r; + What joy have I to see thee, and to gaze what glee! + + Scarce yet believing Thunia past, the fair champaign 5 + Bithunian, yet in safety thee to greet once more. + From cares to part us--where is any joy like this? + + Then drops the soul her fardel, as the travel-tir'd + World-weary wand'rer touches home, returns, sinks down + In joy to slumber on the bed desir'd so long. 10 + This meed, this only counts for e'en an age all toil. + + O take a welcome, lovely Sirmio, thy lord's, + And greet him happy; greet him all the lake Lydian; + Laugh out whatever laughter at the hearth rings clear. + + +XXXII. + + List, I charge thee, my gentle Ipsithilla, + Lovely ravisher and my dainty mistress, + Say we'll linger a lazy noon together. + + Suits my company? lend a farther hearing: + See no jealousy make the gate against me, 5 + See no fantasy lead thee out a-roaming. + Keep close chamber; anon in all profusion + Count me kisses again again returning. + + Bides thy will? with a sudden haste command me; + Full and wistful, at ease reclin'd, a lover 10 + Here I languish alone, supinely dreaming. + + +XXXIII. + + Master-robber of all that haunt the bath-rooms, + Old Vibennius, and his heir the wanton; + (His the dirtier hands, the greedy father, + Yours the filthier heart, his heir as hungry;) + + Please your knaveries hoist a sail for exile, 5 + Pains and privacy? since by this the father's + Thefts are palpable, and a rusty favour, + Son, picks never a penny from the people. + + +XXXIV. + + Great Diana protecteth us, + Maids and boyhood in innocence. + Maidens virtuous, innocent + Boys, your song be Diana. + Hail, Latonia, thou that art 5 + Throned daughter of enthronis'd + Jove; near Delian olive of + Mighty mother y-boren. + Queen of mountainous heights, of all + Forests leafy, delightable; 10 + Glens in bowery depths remote, + Rivers wrathfully sounding. + Thee, Lucina, the travailing + Mother haileth, a sovereign + Juno; Trivia thou, the bright 15 + Moon, a glory reflected. + Thou thine annual orb anew, + Goddess, monthly remeasuring, + Farmsteads lowly with affluent + Corn dost fill to the flowing. 20 + Be thy heavenly name whate'er + Name shall please thee, in hallowing; + Still keep safely the glorious + Race of Romulus olden. + + +XXXV. + +1. + + Take Caecilius, him the tender-hearted + Bard, my paper, a wish from his Catullus. + Come from Larius, haste to leave the new-built + Comum's watery city, seek Verona. + + Some particular intimate reflexions 5 + One would tell thee, a friend we love together. + +2. + + So he'll quickly devour the way, if only + He's no booby; for all a snowy maiden + Chide imperious, and her hands around him + Both in jealousy clasp'd, refuse departure. 10 + + She, if only report the truth bely not, + Doats, as hardly within her own possession. + +3. + + For since lately she read his high-preluding + Queen of Dindymus, all her heart is ever + Melting inly with ardour and with anguish. 15 + + Maiden, laudable is that high emotion, + Muse more rapturous, you, than any Sappho. + The Great Mother he surely sings divinely. + + +XXXVI. + +1. + + Vilest paper of all dishonour, annals + Of Volusius, hear my lovely lady's + + Vow, and pay it; awhile she swore to Venus + And fond Cupid, if ever I returning + Ceased from enmity, left to launch iambics, 5 + + She would surely devote the sorry poet's + Choicest rarities unto sooty Vulcan, + The lame deity, there to blaze lamenting. + + With such drollery, such supreme defiance, + Swore strange oath to the gods the naughty wanton. 10 + +2. + + Now, O heavenly child of azure Ocean, + Queen of Idaly, queen of Urian highlands, + + Who Ancona the fair, the reedy Cnidos + Hauntest, Amathus and the lawny Golgi, + Or Dyrrhachium, hostel Adriatic; 15 + + Hear thy votaress, answer her petition; + 'Tis most graceful, a dainty thought to charm thee. + + But ye verses, away to fire, to burning, + Rank rusticities, empty vapid annals + Of Volusius, heap of all dishonour. 20 + + +XXXVII. + +1. + + O frowsy tavern, frowsy fellowship therein, + Ninth post in order next beyond the twins cap-crown'd, + + Shall manly service none but you alone employ, + Shall you alone whatever in the world smiles fair, + Possess it, every other hold to lack esteem? 5 + + Or if in idiot impotence arow you sit, + One hundred, yes two hundred, am not I, think you, + A man to bring mine action on your whole row there? + + So think not, he that likes not; answer how you may, + With scorpion I, with emblem all your haunt will scrawl. 10 + +2. + + For she the bright one, lately fled beyond these arms, + The maid belov'd as maiden is belov'd no more, + Whom I to win, stood often in the breach, fought long, + + Has sat amongst you. Her the grand, the great, all, all + Do dearly love her; yea, beshrew the damned wrong, 15 + Each slight seducer, every lounger highway-born, + + You chiefly, peerless paragon of the tribe long-lock'd, + Rude Celtiberia's child, the bushy rabbit-den, + + Egnatius, so modish in the big bush-beard, + And teeth a native lotion hardly scours quite pure. 20 + + +XXXVIII. + + Cornificius, ill is your Catullus, + Ill, ah heaven, a weary weight of anguish, + More more weary with every day, with each hour. + + You deny me the least, the very lightest + Help, one whisper of happy thought to cheer me. 5 + + Nay, I'm sorrowful. You to slight my passion? + Ah! one word, but a tiny word to cheer me, + Sad as ever a tear Simonidean. + + +XXXIX. + +1. + + Egnatius, spruce owner of superb white teeth, + Smiles sweetly, smiles for ever: is the bench in view + Where stands a pleader just prepar'd to rouse our tears, + + Egnatius smiles sweetly; near the pyre they mourn + Where weeps a mother o'er the lost, the kind one son, 5 + Egnatius smiles sweetly; what the time or place + + Or thing soe'er, smiles sweetly; such a rare complaint + Is his, not handsome, scarce to please the town, say I. + +2. + + So take a warning for the nonce, my friend; town-bred + Were you, a Sabine hale, a pearly Tiburtine, 10 + A frugal Umbrian body, Tuscan huge of paunch, + + A grim Lanuvian black of hue, prodigious-tooth'd, + A Transpadane, my country not to pass untax'd, + In short whoever cleanly cares to rinse foul teeth, + + Yet sweetly smiling ever I would have you not, 15 + For silly laughter, it's a silly thing indeed. + +3. + + Well: you're a Celtiberian; in the parts thereby + What pass'd the night in water, every man, come dawn, + Scours clean the foul teeth with it and the gums rose-red; + + So those Iberian snowy teeth, the more they shine, 20 + So much the deeper they proclaim the draught impure. + + +XL. + + What fatality, what chimera drives thee + Headlong, Ravidus, on to my iambics? + + What fell deity, most malign to listen, + Fires thy fury to quarrel unavailing? + + Wouldst thou busy the breath of half the people? 5 + Break with clamour at any cost the silence? + + Thou wilt do it; a wretch that hop'd my darling + Love to fondle, a sure retaliation. + + +XLI. + + Ameana, the maiden of the people, + Asks me sesterces, all the many thousands. + + Maiden she with a nose not wholly faultless, + Bankrupt Formian, your declar'd devotion. + + Wherefore look to the maiden, her relations: 5 + Call her family, summon all the doctors. + + Your poor maiden is oddly touch'd; a mirror + Sure would lend her a soberer reflexion. + + +XLII. + +1. + + Come all hendecasyllables whatever, + Wheresoever ye house you, all whatever. + + I the game of an impudent adultress? + She refuse to return to me the tablets + Where you syllable? O ye can't be silent. 5 + Up, have after her, ask renunciation. + + Would ye know her? a woman, you shall eye her + Strutting loftily, whiles she laughs a loud laugh + Vast and vulgar, a Gaulish hound beseeming. + Form your circle about her, ask her, urge her. 10 + + 'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over. + Hark, the note-book, adultress, hand it over.' + +2. + + What? you scorn us? O ugly filth, detested + Trull, whatever is all abomination. + + Nay then, louder. Enough as yet it is not. 15 + If this only remains, perhaps the dog-like + Face may colour, a brassy blush may yield us. + Swell your voices in higher harsher yellings, + + 'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over; + Hark, the note-book; adultress, hand it over.' 20 + + Look, she moves not at all: we waste the moments. + Change your quality, try another issue. + Such composure a sweeter air may alter. + 'Pure and virtuous, hand the note-book over.' + + +XLIII. + + Hail, fair virgin, a nose among the larger, + Feet not dainty, nor eyes to match a raven, + Mouth scarce tenible, hands not wholly faultless, + Tongue most surely not absolute refinement, + Bankrupt Formian, your declar'd devotion. 5 + Thou the beauty, the talk of all the province? + Thou my Lesbia tamely think to rival? + O preposterous, empty generation! + + +XLIV. + + O thou my Sabine farmstead or my Tiburtine, + For who Catullus would not harm, avow, kind souls, + Thou surely art at Tibur; and who quarrel will + Sabine declare thee, stake the world to prove their say: + + But be'st a Sabine, be'st a very Tiburtine, 5 + At thy suburban villa what delight I knew + To spit the tiresome cough away, my lungs' ill guest, + My belly brought me, not without a sad weak sin, + Because a costly dinner I desir'd too much. + + For I, to feast with Sestius, that host unmatch'd, 10 + A speech of his, pure poison, every line deep-drugg'd, + His speech against the plaintiff Antius, read through. + + Whereat a cold chill, soon a gusty cough in fits, + Shook, shook me ever, till to thy retreat I fled, + There duly dosed with nettle and repose found cure. 15 + So, now recruited, thanks superlative, dear farm, + I give thee, who so lightly didst avenge that sin. + + And trust me, farm, if ever I again take up + With Sextius' black charges, I'll rebel no more; + But let the chill things damn to cold, to cough, not me 20 + That read the volume--no, but him, the man's vain self. + + +XLV. + +1. + + While Septimius in his arms his Acme + Fondled closely, 'My own,' said he, 'my Acme, + + If I love not as unto death, nor hold me + Ever faithfully well-prepar'd to largest + Strain of fiery wooer yet to love thee, 5 + + Then in Libya, then may I alone in + Burning India face a sulky lion.' + + Scarce he ended, upon the right did eager + Love sneeze amity; 'twas before to leftward. + +2. + + Acme quietly back her head reclining 10 + Towards her boy, with a rosy mouth delightful + Kissed his passionate eyes elately swimming, + + Then 'Septimius, O my life' she murmur'd, + 'So may he that is in this hour ascendant + + Rule us ever, as in me burns a greater 15 + Fire, a fiercer, in every vein triumphing.' + + Scarce she ended, upon the right did eager + Love sneeze amity; 'twas before to leftward. + +3. + + So, that augury joyous each possessing, + Loves, is lov'd with an even emulation. 20 + + Poor Septimius, all to please his Acme, + Recks not Syria, recks not any Britain. + + In Septimius only faithful Acme + Makes her softnesses, holds her happy pleasures. + + When did mortal on any so rejoicing 25 + Look, on union hallow'd as divinely? + + +XLVI. + + Now soft spring with her early warmth returneth, + Now doth Zephyrus, health benignly breathing, + Still the boisterous equinoctial heaven. + + Leave we Phrygia, leave the plains, Catullus, + Leave Nicaea, the sultry soil of harvest: 5 + On for Asia, for the starry cities. + Now all flurry the soul is out a-ranging, + Now with vigour aflame the feet renew them. + + Farewell company true, my lovely comrades. + You so joyfully borne from home together, 10 + Now o'er many a weary way returning. + + +XLVII. + + Porcius, Socration, the greedy Piso's + Tools of thievery, rogues to famish ages, + + So that filthy Priapus ousts to please you + My Veranius even and Fabullus? + + What? shall you then at early noon carousing 5 + Lap in luxury? they, my jolly comrades, + Search the streets on a quest of invitation? + + +XLVIII. + + If, Juventius, I the grace win ever + Still on beauteous honied eyes to kiss thee, + I would kiss them a million, yet a million. + + Yea, nor count me to win the full attainment, + Not, tho' heavier e'en than ears at harvest, 5 + Fall my kisses, a wealthy crop delightful. + + +XLIX. + + Greatest speaker of any born a Roman, + Marcus Tullius, all that are, that have been, + That shall ever in after-years be famous; + + Thanks superlative unto thee Catullus + Renders, easily last among the poets. 5 + + He as easily last among the poets + As thou surely the first among the pleaders. + + +L. + +1. + + Dear Lucinius, yestereve we linger'd + Scrawling fancies, a hundred, in my tablets, + Wits in combat; a treaty this between us. + + Scribbling drolleries each of us together + Launched one arrowy metre and another, 5 + Tenders jocular o'er the merry wine-cup. + +2. + + So quite sorely with all your humour heated + Gay Lucinius, I that eve departed. + + Food my misery could not any lighten, + Sleep nor quiet upon my eyes descended. 10 + + Still untamable o'er the couch did I then + Turn and tumble, in haste to see the day-light, + Hear your prattle again, again be with you. + +3. + + Then, when weary with all the worry, numb'd, dead, + Sank my body, upon the bed reposing, 15 + This, O humorous heart, did I, a poem + Write, my tedious anguish all revealing. + + O beware then of hardihood; a lover's + Plea for charity, dear my friend, reject not: + What if Nemesis haply claim repayment? 20 + She is tyrannous. O beware offending. + + +LI. + + He to me like unto the Gods appeareth, + He, if I dare speak it, ascends above them, + Face to face who toward thee attently sitting + Gazes or hears thee + + Lovely in sweet laughter; alas within me 5 + Every lost sense falleth away for anguish; + When as I look'd on thee, upon my lips no + Whisper abideth, + Straight my tongue froze, Lesbia; soon a subtle + Fire thro' each limb streameth adown; with inward 10 + Sound the full ears tinkle, on either eye night's + Canopy darkens. + Ease alone, Catullus, alone afflicts thee; + Ease alone breeds error of heady riot; + Ease hath entomb'd princes of old renown and 15 + Cities of honour. + + +LII. + + Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die? + If in the curule chair a hump sits, Nonius; + A would-be consul lies in hope, Vatinius; + Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die? + + +LIII. + + How I laughed at a wag amid the circle! + He, when Calvus in high denunciation + Of Vatinius had declaim'd divinely, + Hands uplifted as in supreme amazement, + Cried 'God bless us! a wordy cockalorum!' 5 + + +LIV. + + Otho's head is a very dwarf; a rustic's + Shanks has Herius, only semi-cleanly; + Libo's airs to a fume of art refine them. + . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . 5 + _Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics_. + . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . + [_So may destiny doom me quite to silence_] + As I care not if every line offend thee 10 + And Sufficius, age in youth's revival. + . . . . . . . . + Thou shalt kindle at innocent iambics, + Mighty general, once again returning. + + +LV. + +1. + + List, I beg, provided you're in humour, + Speak your privacy, show what alley veils you. + You I sought on Campus, I, the lesser, + You on Circus, in all the bills but you, sir. + You with father Jove in holy temple. 5 + Then, where flocks the parade to Magnus' arches, + + Friend, I hail'd each lady promenader, + Each, I found, did face me quite sedately. + +2. + + What? they steal, I loudly cried protesting, + My Camerius? out upon the wenches! 10 + Answer'd one and lightly bared a bosom, + 'See! what bowery roses; here he hides him.' + + Yea 'twould task e'en Hercules to bear you, + You so scornful, friend, in your refusing. + +3. + + Not tho' I were warder of the Cretans, 15 + Not tho' Pegasus on his airy pinion, + + Perseus feathery-footed, I a Ladas, + Rhesus' chariot yok'd to snowy coursers, + Add each feathery sandal, every flying + Power, ask fleetness of all the winds of heaven, 20 + Mine, Camerius, and to me devoted; + Yet with drudgery sorely spent should I, yet + + Worn, outworn with languor unto languor + Faint, O friend, in an empty quest to find you. + +4. + + Say, where think you anon to be; declare it, 25 (15) + Fair and free, submit, commit to daylight. + What? still thrall to the lovely lily ladies? + Keep close mouth, lock fast the tongue within it, + Love's felicity falls without fruition; + Venus still is free to talk, a babbler. 30 (20) + Yet close palate, an if ye will it; only + In my love some part to bear refuse not. + + +LVII. + + O rare sympathies! happy rakes united! + There Mamurra the woman, here a Caesar. + + Who can wonder? An ugly brand on either, + His, true Formian, his, politely Roman, + Rests indelible, in the bone residing. 5 + + Either infamous, each a twin dishonour, + Bookish brethren, a dainty pair pedantic; + + One adultrous, as hungry he; with equal + Parts in women, a lusty corporation. + O rare sympathies! happy rakes united! 10 + + +LVIII. + + That bright Lesbia, Caelius, the self-same + Peerless Lesbia, she than whom Catullus + Self nor family more devoutly cherish'd, + By foul roads, or in every shameful alley, + Strains the vigorous issue of the people. 5 + + +LIX. + + Poor Rufa from Bononia Rufulus gallants, + Menenius' errant lady, she that in grave-yards + (You've seen her often) snaps from every pile her meal, + When hotly chasing dusty loaves the fire rolls down, + She felt some half-shorn corpseman and his hand's big blow. 5 + + +LX. + + Hadst thou a Libyan lioness on heights all stone, + A Scylla, barking wolvish at the loins' last verge, + To bear thee, O black-hearted, O to shame forsworn, + That unto supplication in my last sad need + Thou mightst not harken, deaf to ruth, a beast, no man? 5 + + +LXI. + + God, on verdurous Helicon + Dweller, child of Urania, + Thou that draw'st to the man the fair + Maiden, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus: 5 + + Wreathe thy brows in amaracus' + Fragrant blossom; an aureat + Veil be round thee; approach, in all + Joy, approach with a luminous + Foot, a sandal of amber. 10 + + Come, for jolly the time, awake. + Chant in melody musical + Hymns of bridal; on earth a foot + Beating, hands to the winds above + Torches oozily swinging. 15 + + Such, as she that on Idaly + Venus dwelleth, appear'd before + Him, the Phrygian arbiter, + So with Mallius happily + Happy Junia weddeth. 20 + + Like some myrtle of Asia + Bright in airily blossoming + Boughs, the wood Hamadryades + Nurse with showery dew, to be + Theirs, a tender plaything. 25 + + So come to us in haste; away, + Leave thy Thespian hollow-arch'd + Rock, muse-haunted, Aonian, + Drench'd in spray from aloft, the cold + Drift of Nymph Aganippe. 30 + + Homeward summon a sovereign + Wife most passionate, holden in + Love fast prisoner: ivy not + Closer closes an elm around, + Interchangeably trailing. 35 + + You too with him, O you for whom + Comes as joyous a time, your own. + Virgins stainless of heart, arise. + Chant in unison, Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 40 + + That, more readily listening, + Whiles your song to familiar + Duty calls him, he hie apace, + Lord of fair paramours, of youth's + Fair affection uniter. 45 + + + Who more worthy than he to list + Lovers wearily languishing? + Bends from heaven a sovereign + God adorabler? Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 50 + + You the father in years for his + Child beseecheth; a virginal + Zone falls slackly to earth for you, + You half-fear in his hankering + Lists the groomsman approaching. 55 + + You from motherly lap the bright + Girl can sever; your hand divine + Gives dominion, ushering + Warm the lover. O Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 60 + + Nought delightful, if you be far, + Nought unharmed of envious + Tongues, Love wins him: if you be near + Much he wins him. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 65 + + Houses cannot, if you be far, + Yield their children, a babe renew + Sire or mother: if you be near, + Comes renewal. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 70 + + If your great ceremonial + Fail, no champion yeomanry + Guards the border. If you be near + Arms the border. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 75 + + + Fling the portal apart. The bride + Waits. O see ye the luminous + Torch-flakes ruddily flickering? + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 80 + + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . + Nought she hears us: her innocent (80) + Eyes do weep to be going. 85 + + Weep not, lady; for envious + Tongue no lovelier owneth, Au- + Runculeia; nor any more + Fair saw rosily bright the dawn (85) + Leave his chamber in Ocean. 90 + + Such in many a flowering + Garden, trimm'd for a lord's delight, + Stands some delicate hyacinth. + Yet you tarry. The day declines. (90) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 95 + + Forth, fair bride, to the people, if + So it likes you, a-listening + Words that please us. O eye ye yon + Torches ruddily flickering? (95) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 100 + + Husband never of yours shall haunt + Stained wanton, a mutinous + Fancy shamefully following, + Tire not ever, or e'er from your (100) + Dainty bosom unyoke him. 105 + + He more lithe than a vine amid + Trees, that, mazily folded, it + Clasps and closes, in amorous + Arms shall close thee. The day declines. (105) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 110 + + Couch of pleasure, _O odorous + Couch, whose gorgeous apparellings, + Silver-purple, on Indian + Woods do rest them; adown_ the bright + Feet in ivory glisten; 115 + + When thy lord in his hour attains, + What large extasy, while the night (110) + Fleets, or noon the meridian + Passes thoro'. The day declines. + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 120 + + + Lift the torches aloft in air, + Boys: the fiery veil is here. (115) + Come, to measure your hymn rehearse. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 125 + + Nor withhold ye the countryman's + Ribald raillery Fescenine. (120) + Nor if happily boys declare + Thy dominion attaint, refuse, + Youth, the nuts to be flinging. 130 + + Fling, O womanish youth; the boys + Ask thee charity. Time agone (125) + Toys and folly; to-day begins + Our high duty, Talassius. + Hasten, youth, to be flinging. 135 + + Thou didst surely but yestereve + Mock the women, a favourite (130) + Far above them: anon the first + Beard, the razor. Alack, alas! + Hasten, youth, to be flinging. 140 + + You, whom odorous oils declare + Bridegroom, swerve not; a slippery (135) + Love calls lightly, but yet refrain. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 145 + + Lawful only did e'er delight + You, we know; but it is not, O (140) + Husband, lawful as heretofore. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 150 + + Bride, thou also, if he demand + Aught, refuse not, assent, obey. (145) + Love can angrily pipe adieu. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 155 + + Look! thy mansion, a sovereign + Home most goodly, by him to thee (150) + Given. Reign as a queen within, + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 160 + + Still when hoary decrepitude, + Shaking wintery brows benign, (155) + Nods a tremulous Yes to all. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 165 + + + With fair augury smite the blest + Threshold, sunnily glistening (160) + Feet: yon ivory door approach, + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 170 + + See one seated, a banqueter. + 'Tis thy lord on a Tyrian (165) + Couch: his spirit is all to thee. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 175 + + Not less surely in him than in + Thee love lighteth a bosoming (170) + Flame; but deeper, a fire within. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 180 + + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 185 + + Thou, whose purple her arm, the slim + Arm, props happily, boy, depart. (175) + Time the bride be at entering. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 190 + + You in chastity tried the long + Years, good women of agedest (180) + Husbands, lay ye the bride to-night. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 195 + + + Husband, stay not: a bride within + Coucheth ready, the flowering (185) + Spring less lovely; a countenance + White as parthenice, beyond + Yellow poppy to gaze on. 200 + + Thou, so help me the favouring + Gods immortal, as heavenly (190) + Fair art also, adorned of + Venus' bounty. The day declines. + Come nor tarry to greet her. 205 + + Not too slothfully tarrying, + Thou art here. Benediction of (195) + Venus help thee, a man without + Shame of blameless, a love that is + Honest frankly revealing. 210 + + Dust of infinite Africa, + Stars that sparkle, a myriad (200) + Host, who measureth, your delights + He shall tell them, ineffable, + Multitudinous, over. 215 + + Make your happy delight, renew'd + Soon in children. A glorious (205) + Name and olden is ill without + Children, unto the first a new + Stock as goodly begetting. 220 + + Some Torquatus, a beauteous + Babe, on motherly breasts to thee (210) + Stretching, father, his innocent + Hands, smile softly from inchoate + Lips half-open a welcome. 225 + + Like his father, a Mallius + New presented, of every (215) + Eyeing stranger allowed his own; + Mother's chastity moulded in + Features childly revealing. 230 + + Glory speak of him issuing + Child of mother as excellent (220) + She, as only that age-renown'd + Wife, whose story Telemachus + Blazons, Penelopea. 235 + + Virgins, close ye the door. Enough + This our carol. O happiest (225) + Lovers, jollity live with you. + Still that genial youth to love's + Consummation attend ye. 240 + + +LXII. + +YOUTHS. + + Hesper is here; rise youths, rise all of you; high on Olympus + Hesper his orb long-look'd for aloft 'gins slowly to kindle. + Time is now to arise, from tables costly to part us; + Now doth a virgin approach, now soundeth a glad Hymenaeal. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 5 + +VIRGINS. + + See ye yon youthful band? O, maidens, rise ye to meet them. + Comes not Night's bright bearer a fire o'er Oeta revealing? + Surely; for even now, in a moment all have arisen, + Not for nought have arisen; a song waits, goodly to gaze on. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 10 + +YOUTHS. + + No light victory this, O comrades, ready before us. + Busy the virgins muse, their practis'd ditty recalling, + Muse nor shall miscarry; a song for memory waits us. + Rightly; for all their souls do inwards labour in issue. + + We--our thoughts one way, our ears have drifted another, 15 + So comes worthy defeat; no victory calls to the careless. + Come then, in even race let thought their melody rival; + They must open anon; 'twere better anon be replying. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Hesper, moveth in heaven a light more tyrannous ever? 20 + Thou from a mother's arms canst wrest her daughter asunder, + Wrest from a mother's arms her daughter woefully clinging, + Then to the burning youth his virgin beauty deliver. + Foes in a new-sack'd town, when wrought they crueller ever? + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 25 + +YOUTHS. + + Hesper, shineth in heaven a light more genial ever? + Thou with a bridal flame true lovers' unity crownest, + All which duly the men, which plighted duly the parents, + Then completed alone, when thou in splendour awakest. + When shone an happier hour than thy god-speeded arriving? 30 + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Sisters, Hesper a fellow of our bright company taketh. + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 35 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + + _Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus._ + +YOUTHS. + + . . . . . . . . . . . 40 + . . . . . . . . . . + Hesper, awaiting thee each sentinel holdeth alarum. + Night veils love's false thieves; thieves still when, Hesper, another + Name, but unalter'd still, thou tak'st them surely, returning. (35) + Yet be the maidens pleas'd in woeful fancy to chide thee. 45 + Maybe for all they chide, their hearts do inly desire thee. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Look in a garden-croft when a flower privily growing, + Hid from grazing kine, by ploughshare never y-broken, (40) + Strok'd by the breeze, by the sun nurs'd sturdily, rear'd by + the showers; 50 + Many a wistful boy, and maidens many desire it: + + Yet if a slender nail hath nipt his bloom to deflour it, + Never a wistful boy, nor maidens any desire it: + + Such is a girl untoy'd with as yet, yet lovely to kinsmen; (45) + Once her body profan'd, herflow'r of chastity blighted, 55 + Boys no more she delights, nor seems so lovely to maidens; + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +YOUTHS. + + Look as a lone lorn vine in a bare field sorrily growing, + Never an arm uplifts, no grape to maturity ripens, (50) + + Only with headlong weight her tender body declining, 60 + Bows, till topmost spray and roots meet feebly together; + Her no peasant swain, nor bullock tendeth her ever; + + Yet to the bachelor elm if marriage-fortune unite her, + Many a peasant tills and bullocks many about her; (55) + + Such is a maid untoy'd with as yet, in loneliness aging; 65 + Wins she a bridegroom meet, in time's warm fulness arriving, + So to the man more dear, and less unlovely to parents. + + O then, clasp thy love, nor fight, fair maiden, against him. + Sin 'twere surely to fight; thy father gave to his arms thee, (60) + Father's self and mother; obey nor wrongly defy them. 70 + . . . . . . . . . . + + Virgin's crown thou claim'st not alone, but partly the parents, + Father's one whole part, one goes to the mother allotted, + Rests one only to thee; O fight not with them alone thou, + Both to a son their rights and both their dowry deliver. 75 (65) + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + + +LXIII. + + In a swift ship Attis hasting over ocean a mariner + When he gained the wood, the Phrygian, with a foot of agility, + When he near'd the leafy forest, dark sanctuary divine; + By unearthly fury frenzied, a bewildered agony, + With a flint of edge he shatter'd to the ground his humanity. 5 + Then aghast to see the lost limbs, the deform'd inutility, + While still the gory dabble did anew the soil pollute, + With a snowy palm the woman took affrayed a taborine. + Taborine, the trump that hails thee, Cybele, thy initiant. + Then a dainty finger heaving to the tremulous hide o' the bull, 10 + He began this invocation to the company, spirit-awed. + + "To the groves, ye sexless eunuchs, in assembly to Cybele, + Lost sheep that err rebellious to the lady Dindymene; + Ye, who all awing for exile in a country of aliens, + My unearthly rule obeying to be with me, my retinue, 15 + Could aby the surly salt seas' mid inexorability, + Could in utter hate to lewdness your sex dishabilitate; + + Let a gong clash glad emotion, set a giddy fury to roam, + All slow delay be banish'd, thither his ye thither away + To the Phrygian home, the wild wood, to the sanctuary divine; 20 + + Where rings the noisy cymbal, taborines are in echoing, + On a curved oat the Phrygian deep pipeth a melody, + With a fury toss the Maenads clad in ivies a frolic head, + To a barbarous ululation the religious orgy wakes, + Where fleets across the silence Cybele's holy family; 25 + Thither his we, so beseems us; to a mazy measure away." + + Thus as Attis, a woman, Attis, not a woman, urg'd the rest, + On a sudden yell'd in huddling agitation every tongue, + Taborines give airy murmur, give a clangorous echo gongs, + With a rush the brotherhood hastens to the woods, the bosom of Ide. 30 + Then in agony, breathless, errant, flush'd wearily, cometh on + Taborine behind him, Attis, thoro' leafy glooms a guide, + As a restive heifer yields not to the cumbrous onerous yoke. + Thither his the votaress eunuchs with an emulous alacrity. + Now faintly sickly plodding to the goddess's holy shrine, 35 + They took the rest which easeth long toil, nor ate withal. + Slow sleep descends on eyelids ready drowsily to decline, + In a soft repose departeth the devout spirit-agony. + When awoke the sun, the golden, that his eyes heaven-orient + Scann'd lustrous air, the rude seas, earth's massy solidity, 40 + When he smote the shadowy twilight with his healthy team sublime, + Then arous'd was Attis; o'er him sleep hastily fled away + To Pasithea's arms immortal with a tremulous hovering. + But awaked from his reposing, the delirious anguish o'er, + When as Attis' heart recalled him to the past solitarily, 45 + Saw clearly where he stood, what, an annihilate apathy, + With a soul that heaved within him, to the water he fled again. + Then as o'er the waste of ocean with a rainy eye he gazed + To the land of home he murmur'd miserable a soliloquy. + + + "Mother-home of all affection, dear home, my nativity, 50 + Whom in anguish I deserting, as in hatred a runaway + From a master, hither have hurried to the lonely woods of Ide, + + To be with the snows, the wild beasts, in a wintery domicile, + To be near each savage houser that a surly fury provokes, + What horizon, O beloved, may attain to thee anywhere? 55 + + Yet an eyeless orb is yearning ineffectually to thee. + For a little ere returneth the delirious hour again. + + Shall a homeless Attis hie him to the groves uninhabited? + Shall he leave a country, wealth, friends? bid a sire, a mother, adieu? + The palaestra lost, the forum, the gymnasium, the course? 60 + + O unhappy, fall a-weeping, thou unhappy soul, for aye. + + For is honour of any semblance, any beauty but of it I? + Who, a woman here, in order was a man, a youth, a boy, + To the sinewy ring a fam'd flower, the gymnasium's applause. + + With a throng about the portal, with a populace in the gate, 65 + With a flowery coronal hanging upon every column of home, + When anew my chamber open'd, as awoke the sunny morn. + + O am I to live the god's slave? feodary be to Cybele? + Or a Maenad I, an eunuch? or a part of a body slain? + + Or am I to range the green tracts upon Ida snowy-chill? 70 + Be beneath the stately caverns colonnaded of Asia? + Be with hind that haunts the covert, or in hursts that house the boar? + + Woe, woe the deed accomplish'd! woe, woe, the shame to me!" + + From rosy lips ascending when approached the gusty cry + To celestial ears recording such a message inly borne, 75 + Cybele, the thong relaxing from a lion-haled yoke, + Said, aleft the goad addressing to the foe that awes the flocks-- + + + "Come, a service; haste, my brave one; let a fury the madman arm, + Let a fury, a frenzy prick him to return to the wood again, + This is he my hest declineth, the unheedy, the runaway. 80 + + From an angry tail refuse not to abide the sinewy stroke, + To a roar let all the regions echo answer everywhere, + On a nervy neck be tossing that uneasy tawny mane." + + So in ire she spake, adjusting disunitedly then her yoke + At his own rebuke the lion doth his heart to a fury spur, 85 + With a step, a roar, a bursting unarrested of any brake. + But anear the foamy places when he came, to the frothy beach, + When he saw the sexless Attis by the seas' level opaline, + Then he rushed upon him; affrighted to the wintery wood he flew, + Cybele's for aye, for all years, in her order a votaress. 90 + Holy deity, great Cybele, holy lady Dindymene, + Be to me afar for ever that inordinate agony. + O another hound to madness, O another hurry to rage! + + +LXIV. + + Born on Pelion height, so legend hoary relateth, + Pines once floated adrift on Neptune billowy streaming + On to the Phasis flood, to the borders tean. + Then did a chosen array, rare bloom of valorous Argos, + Fain from Colchian earth her fleece of glory to ravish, 5 + Dare with a keel of swiftness adown salt seas to be fleeting, + Swept with fir-blades oary the fair level azure of Ocean. + Then that deity bright, who keeps in cities her high ward, + Made to delight them a car, to the light breeze airily scudding, + Texture of upright pine with a keel's curved rondure uniting. 10 + That first sailer of all burst ever on Amphitrite. + + Scarcely the forward snout tore up that wintery water, + Scarcely the wave foamed white to the reckless harrow of oarsmen, + Straight from amid white eddies arose wild faces of Ocean, + Nereid, earnest-eyed, in wonderous admiration. 15 + Then, not after again, saw ever mortal unharmed + Sea-born Nymphs unveil limbs flushing naked about them. + Stark to the nursing breasts from foam and billow arising. + Then, so stories avow, burn'd Peleus hotly to Thetis, + Then to a mortal lover abode not Thetis unheeding, 20 + Then did a father agree Peleus with Thetis unite him. + + O in an aureat hour, O born in bounteous ages, + God-sprung heroes, hail: hail, mother of all benediction, + You my song shall address, you melodies everlasting. + Thee most chiefly, supreme in glory of heavenly bridal, 25 + Peleus, stately defence of Thessaly. Iuppiter even + Gave thee his own fair love, thy mortal pleasure approving. + Thee could Thetis inarm, most beauteous Ocean-daughter? + Tethys adopt thee, her own dear grandchild's wooer usurping? + Ocean, who earth's vast globe with a watery girdle inorbeth? 30 + + When the delectable hour those days did fully determine, + Straightway then in crowds all Thessaly flock'd to the palace, + Thronging hosts uncounted, a company joyous approaching. + Many a gift they carry, delight their faces illumines. + Left is Scyros afar, and Phthia's bowery Tempe, 35 + Vacant Crannon's homes, unvisited high Larisa, + Towards Pharsalia's halls, Pharsalia's only they hie them. + + Bides no tiller afield; necks soften of oxen in idlesse; + Feel not a prong'd crook'd hoe lush vines all weedily trailing; + Tears no steer deep clods with a downward coulter unearthed; 40 + Prunes no hedger's bill broad-verging verdurous arbours; + Steals a deforming rust on ploughs left rankly to moulder. + + But that sovran abode, each sumptuous inly retiring + Chamber, aflame with gold, with silver is all resplendent; + Thrones gleam ivory-white; cup-crown'd blaze brightly the tables; 45 + All the domain with treasure of empery gaudily flushes. + + There, set deeply within the remotest centre, a bridal + Bed doth a goddess inarm; smooth ivory glossy from Indies, + Robed in roseate hues, rich seashells' purple adorning. + + + It was a broidery freak'd with tissue of images olden, 50 + One whose curious art did blazon valour of heroes. + Gazing forth from a beach of Dia the billow-resounding, + Look'd on a vanish'd fleet, on Theseus quickly departing, + Restless in unquell'd passion, a feverous heart, Ariadne. + Scarcely her eyes yet seem their seeming clearly to vision. 55 + You might guess that arous'd from slumber's drowsy betrayal, + Sand-engirded, alone, then first she knew desolation. + He the betrayer--his oars with fugitive hurry the waters + Beat, each promise of old to the winds given idly to bear them. + + Him from amid shore-weeds doth Minos' daughter, in anguish 60 + Rigid, a Bacchant-form, dim-gazing stonily follow, + Stonily still, wave-tost on a sea of troublous affliction. + Holds not her yellow locks the tiara's feathery tissue; + Veils not her hidden breast light brede of drapery woven; + Binds not a cincture smooth her bosom's orbed emotion. 65 + Widely from each fair limb that footward-fallen apparel + Drifts its lady before, in billowy salt loose-playing. + + Not for silky tiara nor amice gustily floating + Recks she at all any more; thee, Theseus, ever her earnest + Heart, all clinging thought, all chained fancy requireth. 70 + Ah unfortunate! whom with miseries ever crazing, + Thorns in her heart deep planted, affray'd Erycina to madness, + From that earlier hour, when fierce for victory Theseus + Started alert from a beach deep-inleted of Pirus, + Gain'd Gortyna's abode, injurious halls of oppression. 75 + + Once, 'tis sung in stories, a dire distemper atoning + Death of an ill-blest prince, Androgeos, angrily slaughter'd, + Taxed of her youthful array, her maidenly bloom fresh-glowing, + Feast to the monster bull, Cecropia, ransom-laden. + Then, when a plague so deadly, the garrison undermining, 80 + Spent that slender city, his Athens dearly to rescue, + Sooner life Theseus and precious body did offer, + Ere his country to Crete freight corpses, a life in seeming. + So with a ship fast-fleeted, a gale blown gently behind him, + Push'd he his onward journey to Minos' haughty dominion. 85 + + Him for very delight when a virgin fondly desiring + Gazed on, a royal virgin, in odours silkily nestled, + Pure from a maiden's couch, from a mother's pillowy bosom, + Like some myrtle, anear Eurotas' water arising, + Like earth's myriad hues, spring's progeny, rais'd to the breezes; 90 + Droop'd not her eyes their gaze unquenchable, ever-burning + Save when in each charm'd limb to the depths enfolded, a sudden + Flame blazed hotly within her, in all her marrow abiding. + + O thou cruel of heart, thou madding worker of anguish, + Boy immortal, of whom joy springs with misery blending, 95 + Yea, thou queen of Golgi, of Idaly leaf-embower'd, + O'er what a fire love-lit, what billows wearily tossing, + Drave ye the maid, for a guest so sunnily lock'd deep sighing. + What most dismal alarms her swooning fancy did echo! + Oft what a sallower hue than gold's cold glitter upon her! 100 + Whiles, heart-hungry in arms that monster deadly to combat, + Theseus drew towards death or victory, guerdon of honour. + Yet not lost the devotion, or offer'd idly the virgin's + Gifts, as her unvoic'd lips breathed incense faintly to heaven. + + As on Taurus aloft some oak agitatedly waving 105 + Tosses his arms, or a pine cone-mantled, oozily rinded, + When as his huge gnarled trunk in furious eddies a whirlwind + Riving wresteth amain; down falleth he, upward hoven, + Falleth on earth; far, near, all crackles brittle around him, + So to the ground Theseus his fallen foeman abasing, 110 + Slew, that his horned front toss'd vainly, a sport to the breezes. + Thence in safety, a victor, in height of glory returned, + Guiding errant feet to a thread's impalpable order. + Lest, upon egress bent thro' tortuous aisles labyrinthine, + Walls of blindness, a maze unravell'd ever, elude him. 115 + + Yet, for again I come to the former story, beseems not + Linger on all done there; how left that daughter a gazing + Father, a sister's arms, her mother woefully clinging, + Mother, who o'er that child moan'd desperate, all heart-broken; + How not in home that maid, in Theseus only delighted; 120 + How her ship on a shore of foaming Dia did harbour; + How, when her eyes lay bound in slumber's shadowy prison, + He forsook, forgot her, a wooer traitorous-hearted: + + Oft, say stories, at heart with frenzied fantasy burning, + Pour'd she, a deep-wrung breast, clear-ringing cries of oppression; 125 + Sometimes mournfully clomb to the mountain's rugged ascension, + Straining thence her vision across wide surges of ocean; + Now to the brine ran forth, upsplashing freshly to meet her, + Lifting raiment fine her thighs which softly did open; + Last, when sorrow had end, these words thus spake she lamenting, 130 + While from a mouth tear-stain'd chill sobs gushed dolorous ever. + + + 'Look, is it here, false heart, that rapt from country, from altar, + Household altar ashore, I wander, falsely deserted? + Ah! is it hence, Theseus, that against high heaven a traitor + Homeward thou thy vileness, alas thy perjury bearest? 135 + + Might not a thought, one thought, thy cruel counsel abating + Sway thee tender? at heart rose no compassion or any + Mercy, to bend thy soul, or me for pity deliver? + + Yet not this thy promise of old, thy dearly remembered + Voice, not these the delights thou bad'st thy poor one inherit; 140 + Nay, but wedlock happy, but envied joy hymeneal; + All now melted in air, with a light wind emptily fleeting. + + + Let not a woman trust, since that first treason, a lover's + Desperate oath, none hope true lover's promise is earnest. + They, while fondly to win their amorous humour essayeth, 145 + Fear no covetous oath, all false free promises heed not; + They if once lewd pleasure attain unruly possession, + Lo they fear not promise, of oath or perjury reck not. + + Yet indeed, yet I, when floods of death were around thee, + Set thee on high, did rather a brother choose to defend not, 150 + Ere I, in hate's last hour, false heart, fail'd thee to deliver. + + Now, for a goodly reward, to the beasts they give me, the flying + Fowls; no handful of earth shall bury me, pass'd to the shadows. + + + What grim lioness yeaned thee, aneath what rock's desolation? + What wild sea did bear, what billows foamy regorged thee? 155 + Seething sand, or Scylla the snare, or lonely Charybdis? + If for a life's dear joy comes back such only requital? + + Hadst not a will with spousal an honour'd wife to receive me? + Awed thee a father stern, cross age's churlish avising? + Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden, 160 + Might'st have led me, to wait, joy-filled, a retainer upon thee, + Now in waters clear thy feet like ivory laving, + Clothing now thy bed with crimson's gorgeous apparel. + + Yet to the brutish winds why moan I longer unheeded, + Crazy with an ill wrong? They senseless, voiceless, inhuman 165 + Utter'd cry they hear not, in answers hollow reply not. + He rides far already, the mid sea's boundary cleaving, + Strays no mortal along these weeds stretched lonely about me. + Thus to my utmost need chance, spitefuller injury dealing, + Grudges an ear, where yet might lamentation have entry. 170 + + + Jove, almighty, supreme, O would that never in early + Time on Gnossian earth great Cecrops' navies had harbour'd, + Ne'er to that unquell'd bull with a ransom of horror atoning, + Moor'd on Crete his cable a shipman's wily dishonour. + Never in youth's fair shape such ruthless stratagem hiding 175 + He, that vile one, a guest found with us a safe habitation. + + Whither flee then afar? what hope, poor lost one, upholds thee? + Mountains Idomenean? alas, broad surges of ocean + Part us, a rough rude space of flowing water, asunder. + Trust in a father's help? how trust, whom darkly deserting, 180 + Him I turned to alone, my brother's bloody defier? + Nay, but a loyal lover, a hand pledg'd surely, shall ease me. + Surely; for o'er wide water his oars move flexibly fleeting. + + Also a desert lies this region, a tenantless island, + Nowhere open way, seas splash in circle around me, 185 + Nowhere flight, no glimmer of hope; all mournfully silent, + Loneliness all, all points me to death, death only remaining. + + + Yet these luminous orbs shall sink not feebly to darkness, + Yet from grief-worn limbs shall feeling wholly depart not, + Till to the gods I cry, the betrayed, for justice on evil, 190 + Sue for life's last mercy the great federation of heaven. + + Then, O sworn to requite man's evil wrathfully, Powers + Gracious, on whose grim brows, with viper tresses inorbed, + Looks red-breathing forth your bosom's feverous anger; + + Now, yea now come surely, to these loud miseries harken, 195 + All I cry, the afflicted, of inmost marrow arising, + Desolate, hot with pain, with blinding fury bewilder'd. + + Yet, for of heart they spring, grief's children truly begotten, + Verily, Gods, these moans you will not idly to perish. + But with counsel of evil as he forsook me deceiving, 200 + Death to his house, to his heart, bring also counsel of evil. + + + When from an anguish'd heart these words stream'd sorrowful upwards, + Words which on iron deeds did sue for deadly requital, + Bow'd with a nod of assent almighty the ruler of heaven. + With that dreadful motion aneath earth's hollow, the ruffled 205 + Ocean shook, and stormy the stars 'gan tremble in ether. + Thereto his heart thick-sown with blindness cloudily dark'ning, + Thought not of all those words, Theseus, from memory fallen, + Words which his heedful soul had kept immovable ever. + Nor to his eager sire fair token of happy returning 210 + Rais'd, when his eyes safe-sighted Erectheus' populous haven. + Once, so stories tell, when Pallas' city behind him + Leaving, Theseus' fleet to the winds given hopefully parted, + Clasping then his son spake Aegeus, straitly commanding. + + + Son, mine only delight, than life more lovely to gaze on, 215 + Son, whom needs it faints me to launch full-tided on hazards, + Whom my winter of years hath laid so lately before me: + + Since my fate unkindly, thy own fierce valour unheeding, + Needs must wrest thee away, ere yet these dimly-lit eye-balls + Feed to the full on thee, thy worshipt body beholding; 220 + + Neither in exultation of heart I send thee a-warring; + Nor to the fight shalt bear fair fortune's happier earnest; + Rather, first in cries mine heart shall lighten her anguish, + When greylocks I sully with earth, with sprinkle of ashes; + + Next to the swaying mast shall a sail hang duskily swinging; 225 + So this grief, mine own, this burning sorrow within me, + Want not a sign, dark shrouds of Iberia, sombre as iron. + + Then, if haply the queen, lone ranger on haunted Itonus, + Pleas'd to defend our people, Erectheus' safe habitations, + Frown not, allow thine hand that bull all redly to slaughter, 230 + + Look that warily then deep-laid in steady remembrance, + These our words grow greenly, nor age move on to deface them; + + Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome, + See that on each straight yard down droop their funeral housings, + Whitely the tight-strung cordage a sparkling canvas aloft swing, 235 + + Which to behold straightway with joy shall cheer me, with inward + Joy, when a prosperous hour shall bring to thee happy returning. + + So for a while that charge did Theseus faithfully cherish. + Last, it melted away, as a cloud which riven in ether + Breaks to the blast, high peak and spire snow-silvery leaving. 240 + But from a rock's wall'd eyrie the father wistfully gazing, + Father whose eyes, care-dimm'd, wore hourly for ever a-weeping, + Scarcely the wind-puff'd sail from afar 'gan darken upon him, + Down the precipitous heights headlong his body he hurried, + Deeming Theseus surely by hateful destiny taken. 245 + So to a dim death-palace, alert from victory, Theseus + Came, what bitter sorrow to Minos' daughter his evil + Perjury gave, himself with an even sorrow atoning. + She, as his onward keel still moved, still mournfully follow'd; + Passion-stricken, her heart a tumultuous image of ocean. 250 + + Also upon that couch, flush'd youthfully, breathless Iacchus + Roam'd with a Satyr-band, with Nisa-begot Sileni; + Seeking thee, Ariadna, aflame thy beauty to ravish. + Wildly behind they rushed and wildly before to the folly, + Euhoe rav'd, Euhoe with fanatic heads gyrated; 255 + Some in womanish hands shook rods cone-wreathed above them, + Some from a mangled steer toss'd flesh yet gorily streaming; + Some girt round them in orbs, snakes gordian, intertwining; + Some with caskets deep did blazon mystical emblems, + Emblems muffled darkly, nor heard of spirit unholy. 260 + Part with a slender palm taborines beat merrily jangling; + Now with a cymbal slim would a sharp shrill tinkle awaken; + Often a trumpeter horn blew murmurous, hoarsely resounding. + Rose on pipes barbaric a jarring music of horror. + + Such, wrought rarely, the shapes this quilt did richly apparel, 265 + Where to the couch close-clasped it hung thick veils of adorning. + So to the full heart-sated of all their curious eying, + Thessaly's youth gave place to the Gods high-throned in heaven. + As, when dawn is awake, light Zephyrus even-breathing + Brushes a sleeping sea, which slant-wise curved in edges 270 + Breaks, while mounts Aurora the sun's high journey to welcome; + They, first smitten faintly by his most airy caressing, + Move slow on, light surges a plashing silvery laughter; + Soon with a waxing wind they crowd them apace, thick-fleeting, + Swim in a rose-red glow and far off sparkle in Ocean; 275 + So thro' column'd porch and chambers sumptuous hieing, + Thither or hither away, that company stream'd, home-wending. + + First from Pelion height, when they were duly departed, + Chiron came, in his hand green gifts of flowery forest. + All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing 280 + Breeds on mountainous heights, what near each showery river + Swells to the warm west-wind, in gales of foison alighting; + These did his own hands bear in girlonds twined of all hues, + That to the perfume sweet for joy laugh'd gaily the palace. + Follow'd straight Penios, awhile his bowery Tempe, 285 + Tempe, shrined around in shadowy woods o'erhanging, + Left to the bare-limb'd maids Magnesian, airily ranging. + No scant carrier he; tall root-torn beeches his heavy + Burden, bays stemm'd stately, in heights exalted ascending. + Thereto the nodding plane, and that lithe sister of youthful 290 + Phaethon flame-enwrapt, and cypress in air upspringing: + These in breadths inwoven he heap'd close-twin'd to the palace, + Whereto the porch wox green, with soft leaves canopied over. + + Him did follow anear, deep heart and wily, Prometheus, + Scarr'd and wearing yet dim traces of early dishonour, 295 + All which of old his body to flint fast-welded in iron, + Bore and dearly abied, on slippery crags suspended. + Last with his awful spouse, with children goodly, the sovran + Father approach'd; thou, Phoebus, alone, his warder in heaven, + Left, with that dear sister, on Idrus ranger eternal. 300 + Peleus sister alike and brother in high misprision + Held, nor lifted a torch when Thetis wedded at even. + So when on ivory thrones they rested, snowily gleaming, + Many a feast high-pil'd did load each table about them; + Whiles to a tremor of age their gray infirmity rocking, 305 + Busy began that chant which speaketh surely the Parcae. + + Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding, + Fell bright-white to the feet, with a purple border of issue. + Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush'd rosy beneath them; + Still each hand fulfilled its pious labour eternal. 310 + Singly the left upbore in wool soft-hooded a distaff, + Whereto the right large threads down drawing deftly, with upturn'd + Fingers shap'd them anew; then thumbs earth-pointed in even + Balance twisted a spindle on orb'd wheels smoothly rotating. + So clear'd softly between and tooth-nipt even it ever 315 + Onward moved; still clung on wan lips, sodden as ashes, + Shreds all woolly from out that soft smooth surface arisen. + Lastly before their feet lay fells, white, fleecy, refulgent, + Warily guarded they in baskets woven of osier. + They, as on each light tuft their voice smote louder approaching, 320 + Pour'd grave inspiration, a prophet chant to the future, + Chant which an after-time shall tax of vanity never. + + + O in valorous acts thy wondrous glory renewing, + Rich Aemathia's arm, great sire of a goodlier issue, + Hark on a joyous day what prophet-story the sisters 325 + Open surely to thee; and you, what followeth after, + Guide to a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Soon shall approach, and bear the delight long-wish'd for of husbands, + Hesper, a bride shall approach in starlight happy presented, + Softly to sway thy soul in love's completion abiding, 330 + Soon in a trance with thee of slumber dreamy to mingle, + Making smooth round arms thy clasp'd throat sinewy pillow. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Never hath house closed yet o'er loves so blissful uniting, + Never love so well his children in harmony knitten, 335 + So as Thetis agrees, as Peleus bendeth according. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + You shall a son see born that knows not terror, Achilles, + One whose back no foe, whose front each knoweth in onset; + Often a conqueror, he, where feet course swiftly together, 340 + Steps of a fire-fleet doe shall leave in his hurry behind him. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Him to resist in war, no champion hero ariseth, + Then on Phrygian earth when carnage Trojan is utter'd; + Then when a long sad strife shall Troy's crown'd city beleaguer, 345 + Waste her a third false heir from Pelops wary descending. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + His unmatchable acts, his deeds of glorious honour, + Oft shall mothers speak o'er sons untimely departed; + While from crowns earth-bow'd fall loosen'd silvery tresses, 350 + Beat on shrivell'd breasts weak palms their dusky defacing. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + As some labourer ears close-cluster'd lustily lopping, + Under a flaming sun, mows fields ripe-yellow in harvest, + _So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles_, + Charge Troy's children afield and fell them grimly with iron. 355 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Deeds of such high glory Scamander's river avoucheth, + Hurried in eddies afar thro' boisterous Hellespontus; + Then when a slaughter'd heap his pathway watery choking, + Brimmeth a warm red tide and blood with water allieth. 360 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Voucher of him last riseth a prey untimely devoted + E'en to the tomb, which mounded in heaps, high, spherical, earthen, + Grants to the snow-white limbs, to the stricken maiden a welcome. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. 365 + + Scarcely the war-worn Greeks shall win such favour of heaven, + Neptune's bonds of stone from Dardan city to loosen, + Dankly that high-heav'd grave shall gory Polyxena crimson. + She as a lamb falls smitten a twin-edg'd falchion under, + Boweth on earth weak knees, her limbs down flingeth unheeding. 370 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Up then, fair paramours, in fond love happily mingle. + Now in blessed treaty the bridegroom welcome a goddess; + Now give a bride long-veil'd to her husband's passionate yearning. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. 375 + + Her when duly the nurse with day-light early revisits, + Necklace of yester-night--she shall not clasp it about her. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Nor shall a mother fond, o'er brawls unlovely dishearten'd, + Lay her alone, or cease the delight of children awaiting. 380 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + In such prelude old, such good-night ditty to Peleus, + Sang their deep divination, ineffable, holy, the Parcae. + Such as in ages past, upon houses godly descending, + Houses of heroes came, in mortal company present, 385 + Gods high-throned in heaven, while yet was worship in honour. + + Often a sovran Jove, in his own bright temple appearing, + Yearly, whene'er his day did rites ceremonial usher, + Gazed on an hundred slain, on strong bulls heavily falling. + Often on high Parnassus a roving Liber in hurried 390 + Frenzy the Thyiads drave, their locks blown loosely, before him. + While all Delphi's city in eager jealousy trooping, + Blithely receiv'd their god on fuming festival altars. + Mavors often amidst encounter mortal of armies, + Streaming Triton's queen, or maid Ramnusian awful, 395 + Stood in body before them, a fainting host to deliver. + + Only when heinous sin earth's wholesome purity blasted, + When from covetous hearts fled justice sadly retreating, + Then did a brother his hands dye deep in blood of a brother, + Lightly the son forgat his parents' piteous ashes. 400 + Lightly the son's young grave his father pray'd for, an unwed + Maiden, a step-dame fair in freer luxury clasping. + Then did mother unholy to son that knew not abase her, + Shamefully, fear'd not unholy the blessed dead to dishonour. + Human, inhuman alike, in wayward infamy blending, 405 + Turned far from us away that righteous counsel of heaven. + Therefore proudly the Gods such sinful company view not, + Bear not day-light clear upon immortality breathing. + + +LXV. + + Though, outworn with sorrow, with hours of torturous anguish, + Ortalus, I no more tarry the Muses among; + Though from a fancy deprest fair blooms of poesy budding + Rise not at all; such grief rocks me, uneasily stirr'd: + + Coldly but even now mine own dear brother in ebbing 5 + Lethe his ice-wan feet laveth, a shadowy ghost. + He whom Troy's deep bosom, a shore Rhoetean above him, + Rudely denies these eyes, heavily crushes in earth. + + Ah! no more to address thee, or hear thy kindly replying, + Brother! O e'en than life round me delightfuller yet, 10 + Ne'er to behold thee again! Still love shall fail not alone in + Fancy to muse death's dark elegy, closely to weep. + Closely as under boughs of dimmest shadow the pensive + Daulian ever moans Itys in agony slain. + + Yet mid such desolation a verse I tender of ancient 15 + Battiades, new-drest, Ortalus, wholly for you. + Lest to the roving winds these words all idly deliver'd, + Seem too soon from a frail memory fallen away. + + E'en as a furtive gift, sent, some love-apple, a-wooing, + Leaps from breast of a coy maiden, a canopy pure; 20 + There forgotten alas, mid vestments silky reposing,-- + Soon as a mother's step starts her, it hurleth adown: + Straight to the ground, dash'd forth ungently, the gift shoots headlong; + She in tell-tale cheeks glows a disorderly shame. + + +LXVI. + + He whose glance scann'd clearly the lights uncounted of ether, + Found when arises a star, sinks in his haven again, + How yon eclipsed sun glares luminous obscuration, + How in seasons due vanishes orb upon orb; + How 'neath Latmian heights fair Trivia stealthily banish'd 5 + Falls, from her upward path lured by a lover awhile; + That same sage, that Conon, a lock of great Berenice + Saw me, in heavenly-bright deification afar + Lustrous, a gleaming glory; to gods full many devoted, + Whiles she her arms in prayer lifted, as ivory smooth; 10 + In that glorious hour when, flush'd with a new hymeneal, + Hotly the King to deface outer Assyria sped, + Bearing ensigns sweet of that soft struggle a night brings, + When from a virgin's arms spoils he had happily won. + + Stands it an edict true that brides hate Venus? or ever 15 + Falsely the parents' joy dashes a showery tear, + When to the nuptial door they come in rainy beteeming? + Now to the Gods I swear, tears be hypocrisy then. + So mine own queen taught me in all her weary lamentings, + Whiles her bridegroom bold set to the battle a face. 20 + What? for an husband lost thou weptst not gloomily lying? + Rather a brother dear, forced for a while to depart? + This, when love's sharp grief was gnawing inly to waste thee! + Ah poor wife! whose soul steep'd in unhappiness all, + Fell from reason away, nor abode thy senses! A nobler 25 + Spirit had I erewhile known thee, a fiery child. + + Pass'd that deed forgotten, a royal wooer had earn'd thee? + Deed that braver none ventureth ever again? + Yet what sorrow to lose thy lord, what murmur of anguish! + Jove, how rain'd those tears brush'd from a passionate eye! 30 + Who is this could wean thee, a God so mighty, to falter? + May not a lover live from the beloved afar? + Then for a spouse so goodly, before each spirit of heaven, + Me thou vowd'st, with slain oxen, a vast hecatomb, + Home if again he alighted. Awhile and Asia crouching 35 + Humbly to Egypt's realm added a boundary new; + I, in starry return to the ranks dedicated of heaven, + Debt of an ancient vow sum in a bounty to-day. + + Full of sorrow was I, fair queen, thy brows to abandon, + Full of sorrow; in oath answer, adorable head. 40 + Evil on him that oath who sweareth falsely soever! + Yet in a strife with steel who can a victory claim? + Steel could a mountain abase, no loftier any thro' heaven's + Cupola Thia's child lifteth his axle above, + Then, when a new-born sea rose Mede-uplifted; in Athos' 45 + Centre his ocean-fleet floated a barbarous host. + What shall a weak tress do, when powers so mighty resist not? + Jove! may Chalybes all perish, a people accurst, + Perish who earth's hid veins first labour'd dimly to quarry, + Clench'd in a molten mass iron, a ruffian heart! 50 + + Scarcely the sister-locks were parted dolefully weeping, + Straight that brother of young Memnon, in Africa born, + Came, and shook thro' heaven his pennons oary, before me, + Winged, a queen's proud steed, Locrian Arsino. + So flew with me aloft thro' darkening shadow of heaven, 55 + There to a god's pure breast laid me, to Venus's arms. + Him Zephyritis' self had sent to the task, her servant, + She from realms of Greece borne to Canopus of yore. + There, that at heav'n's high porch, not one sole crown, Ariadne's, + Golden above those brows Ismaros' youth did adore, 60 + Starry should hang, set alone; but luminous I might glisten, + Vow'd to the Gods, bright spoil won from an aureat head; + While to the skies I clomb still ocean-dewy, the Goddess + Placed me amid star-spheres primal, a glory to be. + + Close to the Virgin bright, to the Lion sulkily gleaming, 65 + Nigh Callisto, a cold child Lycaonian, I + Wheel obliquely to set, and guide yon tardy Bootes + Where scarce late his car dewy descends to the sea. + Yet tho' nightly the Gods' immortal steps be above me, + Tho' to the white waves dawn gives me, to Tethys, again; 70 + (Maid of Ramnus, a grace I here implore thee, if any + Word should offend; so much cannot a terror alarm, + I should veil aught true; not tho' with clamorous uproar + Rend me the stars; I speak verities hidden at heart): + Lightly for all I reck, so more I sorrow to part me 75 + Sadly from her I serve, part me forever away. + With her, a virgin as yet, I quaff'd no sumptuous essence; + With her, a bride, I drain'd many a prodigal oil. + + Now, O you whom gladly the marriage cresset uniteth, + See to the bridegroom fond yield ye not amorous arms, 80 + Throw not back your robes, nor bare your bosom assenting, + Save from an onyx stream sweetness, a bounty to me. + Yours, in a loyal bed which seek love's privilege, only; + Yieldeth her any to bear loathed adultery's yoke, + Vile her gifts, and lightly the dust shall drink them unheeding. 85 + Not of vile I seek gifts, nor of infamous, I. + Rather, O unstain'd brides, may concord tarry for ever + With ye at home, may love with ye for ever abide. + Thou, fair queen, to the stars if looking haply, to Venus + Lights thou kindle on eves festal of high sacrifice, 90 + Leave me the lock, thine own, nor blood nor bounty requiring. + Rather a largesse fair pay to me, envy me not. + Stars dash blindly in one! so might I glitter a royal + Tress, let Orion glow next to Aquarius' urn. + + +LXVII. + +CATULLUS. + + O to the goodman fair, O welcome alike to the father, + Hail, and Jove's kind grace shower his help upon you! + Door, that of old, men say, wrought Balbus ready obeisance, + Once, when his home, time was, lodged him, a master in years; + Door, that again, men say, grudg'd aught but a spiteful obeisance, 5 + Soon as a corpse outstretch'd starkly declar'd you a bride. + Come, speak truly to me; what shameful rumour avouches + Duty of years forsworn, honour in injury lost? + +DOOR. + + So be the tenant new, Caecilius, happy to own me, + I'm not guilty, for all jealousy says it is I. 10 + Never a fault was mine, nor man shall whisper it ever; + Only, my friend, your mob's noisy "The door is a rogue." + Comes to the light some mischief, a deed uncivil arising, + Loudly to me shout all, "Door, you are wholly to blame." + +CATULLUS. + + 'Tis not enough so merely to say, so think to decide it. 15 + Better, who wills should feel, see it, who wills, to be true. + +DOOR. + + How then? if here none asks, nor labours any to know it. + +CATULLUS. + + Nay, _I_ ask it; away scruple; your hearer is I. + +DOOR. + + First, what rumour avers, they gave her to us a virgin-- + They lie on her. A light lady! be sure, not alone 20 + Clipp'd her an husband first; weak stalk from a garden, a pointless + Falchion, a heart did ne'er fully to courage awake. + No; to the son's own bed, 'tis said, that father ascended, + Vilely; with act impure stain'd the facinorous house. + Whether a blind fierce lust in his heart burnt sinfully flaming, 25 + Or that inert that son's vigour, amort to delight, + Needed a sturdier arm, that franker quality somewhere, + Looser of youth's fast-bound girdle, a virgin as yet. + +CATULLUS. + + Truly a noble father, a glorious act of affection! + Thus in a son's kind sheets lewdly to puddle, his own. 30 + +DOOR. + + Yet not alone of this, her crag Chinaean abiding + Under, a watch-tower set warily, Brixia tells, + Brixia, trails whereby his waters Mella the golden, + Mother of her, mine own city, Verona the fair. + Add Postumius yet, Cornelius also, a twice-told 35 + Folly, with whom our light mistress adultery knew. + Asks some questioner here "What? a door, yet privy to lewdness? + You, from your owner's gate never a minute away? + Strange to the talk o' the town? since here, stout timber above you, + Hung to the beam, you shut mutely or open again." 40 + Many a shameful time I heard her stealthy profession, + While to the maids her guilt softly she hinted alone. + Spoke unabash'd her amours and named them singly, opining + Haply an ear to record fail'd me, a voice to reveal. + There was another; enough; his name I gladly dissemble; 45 + Lest his lifted brows blush a disorderly rage. + Sir, 'twas a long lean suitor; a process huge had assail'd him; + 'Twas for a pregnant womb falsely declar'd to be true. + +LXVIII. + + If, when fortune's wrong with bitter misery whelms thee, + Thou thy sad tear-scrawl'd letter, a mark to the storm, + Send'st, and bid'st me to succour a stranded seaman of Ocean, + Toss'd in foam, from death's door to return thee again; + Whom nor softly to rest love's tender sanctity suffers, 5 + Lost on a couch of lone slumber, unhappily lain; + Nor with melody sweet of poets hoary the Muses + Cheer, while worn with grief nightly the soul is awake: + Well-contented am I, that thou thy friendship avowest, + Ask'st the delights of love from me, the pleasure of hymns; 10 + Yet lest all unnoted a kindred story bely thee, + Deeming, Mallius, I calls of humanity shun; + Hear what a grief is mine, what storm of destiny whelms me. + Cease to demand of a soul's misery joy's sacrifice. + + Once, what time white robes of manhood first did array me, 15 + Whiles in jollity life sported a spring holiday, + Youth ran riot enow; right well she knows me, the Goddess, + She whose honey delights blend with a bitter annoy. + Henceforth dies sweet pleasure, in anguish lost of a brother's + Funeral. O poor soul, brother, O heavily ta'en, 20 + You all happier hours, you, dying brother, effaced; + All our house lies low mournfully buried in you; + Quench'd untimely with you joy waits not ever a morrow, + Joy which alive your love's bounty fed hour upon hour; + Now, since thou liest dead, heart-banish'd wholly desert me 25 + Vanities all, each gay freak of a riotous heart. + + How then obey? You write 'Let not Verona, Catullus, + Stay thee, if here each proud quality, Rome's eminence, + Freely the light limbs warms thou leavest coldly to languish,' + Infamy lies not there, Mallius, only regret. 30 + So forgive me, if I, whom grief so rudely bereaveth, + Deal not a joy myself know not, a beggar in all. + Books--if they're but scanty, a store full meagre, around me, + Rome is alone my life's centre, a mansion of home, + Rome my abode, house, hearth; there wanes and waxes a life's span; 35 + Hither of all those choice cases attends me but one. + Therefore deem not thou aught spiteful bids me deny thee; + Say not 'his heart is false, haply, to jealousy leans,' + If nor books I send nor flatter sorrow to silence. + Trust me, were either mine, either unask'd should appear. 40 + + + Goddesses, hide I may not in how great trial upheld me + Allius, how no faint charities held me to life. + Nor shall time borne fleetly nor years' oblivion ever + Make such zeal to the night fade, to the darkness, away. + As from me you learn it, of you shall many a thousand 45 + Learn it again. Grow old, scroll, to declare it anew. + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + So to the dead increase honour in year upon year. 50 + Nor to the spider, aloft her silk-slight flimsiness hanging, + Allius aye unswept moulder, a memory dim. (50) + + Well you wot, how sore the deceit Amathusia wrought me, + Well what a thing in love's treachery made me to fall; + Ready to burst in flame, as burn Trinacrian embers, 55 + Burn near Thermopylae's Oeta the fiery springs. + Sad, these piteous eyes did waste all wearily weeping, (55) + Sad, these cheeks did rain ceaseless a showery woe. + Wakeful, as hill-born brook, which, afar off silvery gleaming, + O'er his moss-grown crags leaps with a tumble adown; 60 + Brook which awhile headlong o'er steep and valley descending, + Crosses anon wide ways populous, hastes to the street; (60) + Cheerer in heats o' the sun to the wanderer heavily fuming, + Under a drought, when fields swelter agape to the sky. + + Then as tossing shipmen amid black surges of Ocean, 65 + See some prosperous air gently to calm them arise, + Safe thro' Pollux' aid or Castor, alike entreated; (65) + Mallius e'en such help brought me, a warder of harm. + He in a closed field gave scope of liberal entry; + Gave me an house of love, gave me the lady within, 70 + Busily there to renew love's even duty together; + Thither afoot mine own mistress, a deity bright, (70) + Came, and planted firm her sole most sunny; beneath her + Lightly the polish'd floor creak'd to the sandal again. + + So with passion aflame came wistful Laodamia 75 + Into her husband's home, Protesilaus, of yore; + Home o'er-lightly begun, ere slaughter'd victim atoning (75) + Waited of heaven's high-thron'd company grace to agree. + Nought be to me so dear, O Maid Ramnusian, ever, + I should against that law match me with opposite, I. 80 + Bloodless of high sacrifice, how thirsts each desolate altar! + This, when her husband fell, Laodamia did heed, (80) + Rapt from a bridegroom new, from his arms forced early to part her. + Early; for hardly the first winter, another again, + Yet in many a night's long dream had sated her yearning, 85 + So that love might wear cheerly, the master away; + Which not long should abide, so presag'd surely the Parcae, (85) + If to the wars her lord hurry, for Ilion arm. + + Now to revenge fair Helen, had Argos' chiefs, her puissance, + Set them afield; for Troy rous'd them, a cry not of home, 90 + Troy, dark death universal, of Asia grave and Europe, + Altar of heroes Troy, Troy of heroical acts, (90) + + Now to my own dear brother abhorred worker of ancient + Death. Ah woeful soul, brother, unhappily lost, + Ah fair light unblest, in darkness sadly receding, 95 + All our house lies low, brother, inearthed in you, + Quench'd untimely with you, joy waits not ever a morrow, (95) + Joy which alive your love's bounty fed hour upon hour. + Now on a distant shore, no kind mortality near him, + Far all household love, every familiar urn, 100 + Tomb'd in Troy the malign, in Troy the unholy reposing, + Strangely the land's last verge holds him, a dungeon of earth. (100) + + Thither in haste all Greece, one armed people assembling, + Flock'd on an ancient day, left the recesses of home, + Lest in a safe content, unreach'd, his stolen adultress. 105 + Paris inarm, in soft luxury quietly lain. + + E'en such chance, fair queen, such misery, Laodamia, (105) + Brought thee a loss as life precious, as heavenly breath. + Loss of a bridegroom dear; such whirling passion in eddies + Suck'd thee adown, so drew sheer to a sudden abyss, 110 + Deep as Graian abyss near Pheneos o'er Cyllene, + Strainer of ooze impure milk'd from a watery fen; (110) + Hewn, so stories avouch, in a mountain's kernel; an hero + Hew'd it, falsely declar'd Amphytrionian, he, + When those monster birds near grim Stymphalus his arrow 115 + Smote to the death; such task bade him a dastardly lord. + So that another God might tread that portal of heaven (115) + Freely, nor Hebe fair wither a chaste eremite. + Yet than abyss more deep thy love, thy depth of emotion; + Love which school'd thy lord, made of a master a thrall. 120 + + Not to a grandsire old so priz'd, so lovely the grandson + One dear daughter alone rears i' the soft of his years; (120) + He, long-wish'd for, an heir of wealth ancestral arriving,-- + Scarcely the tablets' marge holds him, a name to the will, + Straight all hopes laugh'd down, each baffled kinsman usurping 125 + Leaves to repose white hairs, stretches, a vulture, away; + Not in her own fond mate so turtle snowy delighteth, (125) + Tho' unabash'd, 'tis said, she the voluptuous hours + Snatches a thousand kisses, in amorous extasy biting. + Yet, more lightly than all ranges a womanly will. 130 + Great their love, their frenzy; but all their frenzy before thee + Fail'd, once clasp'd thy lord splendid in aureat hair. (130) + + Worthy in all or part thee, Laodamia, to rival, + Sought me my own sweet love, journey'd awhile to my arms. + Round her playing oft ran Cupid thither or hither, 135 + Lustrous, array'd in bright broidery, saffron of hue. + What, to Catullus alone if a wayward fancy resort not? (135) + Must I pale for a stray frailty, the shame of an hour? + Nay; lest all too much such jealous folly provoke her. + Juno's self, a supreme glory celestial, oft 140 + Crushes her eager rage, in wedlock-injury flaring, + Knowing yet right well Jove, what a losel is he. (140) + + Yet, for a man with Gods shall never lawfully match him + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 145 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 150 + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 155 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 160 + . . . . . . . . . . . + Lift thy father, a weak burden, unholpen, abhorr'd. + Not that a father's hand my love led to me, nor odours + Wafted her home on rich airs, of Assyria born; + Stealthy the gifts she gave me, a night unspeakable o'er us, 165 (145) + Gifts from her husband's dreams verily stolen, his own. + Then 'tis enough for me, if mine, mine only remaineth + That one day, whose stone shines with an happier hue. + + So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little + Verse to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon. 170 (150) + So your household names no rust nor seamy defacing + Soil this day, that new morrow, the next to the last. + Gifts full many to these heaven send as largely requiting, + Gifts Themis ever wont deal to the pious of yore. + Joys come plenty to thee, to thy own fair lady together, 175 (155) + Come to that house of mirth, come to the lady within; + Joy to the forward friend, our love's first fashioner, Anser, + Author of all this fair history, founder of all. + Lastly beyond them, above them, on her more lovely than even + Life, my lady, for whose life it is happy to be. 180 (160) + + +LXIX. + + Rufus, it is no wonder if yet no woman assenting + Softly to thine embrace tender a delicate arm. + Not tho' a gift should seek, some robe most filmy, to move her; + Not for a cherish'd gem's clarity, lucid of hue. + + Deep in a valley, thy arms, such evil story maligns thee, 5 + Rufus, a villain goat houses, a grim denizen. + All are afraid of it, all; what wonder? a rascally creature, + Verily! not with such company dally the fair. + + Slay, nor pity the brute, our nostril's rueful aversion. + Else admire not if each ravisher angrily fly. 10 + + +LXX. + + Saith my lady to me, no man shall wed me, but only + Thou; no other if e'en Jove should approach me to woo; + Yea; but a woman's words, when a lover fondly desireth, + Limn them on ebbing floods, write on a wintery gale. + + +LXXII. + + Lesbia, thou didst swear thou knewest only Catullus, + Cared'st not, if him thine arms chained, a Jove to retain. + Then not alone I loved thee, as each light lover a mistress, + Lov'd as a father his own sons, or an heir to the name. + + Now I know thee aright; so, if more hotly desiring, 5 + Yet must count thee a soul cheaper, a frailty to scorn. + 'Friend,' thou say'st, 'you cannot.' Alas! such injury leaveth + Blindly to doat poor love's folly, malignly to will. + + +LXXIII. + + Never again think any to work aught kindly soever, + Dream that in any abides honour, of injury free. + Love is a debt in arrear; time's parted service avails not; + Rather is only the more sorrow, a heavier ill: + Chiefly to me, whom none so fierce, so deadly deceiving 5 + Troubleth, as he whose friend only but inly was I. + + +LXXIV. + + Gellius heard that his uncle in ire exploded, if any + Dared, some wanton, a fault practise, a levity speak. + Not to be slain himself, see Gellius handle his uncle's + Lady; no Harpocrates muter, his uncle is hush'd. + So what he aim'd at, arriv'd at, anon let Gellius e'en this 5 + Uncle abuse; not a word yet will his uncle assay. + + +LXXVIII. + + Brothers twain has Gallus, of whom one owns a delightful + Son; his brother a fair lady, delightfuller yet. + Gallant sure is Gallus, a pair so dainty uniting; + Lovely the lady, the lad lovely, a company sweet. + Foolish sure is Gallus, an o'er-incurious husband; 5 + Uncle, a wife once taught luxury, stops not at one. + + +LXXIX. + + Lesbius, handsome is he. Why not? if Lesbia loves him + Far above all your tribe, angry Catullus, or you. + Only let all your tribe sell off, and follow, Catullus, + Kiss but his handsome lips children, a plenary three. + + +LXXXI. + + What? not in all this city, Juventius, ever a gallant + Poorly to win love's fresh favour of amorous you, + Only the lack-love signor, a wretch from sickly Pisaurum, + Guest of your hearth, no gilt statue as ashy as he? + Now your very delight, whose faithless fancy Catullus 5 + Banisheth, Ah light-reck'd lightness, apostasy vile! + + +LXXXII. + + Wouldst thou, Quintius, have me a debtor ready to owe thee + Eyes, or if earth have joy goodlier any than eyes? + One thing take not from me, to me more goodly than even + Eyes, or if earth have joy goodlier any than eyes. + + +LXXXIII. + + Lesbia while her lord stands near, rails ever upon me. + This to the fond weak fool seemeth a mighty delight. + Dolt, you see not at all. Could she forget me, to rail not, + Nought were amiss; if now scold she, or if she revile, + 'Tis not alone to remember; a shrewder stimulus arms her, 5 + Anger; her heart doth burn verily, thus to revile. + + +LXXXIV. + + _Stipends_ Arrius ever on opportunity _shtipends_, + _Ambush_ as _hambush_ still Arrius used to declaim. + Then, hoped fondly the words were a marvel of articulation, + While with an _h_ immense '_hambush_' arose from his heart. + So his mother of old, so e'en spoke Liber his uncle, 5 + Credibly; so grandsire, grandam alike did agree. + + Syria took him away; all ears had rest for a moment; + Lightly the lips those words, slightly could utter again. + None was afraid any more of a sound so clumsy returning; + Sudden a solemn fright seized us, a message arrives. 10 + 'News from Ionia country; the sea, since Arrius enter'd, + Changed; 'twas _Ionian_ once, now 'twas _Hionian_ all.' + + +LXXXV. + + Half I hate, half love. How so? one haply requireth. + Nay, I know not; alas feel it, in agony groan. + + +LXXXVI. + + Lovely to many a man is Quintia; shapely, majestic, + Stately, to me; each point singly 'tis easy to grant. + 'Lovely' the whole, I grant not; in all that bodily largeness, + Lives not a grain of salt, breathes not a charm anywhere. + Lesbia--she is lovely, an even temper of utmost 5 + Beauty, that every charm stealeth of every fair. + + +LXXXVII & LXXV. + + Ne'er shall woman avouch herself so rightly beloved, + Friend, as rightly thou art, Lesbia, lovely to me. + Ne'er was a bond so firm, no troth so faithfully plighted, + Such as against our love's venture in honour am I. + + Now so sadly my heart, dear Lesbia, draws me asunder, 5 + So in her own misspent worship uneasily lost, + Wert thou blameless in all, I may not longer approve thee, + Do anything thou wilt, cannot an enemy be. + + +LXXVI. + + If to a man bring joy past service dearly remember'd, + When to the soul her thought speaks, to be blameless of ill; + Faith not rudely profan'd, nor in oath or charter abused + Heaven, a God's mis-sworn sanctity, deadly to men. + Then doth a life-long pleasure await thee surely, Catullus, 5 + Pleasure of all this love's traitorous injury born. + + Whatso a man may speak, whom charity leads to another, + Whatso enact, by me spoken or acted is all. + Waste on a traitorous heart, nor finding kindly requital. + Therefore cease, nor still bleed agoniz'd any more. 10 + + Make thee as iron a soul, thyself draw back from affliction. + Yea, tho' a God say nay, be not unhappy for aye. + What? it is hard long love so lightly to leave in a moment? + Hard; yet abides this one duty, to do it: obey. + Here lies safety alone, one victory must not fail thee. 15 + One last stake to be lost haply, perhaps to be won. + + O great Gods immortal, if you can pity or ever + Lighted above dark death's shadow, a help to the lost; + Ah! look, a wretch, on me; if white and blameless in all I + Liv'd, then take this long canker of anguish away. 20 + If to my inmost veins, like dull death drowsily creeping, + Every delight, all heart's pleasure it wholly benumbs. + + Not anymore I pray for a love so faulty returning, + Not that a wanton abide chastely, she may not again. + Only for health I ask, a disease so deadly to banish. 25 + Gods vouchsafe it, as I ask, that am harmless of ill. + + +LXXVII. + + Rufus, a friend so vainly believ'd, so wrongly relied in, + (Vainly? alas the reward fail'd not, a heavier ill;) + Could'st thou thus steal on me, a lurking viper, an aching + Fire to the bones, nor leave aught to delight any more? + Nought to delight any more! ah cruel poison of equal 5 + Lives! ah breasts that grew each to the other awhile! + Yet far most this grieves me, to think thy slaver abhorred + Foully my own love's lips soileth, a purity rare. + Thou shalt surely atone thine injury: centuries harken, + Know thee afar; grow old, fame, to declare him anew. 10 + + +LXXXVIII. + + Gellius, how if a man in lust with a mother, a sister + Rioteth, one uncheck'd night, to iniquity bare? + How if a man's dark passion an aunt's own chastity spare not? + Canst thou tell what vast infamy lieth on him? + + Infamy lieth on him, no farthest Tethys, or ancient 5 + Ocean, of hundred streams father, abolisheth yet. + Infamy none o'ersteps, nor ventures any beyond it. + Not tho' a scorpion heat melt him, his own paramour. + + +LXXXIX. + + Gellius--he's full meagre. It is no wonder, a friendly + Mother, a sister is his loveable, healthy withal. + Then so friendly an uncle, a world of pretty relations. + Must not a man so blest meagre abide to the last? + Yea, let his hand touch only what hands touch only to trespass; 5 + Reason enough to become meagre, enough to remain. + + +XC. + + Rise from a mother's shame with Gellius hatefully wedded, + One to be taught gross rites Persic, a Magian he. + Weds with a mother a son, so needs should a Magian issue, + Save in her evil creed Persia determineth ill. + Then shall a son, so born, chant down high favour of heaven, 5 + Melting lapt in flame fatly the slippery caul. + + +XCI. + + Think not a hope so false rose, Gellius, in me to find thee + Faithful in all this love's anguish ineffable yet, + For that in heart I knew thee, had in thee honour imagin'd, + Held thee a soul to abhor vileness or any reproach. + + Only in her, I knew, thou found'st not a mother, a sister, 5 + Her that awhile for love wearily made me to pine. + Yea tho' mutual use did bind us straitly together, + Scarcely methought could lie cause to desert me therein. + + Thou found'st reason enow; so joys thy spirit in every + Shame, wherever is aught heinous, of infamy born. 10 + + +XCII. + + Lesbia doth but rail, rail ever upon me, nor endeth + Ever. A life I stake, Lesbia loves me at heart. + Ask me a sign? Our score runs parallel. I that abuse her + Ever, a life to the stake, Lesbia, love thee at heart. + + +XCIII. + + Lightly methinks I reck if Csar smile not upon me: + Care not, whether a white, whether a swarth-skin, is he. + + +XCIV. + + Mentula--wanton is he; his calling sure is a wanton's. + Herbs to the pot, 'tis said wisely, the name to the man. + + +XCV. + + Nine times winter had end, nine times flush'd summer in harvest, + Ere to the world gave forth Cinna, the labour of years, + Zmyrna; but in one month Hortensius hundred on hundred + Verses, an unripe birth feeble, of hurry begot. + + Zmyrna to far Satrachus, to the stream of Cyprus, ascendeth; 5 + Zmyrna with eyes unborn study the centuries hoar. + Padus her own ill child shall bury, Volusius' annals; + In them a mackerel oft house him, a wrapper of ease. + + Dear to my heart be a friend's unbulky memorial ever; + Cherish an Antimachus, weighty as empty, the mob. 10 + + +XCVI. + + If to the silent dead aught sweet or tender ariseth, + Calvus, of our dim grief's common humanity born; + When to a love long cold some pensive pity recals us, + When for a friend long lost wakes some unhappy regret; + Not so deeply, be sure, Quintilia's early departing 5 + Grieves her, as in thy love dureth a plenary joy. + + +XCVIII. + + Asks some booby rebuke, some prolix prattler a judgment? + Vettius, all were said verily truer of you. + Tongue so noisome as yours, come chance, might surely on order + Bend to the mire, or lick dirt from a beggarly shoe. + Would you on all of us, all, bring, Vettius, utterly ruin? 5 + Speak; not a doubt, 'twill come utterly, ruin on all. + + +XCIX. + + Dear one, a kiss I stole, while you did wanton a-playing, + Sweet ambrosia, love, never as honily sweet. + + Dearly the deed I paid for; an hour's long misery waning + Ended, as I agoniz'd hung to the point of a cross, + Hoping vain purgation; alas! no potion of any 5 + Tears could abate that fair angriness, youthful as you. + + Hardly the sin was in act, your lips did many a falling + Drop dilute, which anon every finger away + Cleansed apace, lest still my mouth's infection abiding + Stain, like slaver abhorr'd breath'd from a foul fricatrice. 10 + + Add, that a booty to love in misery me to deliver + You did spare not, a fell worker of all agonies, + So that, again transmuted, a kiss ambrosia seeming + Sugary, turn'd to the strange harshness of harsh hellebore. + + Then such dolorous end since your poor lover awaiteth, 15 + Never a kiss will I venture, a theft any more. + + +C. + + Quintius, Aufilena; to Caelius, Aufilenus; + Lovers each, fair flower either of youths Veronese. + One to the brother bends, and one to the sister. A noble + Friendship, if e'er was true friendship, a rare brotherhood. + + Ask me to which I lean? You, Caelius: yours a devotion 5 + Single, a faith of tried quality, steady to me; + Into my inmost veins when love sank fiercely to burn them. + Mighty be your bright love, Caelius, happy be you! + + +CI. + + Borne o'er many a land, o'er many a level of ocean, + Here to the grave I come, brother, of holy repose, + Sadly the last poor gifts, death's simple duty, to bring thee; + Unto the silent dust vainly to murmur a cry. + + Since thy form deep-shrouded an evil destiny taketh 5 + From me, O hapless ghost, brother, O heavily ta'en, + Yet this bounty the while, these gifts ancestral of usance + Homely, the sad slight store piety grants to the tomb; + Drench'd in a brother's tears, and weeping freshly, receive them; + Yea, take, brother, a long Ave, a timeless adieu. 10 + + +CII. + + If to a friend sincere, Cornelius, e'er was a secret + Trusted, a friend whose soul steady to honour abides; + Me to the same brotherhood doubt not to be inly devoted, + Sworn upon oath, to the last secret, an Harpocrates. + + +CIII. + + Briefly, the sesterces all, give back, full quantity, Silo, + Then be a bully beyond exorability, you: + Else, if money be all, O cease so lewdly to practise + Bawd, yet bully beyond exorability, you. + + +CIV. + + What? should a lover adore, yet cruelly slander adoring? + I my lady, than eyes goodlier easily she? + Nay, I rail not at all. How rail, so blindly desiring? + Tappo alone dare brave all that is heinous, or you. + + +CV. + + Mentula toils, Pimplea, the Muses' mountain, ascending: + They with pitchforks hurl Mentula dizzily down. + + +CVI. + + Walks with a salesman a beauty, your eyes that beauty discerning? + Doubt not your eyes speak true; Sir, 'tis a beauty to sell. + + +CVII. + + If to delight man's wish, joy e'er unlook'd for, unhop'd for, + Falleth, a joy were such proper, a bliss to the soul. + Then 'tis a joy to the soul, like gold of Lydia precious, + Lesbia mine, that thou com'st to delight me again. + + Com'st yet again long-hop'd, long-look'd for vainly, returnest 5 + Freely to me. O day white with a luckier hue! + Lives there happier any than I, I only? a fairer + Destiny? Life so sweet know ye, or aught parallel? + + +CVIII. + + Loathly Cominius, if e'er this people's voice should arraign thee, + Hoary with all unclean infamy, worthy to die; + First should a tongue, I doubt not, of old so deadly to goodness, + Fall extruded, of each vulture a hungry regale; + Gouged be the carrion eyes some crow's black maw to replenish, 5 + Stomach a dog's fierce teeth harry, a wolf the remains. + + +CIX. + + Think you truly, belov'd, this bond of duty between us, + Lasteth, an ever-new jollity, ne'er to decease? + Grant it, Gods immortal, assure her promise in earnest; + Yea, be the lips sincere; yea, be the words from her heart. + So still rightly remain our lovers' charter, a life-long 5 + Friendship in us, whose faith fades not away to the last. + + +CX. + + Aufilena, the fair, if kind, is a favourite ever; + Asks she a price, then yields frankly? the price is her own. + You, that agreed to be kind, now vilely the treaty dishonour, + Give not at all, nor again take;--'tis a wrong to a wrong. + + Not to deceive were noble, a chastity ne'er had assented, 5 + Aufilena; but you--blindly to grasp at a gain, + Yet to withhold the effects,--'tis a greed more loathly than harlot's + Vileness, a wretch whose limbs ply to the lusts of a town. + + +CXI. + + One lord only to love, one, Aufilena, to live for, + Praise can a bride nowhere goodlier any betide; + Yet, when a niece with an uncle is even mother or even + Cousin--of all paramours this were as heinous as all. + + +CXII. + + Naso, if you show much, your company shows but a very + Little; a man you show, Naso, a woman in one. + + +CXIII. + + Pompey the first time consul, as yet Maecilia counted + Two paramours; reappears Pompey a consul again, + Two still, Cinna, remain; but grown, each unit an even + Thousand. Truly the stock's fruitful: adultery breeds. + + +CXIV. + + Rightly a lordly demesne makes Firman Mentula count for + Wealthy! the rich fine things, then the variety there! + Game in plenty to choose, fish, field, and meadow with hunting; + Only the waste exceeds strangely the quantity still. + Wealthy? perhaps I grant it; if all, wealth asks for, is absent. 5 + Praise the demesne? no doubt; only be needy the man. + + +CXV. + + Acres thirty in all, good grass, own Mentula master; + Forty to plough; bare seas, arid or empty, the rest. + Poorly methinks might Croesus a man so sumptuous equal, + Counted in one rich park owner of all he can ask. + Grass or plough, big woods, much mountain, mighty morasses; 5 + On to the farthest North, on to the boundary main. + + Vastness is all that is here; yet Mentula reaches a vaster-- + Man? not so; 'tis a vast mountainous ominous He. + + +CXVI. + + Oft with a studious heart, which hunted closely, requiring + Skill great Battiades' poesies haply to send, + Laying thus thy rage in rest, lest everlasting + Darts should reach me, to wound still an assailable head: + + Barren now I see that labour of any requital, 5 + Gellius; here all prayers fall to the ground, nor avail. + No; but a robe I carry, the barbs, thy folly, to muffle; + Mine strike sure; thy deep injury _they_ shall atone. + + + + +FRAGMENTS. + + +II. + + Here I give to be thine a fair grove, an holy, Priapus, + Where thy Lampsacus holds thee in chamber seemly, Priapus; + God, in every city, thou, most ador'd on a sea-shore + Hellespontian, eminent most of oystery sea-shores. + + +IV. + + Rapidly the spirit in an agony fled away. + + +V. + + Where yon lucent mast-top, a cup of silver, arises. + + + + +NOTES. + + +VIII. 2. + + _Lost is the lost, thou know'st it, and the past is past._ + +I am indebted for this expression to a translation of this poem by Dr. +J.A. Symonds, the whole of which I should have quoted here, had it not +been unfortunately mislaid. + + +XIV. 20. + + _Plague-prodigy._ + + Proves a plague-prodigy to God and man. + +BROWNING, _Ring and Book_, v. 664. + + +XVII. 26. + + _Rondel._ + +The round plate of iron which, according to Rich, Companion to the Latin +Dictionary, p. 609, formed the lower part of the sock worn by horses, +mules, &c., when on a journey, and, unlike our horse-shoes, was +removable at the end of it. + + +XXII. 11. + + _Looby_ + +a clown. + + Let me now the vices trace, + From his father's scoundrel race. + What could give the looby such airs? + Were they masons? were they butchers? + +TICKELL, _Theristes or the Lordling_, 23-26. + + +XXIII. + +For a spirited, though coarse, version of this poem, see Cotton's Poems, +p. 608, ed. 1689. + + 6 _Lathy._ + + On a lathy horse, all legs and length. + +BROWNING, _Flight of the Duchess_, v. 21. + + +XXIX. 8. + +The connexion between Adonis and the dove is specially referred to by +Diogenianus (_Praef._ p. 180 in Leutsch and Schneidewin's +_Paroemiographi Graeci_). It formed part of the legends of Cyprus, and +was alluded to by the lyric poet Timocreon (_Bergk. Poetae Lyrici +Graeci_, p. 1203). Compare Browning:-- + + Pompilia was no pigeon, Venus' Pet. + +_Ring and Book_, v. 701. + + +XXXV. 7. + + _So he'll quickly devour the way,_ + +move quickly over the road. So Shakespeare: + + Starting so + He seem'd in running to devour the way, + Staying no longer question. + +_2nd Part of Henry IV._, Act i. sc. 1. + + +XXXVII. 10. + + _With scorpion I, with emblem all your haunt will scrawl._ + +A member of the Saraceni family at Vicenza, finding that a beautiful +widow did not favour him, scribbled filthy pictures over the door. The +affair was brought before the Council of Ten at Venice. + +TROLLOPE'S _Paul the Pope_, p. 158. + + +XLIII. 3. + + _Mouth scarce tenible,_ + +easily running over. + + +XLV. 7. + + _A sulky lion._ + +Properly "green-eyed." The epithet would seem to be not merely +picturesque; the glaring of the eyes would be more marked in proportion +as the beast was in a fiercer and more excitable state. + + +LI. 5-12. + + I watch thy grace; and in its place + My heart a charmed slumber keeps, + While I muse upon thy face; + And a languid fire creeps + Thro' my veins to all my frame, + Dissolvingly and slowly: soon + From thy rose-red lips my name + Floweth; and then, as in a swoon, + With dinning sound my ears are rife, + My tremulous tongue faltereth, + I lose my colour, I lose my breath, + I drink the cup of a costly death, + Brimmed with delicious draughts of warmest life. + +TENNYSON, _Elenore_. + + +LIV. 6. + + _Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics_. + +This line is quoted as Catullus's by Porphyrion on Hor. c. 1. 16, 24. +His words, _Catullus cum maledicta minaretur_, compared with the last +lines of this poem, _Irascere iterum meis iambis Inmerentibus, unice +imperator_, seem to justify my view that they belong here. See my large +edition, p. 217, fragm. I. The following line, _So may destiny, &c._, is +a supplement of my own: it forms a natural introduction to the _Si non +uellem_ of v. 10. + + +LV. + +This is the only instance where Catullus has introduced a spondee into +the second foot of the phalaecian, which then becomes decasyllabic. The +alternation of this decasyllabic rhythm with the ordinary +hendecasyllable is studiously artistic; I have retained it throughout. +In the series of dactylic lines 17-22, Catullus no doubt intended to +convey the idea of rapidity, as, in the spondaic line immediately +following, of labour. + + 4 _You on Circus, in all the bills but you, Sir._ + +There seems to be no authority for the meaning ordinarily assigned to +_libellis_, "book-shops." I prefer to explain the word placards, either +announcing the sale of Camerius's effects, which would imply that he was +in debt, or describing him as a lost article. + + +LXI. + +In the rhythm of this poem, I have been obliged to deviate in two points +from Catullus. (1) In him the first foot of each line is nearly always a +trochee, only rarely a spondee: the monotonous effect of a positional +trochee in English, to say nothing of the difficulty, induced me to +substitute a spondee more frequently. (2) I have been rather less +scrupulous in allowing the last foot of the glyconic lines to be a +dactyl (-uu), in place of the more correct cretic (-u-). + +108. The words in italics are a supplement of my own. + + +LXII. 39-61. + + _Look in a garden croft, when a flower privily growing, &c._ + + _Opinion._ Look how a flower that close in closes grows, + Hid from rude cattle, bruised with no ploughs, + Which th' air doth stroke, sun strengthen, showers shoot higher, + It many youths and many maids desire; + The same, when cropt by cruel hand 'tis wither'd, + No youths at all, no maidens have desired; + So a virgin while untouch'd she doth remain + Is dear to hers; but when with body's stain + Her chaster flower is lost, she leaves to appear + Or sweet to young men or to maidens dear. + + _Truth._ Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet Hymen yield, + For as a lone vine in a naked field + Never extols her branches, never bears + Ripe grapes, but with a headlong heaviness wears + Her tender body, and her highest sprout + Is quickly levell'd with her fading root; + By whom no husbandmen, no youths will dwell; + But if by fortune she be married well, + To the elm her husband, many husbandmen + And many youths inhabit by her then; + So whilst a virgin doth untouch'd abide, + All unmanur'd she grows old with her pride; + But when to equal wedlock, in fit time, + Her fortune and endeavour lets her climb, + Dear to her love and parents she is held. + Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet Hymen yield. + +BEN JONSON, _The Barriers_. + + +LXIII. + +In the metre of this poem Catullus observes the following general type-- + +-- | -- -- +uu- u- -u -- | uu- uuu u- (so Heyse.) + uu | uu + +Except in 18, _Hilarate aere citatis erroribus animum_, 53, _Et earum +omnia adirem furibunda latibula_, where the Ionic a minore, which seems +to have been the original basis of the rhythm, is preserved intact in +the former half of the line. I have followed Catullus generally with +exactness, but with an occasional resolution of one long into two short +syllables, where it has not been introduced by the poet, _e.g._ in 31, +34, 49, 64, 65, 68, 79. In v. 10 I have ventured on a license which +Catullus does not admit, but which is, I think, justified by other and +earlier specimens of the metre, an anaclasis of the original Ionic a +minore at the end of the line. In reading this poem it should never be +forgotten that there is a pause in the middle of each line, which +practically divides it into two halves. Tennyson, in his _Boadicea_, +written on the model of the _Attis_, divides each verse similarly in the +middle; but in the first half he has changed the rhythm of Catullus to a +trochaic rhythm, in the second, while producing much of the effect of +the _Attis_ by the accumulation of short syllables at the end of the +line, he has not bound himself to the same strictly defined feet as +Catullus, and generally has preferred to take from the somewhat +emasculate character of the verse by adding an unaccented syllable at +the close. + + +LXIII. + + 8 _Taborine_ + + Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets blow. + +_Troilus and Cressida_, Act iv. sc. 5. + + 16 _Aby_ + +abide; as, I think, in Spenser's _Faerie Queene_, vi. 2, 19. + + But he was fierce and whot, + Ne time would give, nor any termes aby. + +Below, lxiv. 297, I have used it in its more common meaning of atoning +for, _Faerie Queene_, iv. 1, 53. + + Yet thou, false Squire, his fault shalt deare aby, + And with thy punishment his penance shalt supply. + +_Midsummer Night's Dream_, iii. 2. + + Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. + + 24 _Ululation._ + + There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud + Resounded through the air without a star. + +LONGFELLOW'S _Dante Inf_. iii. 22. + + 41 _When he smote the shadowy twilight with his healthy team sublime._ + + Ere yet they blind the stars, and the wild team + Which love thee, yearning for thy yoke, arise, + And shake the darkness from their loosen'd manes, + And beat the twilight into flakes of fire. + +TENNYSON, _Tithonus_. + + 83 _On a nervy neck._ + + Four maned lions hale + The sluggish wheels; solemn their toothed maws, + Their surly eyes brow-hidden, heavy paws + Uplifted drowsily, and nervy tails + Covering their tawny brushes. + +KEATS, _Endymion_, II. ad fin. + + +LXIV. 160. + + _Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden._ + +I have combined _thou_ with _your_ purposely, to suggest the idea +conveyed in _uestras_ as opposed to _potuisti_, the family abode as +opposed to the individual Theseus. + + 183 _Flexibly fleeting_ + +bent as they move rapidly through the water. + + 186 _No glimmer of hope_ + +from Heyse, + + Keinerlei Flucht, kein Schimmer der Hoffnung, stumm liegt Alles. + + 258 _Gordian._ + + She was a gordian shape of dazzling hue, + Vermilion-spotted, golden, green, and blue. + +KEATS, _Lamia_, Part I. + + 308 _Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush' d rosy beneath them._ + +I have attempted here to give what I conceive Catullus may have meant to +convey by the remarkable collocation _At roseo niueae residebant uertice +uittae_. Properly, the wreaths are rosy, the locks snow-white; but the +colour of the wreaths is so blent with the colour of the locks that each +is lost in the other, and an inversion of epithets becomes possible. + + _So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles._ + +A verse seems to have been lost here, which I have thus supplied. + + +LXVIII. 149. + + _So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little + Verse, to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon_. + + These little rites, a stone, a verse, receive, + 'Tis all a father, all a friend can give. + +POPE, _Epitaph on the children of Lord Digby._ + + +LXIX. 4. + + _Clarity_ + +clearness, transparency. + + Here clarity of candour, history's soul, + The critical mind in short. + +BROWNING, _Ring and Book_, i. 925. + + +LXX. + +Sir Philip Sidney thus translates this poem:-- + + Unto no body my woman saith shee had rather a wife be, + Then to myself, not though Jove grew a suter of hers. + These be her words, but a woman's words to a love that is eager, + Midde [windes?] or waters stream do require to be writ. + + +XCIX. 10. + + _Fricatrice._ + + To a lewd harlot, a base fricatrice. + +BEN JONSON, _The Fox_, iv. 2. + + +THE END. + +BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Poems and Fragments of Catullus, by Catullus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CATULLUS *** + +***** This file should be named 18867-8.txt or 18867-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/8/6/18867/ + +Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi, Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Poems and Fragments of Catullus + +Author: Catullus + +Translator: Robinson Ellis + +Release Date: July 19, 2006 [EBook #18867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CATULLUS *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi, Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>THE<br /> +POEMS AND FRAGMENTS<br /> +OF<br /> +CATULLUS,</h1> + +<h3>TRANSLATED IN THE METRES OF THE ORIGINAL</h3> + + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>ROBINSON ELLIS,</h2> + +<p class="center">FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD,<br /> +PROFESSOR OF LATIN IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.</p> + + +<h4>LONDON:<br /> +JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.<br /> +1871.</h4> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<p class="center">LONDON:<br /> +BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>TO ALFRED TENNYSON.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>The idea of translating Catullus in the original metres adopted by the +poet himself was suggested to me many years ago by the admirable, +though, in England, insufficiently known, version of Theodor Heyse +(Berlin, 1855). My first attempts were modelled upon him, and were so +unsuccessful that I dropt the idea for some time altogether. In 1868, +the year following the publication of my larger critical edition<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> of +Catullus, I again took up the experiment, and translated into English +glyconics the first Hymenaeal, <i>Collis o Heliconici</i>. Tennyson's Alcaics +and Hendecasyllables had appeared in the interval, and had suggested to +me the new principle on which I was to go to work. It was not sufficient +to reproduce the ancient metres, unless the ancient quantity was +reproduced also. Almost all the modern writers of classical metre had +contented themselves with making an accented syllable long, an +unaccented short; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> most familiar specimens of hexameter, +Longfellow's <i>Evangeline</i> and Clough's <i>Bothie of Tober-na-Vuolich</i> and +<i>Amours de Voyage</i> were written on this principle, and, as a rule, +stopped there. They almost invariably disregarded position, perhaps the +most important element of quantity. In the first line of <i>Evangeline</i>—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>there are no less than five violations of position, to say nothing of +the shortening of a syllable so distinctly long as the <i>i</i> in +<i>primeval</i>. Mr. Swinburne, in his Sapphics and Hendecasyllables, while +writing on a manifestly artistic conception of those metres, and, in my +judgment, proving their possibility for modern purposes by the superior +rhythmical effect which a classically trained ear enabled him to make in +handling them, neglects position as a rule, though his nice sense of +metre leads him at times to observe it, and uniformly rejects any +approach to the harsh combinations indulged in by other writers. The +nearest approach to quantitative hexameters with which I am acquainted +in modern English writers is the <i>Andromeda</i> of Mr. Kingsley, a poem +which has produced little effect, but is interesting as a step to what +may fairly be called a new development of the metre. For the experiments +of the Elizabethan writers, Sir Philip Sidney and others, by that +strange perversity which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span> so often dominates literature, were as +decidedly unsuccessful from an accentual, as the modern experiments from +a quantitative point of view. Sir Philip Sidney has given in his +<i>Arcadia</i> specimens of hexameters, elegiacs, sapphics, asclepiads, +anacreontics, hendecasyllables. The following elegiacs will serve as a +sample.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Unto a caitif wretch, whom long affliction holdeth,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>And now fully believ's help to bee quite perished;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Grant yet, grant yet a look, to the last moment of his anguish,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>O you (alas so I finde) caus of his onely ruine:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Dread not awhit (O goodly cruel) that pitie may enter</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Into thy heart by the sight of this Epistle I send:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And so refuse to behold of these strange wounds the recitall,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Lest it might m' allure home to thyself to return.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span>In these the classical laws of position are most carefully observed; +every dactyl ending in a consonant is followed by a word beginning with +a vowel or <i>h</i>—<i>afflīctĭŏn holdeth</i>, <i>momēnt ŏf hĭs anguish</i>, <i>caūse ŏf +hĭs onely</i>; <i>affliction wasteth</i>, <i>moment of his dolour</i>, <i>cause of his +dreary</i>, would have been as impossible to Sir Philip Sidney as <i>moērŏr +tĕnebat</i>, <i>momēntă pĕr curae</i>, <i>caūsă vĕl sola</i> in a Latin writer of +hexameters. Similarly where the dactyl is incided after the second +syllable, the third syllable beginning a new word, the utmost care is +taken that that word shall begin not only with a syllable essentially +short, but, when the second syllable ends in a consonant, with a vowel: +<i>ōf thĭs ĕpistle</i>, but not <i>ōf thĭs dĭsaster</i>, still less <i>ōf thĭs +dĭrection</i>. The other element of quantity is less rigidly defined; for +(1) syllables strictly long, as <i>I</i>, <i>thy</i>, <i>so</i>, are allowed to be short; +(2) syllables made long by the accent falling upon them are in some +cases shortened, as <i>rŭīne</i>, <i>pĕrĭshēd</i>, <i>crŭēl</i>; (3) syllables which the +absence of the accent only allows to be long <i>in thesi</i>, are, in virtue +of the classical laws of position, permitted to rank as long +elsewhere—<i>momēnt of his</i>, <i>ōf this epistle</i>. It needs little reflection +to see that it is to one or other of these three peculiarities that the +failure of the Elizabethan writers of classical metres must be ascribed. +Pentameters like</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Gratefulness, sweetness, holy love, hearty regard,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>That the delights of life shall be to him dolorous,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And even in that love shall I reserve him a spite;</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>sapphics like</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Are then humane mindes privileg'd so meanly</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>As that hateful death can abridg them of power</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>With the vow of truth to record to all worlds</i><br /></span> +<span class="i6"><i>That we bee her spoils?</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>hexameters like</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Fīre nŏ lĭquor can cool: Neptūne's reālm would not avail us.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Nurs inwārd mălădiēs, which have not scope to bee breath'd out.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Oh nŏ nŏ, worthie shephērd, worth cān never enter a title;</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>are too alien from ordinary pronunciation to please either an average +reader or a classically trained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span> student. The same may be said of the +translation into English hexameters of the two first Eclogues of Virgil, +appended by William Webbe to his <i>Discourse of English Poetrie</i> (1586, +recently reprinted by Mr. Arber). Here is his version of Ecl. I., 1-10.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">MELIBAEUS.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Tityrus, happilie then lyste tumbling under a beech tree,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>All in a fine oate pipe these sweete songs lustilie chaunting:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>We, poore soules goe to wracke, and from these coastes be remoued,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And fro our pastures sweete: thou Tityr, at ease in a shade plott</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Makst thicke groues to resound with songes of brave Amarillis.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">TITYRUS.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>O Melibaeus, he was no man, but a God who releeude me:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Euer he shalbe my God: from this same Sheepcot his alters</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Neuer, a tender lambe shall want, with blood to bedew them.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>This good gift did he giue, to my steeres thus freelie to wander,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And to my selfe (thou seest) on pipe to resound what I listed.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>ib.</i> 50-56.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Here no unwoonted foode shall grieue young theaues who be laded,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Nor the infections foule of neighbours flocke shall annoie them.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Happie olde man. In shaddowy bankes and coole prettie places,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Heere by the quainted floodes and springs most holie remaining.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Here, these quicksets fresh which lands seuer out fro thy neighbors</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And greene willow rowes which Hiblae bees doo rejoice in,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Oft fine whistring noise, shall bring sweete sleepe to thy sences.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The following stanzas are from a Sapphic ode into which Webbe +translated, or as we should say, trans<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span>posed the fourth Eclogue of +Spenser's <i>Sheepheardes Calendar</i>.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Say, behold did ye euer her Angelike face,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Like to Phoebe fayre? or her heauenly hauour</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And the princelike grace that in her remaineth?</i><br /></span> +<span class="i10"><i>haue yee the like seene?</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Vnto that place Caliope dooth high her,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Where my Goddesse shines: to the same the Muser</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>After her with sweete Violines about them</i><br /></span> +<span class="i10"><i>cheerefully tracing.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>All ye Sheepheardes maides that about the greene dwell,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Speede ye there to her grace, but among ye take heede</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>All be Virgins pure that aproche to deck her,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i10"><i>dutie requireth.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>When ye shall present ye before her in place,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>See ye not your selues doo demeane too rudely:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Bynd the fillets: and to be fine the waste gyrt</i><br /></span> +<span class="i10"><i>fast with a tawdryne.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Bring the Pinckes therewith many Gelliflowres sweete,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And the Cullambynes: let vs haue the Wynesops,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>With the Coronation that among the loue laddes</i><br /></span> +<span class="i10"><i>wontes to be worne much.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Daffadowndillies all a long the ground strowe,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And the Cowslyppe with a prety paunce let heere lye.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Kyngcuppe and Lillies so beloude of all men</i><br /></span> +<span class="i10"><i>and the deluce flowre.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>There are many faults in these verses; over quaintnesses of language, +constructions impossible in English,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span> quantities of doubtful +correctness, harsh elisions, for Webbe has tried even elisions. Yet, if +I may trust my judgment, all of them can still be read with pleasure; +the sapphics may almost be called a success. This is even more true of +metres, where these faults are less perceptible or more easily avoided, +for instance, Asclepiads. Take the verses on solitariness, Arcadia, B. +II. fin.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>O sweet woods, the delight ōf sŏlĭtāriness!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>O how much I do like your solitariness!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Where man's mind hath a freed consideration</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Of goodness to receive lovely direction.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>or the hendecasyllables immediately preceding,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Reason tell me thy minde, if here be reason,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>In this strange violence, to make resistance,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Where sweet graces erect the stately banner.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is obvious that a very little more trouble would have converted these +into very perfect and very pleasing poems. Had Sir Philip Sidney written +every asclepiad on the model of <i>Where man's mind hath a freed +consideration</i>, every hendecasyllable like <i>Where sweet graces erect the +stately banner</i>, the adjustment of accent and quantity thus attained +might, I think, have induced greater poets than he to make the +experiment on a larger scale. But neither he nor his contem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span>poraries +were permitted to grasp as a principle a regularity which they sometimes +secured by chance; nor, so far as I am aware, have the various revivals +of ancient metre in this country or Germany in any case consistently +carried out the <i>whole</i> theory, without which the reproduction is +partial, and cannot look for a more than partial success. Even the four +specimens given in the posthumous edition of Clough's poems, two of them +elegiac, one alcaic, one in hexameters, though professedly constructed +on a quantitative basis, and, in one instance (<i>Trunks the forest +yielded, with gums ambrosial oozing, &c.</i>) combining legitimate quantity +(in which accent and position are alike observed) with illegitimate (in +which position is observed, but accent disregarded) into a not +unpleasing rhythm, cannot be considered as more than imperfect +realizations of the true positional principle. Tennyson's three +specimens are, at least in English, still unique. It is to be hoped that +he will not suffer them to remain so. Systems of Glyconics and +Asclepiads are, if I mistake not, easily manageable, and are only +thought foreign to the genius of our language because they have never +been written on strict principles of art by a really great master.</p> + +<p>What, then, are the rules on which such rhythms become possible? They +are, briefly, these:—(1) accented syllables, <i>as a general rule</i>, are +long, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</a></span> some syllables which count as long need not be accented, +as in</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing,</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><i>blossoms</i>, though only accented on the first syllable, counts for a +spondee, the shortness of the second <i>o</i> being partly helped out by the +two consonants which follow it; partly by the fact that the syllable is +<i>in thesi</i>; (2) the laws of position are to be observed, according to +the general rules of classical prosody: (<i>a</i>) dactyls terminating in a +consonant like <i>beautiful</i>, <i>bounteous</i>, or ending in a double vowel or +a diphthong like <i>all of you, surely may, come to thee</i>, must be +followed by a word beginning with a vowel or <i>y</i> or <i>h</i>; dactyls +terminating in a vowel or <i>y</i>, like <i>slippery</i>, should be followed, +except in rare cases, by words beginning with a consonant; trochees, +whether composed of one word or more, should, if ending in a consonant, +be followed by a vowel, if ending in the vowel <i>a</i>, by a consonant, +thus, <i>planted around</i> not <i>planted beneath</i>, <i>Aurora the sun's</i> not +<i>Aurora a sun's</i> (see however, lxiv. 253), but <i>unto a wood, any again, +sorry at all, you be amused</i>. (<i>b</i>) Syllables made up of a vowel +followed by two or more consonants, each of which is distinctly heard in +pronunciation, as <i>long</i>, <i>sins</i>, <i>part</i>, <i>band</i>, <i>waits</i>, <i>souls</i>, +<i>ears</i>, <i>must</i>, <i>heart</i>, <i>bright</i>, <i>strength</i>, <i>end</i>, <i>and</i>, <i>rapt</i>, +<i>hers</i>, <i>dealt</i>, mo<i>ment</i>, bo<i>soms</i>, <i>answers</i>, moun<i>tains</i>, bear<i>est</i>, +tum<i>bling</i>, gi<i>ving</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</a></span> com<i>ing</i>, harbour<i>ing</i>, diffi<i>cult</i>, immi<i>nent</i>, +strata<i>gems</i>, utter<i>ance</i>, happi<i>est</i>, trem<i>bling</i>ly, can never rank as +short, even if unaccented and followed by a vowel, <i>h</i> or <i>y</i>. Thus, to +go back to Longfellow's line,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><i>forĕst</i>, <i>murmurĭng</i>, <i>pines ănd the</i>, are all inadmissible. +But where a vowel is followed by two consonants, one of which is unheard +or only heard slightly, as in <i>acc</i>use, sh<i>all</i>, <i>ass</i>emble, +<i>diss</i>emble, kind<i>ness</i>, com<i>pass</i>, <i>aff</i>ect, <i>app</i>ear, <i>ann</i>oy, or when +the second or third consonant is a liquid, as in <i>betray</i>, <i>beslime</i>, +<i>besmear</i>, <i>depress</i>, <i>dethrone</i>, <i>agree</i>, the vowel preceding is so +much more short than long as to be regularly admissible as short, rarely +admissible as long. On this principle I have allowed +<i>disōrdĕrly̆</i>, <i>tēnăntlĕss</i>, <i>heavĕnly̆</i>, to rank +as dactyls.</p> + +<p>These rules are after all only an outline, and perhaps can never be made +more. It will be observed that they are more negative than positive. The +reason of this is not far to seek. The main difference between my verses +and those of other contemporary writers—the one point on which I claim +for myself the merit of novelty—is the strict observance throughout of +the rules of position. But the strict observance of position is in +effect the strict avoidance of unclassical collocations of syllables: it +is almost wholly negative. To illustrate my meaning I will instance the +poems<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii">[Pg xvii]</a></span> written in pure iambics, the <i>Phaselus ille</i> and <i>Quis hoc potest +uidere</i>. Heyse translates the first line of the former of these poems by</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Die Galeotte, die ihr schauet, liebe Herrn,</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>and this would be a fair representation of a pure iambic line, according +to the views of most German and most English writers. Yet not only is +<i>Die</i> no short syllable, but <i>ihr</i>, itself long, is made more hopelessly +long by preceding three consonants in <i>schauet</i>, just as the last +syllable of <i>schauet</i>, although in itself short, loses its right to +stand for a true short in being followed by the first consonant of +<i>liebe</i>. My own translation,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>The puny pinnace yonder you, my friends, discern,</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>whatever its defects, is at least a pretty exact representation of a +pure iambic line. xxix. 6-8, are thus translated by Heyse:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Und jener soll in Uebermuthes Ueberfluss</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Von einem Bett zum andern in die Runde gehn?</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>by me thus,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Shall he in o'er-assumption, o'er-repletion he,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Sedately saunter every dainty couch along?</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The difference is purely negative; I have bound myself to avoid certain +positions forbidden by the laws of ancient prosody. To some I may seem +to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii">[Pg xviii]</a></span> have lost in vigour by the process; yet I believe the sense of +triumph over the difficulties of our language, the satisfaction of +approaching in a novel and perceptibly felt manner one of those +excellences which, as much as anything, contributes to the permanent +charm of Catullus, his dainty versification, will more than compensate +for any shortcomings which the difficulty of the task has made +inevitable. The same may be said of the elaborately artificial poem to +Camerius (c. lv.), and the almost unapproachable Attis (c. lxiii.). +Here, at least half the interest lies in the varied turns of the metre; +if these can be represented with anything like faithfulness, the gain in +exactness of prosody is enough, in my judgment, to counterbalance the +possible loss of freedom in expression.</p> + +<p>There is another circumstance which tends to make modern rules of +prosody necessarily negative. Quantity, in English revivals of ancient +metre, depends not only on position, but on accent. But accent varies +greatly in different words; <i>heavy level ever cometh any</i>, have the same +accent as <i>empty evil either boometh penny</i>; but the first syllable in +the former set of words is lighter than in the latter. Hence, though +accented, they may, on occasion, be considered and used as short; as, on +the same principle, <i>dolorous stratagem echoeth family</i>, usually +dactyls, may, on occasion, become tribrachs. But how lay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix">[Pg xix]</a></span> down any +positive rule in matter necessarily so fluctuating? We cannot. All we +can do is to refuse admission as short syllables to any heavier accented +syllable. Here, then, much must be left to individual discretion. My +translation of the Attis will best show my own feeling in the matter. +But I am fully aware that in this respect I have fallen far short of +consistency. I have made <i>any</i> sometimes short, more often long; <i>to</i>, +usually short, is lengthened in lxi. 26, lxvii. 19, lxviii. 143; <i>with</i> +is similarly long, though not followed by a consonant, in lxi. 36; +<i>given</i> is long in xxviii. 7, short in xi. 17, lxiv. 213; <i>are</i> is short +in lxvii. 14; and more generally many syllables allowed to pass for +short in the Attis are elsewhere long. Nor have I scrupled to forsake +the ancient quantity in proper names; following Heyse, I have made the +first syllable of <i>Verona</i> short in xxxv. 3, lxvii. 34, although it +retains its proper quantity in lxviii. 27. Again, <i>Pheneos</i> is a dactyl +in lxviii. 111, while <i>Satrachus</i> is an anapaest in xcv. 5. In many of +these instances I have acted consciously; if the writers of Greece and +Rome allowed many syllables to be doubtful, and almost as a principle +avoid perfect uniformity in the quantity of proper names, a greater +freedom may not unfairly be claimed by their modern imitators. If +Catullus could write <i>Pharsăliam coeunt, Pharsălia regna +frequentant</i>, similar license may surely be extended to me. I believe, +indeed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xx" id="Page_xx">[Pg xx]</a></span> that nothing in my translation is as violent as the double +quantity just mentioned in Catullus; but if there is, I would remind my +readers of Goethe's answer to the boy who told him he had been guilty of +a hexameter with seven feet, and applying the remark to any seeming +irregularities in my own translation would say, <i>Lass die Bestie +stehen</i>.</p> + +<p>It would not be difficult to swell this Preface by enlarging on the +novelty of the attempt, and indirectly panegyrising my own undertaking. +I doubt whether any real advantage would thus be gained. If I have +merely produced an elaborate failure, however much I might expatiate on +the principles which guided me, my work would be an elaborate failure +still. I shall therefore say no more, and shall be contented if I please +the, even in this classically trained country, too limited number of +readers who can really hear with their ears—if, to use the borrowed +language of a great poet, I succeed in making myself vocal to the +intelligent alone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>CATULLUS.</h2> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who shall take thee, the new, the dainty volume,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Purfled glossily, fresh with ashy pumice?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">You, Cornelius; you of old did hold them<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Something worthy, the petty witty nothings,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">While you venture, alone of all Italians,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Time's vast chronicle in three books to circle,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Jove! how arduous, how divinely learned!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Therefore welcome it, yours the little outcast,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This slight volume. O yet, supreme awarder,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Virgin, save it in ages on for ever.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>II.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sparrow, favourite of my own beloved,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whom to play with, or in her arms to fondle,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She delighteth, anon with hardy-pointed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Finger angrily doth provoke to bite her:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">When my lady, a lovely star to long for,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bends her splendour awhile to tricksy frolic;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Peradventure a careful heart beguiling,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pardie, heavier ache perhaps to lighten;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Might I, like her, in happy play caressing<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Thee, my dolorous heart awhile deliver!<br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2">I would joy, as of old the maid rejoiced<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Racing fleetly, the golden apple eyeing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Late-won loosener of the wary girdle.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>III.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Weep each heavenly Venus, all the Cupids,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Weep all men that have any grace about ye.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dead the sparrow, in whom my love delighted,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The dear sparrow, in whom my love delighted.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Yea, most precious, above her eyes, she held him,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sweet, all honey: a bird that ever hail'd her<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lady mistress, as hails the maid a mother.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Nor would move from her arms away: but only<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hopping round her, about her, hence or hither,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Piped his colloquy, piped to none beside her.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now he wendeth along the mirky pathway,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whence, they tell us, is hopeless all returning.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Evil on ye, the shades of evil Orcus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shades all beauteous happy things devouring,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Such a beauteous happy bird ye took him.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Ah! for pity; but ah! for him the sparrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Our poor sparrow, on whom to think my lady's<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Eyes do angrily redden all a-weeping.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>IV.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The puny pinnace yonder you, my friends, discern,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of every ship professes agilest to be.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor yet a timber o'er the waves alertly flew<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She might not aim to pass it; oary-wing'd alike<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">To fleet beyond them, or to scud beneath a sail.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Nor here presumes denial any stormy coast<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of Adriatic or the Cyclad orbed isles,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Rhodos immemorial, or that icy Thrace,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Propontis, or the gusty Pontic ocean-arm,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Whereon, a pinnace after, in the days of yore<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A leafy shaw she budded; oft Cytorus' height<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With her did inly whisper airy colloquy.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Amastris, you by Pontus, you, the box-clad hill<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of high Cytorus, all, the pinnace owns, to both<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Was ever, is familiar; in the primal years<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She stood upon your hoary top, a baby tree,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Within your haven early dipt a virgin oar:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To carry thence a master o'er the surly seas,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A world of angry water, hail'd to left, to right<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">The breeze of invitation, or precisely set<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The sheets together op'd to catch a kindly Jove.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Nor yet of any power whom the coasts adore<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Was heard a vow to soothe them, all the weary way<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From outer ocean unto glassy quiet here.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i0">But all the past is over; indolently now<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She rusts, a life in autumn, and her age devotes<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Castor and with him ador'd, the twin divine.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>V.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Living, Lesbia, we should e'en be loving.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sour severity, tongue of eld maligning,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All be to us a penny's estimation.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Suns set only to rise again to-morrow.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">We, when sets in a little hour the brief light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sleep one infinite age, a night for ever.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thousand kisses, anon to these an hundred,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thousand kisses again, another hundred,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thousand give me again, another hundred.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Then once heedfully counted all the thousands,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We'll uncount them as idly; so we shall not<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Know, nor traitorous eye shall envy, knowing<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All those myriad happy many kisses.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>VI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But that, Flavius, hardly nice or honest<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This thy folly, methinks Catullus also<br /></span> +<span class="i2">E'en had known it, a whisper had betray'd thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Some she-malady, some unhealthy wanton,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Fires thee verily: thence the shy denial.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Least, you keep not a lonely night of anguish;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Quite too clamorous is that idly-feigning<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Couch, with wreaths, with a Syrian odour oozing;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then that pillow alike at either utmost<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Verge deep-dinted asunder, all the trembling<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Play, the strenuous unsophistication;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All, O prodigal, all alike betray thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Why? sides shrunken, a sullen hip disabled,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Speak thee giddy, declare a misdemeanour.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">So, whatever is yours to tell or ill or<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Good, confess it. A witty verse awaits thee<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And thy lady, to place ye both in heaven.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>VII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ask me, Lesbia, what the sum delightful<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of thy kisses, enough to charm, to tire me?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Multitudinous as the grains on even<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lybian sands aromatic of Cyrene;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">'Twixt Jove's oracle in the sandy desert<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And where royally Battus old reposeth;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yea a company vast as in the silence<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stars which stealthily gaze on happy lovers;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">E'en so many the kisses I to kiss thee<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Count, wild lover, enough to charm, to tire me;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">These no curious eye can wholly number,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tongue of jealousy ne'er bewitch nor harm them.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<h4>VIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ah poor Catullus, learn to play the fool no more.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lost is the lost, thou know'st it, and the past is past.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Bright once the days and sunny shone the light on thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Still ever hasting where she led, the maid so fair,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">By me belov'd as maiden is belov'd no more.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Was then enacting all the merry mirth wherein<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thyself delighted, and the maid she said not nay.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ah truly bright and sunny shone the days on thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now she resigns thee; child, do thou resign no less,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Nor follow her that flies thee, or to bide in woe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Consent, but harden all thy heart, resolve, endure.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Farewell, my love. Catullus is resolv'd, endures,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He will not ask for pity, will not importune.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But thou'lt be mourning thus to pine unask'd alway.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">O past retrieval faithless! Ah what hours are thine!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When comes a likely wooer? who protests thou'rt fair?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Who brooks to love thee? who decrees to live thine own?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whose kiss delights thee? whose the lips that own thy bite?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet, yet, Catullus, learn to bear, resolve, endure.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>IX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dear Veranius, you of all my comrades<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Worth, you only, a many goodly thousands,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Speak they truly that you your hearth revisit,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Brothers duteous, homely mother aged?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Yes, believe them. O happy news, Catullus!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I shall see him alive, alive shall hear him,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tribes Iberian, uses, haunts, declaring<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">As his wont is; on him my neck reclining<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Kiss his flowery face, his eyes delightful.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Now, all men that have any mirth about you,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Know ye happier any, any blither?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>X.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In the Forum as I was idly roaming<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Varus took me a merry dame to visit.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She a lady, methought upon the moment,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of some quality, not without refinement.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">So, arrived, in a trice we fell on endless<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Themes colloquial; how the fact, the falsehood<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With Bithynia, what the case about it,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Had it helped me to profit or to money.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then I told her a very truth; no atom<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">There for company, praetor, hungry natives,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Home might render a body aught the fatter:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then our praetor a castaway, could hugely<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mulct his company, had a taste to jeer them.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Spoke another, 'Yet anyways, to bear you<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Men were ready, enough to grace a litter.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They grow quantities, if report belies not.'<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then supremely myself to flaunt before her,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I 'So thoroughly could not angry fortune<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Spite, I might not, afflicted in my province,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">Get erected a lusty eight to bear me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But so scrubby the poor sedan, the batter'd<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Frame-work, nobody there nor here could ever<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lift it, painfully neck to nick adjusting.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">3.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Quoth the lady, belike a lady wanton,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i2">'Just for courtesy, lend me, dear Catullus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Those same nobodies. I the great Sarapis<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Go to visit awhile.' Said I in answer,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Thanks; but, lady, for all my easy boasting,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Twas too summary; there's a friend who knows me,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span> +<span class="i2">Cinna Gaius, his the sturdy bearers.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Mine or Cinna's, an inch alone divides us,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I use Cinna's, as e'en my own possession.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But you're really a bore, a very tiresome<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dame unmannerly, thus to take me napping.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Furius and Aurelius, O my comrades,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whether your Catullus attain to farthest<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ind, the long shore lash'd by reverberating<br /></span> +<span class="i10">Surges Eoan;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Hyrcan or luxurious horde Arabian,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sacan or grim Parthian arrow-bearer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fields the rich Nile discolorates, a seven-fold<br /></span> +<span class="i10">River abounding;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whether o'er high Alps he afoot ascending<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Track the long records of a mighty Cæsar,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rhene, the Gauls' deep river, a lonely Britain<br /></span> +<span class="i10">Dismal in ocean;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This, or aught else haply the gods determine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Absolute, you, with me in all to part not;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Bid my love greet, bear her a little errand,<br /></span> +<span class="i10">Scarcely of honour.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Say 'Live on yet, still given o'er to nameless<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lords, within one bosom, a many wooers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Clasp'd, as unlov'd each, so in hourly change all<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i10">Lewdly disabled.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Think not henceforth, thou, to recal Catullus'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love; thy own sin slew it, as on the meadow's<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Verge declines, ungently beneath the plough-share<br /></span> +<span class="i10">Stricken, a flower.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Left-hand practices o'er the merry wine-cup.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Watch occasion, anon remove the napkin.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Call this drollery? Trust me, friend, it is not.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">'Tis most beastly, a trick among a thousand.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Not believe me? believe a friendly brother,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Laughing Pollio; he declares a talent<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Poor indemnification, he the parlous<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Child of voluble humour and facetious.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">So face hendecasyllables, a thousand,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or most speedily send me back the napkin;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gift not prized at a sorry valuation,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But for company; 'twas a friend's memento.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Cloth of Saetabis, exquisite, from utmost<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Iber, sent as a gift to me Fabullus<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And Veranius. Ought not I to love them<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As Veranius even, as Fabullus?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We'll dine merrily, dear my friend, together.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Promise only to bring, your own, a dinner<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rich and goodly; withal a lily maiden,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Wine, and banter, a world of hearty laughing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Promise only; betimes we dine, my gentle<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Friend, most merrily; but, for your Catullus—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Know he boasts but a pouch of empty cobwebs.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet take contrary fee, the quintessential<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Love, or sweeter if aught is, aught supremer,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Perfume savoury, mine; my love received it<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gift of every Venus, all the Cupids.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Would you smell it? a god shall hear Fabullus<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pray unbody him only nose for ever.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Calvus, save that as eyes thou art beloved,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I could verily loathe thee for the morning's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gift, Vatinius hardly more devoutly.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Slain with poetry! done to death with abjects!<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">O what syllable earn'd it, act allow'd it?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gods, your malison on the sorry client<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sent that rascally rabble of malignants.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet, if, freely to guess, the gift recherché<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Some grammarian, haply Sulla, sent thee;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">I repine not; a dear delight, a triumph<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This, thy drudgery thus to see rewarded.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Gods! an horrible and a deadly volume!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sent so faithfully, friend, to thy Catullus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Just to kill him upon a day, the festive,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Saturnalia, best of all the season.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sure, a drollery not without requital.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For, come dawn, to the cases and the bookshops<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I; there gather a Caesius and Aquinus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With Suffenus, in every wretch a poison:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i0">Such plague-prodigy thy remuneration!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now good-morrow! away with evil omen<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whence ill destiny lamely bore ye, clumsy<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Poet-rabble, an age's execration!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XIV<span class="smcap">b</span>.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Readers, any that in the future ever<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Scan my fantasies, haply lay upon me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hands adventurous of solicitation—<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lend thy bounty to me, to my beloved,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Kind Aurelius. I do ask a favour<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Fair and lawful; if you did e'er in earnest<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Seek some virginal innocence to cherish,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Touch not lewdly the mistress of my passion.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Trust the people; avails not aught to fear them,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Such, who hourly within the streets repassing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Run, good souls, on a busy quest or idle.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">You, you only the free, the felon-hearted,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Fright me, prodigal you of every virtue.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Well, let luxury run her heady riot,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Love flow over; enough abroad to sate thee:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This one trespass—a tiny boon—presume not.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But should impious heat or humour headstrong<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Drive thee wilfully, wretch, to such profaning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In one folly to dare a double outrage:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ah what misery thine; what angry fortune!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Heels drawn tight to the stretch shall open inward<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lodgment easy to mullet and to radish.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I'll traduce you, accuse you, and abuse you,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Soft Aurelius, e'en as easy Furius.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You that lightly a saucy verse resenting,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Misconceit me, sophisticate me wanton.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Know, pure chastity rules the godly poet,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rules not poesy, needs not e'er to rule it;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Charms some verse with a witty grace delightful?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis voluptuous, impudent, a wanton.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It shall kindle an icy thought to courage,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Not boy-fancies alone, but every frozen<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Flank immovable, all amort to pleasure.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">You my kisses, a million happy kisses,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Musing, read me a silky thrall to softness?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll traduce you, accuse you, and abuse you.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XVII.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Kind Colonia, fain upon bridge more lengthy to gambol,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And quite ready to dance amain, fearing only the rotten<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Legs too crazily steadied on planks of old resurrections,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lest it plunge to the deep morass, there supinely to welter;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">So surprise thee a sumptuous bridge thy fancy to pleasure,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Passive under a Salian god's most lusty procession;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This rare favour, a laugh for all time, Colonia, grant me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +<span class="i0">In my township a citizen lives: Catullus adjures thee<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Headlong into the mire below topsy-turvy to drown him.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Only, where the superfluent lake, the spongy putrescence,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sinks most murkily flushed, descends most profoundly the bottom.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Such a ninny, a fool is he; witless even as any<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Two years' urchin, across papa's elbow drowsily swaying.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For though wed to a maiden in spring-tide youthfully budding,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Maiden crisp as a petulant kid, as airily wanton,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sweets more privy to guard than e'er grape-bunch shadowy-purpling;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He, he leaves her alone to romp idly, cares not a fouter.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor leans to her at all, the man's part; but helpless as alder<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lies, new-fell'd in a ditch, beneath axe Ligurian ham-strung,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">As alive to the world, as if world nor wife were at issue.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Such this gaby, my own, my arch fool; he sees not, he hears not<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who himself is, or if the self is, or is not, he knows not.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Him I'd gladly be lowering down thy bridge to the bottom,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If from stupor inanimate peradventure he wake him,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i0">Leaving muddy behind him his sluggish heart's hesitation,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As some mule in a glutinous sludge her rondel of iron.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XXI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sire and prince-patriarch of hungry starvelings,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lean Aurelius, all that are, that have been,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That shall ever in after years be famish'd;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Wouldst thou lewdly my dainty love to folly<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Tempt, and visibly? thou be near, be joking<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cling and fondle, a hundred arts redouble?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O presume not: a wily wit defeated<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Pays in scandalous incapacitation.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet didst folly to fulness add, 'twere all one;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Now shall beauty to thirst be train'd or hunger's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Grim necessity; this is all my sorrow.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then hold, wanton, upon the verge; to-morrow<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Comes preposterous incapacitation.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Suffenus, he, dear Varus, whom, methinks, you know,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Has sense, a ready tongue to talk, a wit urbane,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And writes a world of verses, on my life no less.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ten times a thousand he, believe me, ten or more,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Keeps fairly written; not on any palimpsest,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As often, enter'd, paper extra-fine, sheets new,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">New every roller, red the strings, the parchment-case<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lead-rul'd, with even pumice all alike complete.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">You read them: our choice spirit, our refin'd rare wit,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Suffenus, O no ditcher e'er appeared more rude,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No looby coarser; such a shock, a change is there.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +<span class="i0">How then resolve this puzzle? He the birthday-wit,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For so we thought him—keener yet, if aught is so—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Becomes a dunce more boorish e'en than hedge-born boor,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">If e'er he faults on verses; yet in heart is then<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Most happy, writing verses, happy past compare,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So sweet his own self, such a world at home finds he.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Friend, 'tis the common error; all alike are wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not one, but in some trifle you shall eye him true<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i0">Suffenus; each man bears from heaven the fault they send,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">None sees within the wallet hung behind, our own.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Needy Furius, house nor hoard possessing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bug or spider, or any fire to thaw you,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet most blest in a father and a step-dame,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Each for penury fit to tooth a flint-stone:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Is not happiness yours? a home united?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Son, sire, mother, a lathy dame to match him.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who can wonder? in all is health, digestion,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Pure and vigorous, hours without a trouble.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fires ye fear not, or house's heavy downfal,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Deeds unnatural, art in act to poison,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dangers myriad accidents befalling.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then your bodies? in every limb a shrivell'd<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Horn, all dryness in all the world whatever,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tann'd or frozen or icy-lean with ages.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Sure superlative happiness surrounds thee.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Thee sweat frets not, an o'er-saliva frets not,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Frets not snivel or oozy rheumy nostril.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet such purity lacks not e'en a purer.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">White those haunches as any cleanly-silver'd<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">Salt, it takes you a month to barely dirt them.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then like beans, or inert as e'er a pebble,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Those impeccable heavy loins, a finger's<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Breadth from apathy ne'er seduced to riot.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Such prosperity, such superb profusion,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i0">Slight not, Furius, idly nor reject not.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As for sesterces, all the would-be fortune,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cease to wish it; enough, methinks, the present.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O thou blossom of all the race Juventian<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Not now only, but all as yet arisen,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All to flower in after-years arising;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Midas' treasury better you presented<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Him that owns not a slave nor any coffer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ere you suffer his alien arm's presuming.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What? you fancy him all refin'd perfection?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Perfect! truly, without a slave, a coffer.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Slight, reject it, away with it; for all that<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">He, he owns not a slave nor any coffer.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Smooth Thallus, inly softer you than any furry rabbit,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or glossy goose's oily plumes, or velvet earlap yielding,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or feeble age's heavy thighs, or flimsy filthy cobweb;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +<span class="i0">And Thallus, hungry rascal you, as hurricane rapacious,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">When winks occasion on the stroke, the gulls agape declaring:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Return the mantle home to me, you watch'd your hour to pilfer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The fleecy napkin and the rings from Thynia quaintly graven,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whatever you parade as yours, vain fool, a sham reversion:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Unglue the nails adroit to steal, unclench the spoil, deliver,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Lest yet that haunch voluptuous, those tender hands caressant,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should take an ugly print severe, the scourge's heavy branding;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And strange to bruises you should heave, as heaves in open Ocean,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Some little hoy surprised adrift, when wails the windy water.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Draughts, dear Furius, if my villa faces,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis not showery south, nor airy wester,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">North's grim fury, nor east; 'tis only fifteen<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thousand sesterces, add two hundred over.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Draft unspeakable, icy, pestilential!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXVII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Boy, young caterer of Falernian olden,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Brim me cups of a fiercer harsher essence;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So Postumia, queen of healths presiding,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bids, less thirsty the thirsty grape, the toper.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">But dull water, avaunt. Away the wine-cup's<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sullen enemy; seek the sour, the solemn!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here Thyonius hails his own elixir.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Starving company, troop of hungry Piso,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Light of luggage, of outfit expeditious,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You, Veranius, you, my own Fabullus,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Say, what fortune? enough of empty masters,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Frost and famine, a lingering probation?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Stands your diary fair? is any profit<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Enter'd <i>given</i>? as I to serve a praetor<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Count each beggarly gift a timely profit.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Trust me, Memmius, you did aptly finger<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">My passivity, fool'd me most supinely.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Friends, confess it; in e'en as hard a fortune<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You stand mulcted, on you a like abashless<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rake rides heavily. Court the great who wills it!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Gods and goddesses evil heap upon ye,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Rogues to Romulus and to Remus outcast.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXIX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Can any brook to see it, any tamely bear—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If any, gamester, epicure, a wanton, he—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mamurra's own whatever all the curly Gauls<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Did else inherit, or the lonely Briton isle?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Shall he, in o'er-assumption, o'er-repletion he,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sedately saunter every dainty couch along,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +<span class="i2">A bright Adonis, as the snowy dove serene?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Look idly, gamester, epicure, a wanton, you.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Unique commander, and was only this the plea<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Detain'd you in that islet angle of the west,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To gorge the shrunk seducer irreclaimable<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With haply twice a million, add a million yet?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">What else was e'er unhealthy prodigality?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The waste? to lust a little? on the belly less?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Begin; a glutted hoard paternal; ebb the first.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To this, the booty Pontic; add the spoil from out<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Iberia, known to Tagus' amber ory stream.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i0">Not only Gaul, nor only quail the Briton isles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What help a rogue to fondle? is not all his act<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To swallow monies, empty purses heap on heap?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But you—to please him only, shame to Rome, to me!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Could you the son, the father, idly ruin all?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Doth thy pity depart? Shall not a friend, traitor, a friend recal<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Love? what courage is here me to betray, me to repudiate?<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Never sure did a lie, never a sin, please the celestials.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>(5)</span> +<span class="i0">This you heed not; alas! leave me to new misery, desolate.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O where now shall a man trust? liveth yet any fidelity?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +<span class="i0">You, you only did urge love to be free, life to surrender, you.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Guiding into the snare, falsely secure, prophet of happiness.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now you leave me, retract, every deed, every word allow<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(10)</span> +<span class="i0">Into nullity winds far to remove, vapoury clouds to bear.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">You forget me, but yet surely the Gods, surely remembereth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Faith; hereafter again honour awakes, causeth a wretch to rue.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXXI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O thou of islands jewel and of half-islands,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fair Sirmio, whatever o'er the lakes' clear rim<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or waste of ocean, Neptune holds, a two-fold pow'r;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What joy have I to see thee, and to gaze what glee!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Scarce yet believing Thunia past, the fair champaign<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bithunian, yet in safety thee to greet once more.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From cares to part us—where is any joy like this?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then drops the soul her fardel, as the travel-tir'd<br /></span> +<span class="i2">World-weary wand'rer touches home, returns, sinks down<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">In joy to slumber on the bed desir'd so long.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This meed, this only counts for e'en an age all toil.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O take a welcome, lovely Sirmio, thy lord's,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And greet him happy; greet him all the lake Lydian;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Laugh out whatever laughter at the hearth rings clear.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XXXII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">List, I charge thee, my gentle Ipsithilla,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lovely ravisher and my dainty mistress,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Say we'll linger a lazy noon together.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Suits my company? lend a farther hearing:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">See no jealousy make the gate against me,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">See no fantasy lead thee out a-roaming.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Keep close chamber; anon in all profusion<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Count me kisses again again returning.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Bides thy will? with a sudden haste command me;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Full and wistful, at ease reclin'd, a lover<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Here I languish alone, supinely dreaming.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXXIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Master-robber of all that haunt the bath-rooms,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Old Vibennius, and his heir the wanton;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">(His the dirtier hands, the greedy father,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yours the filthier heart, his heir as hungry;)<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Please your knaveries hoist a sail for exile,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Pains and privacy? since by this the father's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thefts are palpable, and a rusty favour,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Son, picks never a penny from the people.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXXIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Great Diana protecteth us,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Maids and boyhood in innocence.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Maidens virtuous, innocent<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Boys, your song be Diana.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Hail, Latonia, thou that art<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Throned daughter of enthronis'd<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Jove; near Delian olive of<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Mighty mother y-boren.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Queen of mountainous heights, of all<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Forests leafy, delightable;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glens in bowery depths remote,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rivers wrathfully sounding.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thee, Lucina, the travailing<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mother haileth, a sovereign<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Juno; Trivia thou, the bright<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Moon, a glory reflected.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou thine annual orb anew,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Goddess, monthly remeasuring,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Farmsteads lowly with affluent<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i4">Corn dost fill to the flowing.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Be thy heavenly name whate'er<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Name shall please thee, in hallowing;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still keep safely the glorious<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Race of Romulus olden.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXXV.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Take Caecilius, him the tender-hearted<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bard, my paper, a wish from his Catullus.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come from Larius, haste to leave the new-built<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Comum's watery city, seek Verona.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Some particular intimate reflexions<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One would tell thee, a friend we love together.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So he'll quickly devour the way, if only<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He's no booby; for all a snowy maiden<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Chide imperious, and her hands around him<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Both in jealousy clasp'd, refuse departure.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She, if only report the truth bely not,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Doats, as hardly within her own possession.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">3.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For since lately she read his high-preluding<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Queen of Dindymus, all her heart is ever<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Melting inly with ardour and with anguish.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Maiden, laudable is that high emotion,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Muse more rapturous, you, than any Sappho.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The Great Mother he surely sings divinely.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXXVI.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Vilest paper of all dishonour, annals<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of Volusius, hear my lovely lady's<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Vow, and pay it; awhile she swore to Venus<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And fond Cupid, if ever I returning<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Ceased from enmity, left to launch iambics,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She would surely devote the sorry poet's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Choicest rarities unto sooty Vulcan,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The lame deity, there to blaze lamenting.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With such drollery, such supreme defiance,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Swore strange oath to the gods the naughty wanton.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now, O heavenly child of azure Ocean,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Queen of Idaly, queen of Urian highlands,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who Ancona the fair, the reedy Cnidos<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hauntest, Amathus and the lawny Golgi,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Or Dyrrhachium, hostel Adriatic;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Hear thy votaress, answer her petition;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Tis most graceful, a dainty thought to charm thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But ye verses, away to fire, to burning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rank rusticities, empty vapid annals<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">Of Volusius, heap of all dishonour.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXXVII.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O frowsy tavern, frowsy fellowship therein,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ninth post in order next beyond the twins cap-crown'd,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Shall manly service none but you alone employ,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall you alone whatever in the world smiles fair,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Possess it, every other hold to lack esteem?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Or if in idiot impotence arow you sit,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One hundred, yes two hundred, am not I, think you,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A man to bring mine action on your whole row there?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So think not, he that likes not; answer how you may,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">With scorpion I, with emblem all your haunt will scrawl.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For she the bright one, lately fled beyond these arms,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The maid belov'd as maiden is belov'd no more,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whom I to win, stood often in the breach, fought long,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Has sat amongst you. Her the grand, the great, all, all<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Do dearly love her; yea, beshrew the damned wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Each slight seducer, every lounger highway-born,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">You chiefly, peerless paragon of the tribe long-lock'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rude Celtiberia's child, the bushy rabbit-den,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Egnatius, so modish in the big bush-beard,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">And teeth a native lotion hardly scours quite pure.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXXVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Cornificius, ill is your Catullus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ill, ah heaven, a weary weight of anguish,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">More more weary with every day, with each hour.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">You deny me the least, the very lightest<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Help, one whisper of happy thought to cheer me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Nay, I'm sorrowful. You to slight my passion?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ah! one word, but a tiny word to cheer me,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sad as ever a tear Simonidean.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XXXIX.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Egnatius, spruce owner of superb white teeth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Smiles sweetly, smiles for ever: is the bench in view<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where stands a pleader just prepar'd to rouse our tears,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Egnatius smiles sweetly; near the pyre they mourn<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Where weeps a mother o'er the lost, the kind one son,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Egnatius smiles sweetly; what the time or place<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Or thing soe'er, smiles sweetly; such a rare complaint<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is his, not handsome, scarce to please the town, say I.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So take a warning for the nonce, my friend; town-bred<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Were you, a Sabine hale, a pearly Tiburtine,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A frugal Umbrian body, Tuscan huge of paunch,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A grim Lanuvian black of hue, prodigious-tooth'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Transpadane, my country not to pass untax'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In short whoever cleanly cares to rinse foul teeth,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Yet sweetly smiling ever I would have you not,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For silly laughter, it's a silly thing indeed.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">3.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Well: you're a Celtiberian; in the parts thereby<br /></span> +<span class="i2">What pass'd the night in water, every man, come dawn,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Scours clean the foul teeth with it and the gums rose-red;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i0">So those Iberian snowy teeth, the more they shine,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So much the deeper they proclaim the draught impure.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XL.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What fatality, what chimera drives thee<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Headlong, Ravidus, on to my iambics?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What fell deity, most malign to listen,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fires thy fury to quarrel unavailing?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Wouldst thou busy the breath of half the people?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Break with clamour at any cost the silence?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thou wilt do it; a wretch that hop'd my darling<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Love to fondle, a sure retaliation.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XLI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ameana, the maiden of the people,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Asks me sesterces, all the many thousands.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Maiden she with a nose not wholly faultless,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bankrupt Formian, your declar'd devotion.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Wherefore look to the maiden, her relations:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Call her family, summon all the doctors.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Your poor maiden is oddly touch'd; a mirror<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sure would lend her a soberer reflexion.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XLII.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Come all hendecasyllables whatever,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wheresoever ye house you, all whatever.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I the game of an impudent adultress?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She refuse to return to me the tablets<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Where you syllable? O ye can't be silent.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Up, have after her, ask renunciation.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Would ye know her? a woman, you shall eye her<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Strutting loftily, whiles she laughs a loud laugh<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Vast and vulgar, a Gaulish hound beseeming.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Form your circle about her, ask her, urge her.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hark, the note-book, adultress, hand it over.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What? you scorn us? O ugly filth, detested<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Trull, whatever is all abomination.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Nay then, louder. Enough as yet it is not.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If this only remains, perhaps the dog-like<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Face may colour, a brassy blush may yield us.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Swell your voices in higher harsher yellings,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">Hark, the note-book; adultress, hand it over.'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Look, she moves not at all: we waste the moments.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Change your quality, try another issue.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Such composure a sweeter air may alter.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Pure and virtuous, hand the note-book over.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XLIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hail, fair virgin, a nose among the larger,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Feet not dainty, nor eyes to match a raven,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mouth scarce tenible, hands not wholly faultless,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tongue most surely not absolute refinement,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Bankrupt Formian, your declar'd devotion.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou the beauty, the talk of all the province?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou my Lesbia tamely think to rival?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O preposterous, empty generation!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XLIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O thou my Sabine farmstead or my Tiburtine,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For who Catullus would not harm, avow, kind souls,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou surely art at Tibur; and who quarrel will<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sabine declare thee, stake the world to prove their say:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">But be'st a Sabine, be'st a very Tiburtine,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">At thy suburban villa what delight I knew<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To spit the tiresome cough away, my lungs' ill guest,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My belly brought me, not without a sad weak sin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Because a costly dinner I desir'd too much.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">For I, to feast with Sestius, that host unmatch'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A speech of his, pure poison, every line deep-drugg'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His speech against the plaintiff Antius, read through.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Whereat a cold chill, soon a gusty cough in fits,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shook, shook me ever, till to thy retreat I fled,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">There duly dosed with nettle and repose found cure.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So, now recruited, thanks superlative, dear farm,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I give thee, who so lightly didst avenge that sin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +<span class="i0">And trust me, farm, if ever I again take up<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With Sextius' black charges, I'll rebel no more;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">But let the chill things damn to cold, to cough, not me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That read the volume—no, but him, the man's vain self.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XLV.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">While Septimius in his arms his Acme<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fondled closely, 'My own,' said he, 'my Acme,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">If I love not as unto death, nor hold me<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ever faithfully well-prepar'd to largest<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Strain of fiery wooer yet to love thee,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Then in Libya, then may I alone in<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Burning India face a sulky lion.'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Scarce he ended, upon the right did eager<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Love sneeze amity; 'twas before to leftward.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Acme quietly back her head reclining<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Towards her boy, with a rosy mouth delightful<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Kissed his passionate eyes elately swimming,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Then 'Septimius, O my life' she murmur'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'So may he that is in this hour ascendant<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Rule us ever, as in me burns a greater<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fire, a fiercer, in every vein triumphing.'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Scarce she ended, upon the right did eager<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Love sneeze amity; 'twas before to leftward.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">3.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So, that augury joyous each possessing,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i0">Loves, is lov'd with an even emulation.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Poor Septimius, all to please his Acme,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Recks not Syria, recks not any Britain.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">In Septimius only faithful Acme<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Makes her softnesses, holds her happy pleasures.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i0">When did mortal on any so rejoicing<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Look, on union hallow'd as divinely?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XLVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now soft spring with her early warmth returneth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now doth Zephyrus, health benignly breathing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Still the boisterous equinoctial heaven.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Leave we Phrygia, leave the plains, Catullus,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Leave Nicaea, the sultry soil of harvest:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On for Asia, for the starry cities.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now all flurry the soul is out a-ranging,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now with vigour aflame the feet renew them.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Farewell company true, my lovely comrades.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">You so joyfully borne from home together,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now o'er many a weary way returning.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XLVII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Porcius, Socration, the greedy Piso's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tools of thievery, rogues to famish ages,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So that filthy Priapus ousts to please you<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My Veranius even and Fabullus?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">What? shall you then at early noon carousing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lap in luxury? they, my jolly comrades,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Search the streets on a quest of invitation?<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XLVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If, Juventius, I the grace win ever<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Still on beauteous honied eyes to kiss thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I would kiss them a million, yet a million.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yea, nor count me to win the full attainment,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Not, tho' heavier e'en than ears at harvest,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fall my kisses, a wealthy crop delightful.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XLIX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Greatest speaker of any born a Roman,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Marcus Tullius, all that are, that have been,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That shall ever in after-years be famous;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thanks superlative unto thee Catullus<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Renders, easily last among the poets.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He as easily last among the poets<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As thou surely the first among the pleaders.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>L.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dear Lucinius, yestereve we linger'd<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Scrawling fancies, a hundred, in my tablets,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wits in combat; a treaty this between us.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Scribbling drolleries each of us together<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Launched one arrowy metre and another,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tenders jocular o'er the merry wine-cup.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So quite sorely with all your humour heated<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gay Lucinius, I that eve departed.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Food my misery could not any lighten,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Sleep nor quiet upon my eyes descended.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Still untamable o'er the couch did I then<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Turn and tumble, in haste to see the day-light,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hear your prattle again, again be with you.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">3.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then, when weary with all the worry, numb'd, dead,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Sank my body, upon the bed reposing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This, O humorous heart, did I, a poem<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Write, my tedious anguish all revealing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O beware then of hardihood; a lover's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Plea for charity, dear my friend, reject not:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">What if Nemesis haply claim repayment?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She is tyrannous. O beware offending.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He to me like unto the Gods appeareth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He, if I dare speak it, ascends above them,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Face to face who toward thee attently sitting<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Gazes or hears thee<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Lovely in sweet laughter; alas within me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Every lost sense falleth away for anguish;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When as I look'd on thee, upon my lips no<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Whisper abideth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Straight my tongue froze, Lesbia; soon a subtle<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Fire thro' each limb streameth adown; with inward<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sound the full ears tinkle, on either eye night's<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Canopy darkens.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ease alone, Catullus, alone afflicts thee;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Ease alone breeds error of heady riot;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Ease hath entomb'd princes of old renown and<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Cities of honour.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If in the curule chair a hump sits, Nonius;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A would-be consul lies in hope, Vatinius;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">How I laughed at a wag amid the circle!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He, when Calvus in high denunciation<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of Vatinius had declaim'd divinely,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hands uplifted as in supreme amazement,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Cried 'God bless us! a wordy cockalorum!'<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Otho's head is a very dwarf; a rustic's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shanks has Herius, only semi-cleanly;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Libo's airs to a fume of art refine them.<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics</i>.<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2">[<i>So may destiny doom me quite to silence</i>]<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">As I care not if every line offend thee<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And Sufficius, age in youth's revival.<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou shalt kindle at innocent iambics,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mighty general, once again returning.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LV.</h4> + +<p class="center">1.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">List, I beg, provided you're in humour,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Speak your privacy, show what alley veils you.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You I sought on Campus, I, the lesser,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You on Circus, in all the bills but you, sir.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">You with father Jove in holy temple.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then, where flocks the parade to Magnus' arches,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Friend, I hail'd each lady promenader,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Each, I found, did face me quite sedately.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What? they steal, I loudly cried protesting,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">My Camerius? out upon the wenches!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Answer'd one and lightly bared a bosom,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'See! what bowery roses; here he hides him.'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Yea 'twould task e'en Hercules to bear you,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">You so scornful, friend, in your refusing.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">3.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Not tho' I were warder of the Cretans,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Not tho' Pegasus on his airy pinion,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Perseus feathery-footed, I a Ladas,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rhesus' chariot yok'd to snowy coursers,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Add each feathery sandal, every flying<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i4">Power, ask fleetness of all the winds of heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Mine, Camerius, and to me devoted;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yet with drudgery sorely spent should I, yet<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Worn, outworn with languor unto languor<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Faint, O friend, in an empty quest to find you.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">4.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>25 (15)</span> +<span class="i0">Say, where think you anon to be; declare it,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fair and free, submit, commit to daylight.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What? still thrall to the lovely lily ladies?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Keep close mouth, lock fast the tongue within it,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love's felicity falls without fruition;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30 (20)</span> +<span class="i2">Venus still is free to talk, a babbler.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet close palate, an if ye will it; only<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In my love some part to bear refuse not.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LVII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O rare sympathies! happy rakes united!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">There Mamurra the woman, here a Caesar.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who can wonder? An ugly brand on either,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His, true Formian, his, politely Roman,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Rests indelible, in the bone residing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Either infamous, each a twin dishonour,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bookish brethren, a dainty pair pedantic;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">One adultrous, as hungry he; with equal<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Parts in women, a lusty corporation.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">O rare sympathies! happy rakes united!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That bright Lesbia, Caelius, the self-same<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Peerless Lesbia, she than whom Catullus<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Self nor family more devoutly cherish'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By foul roads, or in every shameful alley,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Strains the vigorous issue of the people.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LIX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Poor Rufa from Bononia Rufulus gallants,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Menenius' errant lady, she that in grave-yards<br /></span> +<span class="i0">(You've seen her often) snaps from every pile her meal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When hotly chasing dusty loaves the fire rolls down,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">She felt some half-shorn corpseman and his hand's big blow.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hadst thou a Libyan lioness on heights all stone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Scylla, barking wolvish at the loins' last verge,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To bear thee, O black-hearted, O to shame forsworn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That unto supplication in my last sad need<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Thou mightst not harken, deaf to ruth, a beast, no man?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">God, on verdurous Helicon<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Dweller, child of Urania,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Thou that draw'st to the man the fair<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Maiden, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Wreathe thy brows in amaracus'<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Fragrant blossom; an aureat<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Veil be round thee; approach, in all<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Joy, approach with a luminous<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Foot, a sandal of amber.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Come, for jolly the time, awake.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Chant in melody musical<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Hymns of bridal; on earth a foot<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Beating, hands to the winds above<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i4">Torches oozily swinging.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Such, as she that on Idaly<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Venus dwelleth, appear'd before<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Him, the Phrygian arbiter,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So with Mallius happily<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i4">Happy Junia weddeth.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Like some myrtle of Asia<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Bright in airily blossoming<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Boughs, the wood Hamadryades<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nurse with showery dew, to be<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i4">Theirs, a tender plaything.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">So come to us in haste; away,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Leave thy Thespian hollow-arch'd<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rock, muse-haunted, Aonian,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Drench'd in spray from aloft, the cold<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span> +<span class="i4">Drift of Nymph Aganippe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Homeward summon a sovereign<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Wife most passionate, holden in<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Love fast prisoner: ivy not<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Closer closes an elm around,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>35</span> +<span class="i4">Interchangeably trailing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">You too with him, O you for whom<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Comes as joyous a time, your own.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Virgins stainless of heart, arise.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Chant in unison, Hymen, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>40</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">That, more readily listening,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Whiles your song to familiar<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Duty calls him, he hie apace,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lord of fair paramours, of youth's<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>45</span> +<span class="i4">Fair affection uniter.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Who more worthy than he to list<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lovers wearily languishing?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Bends from heaven a sovereign<br /></span> +<span class="i2">God adorabler? Hymen, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>50</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">You the father in years for his<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Child beseecheth; a virginal<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Zone falls slackly to earth for you,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You half-fear in his hankering<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>55</span> +<span class="i4">Lists the groomsman approaching.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">You from motherly lap the bright<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Girl can sever; your hand divine<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Gives dominion, ushering<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Warm the lover. O Hymen, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>60</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Nought delightful, if you be far,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Nought unharmed of envious<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Tongues, Love wins him: if you be near<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Much he wins him. O excellent<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>65</span> +<span class="i4">God, that hath not a rival.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Houses cannot, if you be far,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yield their children, a babe renew<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sire or mother: if you be near,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Comes renewal. O excellent<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>70</span> +<span class="i4">God, that hath not a rival.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">If your great ceremonial<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Fail, no champion yeomanry<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Guards the border. If you be near<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Arms the border. O excellent<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>75</span> +<span class="i4">God, that hath not a rival.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Fling the portal apart. The bride<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Waits. O see ye the luminous<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Torch-flakes ruddily flickering?<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>80</span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><b>. . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(80)</span> +<span class="i2">Nought she hears us: her innocent<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>85</span> +<span class="i4">Eyes do weep to be going.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Weep not, lady; for envious<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Tongue no lovelier owneth, Au-<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Runculeia; nor any more<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(85)</span> +<span class="i2">Fair saw rosily bright the dawn<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>90</span> +<span class="i4">Leave his chamber in Ocean.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Such in many a flowering<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Garden, trimm'd for a lord's delight,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Stands some delicate hyacinth.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(90)</span> +<span class="i2">Yet you tarry. The day declines.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>95</span> +<span class="i4">Forth, fair bride, to the people.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Forth, fair bride, to the people, if<br /></span> +<span class="i4">So it likes you, a-listening<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Words that please us. O eye ye yon<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(95)</span> +<span class="i2">Torches ruddily flickering?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>100</span> +<span class="i4">Forth, fair bride, to the people.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Husband never of yours shall haunt<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Stained wanton, a mutinous<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Fancy shamefully following,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(100)</span> +<span class="i2">Tire not ever, or e'er from your<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>105</span> +<span class="i4">Dainty bosom unyoke him.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +<span class="i2">He more lithe than a vine amid<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Trees, that, mazily folded, it<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Clasps and closes, in amorous<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(105)</span> +<span class="i2">Arms shall close thee. The day declines.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>110</span> +<span class="i4">Forth, fair bride, to the people.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Couch of pleasure, <i>O odorous</i><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><i>Couch, whose gorgeous apparellings,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><i>Silver-purple, on Indian</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Woods do rest them; adown</i> the bright<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>115</span> +<span class="i4">Feet in ivory glisten;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">When thy lord in his hour attains,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(110)</span> +<span class="i4">What large extasy, while the night<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Fleets, or noon the meridian<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Passes thoro'. The day declines.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>120</span> +<span class="i4">Forth, fair bride, to the people.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lift the torches aloft in air,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(115)</span> +<span class="i4">Boys: the fiery veil is here.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Come, to measure your hymn rehearse.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>125</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Nor withhold ye the countryman's<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(120)</span> +<span class="i4">Ribald raillery Fescenine.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Nor if happily boys declare<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy dominion attaint, refuse,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>130</span> +<span class="i4">Youth, the nuts to be flinging.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Fling, O womanish youth; the boys<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(125)</span> +<span class="i4">Ask thee charity. Time agone<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Toys and folly; to-day begins<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Our high duty, Talassius.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>135</span> +<span class="i4">Hasten, youth, to be flinging.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Thou didst surely but yestereve<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(130)</span> +<span class="i4">Mock the women, a favourite<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Far above them: anon the first<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Beard, the razor. Alack, alas!<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>140</span> +<span class="i4">Hasten, youth, to be flinging.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">You, whom odorous oils declare<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(135)</span> +<span class="i4">Bridegroom, swerve not; a slippery<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Love calls lightly, but yet refrain.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>145</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Lawful only did e'er delight<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(140)</span> +<span class="i4">You, we know; but it is not, O<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Husband, lawful as heretofore.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>150</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Bride, thou also, if he demand<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(145)</span> +<span class="i4">Aught, refuse not, assent, obey.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Love can angrily pipe adieu.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>155</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Look! thy mansion, a sovereign<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(150)</span> +<span class="i4">Home most goodly, by him to thee<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Given. Reign as a queen within,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>160</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Still when hoary decrepitude,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(155)</span> +<span class="i4">Shaking wintery brows benign,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Nods a tremulous Yes to all.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>165</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +<span class="i2">With fair augury smite the blest<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(160)</span> +<span class="i4">Threshold, sunnily glistening<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Feet: yon ivory door approach,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>170</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">See one seated, a banqueter.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(165)</span> +<span class="i4">'Tis thy lord on a Tyrian<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Couch: his spirit is all to thee.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>175</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Not less surely in him than in<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(170)</span> +<span class="i4">Thee love lighteth a bosoming<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Flame; but deeper, a fire within.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>180</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>185</span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Thou, whose purple her arm, the slim<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(175)</span> +<span class="i4">Arm, props happily, boy, depart.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Time the bride be at entering.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>190</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">You in chastity tried the long<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(180)</span> +<span class="i4">Years, good women of agedest<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Husbands, lay ye the bride to-night.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>195</span> +<span class="i4">Hymen, O Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Husband, stay not: a bride within<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(185)</span> +<span class="i4">Coucheth ready, the flowering<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Spring less lovely; a countenance<br /></span> +<span class="i2">White as parthenice, beyond<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>200</span> +<span class="i4">Yellow poppy to gaze on.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Thou, so help me the favouring<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(190)</span> +<span class="i4">Gods immortal, as heavenly<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Fair art also, adorned of<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Venus' bounty. The day declines.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>205</span> +<span class="i4">Come nor tarry to greet her.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Not too slothfully tarrying,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(195)</span> +<span class="i4">Thou art here. Benediction of<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Venus help thee, a man without<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shame of blameless, a love that is<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>210</span> +<span class="i4">Honest frankly revealing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Dust of infinite Africa,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(200)</span> +<span class="i4">Stars that sparkle, a myriad<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Host, who measureth, your delights<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He shall tell them, ineffable,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>215</span> +<span class="i4">Multitudinous, over.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Make your happy delight, renew'd<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(205)</span> +<span class="i4">Soon in children. A glorious<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Name and olden is ill without<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Children, unto the first a new<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>220</span> +<span class="i4">Stock as goodly begetting.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Some Torquatus, a beauteous<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(210)</span> +<span class="i4">Babe, on motherly breasts to thee<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Stretching, father, his innocent<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hands, smile softly from inchoate<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>225</span> +<span class="i4">Lips half-open a welcome.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Like his father, a Mallius<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(215)</span> +<span class="i4">New presented, of every<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Eyeing stranger allowed his own;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mother's chastity moulded in<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>230</span> +<span class="i4">Features childly revealing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Glory speak of him issuing<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(220)</span> +<span class="i4">Child of mother as excellent<br /></span> +<span class="i4">She, as only that age-renown'd<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wife, whose story Telemachus<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>235</span> +<span class="i4">Blazons, Penelopea.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Virgins, close ye the door. Enough<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(225)</span> +<span class="i4">This our carol. O happiest<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lovers, jollity live with you.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Still that genial youth to love's<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>240</span> +<span class="i4">Consummation attend ye.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXII.</h4> + +<p class="center">YOUTHS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hesper is here; rise youths, rise all of you; high on Olympus<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hesper his orb long-look'd for aloft 'gins slowly to kindle.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Time is now to arise, from tables costly to part us;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now doth a virgin approach, now soundeth a glad Hymenaeal.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">VIRGINS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">See ye yon youthful band? O, maidens, rise ye to meet them.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Comes not Night's bright bearer a fire o'er Oeta revealing?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Surely; for even now, in a moment all have arisen,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Not for nought have arisen; a song waits, goodly to gaze on.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i0">Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">YOUTHS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">No light victory this, O comrades, ready before us.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Busy the virgins muse, their practis'd ditty recalling,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Muse nor shall miscarry; a song for memory waits us.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rightly; for all their souls do inwards labour in issue.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">We—our thoughts one way, our ears have drifted another,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So comes worthy defeat; no victory calls to the careless.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come then, in even race let thought their melody rival;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They must open anon; 'twere better anon be replying.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">VIRGINS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i0">Hesper, moveth in heaven a light more tyrannous ever?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou from a mother's arms canst wrest her daughter asunder,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wrest from a mother's arms her daughter woefully clinging,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then to the burning youth his virgin beauty deliver.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Foes in a new-sack'd town, when wrought they crueller ever?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i0">Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">YOUTHS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hesper, shineth in heaven a light more genial ever?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou with a bridal flame true lovers' unity crownest,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All which duly the men, which plighted duly the parents,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then completed alone, when thou in splendour awakest.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span> +<span class="i2">When shone an happier hour than thy god-speeded arriving?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">VIRGINS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sisters, Hesper a fellow of our bright company taketh.<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>35</span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">YOUTHS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>40</span> +<span class="i0"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hesper, awaiting thee each sentinel holdeth alarum.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Night veils love's false thieves; thieves still when, Hesper, another<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(35)</span> +<span class="i2">Name, but unalter'd still, thou tak'st them surely, returning.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>45</span> +<span class="i2">Yet be the maidens pleas'd in woeful fancy to chide thee.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Maybe for all they chide, their hearts do inly desire thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">VIRGINS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Look in a garden-croft when a flower privily growing,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(40)</span> +<span class="i2">Hid from grazing kine, by ploughshare never y-broken,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>50</span> +<span class="i2">Strok'd by the breeze, by the sun nurs'd sturdily, rear'd by the showers;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Many a wistful boy, and maidens many desire it:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet if a slender nail hath nipt his bloom to deflour it,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Never a wistful boy, nor maidens any desire it:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>(45)</span> +<span class="i0">Such is a girl untoy'd with as yet, yet lovely to kinsmen;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>55</span> +<span class="i2">Once her body profan'd, herflow'r of chastity blighted,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Boys no more she delights, nor seems so lovely to maidens;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">YOUTHS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Look as a lone lorn vine in a bare field sorrily growing,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(50)</span> +<span class="i2">Never an arm uplifts, no grape to maturity ripens,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>60</span> +<span class="i0">Only with headlong weight her tender body declining,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bows, till topmost spray and roots meet feebly together;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Her no peasant swain, nor bullock tendeth her ever;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet to the bachelor elm if marriage-fortune unite her,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(55)</span> +<span class="i2">Many a peasant tills and bullocks many about her;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>65</span> +<span class="i0">Such is a maid untoy'd with as yet, in loneliness aging;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wins she a bridegroom meet, in time's warm fulness arriving,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So to the man more dear, and less unlovely to parents.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O then, clasp thy love, nor fight, fair maiden, against him.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(60)</span> +<span class="i2">Sin 'twere surely to fight; thy father gave to his arms thee,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>70</span> +<span class="i2">Father's self and mother; obey nor wrongly defy them.<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Virgin's crown thou claim'st not alone, but partly the parents,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Father's one whole part, one goes to the mother allotted,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rests one only to thee; O fight not with them alone thou,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>75 (65)</span> +<span class="i2">Both to a son their rights and both their dowry deliver.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In a swift ship Attis hasting over ocean a mariner<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When he gained the wood, the Phrygian, with a foot of agility,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When he near'd the leafy forest, dark sanctuary divine;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By unearthly fury frenzied, a bewildered agony,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">With a flint of edge he shatter'd to the ground his humanity.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then aghast to see the lost limbs, the deform'd inutility,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While still the gory dabble did anew the soil pollute,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a snowy palm the woman took affrayed a taborine.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Taborine, the trump that hails thee, Cybele, thy initiant.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Then a dainty finger heaving to the tremulous hide o' the bull,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He began this invocation to the company, spirit-awed.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"To the groves, ye sexless eunuchs, in assembly to Cybele,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lost sheep that err rebellious to the lady Dindymene;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ye, who all awing for exile in a country of aliens,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">My unearthly rule obeying to be with me, my retinue,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Could aby the surly salt seas' mid inexorability,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Could in utter hate to lewdness your sex dishabilitate;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Let a gong clash glad emotion, set a giddy fury to roam,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All slow delay be banish'd, thither his ye thither away<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i0">To the Phrygian home, the wild wood, to the sanctuary divine;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Where rings the noisy cymbal, taborines are in echoing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On a curved oat the Phrygian deep pipeth a melody,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +<span class="i2">With a fury toss the Maenads clad in ivies a frolic head,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To a barbarous ululation the religious orgy wakes,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i2">Where fleets across the silence Cybele's holy family;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thither his we, so beseems us; to a mazy measure away."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thus as Attis, a woman, Attis, not a woman, urg'd the rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On a sudden yell'd in huddling agitation every tongue,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Taborines give airy murmur, give a clangorous echo gongs,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span> +<span class="i2">With a rush the brotherhood hastens to the woods, the bosom of Ide.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then in agony, breathless, errant, flush'd wearily, cometh on<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Taborine behind him, Attis, thoro' leafy glooms a guide,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As a restive heifer yields not to the cumbrous onerous yoke.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thither his the votaress eunuchs with an emulous alacrity.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>35</span> +<span class="i2">Now faintly sickly plodding to the goddess's holy shrine,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They took the rest which easeth long toil, nor ate withal.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Slow sleep descends on eyelids ready drowsily to decline,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In a soft repose departeth the devout spirit-agony.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When awoke the sun, the golden, that his eyes heaven-orient<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>40</span> +<span class="i2">Scann'd lustrous air, the rude seas, earth's massy solidity,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When he smote the shadowy twilight with his healthy team sublime,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then arous'd was Attis; o'er him sleep hastily fled away<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +<span class="i2">To Pasithea's arms immortal with a tremulous hovering.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But awaked from his reposing, the delirious anguish o'er,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>45</span> +<span class="i2">When as Attis' heart recalled him to the past solitarily,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Saw clearly where he stood, what, an annihilate apathy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a soul that heaved within him, to the water he fled again.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then as o'er the waste of ocean with a rainy eye he gazed<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To the land of home he murmur'd miserable a soliloquy.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>50</span> +<span class="i2">"Mother-home of all affection, dear home, my nativity,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whom in anguish I deserting, as in hatred a runaway<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From a master, hither have hurried to the lonely woods of Ide,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To be with the snows, the wild beasts, in a wintery domicile,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To be near each savage houser that a surly fury provokes,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>55</span> +<span class="i4">What horizon, O beloved, may attain to thee anywhere?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet an eyeless orb is yearning ineffectually to thee.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For a little ere returneth the delirious hour again.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Shall a homeless Attis hie him to the groves uninhabited?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall he leave a country, wealth, friends? bid a sire, a mother, adieu?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>60</span> +<span class="i2">The palaestra lost, the forum, the gymnasium, the course?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O unhappy, fall a-weeping, thou unhappy soul, for aye.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For is honour of any semblance, any beauty but of it I?<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Who, a woman here, in order was a man, a youth, a boy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To the sinewy ring a fam'd flower, the gymnasium's applause.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>65</span> +<span class="i0">With a throng about the portal, with a populace in the gate,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a flowery coronal hanging upon every column of home,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When anew my chamber open'd, as awoke the sunny morn.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O am I to live the god's slave? feodary be to Cybele?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or a Maenad I, an eunuch? or a part of a body slain?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>70</span> +<span class="i0">Or am I to range the green tracts upon Ida snowy-chill?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Be beneath the stately caverns colonnaded of Asia?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Be with hind that haunts the covert, or in hursts that house the boar?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Woe, woe the deed accomplish'd! woe, woe, the shame to me!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">From rosy lips ascending when approached the gusty cry<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>75</span> +<span class="i2">To celestial ears recording such a message inly borne,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Cybele, the thong relaxing from a lion-haled yoke,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Said, aleft the goad addressing to the foe that awes the flocks—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come, a service; haste, my brave one; let a fury the madman arm,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Let a fury, a frenzy prick him to return to the wood again,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>80</span> +<span class="i2">This is he my hest declineth, the unheedy, the runaway.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">From an angry tail refuse not to abide the sinewy stroke,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +<span class="i2">To a roar let all the regions echo answer everywhere,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On a nervy neck be tossing that uneasy tawny mane."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">So in ire she spake, adjusting disunitedly then her yoke<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>85</span> +<span class="i2">At his own rebuke the lion doth his heart to a fury spur,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a step, a roar, a bursting unarrested of any brake.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But anear the foamy places when he came, to the frothy beach,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When he saw the sexless Attis by the seas' level opaline,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then he rushed upon him; affrighted to the wintery wood he flew,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>90</span> +<span class="i2">Cybele's for aye, for all years, in her order a votaress.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Holy deity, great Cybele, holy lady Dindymene,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Be to me afar for ever that inordinate agony.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O another hound to madness, O another hurry to rage!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Born on Pelion height, so legend hoary relateth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Pines once floated adrift on Neptune billowy streaming<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On to the Phasis flood, to the borders Æætean.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then did a chosen array, rare bloom of valorous Argos,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Fain from Colchian earth her fleece of glory to ravish,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dare with a keel of swiftness adown salt seas to be fleeting,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Swept with fir-blades oary the fair level azure of Ocean.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then that deity bright, who keeps in cities her high ward,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Made to delight them a car, to the light breeze airily scudding,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Texture of upright pine with a keel's curved rondure uniting.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That first sailer of all burst ever on Amphitrite.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Scarcely the forward snout tore up that wintery water,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Scarcely the wave foamed white to the reckless harrow of oarsmen,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Straight from amid white eddies arose wild faces of Ocean,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Nereid, earnest-eyed, in wonderous admiration.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then, not after again, saw ever mortal unharmed<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sea-born Nymphs unveil limbs flushing naked about them.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Stark to the nursing breasts from foam and billow arising.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then, so stories avow, burn'd Peleus hotly to Thetis,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">Then to a mortal lover abode not Thetis unheeding,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then did a father agree Peleus with Thetis unite him.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O in an aureat hour, O born in bounteous ages,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">God-sprung heroes, hail: hail, mother of all benediction,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You my song shall address, you melodies everlasting.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i2">Thee most chiefly, supreme in glory of heavenly bridal,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Peleus, stately defence of Thessaly. Iuppiter even<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gave thee his own fair love, thy mortal pleasure approving.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thee could Thetis inarm, most beauteous Ocean-daughter?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tethys adopt thee, her own dear grandchild's wooer usurping?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span> +<span class="i2">Ocean, who earth's vast globe with a watery girdle inorbeth?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When the delectable hour those days did fully determine,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Straightway then in crowds all Thessaly flock'd to the palace,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Thronging hosts uncounted, a company joyous approaching.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Many a gift they carry, delight their faces illumines.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>35</span> +<span class="i2">Left is Scyros afar, and Phthia's bowery Tempe,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Vacant Crannon's homes, unvisited high Larisa,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Towards Pharsalia's halls, Pharsalia's only they hie them.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Bides no tiller afield; necks soften of oxen in idlesse;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Feel not a prong'd crook'd hoe lush vines all weedily trailing;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>40</span> +<span class="i2">Tears no steer deep clods with a downward coulter unearthed;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Prunes no hedger's bill broad-verging verdurous arbours;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Steals a deforming rust on ploughs left rankly to moulder.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But that sovran abode, each sumptuous inly retiring<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Chamber, aflame with gold, with silver is all resplendent;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>45</span> +<span class="i2">Thrones gleam ivory-white; cup-crown'd blaze brightly the tables;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All the domain with treasure of empery gaudily flushes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There, set deeply within the remotest centre, a bridal<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bed doth a goddess inarm; smooth ivory glossy from Indies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Robed in roseate hues, rich seashells' purple adorning.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>50</span> +<span class="i0">It was a broidery freak'd with tissue of images olden,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One whose curious art did blazon valour of heroes.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gazing forth from a beach of Dia the billow-resounding,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Look'd on a vanish'd fleet, on Theseus quickly departing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Restless in unquell'd passion, a feverous heart, Ariadne.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>55</span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Scarcely her eyes yet seem their seeming clearly to vision.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You might guess that arous'd from slumber's drowsy betrayal,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sand-engirded, alone, then first she knew desolation.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He the betrayer—his oars with fugitive hurry the waters<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Beat, each promise of old to the winds given idly to bear them.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>60</span> +<span class="i0">Him from amid shore-weeds doth Minos' daughter, in anguish<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rigid, a Bacchant-form, dim-gazing stonily follow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Stonily still, wave-tost on a sea of troublous affliction.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Holds not her yellow locks the tiara's feathery tissue;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Veils not her hidden breast light brede of drapery woven;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>65</span> +<span class="i2">Binds not a cincture smooth her bosom's orbed emotion.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Widely from each fair limb that footward-fallen apparel<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Drifts its lady before, in billowy salt loose-playing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Not for silky tiara nor amice gustily floating<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Recks she at all any more; thee, Theseus, ever her earnest<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>70</span> +<span class="i2">Heart, all clinging thought, all chained fancy requireth.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ah unfortunate! whom with miseries ever crazing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thorns in her heart deep planted, affray'd Erycina to madness,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From that earlier hour, when fierce for victory Theseus<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Started alert from a beach deep-inleted of Piræus,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>75</span> +<span class="i2">Gain'd Gortyna's abode, injurious halls of oppression.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Once, 'tis sung in stories, a dire distemper atoning<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Death of an ill-blest prince, Androgeos, angrily slaughter'd,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Taxed of her youthful array, her maidenly bloom fresh-glowing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Feast to the monster bull, Cecropia, ransom-laden.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>80</span> +<span class="i2">Then, when a plague so deadly, the garrison undermining,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Spent that slender city, his Athens dearly to rescue,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sooner life Theseus and precious body did offer,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ere his country to Crete freight corpses, a life in seeming.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So with a ship fast-fleeted, a gale blown gently behind him,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>85</span> +<span class="i0">Push'd he his onward journey to Minos' haughty dominion.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Him for very delight when a virgin fondly desiring<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gazed on, a royal virgin, in odours silkily nestled,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Pure from a maiden's couch, from a mother's pillowy bosom,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Like some myrtle, anear Eurotas' water arising,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>90</span> +<span class="i2">Like earth's myriad hues, spring's progeny, rais'd to the breezes;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Droop'd not her eyes their gaze unquenchable, ever-burning<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Save when in each charm'd limb to the depths enfolded, a sudden<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Flame blazed hotly within her, in all her marrow abiding.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O thou cruel of heart, thou madding worker of anguish,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>95</span> +<span class="i2">Boy immortal, of whom joy springs with misery blending,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yea, thou queen of Golgi, of Idaly leaf-embower'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O'er what a fire love-lit, what billows wearily tossing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Drave ye the maid, for a guest so sunnily lock'd deep sighing.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +<span class="i2">What most dismal alarms her swooning fancy did echo!<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>100</span> +<span class="i2">Oft what a sallower hue than gold's cold glitter upon her!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whiles, heart-hungry in arms that monster deadly to combat,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Theseus drew towards death or victory, guerdon of honour.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet not lost the devotion, or offer'd idly the virgin's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gifts, as her unvoic'd lips breathed incense faintly to heaven.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>105</span> +<span class="i0">As on Taurus aloft some oak agitatedly waving<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tosses his arms, or a pine cone-mantled, oozily rinded,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When as his huge gnarled trunk in furious eddies a whirlwind<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Riving wresteth amain; down falleth he, upward hoven,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Falleth on earth; far, near, all crackles brittle around him,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>110</span> +<span class="i2">So to the ground Theseus his fallen foeman abasing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Slew, that his horned front toss'd vainly, a sport to the breezes.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thence in safety, a victor, in height of glory returned,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Guiding errant feet to a thread's impalpable order.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lest, upon egress bent thro' tortuous aisles labyrinthine,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>115</span> +<span class="i2">Walls of blindness, a maze unravell'd ever, elude him.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet, for again I come to the former story, beseems not<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Linger on all done there; how left that daughter a gazing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Father, a sister's arms, her mother woefully clinging,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mother, who o'er that child moan'd desperate, all heart-broken;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>120</span> +<span class="i2">How not in home that maid, in Theseus only delighted;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How her ship on a shore of foaming Dia did harbour;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +<span class="i2">How, when her eyes lay bound in slumber's shadowy prison,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He forsook, forgot her, a wooer traitorous-hearted:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oft, say stories, at heart with frenzied fantasy burning,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>125</span> +<span class="i2">Pour'd she, a deep-wrung breast, clear-ringing cries of oppression;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sometimes mournfully clomb to the mountain's rugged ascension,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Straining thence her vision across wide surges of ocean;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now to the brine ran forth, upsplashing freshly to meet her,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lifting raiment fine her thighs which softly did open;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>130</span> +<span class="i2">Last, when sorrow had end, these words thus spake she lamenting,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While from a mouth tear-stain'd chill sobs gushed dolorous ever.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Look, is it here, false heart, that rapt from country, from altar,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Household altar ashore, I wander, falsely deserted?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ah! is it hence, Theseus, that against high heaven a traitor<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>135</span> +<span class="i2">Homeward thou thy vileness, alas thy perjury bearest?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Might not a thought, one thought, thy cruel counsel abating<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sway thee tender? at heart rose no compassion or any<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mercy, to bend thy soul, or me for pity deliver?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet not this thy promise of old, thy dearly remembered<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>140</span> +<span class="i2">Voice, not these the delights thou bad'st thy poor one inherit;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nay, but wedlock happy, but envied joy hymeneal;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +<span class="i0">All now melted in air, with a light wind emptily fleeting.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Let not a woman trust, since that first treason, a lover's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Desperate oath, none hope true lover's promise is earnest.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>145</span> +<span class="i2">They, while fondly to win their amorous humour essayeth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fear no covetous oath, all false free promises heed not;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They if once lewd pleasure attain unruly possession,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lo they fear not promise, of oath or perjury reck not.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet indeed, yet I, when floods of death were around thee,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>150</span> +<span class="i2">Set thee on high, did rather a brother choose to defend not,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ere I, in hate's last hour, false heart, fail'd thee to deliver.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now, for a goodly reward, to the beasts they give me, the flying<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fowls; no handful of earth shall bury me, pass'd to the shadows.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What grim lioness yeaned thee, aneath what rock's desolation?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>155</span> +<span class="i2">What wild sea did bear, what billows foamy regorged thee?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Seething sand, or Scylla the snare, or lonely Charybdis?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If for a life's dear joy comes back such only requital?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hadst not a will with spousal an honour'd wife to receive me?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Awed thee a father stern, cross age's churlish avising?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>160</span> +<span class="i2">Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Might'st have led me, to wait, joy-filled, a retainer upon thee,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Now in waters clear thy feet like ivory laving,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Clothing now thy bed with crimson's gorgeous apparel.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet to the brutish winds why moan I longer unheeded,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>165</span> +<span class="i2">Crazy with an ill wrong? They senseless, voiceless, inhuman<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Utter'd cry they hear not, in answers hollow reply not.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He rides far already, the mid sea's boundary cleaving,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Strays no mortal along these weeds stretched lonely about me.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thus to my utmost need chance, spitefuller injury dealing,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>170</span> +<span class="i0">Grudges an ear, where yet might lamentation have entry.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Jove, almighty, supreme, O would that never in early<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Time on Gnossian earth great Cecrops' navies had harbour'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ne'er to that unquell'd bull with a ransom of horror atoning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Moor'd on Crete his cable a shipman's wily dishonour.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>175</span> +<span class="i2">Never in youth's fair shape such ruthless stratagem hiding<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He, that vile one, a guest found with us a safe habitation.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Whither flee then afar? what hope, poor lost one, upholds thee?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mountains Idomenean? alas, broad surges of ocean<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Part us, a rough rude space of flowing water, asunder.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>180</span> +<span class="i2">Trust in a father's help? how trust, whom darkly deserting,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Him I turned to alone, my brother's bloody defier?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nay, but a loyal lover, a hand pledg'd surely, shall ease me.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Surely; for o'er wide water his oars move flexibly fleeting.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Also a desert lies this region, a tenantless island,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>185</span> +<span class="i2">Nowhere open way, seas splash in circle around me,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nowhere flight, no glimmer of hope; all mournfully silent,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Loneliness all, all points me to death, death only remaining.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet these luminous orbs shall sink not feebly to darkness,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet from grief-worn limbs shall feeling wholly depart not,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>190</span> +<span class="i2">Till to the gods I cry, the betrayed, for justice on evil,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sue for life's last mercy the great federation of heaven.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then, O sworn to requite man's evil wrathfully, Powers<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gracious, on whose grim brows, with viper tresses inorbed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Looks red-breathing forth your bosom's feverous anger;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>195</span> +<span class="i0">Now, yea now come surely, to these loud miseries harken,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All I cry, the afflicted, of inmost marrow arising,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Desolate, hot with pain, with blinding fury bewilder'd.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet, for of heart they spring, grief's children truly begotten,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Verily, Gods, these moans you will not idly to perish.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>200</span> +<span class="i2">But with counsel of evil as he forsook me deceiving,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Death to his house, to his heart, bring also counsel of evil.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When from an anguish'd heart these words stream'd sorrowful upwards,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Words which on iron deeds did sue for deadly requital,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bow'd with a nod of assent almighty the ruler of heaven.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>205</span> +<span class="i2">With that dreadful motion aneath earth's hollow, the ruffled<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ocean shook, and stormy the stars 'gan tremble in ether.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Thereto his heart thick-sown with blindness cloudily dark'ning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thought not of all those words, Theseus, from memory fallen,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Words which his heedful soul had kept immovable ever.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>210</span> +<span class="i2">Nor to his eager sire fair token of happy returning<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rais'd, when his eyes safe-sighted Erectheus' populous haven.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Once, so stories tell, when Pallas' city behind him<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Leaving, Theseus' fleet to the winds given hopefully parted,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Clasping then his son spake Aegeus, straitly commanding.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>215</span> +<span class="i0">Son, mine only delight, than life more lovely to gaze on,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Son, whom needs it faints me to launch full-tided on hazards,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whom my winter of years hath laid so lately before me:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Since my fate unkindly, thy own fierce valour unheeding,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Needs must wrest thee away, ere yet these dimly-lit eye-balls<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>220</span> +<span class="i2">Feed to the full on thee, thy worshipt body beholding;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Neither in exultation of heart I send thee a-warring;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor to the fight shalt bear fair fortune's happier earnest;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rather, first in cries mine heart shall lighten her anguish,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When greylocks I sully with earth, with sprinkle of ashes;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>225</span> +<span class="i0">Next to the swaying mast shall a sail hang duskily swinging;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So this grief, mine own, this burning sorrow within me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Want not a sign, dark shrouds of Iberia, sombre as iron.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Then, if haply the queen, lone ranger on haunted Itonus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Pleas'd to defend our people, Erectheus' safe habitations,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>230</span> +<span class="i2">Frown not, allow thine hand that bull all redly to slaughter,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Look that warily then deep-laid in steady remembrance,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">These our words grow greenly, nor age move on to deface them;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">See that on each straight yard down droop their funeral housings,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>235</span> +<span class="i2">Whitely the tight-strung cordage a sparkling canvas aloft swing,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Which to behold straightway with joy shall cheer me, with inward<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Joy, when a prosperous hour shall bring to thee happy returning.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So for a while that charge did Theseus faithfully cherish.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Last, it melted away, as a cloud which riven in ether<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>240</span> +<span class="i2">Breaks to the blast, high peak and spire snow-silvery leaving.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But from a rock's wall'd eyrie the father wistfully gazing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Father whose eyes, care-dimm'd, wore hourly for ever a-weeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Scarcely the wind-puff'd sail from afar 'gan darken upon him,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Down the precipitous heights headlong his body he hurried,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>245</span> +<span class="i2">Deeming Theseus surely by hateful destiny taken.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So to a dim death-palace, alert from victory, Theseus<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Came, what bitter sorrow to Minos' daughter his evil<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Perjury gave, himself with an even sorrow atoning.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +<span class="i2">She, as his onward keel still moved, still mournfully follow'd;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>250</span> +<span class="i2">Passion-stricken, her heart a tumultuous image of ocean.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Also upon that couch, flush'd youthfully, breathless Iacchus<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Roam'd with a Satyr-band, with Nisa-begot Sileni;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Seeking thee, Ariadna, aflame thy beauty to ravish.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wildly behind they rushed and wildly before to the folly,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>255</span> +<span class="i2">Euhoe rav'd, Euhoe with fanatic heads gyrated;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Some in womanish hands shook rods cone-wreathed above them,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Some from a mangled steer toss'd flesh yet gorily streaming;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Some girt round them in orbs, snakes gordian, intertwining;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Some with caskets deep did blazon mystical emblems,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>260</span> +<span class="i2">Emblems muffled darkly, nor heard of spirit unholy.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Part with a slender palm taborines beat merrily jangling;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now with a cymbal slim would a sharp shrill tinkle awaken;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Often a trumpeter horn blew murmurous, hoarsely resounding.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rose on pipes barbaric a jarring music of horror.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>265</span> +<span class="i0">Such, wrought rarely, the shapes this quilt did richly apparel,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where to the couch close-clasped it hung thick veils of adorning.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So to the full heart-sated of all their curious eying,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thessaly's youth gave place to the Gods high-throned in heaven.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As, when dawn is awake, light Zephyrus even-breathing<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>270</span> +<span class="i2">Brushes a sleeping sea, which slant-wise curved in edges<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Breaks, while mounts Aurora the sun's high journey to welcome;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They, first smitten faintly by his most airy caressing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Move slow on, light surges a plashing silvery laughter;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Soon with a waxing wind they crowd them apace, thick-fleeting,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>275</span> +<span class="i2">Swim in a rose-red glow and far off sparkle in Ocean;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So thro' column'd porch and chambers sumptuous hieing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thither or hither away, that company stream'd, home-wending.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">First from Pelion height, when they were duly departed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Chiron came, in his hand green gifts of flowery forest.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>280</span> +<span class="i2">All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Breeds on mountainous heights, what near each showery river<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Swells to the warm west-wind, in gales of foison alighting;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">These did his own hands bear in girlonds twined of all hues,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That to the perfume sweet for joy laugh'd gaily the palace.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>285</span> +<span class="i2">Follow'd straight Penios, awhile his bowery Tempe,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tempe, shrined around in shadowy woods o'erhanging,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Left to the bare-limb'd maids Magnesian, airily ranging.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No scant carrier he; tall root-torn beeches his heavy<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Burden, bays stemm'd stately, in heights exalted ascending.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>290</span> +<span class="i2">Thereto the nodding plane, and that lithe sister of youthful<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Phaethon flame-enwrapt, and cypress in air upspringing:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">These in breadths inwoven he heap'd close-twin'd to the palace,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whereto the porch wox green, with soft leaves canopied over.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Him did follow anear, deep heart and wily, Prometheus,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>295</span> +<span class="i2">Scarr'd and wearing yet dim traces of early dishonour,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All which of old his body to flint fast-welded in iron,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bore and dearly abied, on slippery crags suspended.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Last with his awful spouse, with children goodly, the sovran<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Father approach'd; thou, Phoebus, alone, his warder in heaven,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>300</span> +<span class="i2">Left, with that dear sister, on Idrus ranger eternal.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Peleus sister alike and brother in high misprision<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Held, nor lifted a torch when Thetis wedded at even.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So when on ivory thrones they rested, snowily gleaming,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Many a feast high-pil'd did load each table about them;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>305</span> +<span class="i2">Whiles to a tremor of age their gray infirmity rocking,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Busy began that chant which speaketh surely the Parcae.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fell bright-white to the feet, with a purple border of issue.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush'd rosy beneath them;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>310</span> +<span class="i2">Still each hand fulfilled its pious labour eternal.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Singly the left upbore in wool soft-hooded a distaff,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whereto the right large threads down drawing deftly, with upturn'd<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fingers shap'd them anew; then thumbs earth-pointed in even<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Balance twisted a spindle on orb'd wheels smoothly rotating.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>315</span> +<span class="i2">So clear'd softly between and tooth-nipt even it ever<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Onward moved; still clung on wan lips, sodden as ashes,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shreds all woolly from out that soft smooth surface arisen.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lastly before their feet lay fells, white, fleecy, refulgent,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Warily guarded they in baskets woven of osier.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>320</span> +<span class="i2">They, as on each light tuft their voice smote louder approaching,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Pour'd grave inspiration, a prophet chant to the future,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Chant which an after-time shall tax of vanity never.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O in valorous acts thy wondrous glory renewing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rich Aemathia's arm, great sire of a goodlier issue,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>325</span> +<span class="i2">Hark on a joyous day what prophet-story the sisters<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Open surely to thee; and you, what followeth after,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Guide to a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Soon shall approach, and bear the delight long-wish'd for of husbands,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hesper, a bride shall approach in starlight happy presented,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>330</span> +<span class="i2">Softly to sway thy soul in love's completion abiding,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Soon in a trance with thee of slumber dreamy to mingle,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Making smooth round arms thy clasp'd throat sinewy pillow.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Never hath house closed yet o'er loves so blissful uniting,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>335</span> +<span class="i2">Never love so well his children in harmony knitten,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So as Thetis agrees, as Peleus bendeth according.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">You shall a son see born that knows not terror, Achilles,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One whose back no foe, whose front each knoweth in onset;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>340</span> +<span class="i2">Often a conqueror, he, where feet course swiftly together,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Steps of a fire-fleet doe shall leave in his hurry behind him.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Him to resist in war, no champion hero ariseth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then on Phrygian earth when carnage Trojan is utter'd;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>345</span> +<span class="i2">Then when a long sad strife shall Troy's crown'd city beleaguer,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Waste her a third false heir from Pelops wary descending.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">His unmatchable acts, his deeds of glorious honour,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Oft shall mothers speak o'er sons untimely departed;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>350</span> +<span class="i2">While from crowns earth-bow'd fall loosen'd silvery tresses,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Beat on shrivell'd breasts weak palms their dusky defacing.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">As some labourer ears close-cluster'd lustily lopping,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Under a flaming sun, mows fields ripe-yellow in harvest,<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles</i>,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>355</span> +<span class="i2">Charge Troy's children afield and fell them grimly with iron.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Deeds of such high glory Scamander's river avoucheth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurried in eddies afar thro' boisterous Hellespontus;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then when a slaughter'd heap his pathway watery choking,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>360</span> +<span class="i2">Brimmeth a warm red tide and blood with water allieth.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Voucher of him last riseth a prey untimely devoted<br /></span> +<span class="i2">E'en to the tomb, which mounded in heaps, high, spherical, earthen,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Grants to the snow-white limbs, to the stricken maiden a welcome.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>365</span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Scarcely the war-worn Greeks shall win such favour of heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Neptune's bonds of stone from Dardan city to loosen,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dankly that high-heav'd grave shall gory Polyxena crimson.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +<span class="i2">She as a lamb falls smitten a twin-edg'd falchion under,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>370</span> +<span class="i2">Boweth on earth weak knees, her limbs down flingeth unheeding.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Up then, fair paramours, in fond love happily mingle.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now in blessed treaty the bridegroom welcome a goddess;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now give a bride long-veil'd to her husband's passionate yearning.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>375</span> +<span class="i0">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Her when duly the nurse with day-light early revisits,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Necklace of yester-night—she shall not clasp it about her.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Nor shall a mother fond, o'er brawls unlovely dishearten'd,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>380</span> +<span class="i2">Lay her alone, or cease the delight of children awaiting.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In such prelude old, such good-night ditty to Peleus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sang their deep divination, ineffable, holy, the Parcae.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Such as in ages past, upon houses godly descending,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>385</span> +<span class="i2">Houses of heroes came, in mortal company present,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gods high-throned in heaven, while yet was worship in honour.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Often a sovran Jove, in his own bright temple appearing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yearly, whene'er his day did rites ceremonial usher,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Gazed on an hundred slain, on strong bulls heavily falling.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>390</span> +<span class="i2">Often on high Parnassus a roving Liber in hurried<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Frenzy the Thyiads drave, their locks blown loosely, before him.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While all Delphi's city in eager jealousy trooping,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Blithely receiv'd their god on fuming festival altars.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mavors often amidst encounter mortal of armies,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>395</span> +<span class="i2">Streaming Triton's queen, or maid Ramnusian awful,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Stood in body before them, a fainting host to deliver.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Only when heinous sin earth's wholesome purity blasted,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When from covetous hearts fled justice sadly retreating,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then did a brother his hands dye deep in blood of a brother,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>400</span> +<span class="i2">Lightly the son forgat his parents' piteous ashes.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lightly the son's young grave his father pray'd for, an unwed<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Maiden, a step-dame fair in freer luxury clasping.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then did mother unholy to son that knew not abase her,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shamefully, fear'd not unholy the blessed dead to dishonour.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>405</span> +<span class="i2">Human, inhuman alike, in wayward infamy blending,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Turned far from us away that righteous counsel of heaven.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Therefore proudly the Gods such sinful company view not,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bear not day-light clear upon immortality breathing.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Though, outworn with sorrow, with hours of torturous anguish,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Ortalus, I no more tarry the Muses among;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Though from a fancy deprest fair blooms of poesy budding<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rise not at all; such grief rocks me, uneasily stirr'd:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Coldly but even now mine own dear brother in ebbing<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lethe his ice-wan feet laveth, a shadowy ghost.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He whom Troy's deep bosom, a shore Rhoetean above him,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rudely denies these eyes, heavily crushes in earth.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ah! no more to address thee, or hear thy kindly replying,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Brother! O e'en than life round me delightfuller yet,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ne'er to behold thee again! Still love shall fail not alone in<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Fancy to muse death's dark elegy, closely to weep.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Closely as under boughs of dimmest shadow the pensive<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Daulian ever moans Itys in agony slain.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Yet mid such desolation a verse I tender of ancient<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Battiades, new-drest, Ortalus, wholly for you.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lest to the roving winds these words all idly deliver'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Seem too soon from a frail memory fallen away.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">E'en as a furtive gift, sent, some love-apple, a-wooing,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i4">Leaps from breast of a coy maiden, a canopy pure;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">There forgotten alas, mid vestments silky reposing,—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Soon as a mother's step starts her, it hurleth adown:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Straight to the ground, dash'd forth ungently, the gift shoots headlong;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">She in tell-tale cheeks glows a disorderly shame.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He whose glance scann'd clearly the lights uncounted of ether,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Found when arises a star, sinks in his haven again,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How yon eclipsed sun glares luminous obscuration,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">How in seasons due vanishes orb upon orb;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">How 'neath Latmian heights fair Trivia stealthily banish'd<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Falls, from her upward path lured by a lover awhile;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That same sage, that Conon, a lock of great Berenice<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Saw me, in heavenly-bright deification afar<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lustrous, a gleaming glory; to gods full many devoted,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Whiles she her arms in prayer lifted, as ivory smooth;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In that glorious hour when, flush'd with a new hymeneal,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Hotly the King to deface outer Assyria sped,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bearing ensigns sweet of that soft struggle a night brings,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When from a virgin's arms spoils he had happily won.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Stands it an edict true that brides hate Venus? or ever<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Falsely the parents' joy dashes a showery tear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When to the nuptial door they come in rainy beteeming?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Now to the Gods I swear, tears be hypocrisy then.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So mine own queen taught me in all her weary lamentings,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i4">Whiles her bridegroom bold set to the battle a face.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">What? for an husband lost thou weptst not gloomily lying?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rather a brother dear, forced for a while to depart?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This, when love's sharp grief was gnawing inly to waste thee!<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +<span class="i4">Ah poor wife! whose soul steep'd in unhappiness all,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i2">Fell from reason away, nor abode thy senses! A nobler<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Spirit had I erewhile known thee, a fiery child.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Pass'd that deed forgotten, a royal wooer had earn'd thee?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Deed that braver none ventureth ever again?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet what sorrow to lose thy lord, what murmur of anguish!<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span> +<span class="i4">Jove, how rain'd those tears brush'd from a passionate eye!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who is this could wean thee, a God so mighty, to falter?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">May not a lover live from the beloved afar?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then for a spouse so goodly, before each spirit of heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Me thou vowd'st, with slain oxen, a vast hecatomb,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>35</span> +<span class="i2">Home if again he alighted. Awhile and Asia crouching<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Humbly to Egypt's realm added a boundary new;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I, in starry return to the ranks dedicated of heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Debt of an ancient vow sum in a bounty to-day.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Full of sorrow was I, fair queen, thy brows to abandon,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>40</span> +<span class="i4">Full of sorrow; in oath answer, adorable head.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Evil on him that oath who sweareth falsely soever!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yet in a strife with steel who can a victory claim?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Steel could a mountain abase, no loftier any thro' heaven's<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Cupola Thia's child lifteth his axle above,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>45</span> +<span class="i2">Then, when a new-born sea rose Mede-uplifted; in Athos'<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Centre his ocean-fleet floated a barbarous host.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +<span class="i2">What shall a weak tress do, when powers so mighty resist not?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Jove! may Chalybes all perish, a people accurst,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Perish who earth's hid veins first labour'd dimly to quarry,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>50</span> +<span class="i4">Clench'd in a molten mass iron, a ruffian heart!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Scarcely the sister-locks were parted dolefully weeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Straight that brother of young Memnon, in Africa born,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Came, and shook thro' heaven his pennons oary, before me,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Winged, a queen's proud steed, Locrian Arsinoë.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>55</span> +<span class="i2">So flew with me aloft thro' darkening shadow of heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">There to a god's pure breast laid me, to Venus's arms.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Him Zephyritis' self had sent to the task, her servant,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">She from realms of Greece borne to Canopus of yore.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">There, that at heav'n's high porch, not one sole crown, Ariadne's,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>60</span> +<span class="i4">Golden above those brows Ismaros' youth did adore,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Starry should hang, set alone; but luminous I might glisten,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Vow'd to the Gods, bright spoil won from an aureat head;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While to the skies I clomb still ocean-dewy, the Goddess<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Placed me amid star-spheres primal, a glory to be.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>65</span> +<span class="i0">Close to the Virgin bright, to the Lion sulkily gleaming,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Nigh Callisto, a cold child Lycaonian, I<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wheel obliquely to set, and guide yon tardy Bootes<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Where scarce late his car dewy descends to the sea.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet tho' nightly the Gods' immortal steps be above me,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>70</span> +<span class="i4">Tho' to the white waves dawn gives me, to Tethys, again;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">(Maid of Ramnus, a grace I here implore thee, if any<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Word should offend; so much cannot a terror alarm,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I should veil aught true; not tho' with clamorous uproar<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rend me the stars; I speak verities hidden at heart):<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>75</span> +<span class="i2">Lightly for all I reck, so more I sorrow to part me<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sadly from her I serve, part me forever away.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With her, a virgin as yet, I quaff'd no sumptuous essence;<br /></span> +<span class="i6">With her, a bride, I drain'd many a prodigal oil.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now, O you whom gladly the marriage cresset uniteth,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>80</span> +<span class="i4">See to the bridegroom fond yield ye not amorous arms,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Throw not back your robes, nor bare your bosom assenting,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Save from an onyx stream sweetness, a bounty to me.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yours, in a loyal bed which seek love's privilege, only;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yieldeth her any to bear loathed adultery's yoke,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>85</span> +<span class="i2">Vile her gifts, and lightly the dust shall drink them unheeding.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Not of vile I seek gifts, nor of infamous, I.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rather, O unstain'd brides, may concord tarry for ever<br /></span> +<span class="i4">With ye at home, may love with ye for ever abide.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou, fair queen, to the stars if looking haply, to Venus<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>90</span> +<span class="i4">Lights thou kindle on eves festal of high sacrifice,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Leave me the lock, thine own, nor blood nor bounty requiring.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rather a largesse fair pay to me, envy me not.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Stars dash blindly in one! so might I glitter a royal<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Tress, let Orion glow next to Aquarius' urn.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXVII.</h4> + +<p class="center">CATULLUS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O to the goodman fair, O welcome alike to the father,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hail, and Jove's kind grace shower his help upon you!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Door, that of old, men say, wrought Balbus ready obeisance,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Once, when his home, time was, lodged him, a master in years;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Door, that again, men say, grudg'd aught but a spiteful obeisance,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Soon as a corpse outstretch'd starkly declar'd you a bride.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come, speak truly to me; what shameful rumour avouches<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Duty of years forsworn, honour in injury lost?<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">DOOR.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So be the tenant new, Caecilius, happy to own me,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">I'm not guilty, for all jealousy says it is I.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Never a fault was mine, nor man shall whisper it ever;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Only, my friend, your mob's noisy "The door is a rogue."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Comes to the light some mischief, a deed uncivil arising,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Loudly to me shout all, "Door, you are wholly to blame."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">CATULLUS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">'Tis not enough so merely to say, so think to decide it.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Better, who wills should feel, see it, who wills, to be true.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">DOOR.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">How then? if here none asks, nor labours any to know it.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">CATULLUS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Nay, <i>I</i> ask it; away scruple; your hearer is I.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">DOOR.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">First, what rumour avers, they gave her to us a virgin—<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i2">They lie on her. A light lady! be sure, not alone<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Clipp'd her an husband first; weak stalk from a garden, a pointless<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Falchion, a heart did ne'er fully to courage awake.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No; to the son's own bed, 'tis said, that father ascended,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Vilely; with act impure stain'd the facinorous house.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i0">Whether a blind fierce lust in his heart burnt sinfully flaming,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or that inert that son's vigour, amort to delight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Needed a sturdier arm, that franker quality somewhere,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Looser of youth's fast-bound girdle, a virgin as yet.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">CATULLUS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Truly a noble father, a glorious act of affection!<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span> +<span class="i2">Thus in a son's kind sheets lewdly to puddle, his own.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">DOOR.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet not alone of this, her crag Chinaean abiding<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Under, a watch-tower set warily, Brixia tells,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Brixia, trails whereby his waters Mella the golden,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mother of her, mine own city, Verona the fair.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>35</span> +<span class="i0">Add Postumius yet, Cornelius also, a twice-told<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Folly, with whom our light mistress adultery knew.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Asks some questioner here "What? a door, yet privy to lewdness?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You, from your owner's gate never a minute away?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Strange to the talk o' the town? since here, stout timber above you,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>40</span> +<span class="i2">Hung to the beam, you shut mutely or open again."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Many a shameful time I heard her stealthy profession,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +<span class="i2">While to the maids her guilt softly she hinted alone.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spoke unabash'd her amours and named them singly, opining<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Haply an ear to record fail'd me, a voice to reveal.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>45</span> +<span class="i0">There was another; enough; his name I gladly dissemble;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lest his lifted brows blush a disorderly rage.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sir, 'twas a long lean suitor; a process huge had assail'd him;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Twas for a pregnant womb falsely declar'd to be true.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h4>LXVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If, when fortune's wrong with bitter misery whelms thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Thou thy sad tear-scrawl'd letter, a mark to the storm,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Send'st, and bid'st me to succour a stranded seaman of Ocean,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Toss'd in foam, from death's door to return thee again;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Whom nor softly to rest love's tender sanctity suffers,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lost on a couch of lone slumber, unhappily lain;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor with melody sweet of poets hoary the Muses<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Cheer, while worn with grief nightly the soul is awake:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Well-contented am I, that thou thy friendship avowest,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Ask'st the delights of love from me, the pleasure of hymns;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet lest all unnoted a kindred story bely thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Deeming, Mallius, I calls of humanity shun;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hear what a grief is mine, what storm of destiny whelms me.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Cease to demand of a soul's misery joy's sacrifice.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Once, what time white robes of manhood first did array me,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Whiles in jollity life sported a spring holiday,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Youth ran riot enow; right well she knows me, the Goddess,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">She whose honey delights blend with a bitter annoy.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Henceforth dies sweet pleasure, in anguish lost of a brother's<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i4">Funeral. O poor soul, brother, O heavily ta'en,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You all happier hours, you, dying brother, effaced;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">All our house lies low mournfully buried in you;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Quench'd untimely with you joy waits not ever a morrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Joy which alive your love's bounty fed hour upon hour;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i2">Now, since thou liest dead, heart-banish'd wholly desert me<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Vanities all, each gay freak of a riotous heart.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">How then obey? You write 'Let not Verona, Catullus,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Stay thee, if here each proud quality, Rome's eminence,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Freely the light limbs warms thou leavest coldly to languish,'<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>30</span> +<span class="i4">Infamy lies not there, Mallius, only regret.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So forgive me, if I, whom grief so rudely bereaveth,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Deal not a joy myself know not, a beggar in all.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Books—if they're but scanty, a store full meagre, around me,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rome is alone my life's centre, a mansion of home,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>35</span> +<span class="i2">Rome my abode, house, hearth; there wanes and waxes a life's span;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Hither of all those choice cases attends me but one.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Therefore deem not thou aught spiteful bids me deny thee;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +<span class="i4">Say not 'his heart is false, haply, to jealousy leans,'<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If nor books I send nor flatter sorrow to silence.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>40</span> +<span class="i4">Trust me, were either mine, either unask'd should appear.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> <br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Goddesses, hide I may not in how great trial upheld me<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Allius, how no faint charities held me to life.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor shall time borne fleetly nor years' oblivion ever<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Make such zeal to the night fade, to the darkness, away.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>45</span> +<span class="i2">As from me you learn it, of you shall many a thousand<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Learn it again. Grow old, scroll, to declare it anew.<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>50</span> +<span class="i4">So to the dead increase honour in year upon year.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor to the spider, aloft her silk-slight flimsiness hanging,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(50)</span> +<span class="i4">Allius aye unswept moulder, a memory dim.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Well you wot, how sore the deceit Amathusia wrought me,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Well what a thing in love's treachery made me to fall;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>55</span> +<span class="i2">Ready to burst in flame, as burn Trinacrian embers,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Burn near Thermopylae's Oeta the fiery springs.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(55)</span> +<span class="i2">Sad, these piteous eyes did waste all wearily weeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sad, these cheeks did rain ceaseless a showery woe.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wakeful, as hill-born brook, which, afar off silvery gleaming,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>60</span> +<span class="i4">O'er his moss-grown crags leaps with a tumble adown;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Brook which awhile headlong o'er steep and valley descending,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>(60)</span> +<span class="i4">Crosses anon wide ways populous, hastes to the street;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Cheerer in heats o' the sun to the wanderer heavily fuming,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Under a drought, when fields swelter agape to the sky.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>65</span> +<span class="i2">Then as tossing shipmen amid black surges of Ocean,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">See some prosperous air gently to calm them arise,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(65)</span> +<span class="i2">Safe thro' Pollux' aid or Castor, alike entreated;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Mallius e'en such help brought me, a warder of harm.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He in a closed field gave scope of liberal entry;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>70</span> +<span class="i4">Gave me an house of love, gave me the lady within,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Busily there to renew love's even duty together;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(70)</span> +<span class="i4">Thither afoot mine own mistress, a deity bright,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Came, and planted firm her sole most sunny; beneath her<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lightly the polish'd floor creak'd to the sandal again.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>75</span> +<span class="i0">So with passion aflame came wistful Laodamia<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Into her husband's home, Protesilaus, of yore;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(75)</span> +<span class="i2">Home o'er-lightly begun, ere slaughter'd victim atoning<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Waited of heaven's high-thron'd company grace to agree.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nought be to me so dear, O Maid Ramnusian, ever,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>80</span> +<span class="i4">I should against that law match me with opposite, I.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bloodless of high sacrifice, how thirsts each desolate altar!<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(80)</span> +<span class="i4">This, when her husband fell, Laodamia did heed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rapt from a bridegroom new, from his arms forced early to part her.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Early; for hardly the first winter, another again,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>85</span> +<span class="i2">Yet in many a night's long dream had sated her yearning,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">So that love might wear cheerly, the master away;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(85)</span> +<span class="i2">Which not long should abide, so presag'd surely the Parcae,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">If to the wars her lord hurry, for Ilion arm.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now to revenge fair Helen, had Argos' chiefs, her puissance,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>90</span> +<span class="i4">Set them afield; for Troy rous'd them, a cry not of home,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Troy, dark death universal, of Asia grave and Europe,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(90)</span> +<span class="i4">Altar of heroes Troy, Troy of heroical acts,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now to my own dear brother abhorred worker of ancient<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Death. Ah woeful soul, brother, unhappily lost,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>95</span> +<span class="i2">Ah fair light unblest, in darkness sadly receding,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">All our house lies low, brother, inearthed in you,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(95)</span> +<span class="i2">Quench'd untimely with you, joy waits not ever a morrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Joy which alive your love's bounty fed hour upon hour.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now on a distant shore, no kind mortality near him,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>100</span> +<span class="i4">Far all household love, every familiar urn,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tomb'd in Troy the malign, in Troy the unholy reposing,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(100)</span> +<span class="i4">Strangely the land's last verge holds him, a dungeon of earth.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thither in haste all Greece, one armed people assembling,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Flock'd on an ancient day, left the recesses of home,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>105</span> +<span class="i2">Lest in a safe content, unreach'd, his stolen adultress.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Paris inarm, in soft luxury quietly lain.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>(105)</span> +<span class="i0">E'en such chance, fair queen, such misery, Laodamia,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Brought thee a loss as life precious, as heavenly breath.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Loss of a bridegroom dear; such whirling passion in eddies<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>110</span> +<span class="i4">Suck'd thee adown, so drew sheer to a sudden abyss,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Deep as Graian abyss near Pheneos o'er Cyllene,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(110)</span> +<span class="i4">Strainer of ooze impure milk'd from a watery fen;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hewn, so stories avouch, in a mountain's kernel; an hero<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Hew'd it, falsely declar'd Amphytrionian, he,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>115</span> +<span class="i2">When those monster birds near grim Stymphalus his arrow<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Smote to the death; such task bade him a dastardly lord.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(115)</span> +<span class="i2">So that another God might tread that portal of heaven<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Freely, nor Hebe fair wither a chaste eremite.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet than abyss more deep thy love, thy depth of emotion;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>120</span> +<span class="i4">Love which school'd thy lord, made of a master a thrall.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Not to a grandsire old so priz'd, so lovely the grandson<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(120)</span> +<span class="i4">One dear daughter alone rears i' the soft of his years;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He, long-wish'd for, an heir of wealth ancestral arriving,—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Scarcely the tablets' marge holds him, a name to the will,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>125</span> +<span class="i2">Straight all hopes laugh'd down, each baffled kinsman usurping<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Leaves to repose white hairs, stretches, a vulture, away;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(125)</span> +<span class="i2">Not in her own fond mate so turtle snowy delighteth,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Tho' unabash'd, 'tis said, she the voluptuous hours<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Snatches a thousand kisses, in amorous extasy biting.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>130</span> +<span class="i4">Yet, more lightly than all ranges a womanly will.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Great their love, their frenzy; but all their frenzy before thee<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(130)</span> +<span class="i4">Fail'd, once clasp'd thy lord splendid in aureat hair.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Worthy in all or part thee, Laodamia, to rival,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sought me my own sweet love, journey'd awhile to my arms.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>135</span> +<span class="i2">Round her playing oft ran Cupid thither or hither,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lustrous, array'd in bright broidery, saffron of hue.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(135)</span> +<span class="i2">What, to Catullus alone if a wayward fancy resort not?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Must I pale for a stray frailty, the shame of an hour?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nay; lest all too much such jealous folly provoke her.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>140</span> +<span class="i4">Juno's self, a supreme glory celestial, oft<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Crushes her eager rage, in wedlock-injury flaring,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>(140)</span> +<span class="i4">Knowing yet right well Jove, what a losel is he.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Yet, for a man with Gods shall never lawfully match him<br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>145</span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>150</span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>155</span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>160</span> +<span class="i4"><b>. . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><b>. . . . . . . . . . .</b><br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lift thy father, a weak burden, unholpen, abhorr'd.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Not that a father's hand my love led to me, nor odours<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Wafted her home on rich airs, of Assyria born;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>165 (145)</span> +<span class="i2">Stealthy the gifts she gave me, a night unspeakable o'er us,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Gifts from her husband's dreams verily stolen, his own.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then 'tis enough for me, if mine, mine only remaineth<br /></span> +<span class="i4">That one day, whose stone shines with an happier hue.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>170 (150)</span> +<span class="i4">Verse to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So your household names no rust nor seamy defacing<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Soil this day, that new morrow, the next to the last.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gifts full many to these heaven send as largely requiting,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Gifts Themis ever wont deal to the pious of yore.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>175 (155)</span> +<span class="i2">Joys come plenty to thee, to thy own fair lady together,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Come to that house of mirth, come to the lady within;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Joy to the forward friend, our love's first fashioner, Anser,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Author of all this fair history, founder of all.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lastly beyond them, above them, on her more lovely than even<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>180 (160)</span> +<span class="i4">Life, my lady, for whose life it is happy to be.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXIX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rufus, it is no wonder if yet no woman assenting<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Softly to thine embrace tender a delicate arm.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Not tho' a gift should seek, some robe most filmy, to move her;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Not for a cherish'd gem's clarity, lucid of hue.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Deep in a valley, thy arms, such evil story maligns thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rufus, a villain goat houses, a grim denizen.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All are afraid of it, all; what wonder? a rascally creature,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Verily! not with such company dally the fair.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Slay, nor pity the brute, our nostril's rueful aversion.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Else admire not if each ravisher angrily fly.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Saith my lady to me, no man shall wed me, but only<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou; no other if e'en Jove should approach me to woo;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yea; but a woman's words, when a lover fondly desireth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Limn them on ebbing floods, write on a wintery gale.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lesbia, thou didst swear thou knewest only Catullus,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Cared'st not, if him thine arms chained, a Jove to retain.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Then not alone I loved thee, as each light lover a mistress,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lov'd as a father his own sons, or an heir to the name.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Now I know thee aright; so, if more hotly desiring,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yet must count thee a soul cheaper, a frailty to scorn.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Friend,' thou say'st, 'you cannot.' Alas! such injury leaveth<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Blindly to doat poor love's folly, malignly to will.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Never again think any to work aught kindly soever,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dream that in any abides honour, of injury free.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Love is a debt in arrear; time's parted service avails not;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rather is only the more sorrow, a heavier ill:<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Chiefly to me, whom none so fierce, so deadly deceiving<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Troubleth, as he whose friend only but inly was I.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Gellius heard that his uncle in ire exploded, if any<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dared, some wanton, a fault practise, a levity speak.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not to be slain himself, see Gellius handle his uncle's<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lady; no Harpocrates muter, his uncle is hush'd.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">So what he aim'd at, arriv'd at, anon let Gellius e'en this<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Uncle abuse; not a word yet will his uncle assay.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXXVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Brothers twain has Gallus, of whom one owns a delightful<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Son; his brother a fair lady, delightfuller yet.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gallant sure is Gallus, a pair so dainty uniting;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lovely the lady, the lad lovely, a company sweet.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Foolish sure is Gallus, an o'er-incurious husband;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Uncle, a wife once taught luxury, stops not at one.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXIX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lesbius, handsome is he. Why not? if Lesbia loves him<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Far above all your tribe, angry Catullus, or you.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Only let all your tribe sell off, and follow, Catullus,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Kiss but his handsome lips children, a plenary three.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXXI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What? not in all this city, Juventius, ever a gallant<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Poorly to win love's fresh favour of amorous you,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Only the lack-love signor, a wretch from sickly Pisaurum,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Guest of your hearth, no gilt statue as ashy as he?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Now your very delight, whose faithless fancy Catullus<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Banisheth, Ah light-reck'd lightness, apostasy vile!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXXII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Wouldst thou, Quintius, have me a debtor ready to owe thee<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Eyes, or if earth have joy goodlier any than eyes?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One thing take not from me, to me more goodly than even<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Eyes, or if earth have joy goodlier any than eyes.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXXXIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lesbia while her lord stands near, rails ever upon me.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This to the fond weak fool seemeth a mighty delight.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dolt, you see not at all. Could she forget me, to rail not,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nought were amiss; if now scold she, or if she revile,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">'Tis not alone to remember; a shrewder stimulus arms her,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Anger; her heart doth burn verily, thus to revile.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXXIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Stipends</i> Arrius ever on opportunity <i>shtipends</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Ambush</i> as <i>hambush</i> still Arrius used to declaim.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then, hoped fondly the words were a marvel of articulation,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While with an <i>h</i> immense '<i>hambush</i>' arose from his heart.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">So his mother of old, so e'en spoke Liber his uncle,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Credibly; so grandsire, grandam alike did agree.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Syria took him away; all ears had rest for a moment;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lightly the lips those words, slightly could utter again.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">None was afraid any more of a sound so clumsy returning;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Sudden a solemn fright seized us, a message arrives.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'News from Ionia country; the sea, since Arrius enter'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Changed; 'twas <i>Ionian</i> once, now 'twas <i>Hionian</i> all.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXXV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Half I hate, half love. How so? one haply requireth.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nay, I know not; alas feel it, in agony groan.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXXXVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lovely to many a man is Quintia; shapely, majestic,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Stately, to me; each point singly 'tis easy to grant.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Lovely' the whole, I grant not; in all that bodily largeness,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lives not a grain of salt, breathes not a charm anywhere.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Lesbia—she is lovely, an even temper of utmost<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Beauty, that every charm stealeth of every fair.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXXVII & LXXV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ne'er shall woman avouch herself so rightly beloved,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Friend, as rightly thou art, Lesbia, lovely to me.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ne'er was a bond so firm, no troth so faithfully plighted,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Such as against our love's venture in honour am I.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Now so sadly my heart, dear Lesbia, draws me asunder,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So in her own misspent worship uneasily lost,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wert thou blameless in all, I may not longer approve thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Do anything thou wilt, cannot an enemy be.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If to a man bring joy past service dearly remember'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When to the soul her thought speaks, to be blameless of ill;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Faith not rudely profan'd, nor in oath or charter abused<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Heaven, a God's mis-sworn sanctity, deadly to men.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Then doth a life-long pleasure await thee surely, Catullus,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Pleasure of all this love's traitorous injury born.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Whatso a man may speak, whom charity leads to another,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Whatso enact, by me spoken or acted is all.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Waste on a traitorous heart, nor finding kindly requital.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Therefore cease, nor still bleed agoniz'd any more.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Make thee as iron a soul, thyself draw back from affliction.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yea, tho' a God say nay, be not unhappy for aye.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">What? it is hard long love so lightly to leave in a moment?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Hard; yet abides this one duty, to do it: obey.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i2">Here lies safety alone, one victory must not fail thee.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">One last stake to be lost haply, perhaps to be won.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O great Gods immortal, if you can pity or ever<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lighted above dark death's shadow, a help to the lost;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ah! look, a wretch, on me; if white and blameless in all I<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>20</span> +<span class="i4">Liv'd, then take this long canker of anguish away.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If to my inmost veins, like dull death drowsily creeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Every delight, all heart's pleasure it wholly benumbs.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Not anymore I pray for a love so faulty returning,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Not that a wanton abide chastely, she may not again.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>25</span> +<span class="i2">Only for health I ask, a disease so deadly to banish.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Gods vouchsafe it, as I ask, that am harmless of ill.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<h4>LXXVII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rufus, a friend so vainly believ'd, so wrongly relied in,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">(Vainly? alas the reward fail'd not, a heavier ill;)<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Could'st thou thus steal on me, a lurking viper, an aching<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fire to the bones, nor leave aught to delight any more?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Nought to delight any more! ah cruel poison of equal<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lives! ah breasts that grew each to the other awhile!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet far most this grieves me, to think thy slaver abhorred<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Foully my own love's lips soileth, a purity rare.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou shalt surely atone thine injury: centuries harken,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i2">Know thee afar; grow old, fame, to declare him anew.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXXVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Gellius, how if a man in lust with a mother, a sister<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rioteth, one uncheck'd night, to iniquity bare?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How if a man's dark passion an aunt's own chastity spare not?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Canst thou tell what vast infamy lieth on him?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Infamy lieth on him, no farthest Tethys, or ancient<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Ocean, of hundred streams father, abolisheth yet.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Infamy none o'ersteps, nor ventures any beyond it.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Not tho' a scorpion heat melt him, his own paramour.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>LXXXIX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Gellius—he's full meagre. It is no wonder, a friendly<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Mother, a sister is his loveable, healthy withal.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Then so friendly an uncle, a world of pretty relations.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Must not a man so blest meagre abide to the last?<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Yea, let his hand touch only what hands touch only to trespass;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Reason enough to become meagre, enough to remain.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XC.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rise from a mother's shame with Gellius hatefully wedded,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One to be taught gross rites Persic, a Magian he.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Weds with a mother a son, so needs should a Magian issue,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Save in her evil creed Persia determineth ill.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Then shall a son, so born, chant down high favour of heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Melting lapt in flame fatly the slippery caul.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XCI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Think not a hope so false rose, Gellius, in me to find thee<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Faithful in all this love's anguish ineffable yet,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For that in heart I knew thee, had in thee honour imagin'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Held thee a soul to abhor vileness or any reproach.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Only in her, I knew, thou found'st not a mother, a sister,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Her that awhile for love wearily made me to pine.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yea tho' mutual use did bind us straitly together,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Scarcely methought could lie cause to desert me therein.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thou found'st reason enow; so joys thy spirit in every<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Shame, wherever is aught heinous, of infamy born.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XCII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lesbia doth but rail, rail ever upon me, nor endeth<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ever. A life I stake, Lesbia loves me at heart.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ask me a sign? Our score runs parallel. I that abuse her<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ever, a life to the stake, Lesbia, love thee at heart.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XCIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lightly methinks I reck if Cæsar smile not upon me:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Care not, whether a white, whether a swarth-skin, is he.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XCIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Mentula—wanton is he; his calling sure is a wanton's.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Herbs to the pot, 'tis said wisely, the name to the man.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XCV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Nine times winter had end, nine times flush'd summer in harvest,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Ere to the world gave forth Cinna, the labour of years,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Zmyrna; but in one month Hortensius hundred on hundred<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Verses, an unripe birth feeble, of hurry begot.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Zmyrna to far Satrachus, to the stream of Cyprus, ascendeth;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Zmyrna with eyes unborn study the centuries hoar.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Padus her own ill child shall bury, Volusius' annals;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In them a mackerel oft house him, a wrapper of ease.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dear to my heart be a friend's unbulky memorial ever;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Cherish an Antimachus, weighty as empty, the mob.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<h4>XCVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If to the silent dead aught sweet or tender ariseth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Calvus, of our dim grief's common humanity born;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When to a love long cold some pensive pity recals us,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When for a friend long lost wakes some unhappy regret;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Not so deeply, be sure, Quintilia's early departing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Grieves her, as in thy love dureth a plenary joy.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XCVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Asks some booby rebuke, some prolix prattler a judgment?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Vettius, all were said verily truer of you.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tongue so noisome as yours, come chance, might surely on order<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bend to the mire, or lick dirt from a beggarly shoe.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Would you on all of us, all, bring, Vettius, utterly ruin?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Speak; not a doubt, 'twill come utterly, ruin on all.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>XCIX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dear one, a kiss I stole, while you did wanton a-playing,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sweet ambrosia, love, never as honily sweet.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dearly the deed I paid for; an hour's long misery waning<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Ended, as I agoniz'd hung to the point of a cross,<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Hoping vain purgation; alas! no potion of any<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Tears could abate that fair angriness, youthful as you.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hardly the sin was in act, your lips did many a falling<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Drop dilute, which anon every finger away<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cleansed apace, lest still my mouth's infection abiding<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Stain, like slaver abhorr'd breath'd from a foul fricatrice.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Add, that a booty to love in misery me to deliver<br /></span> +<span class="i4">You did spare not, a fell worker of all agonies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So that, again transmuted, a kiss ambrosia seeming<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sugary, turn'd to the strange harshness of harsh hellebore.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>15</span> +<span class="i0">Then such dolorous end since your poor lover awaiteth,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Never a kiss will I venture, a theft any more.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>C.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Quintius, Aufilena; to Caelius, Aufilenus;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lovers each, fair flower either of youths Veronese.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One to the brother bends, and one to the sister. A noble<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Friendship, if e'er was true friendship, a rare brotherhood.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Ask me to which I lean? You, Caelius: yours a devotion<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Single, a faith of tried quality, steady to me;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Into my inmost veins when love sank fiercely to burn them.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Mighty be your bright love, Caelius, happy be you!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Borne o'er many a land, o'er many a level of ocean,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Here to the grave I come, brother, of holy repose,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sadly the last poor gifts, death's simple duty, to bring thee;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Unto the silent dust vainly to murmur a cry.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Since thy form deep-shrouded an evil destiny taketh<br /></span> +<span class="i4">From me, O hapless ghost, brother, O heavily ta'en,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Yet this bounty the while, these gifts ancestral of usance<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Homely, the sad slight store piety grants to the tomb;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Drench'd in a brother's tears, and weeping freshly, receive them;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>10</span> +<span class="i4">Yea, take, brother, a long Ave, a timeless adieu.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If to a friend sincere, Cornelius, e'er was a secret<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Trusted, a friend whose soul steady to honour abides;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Me to the same brotherhood doubt not to be inly devoted,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sworn upon oath, to the last secret, an Harpocrates.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Briefly, the sesterces all, give back, full quantity, Silo,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then be a bully beyond exorability, you:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Else, if money be all, O cease so lewdly to practise<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bawd, yet bully beyond exorability, you.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What? should a lover adore, yet cruelly slander adoring?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I my lady, than eyes goodlier easily she?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nay, I rail not at all. How rail, so blindly desiring?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Tappo alone dare brave all that is heinous, or you.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Mentula toils, Pimplea, the Muses' mountain, ascending:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They with pitchforks hurl Mentula dizzily down.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<h4>CVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Walks with a salesman a beauty, your eyes that beauty discerning?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Doubt not your eyes speak true; Sir, 'tis a beauty to sell.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CVII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If to delight man's wish, joy e'er unlook'd for, unhop'd for,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Falleth, a joy were such proper, a bliss to the soul.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then 'tis a joy to the soul, like gold of Lydia precious,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Lesbia mine, that thou com'st to delight me again.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Com'st yet again long-hop'd, long-look'd for vainly, returnest<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Freely to me. O day white with a luckier hue!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lives there happier any than I, I only? a fairer<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Destiny? Life so sweet know ye, or aught parallel?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CVIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Loathly Cominius, if e'er this people's voice should arraign thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hoary with all unclean infamy, worthy to die;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">First should a tongue, I doubt not, of old so deadly to goodness,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fall extruded, of each vulture a hungry regale;<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Gouged be the carrion eyes some crow's black maw to replenish,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Stomach a dog's fierce teeth harry, a wolf the remains.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<h4>CIX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Think you truly, belov'd, this bond of duty between us,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lasteth, an ever-new jollity, ne'er to decease?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grant it, Gods immortal, assure her promise in earnest;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yea, be the lips sincere; yea, be the words from her heart.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">So still rightly remain our lovers' charter, a life-long<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Friendship in us, whose faith fades not away to the last.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CX.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Aufilena, the fair, if kind, is a favourite ever;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Asks she a price, then yields frankly? the price is her own.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You, that agreed to be kind, now vilely the treaty dishonour,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Give not at all, nor again take;—'tis a wrong to a wrong.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Not to deceive were noble, a chastity ne'er had assented,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Aufilena; but you—blindly to grasp at a gain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet to withhold the effects,—'tis a greed more loathly than harlot's<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Vileness, a wretch whose limbs ply to the lusts of a town.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CXI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">One lord only to love, one, Aufilena, to live for,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Praise can a bride nowhere goodlier any betide;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet, when a niece with an uncle is even mother or even<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Cousin—of all paramours this were as heinous as all.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<h4>CXII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Naso, if you show much, your company shows but a very<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Little; a man you show, Naso, a woman in one.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CXIII.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Pompey the first time consul, as yet Maecilia counted<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Two paramours; reappears Pompey a consul again,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Two still, Cinna, remain; but grown, each unit an even<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thousand. Truly the stock's fruitful: adultery breeds.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CXIV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rightly a lordly demesne makes Firman Mentula count for<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wealthy! the rich fine things, then the variety there!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Game in plenty to choose, fish, field, and meadow with hunting;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Only the waste exceeds strangely the quantity still.<br /></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Wealthy? perhaps I grant it; if all, wealth asks for, is absent.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Praise the demesne? no doubt; only be needy the man.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CXV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Acres thirty in all, good grass, own Mentula master;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Forty to plough; bare seas, arid or empty, the rest.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Poorly methinks might Croesus a man so sumptuous equal,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Counted in one rich park owner of all he can ask.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i2">Grass or plough, big woods, much mountain, mighty morasses;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">On to the farthest North, on to the boundary main.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Vastness is all that is here; yet Mentula reaches a vaster—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Man? not so; 'tis a vast mountainous ominous He.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>CXVI.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oft with a studious heart, which hunted closely, requiring<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Skill great Battiades' poesies haply to send,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Laying thus thy rage in rest, lest everlasting<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Darts should reach me, to wound still an assailable head:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class='linenum'>5</span> +<span class="i0">Barren now I see that labour of any requital,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Gellius; here all prayers fall to the ground, nor avail.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No; but a robe I carry, the barbs, thy folly, to muffle;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Mine strike sure; thy deep injury <i>they</i> shall atone.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> +<h2>FRAGMENTS.</h2> + + +<h4>II.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Here I give to be thine a fair grove, an holy, Priapus,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where thy Lampsacus holds thee in chamber seemly, Priapus;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">God, in every city, thou, most ador'd on a sea-shore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hellespontian, eminent most of oystery sea-shores.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>IV.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rapidly the spirit in an agony fled away.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>V.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Where yon lucent mast-top, a cup of silver, arises.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> +<h2>NOTES.</h2> + + +<p class="center">VIII. 2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Lost is the lost, thou know'st it, and the past is past.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I am indebted for this expression to a translation of this poem by Dr. +J.A. Symonds, the whole of which I should have quoted here, had it not +been unfortunately mislaid.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">XIV. 20.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Plague-prodigy.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Proves a plague-prodigy to God and man.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Browning</span>, <i>Ring and Book</i>, v. 664.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">XVII. 26.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Rondel.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The round plate of iron which, according to Rich, Companion to the Latin +Dictionary, p. 609, formed the lower part of the sock worn by horses, +mules, &c., when on a journey, and, unlike our horse-shoes, was +removable at the end of it.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">XXII. 11.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Looby</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>a clown.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Let me now the vices trace,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From his father's scoundrel race.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What could give the looby such airs?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Were they masons? were they butchers?<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tickell</span>, <i>Theristes or the Lordling</i>, 23-26.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">XXIII.</p> + +<p>For a spirited, though coarse, version of this poem, see Cotton's Poems, +p. 608, ed. 1689.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">6 <i>Lathy.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">On a lathy horse, all legs and length.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Browning</span>, <i>Flight of the Duchess</i>, v. 21.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">XXIX. 8.</p> + +<p>The connexion between Adonis and the dove is specially referred to by +Diogenianus (<i>Praef.</i> p. 180 in Leutsch and Schneidewin's +<i>Paroemiographi Graeci</i>). It formed part of the legends of Cyprus, and +was alluded to by the lyric poet Timocreon (<i>Bergk. Poetae Lyrici +Graeci</i>, p. 1203). Compare Browning:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Pompilia was no pigeon, Venus' Pet.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><i>Ring and Book</i>, v. 701.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">XXXV. 7.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>So he'll quickly devour the way,</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>move quickly over the road. So Shakespeare:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">Starting so<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He seem'd in running to devour the way,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Staying no longer question.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><i>2nd Part of Henry IV.</i>, Act i. sc. 1.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">XXXVII. 10.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>With scorpion I, with emblem all your haunt will scrawl.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A member of the Saraceni family at Vicenza, finding that a beautiful +widow did not favour him, scribbled filthy pictures over the door. The +affair was brought before the Council of Ten at Venice.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Trollope's</span> <i>Paul the Pope</i>, p. 158.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">XLIII. 3.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Mouth scarce tenible,</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>easily running over.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">XLV. 7.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>A sulky lion.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Properly "green-eyed." The epithet would seem to be not merely +picturesque; the glaring of the eyes would be more marked in proportion +as the beast was in a fiercer and more excitable state.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LI. 5-12.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">I watch thy grace; and in its place<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My heart a charmed slumber keeps,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">While I muse upon thy face;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And a languid fire creeps<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Thro' my veins to all my frame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dissolvingly and slowly: soon<br /></span> +<span class="i4">From thy rose-red lips my name<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Floweth; and then, as in a swoon,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With dinning sound my ears are rife,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">My tremulous tongue faltereth,<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +<span class="i4">I lose my colour, I lose my breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">I drink the cup of a costly death,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Brimmed with delicious draughts of warmest life.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tennyson</span>, <i>Eleänore</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LIV. 6.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>This line is quoted as Catullus's by Porphyrion on Hor. c. 1. 16, 24. +His words, <i>Catullus cum maledicta minaretur</i>, compared with the last +lines of this poem, <i>Irascere iterum meis iambis Inmerentibus, unice +imperator</i>, seem to justify my view that they belong here. See my large +edition, p. 217, fragm. I. The following line, <i>So may destiny, &c.</i>, is +a supplement of my own: it forms a natural introduction to the <i>Si non +uellem</i> of v. 10.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LV.</p> + +<p>This is the only instance where Catullus has introduced a spondee into +the second foot of the phalaecian, which then becomes decasyllabic. The +alternation of this decasyllabic rhythm with the ordinary +hendecasyllable is studiously artistic; I have retained it throughout. +In the series of dactylic lines 17-22, Catullus no doubt intended to +convey the idea of rapidity, as, in the spondaic line immediately +following, of labour.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">4 <i>You on Circus, in all the bills but you, Sir.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>There seems to be no authority for the meaning ordinarily assigned to +<i>libellis</i>, "book-shops." I prefer to explain the word placards, either +announcing the sale of Camerius's effects, which would imply that he was +in debt, or describing him as a lost article.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">LXI.</p> + +<p>In the rhythm of this poem, I have been obliged to deviate in two points +from Catullus. (1) In him the first foot of each line is nearly always a +trochee, only rarely a spondee: the monotonous effect of a positional +trochee in English, to say nothing of the difficulty, induced me to +substitute a spondee more frequently. (2) I have been rather less +scrupulous in allowing the last foot of the glyconic lines to be a +dactyl (-uu), in place of the more correct cretic (-u-).</p> + +<p>108. The words in italics are a supplement of my own.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LXII. 39-61.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Look in a garden croft, when a flower privily growing, &c.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>Opinion.</i> Look how a flower that close in closes grows,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hid from rude cattle, bruised with no ploughs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which th' air doth stroke, sun strengthen, showers shoot higher,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It many youths and many maids desire;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The same, when cropt by cruel hand 'tis wither'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No youths at all, no maidens have desired;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So a virgin while untouch'd she doth remain<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is dear to hers; but when with body's stain<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her chaster flower is lost, she leaves to appear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or sweet to young men or to maidens dear.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>Truth.</i> Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet Hymen yield,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For as a lone vine in a naked field<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Never extols her branches, never bears<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ripe grapes, but with a headlong heaviness wears<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her tender body, and her highest sprout<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is quickly levell'd with her fading root;<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +<span class="i0">By whom no husbandmen, no youths will dwell;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But if by fortune she be married well,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the elm her husband, many husbandmen<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And many youths inhabit by her then;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So whilst a virgin doth untouch'd abide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All unmanur'd she grows old with her pride;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But when to equal wedlock, in fit time,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her fortune and endeavour lets her climb,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dear to her love and parents she is held.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet Hymen yield.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ben Jonson</span>, <i>The Barriers</i>.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LXIII.</p> + +<p>In the metre of this poem Catullus observes the following general type—</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="br">- - ´</td> + <td align='left' class="bl"> - - ´ - -</td> + <td align='left' rowspan="3"> (so Heyse.)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="br">u u - u - - u - - </td> + <td align='left' class="bl"> u u - u u u u -</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left' class="br"> u u</td> + <td align='left' class="bl"> u u</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Except in 18, <i>Hilarate aere citatis erroribus animum</i>, 53, <i>Et earum +omnia adirem furibunda latibula</i>, where the Ionic a minore, which seems +to have been the original basis of the rhythm, is preserved intact in +the former half of the line. I have followed Catullus generally with +exactness, but with an occasional resolution of one long into two short +syllables, where it has not been introduced by the poet, <i>e.g.</i> in 31, +34, 49, 64, 65, 68, 79. In v. 10 I have ventured on a license which +Catullus does not admit, but which is, I think, justified by other and +earlier specimens of the metre, an anaclasis of the original Ionic a +minore at the end of the line. In reading this poem it should never be +forgotten that there is a pause in the middle of each line, which +practically divides it into two halves. Tennyson, in his <i>Boadicea</i>, +written on the model of the <i>Attis</i>, divides each verse similarly in the +middle; but in the first half he has changed the rhythm of Catullus to a +trochaic rhythm, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> the second, while producing much of the effect of +the <i>Attis</i> by the accumulation of short syllables at the end of the +line, he has not bound himself to the same strictly defined feet as +Catullus, and generally has preferred to take from the somewhat +emasculate character of the verse by adding an unaccented syllable at +the close.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LXIII.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">8 <i>Taborine</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets blow.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><i>Troilus and Cressida</i>, Act iv. sc. 5.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">16 <i>Aby</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>abide; as, I think, in Spenser's <i>Faerie Queene</i>, vi. 2, 19.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">But he was fierce and whot,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ne time would give, nor any termes aby.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Below, lxiv. 297, I have used it in its more common meaning of atoning +for, <i>Faerie Queene</i>, iv. 1, 53.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet thou, false Squire, his fault shalt deare aby,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And with thy punishment his penance shalt supply.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><i>Midsummer Night's Dream</i>, iii. 2.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">24 <i>Ululation.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Resounded through the air without a star.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Longfellow's</span> <i>Dante Inf</i>. iii. 22.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">41 <i>When he smote the shadowy twilight with his healthy team sublime.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ere yet they blind the stars, and the wild team<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which love thee, yearning for thy yoke, arise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And shake the darkness from their loosen'd manes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And beat the twilight into flakes of fire.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tennyson</span>, <i>Tithonus</i>.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">83 <i>On a nervy neck.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">Four maned lions hale<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sluggish wheels; solemn their toothed maws,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their surly eyes brow-hidden, heavy paws<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Uplifted drowsily, and nervy tails<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Covering their tawny brushes.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Keats</span>, <i>Endymion</i>, II. ad fin.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LXIV. 160.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I have combined <i>thou</i> with <i>your</i> purposely, to suggest the idea +conveyed in <i>uestras</i> as opposed to <i>potuisti</i>, the family abode as +opposed to the individual Theseus.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">183 <i>Flexibly fleeting</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>bent as they move rapidly through the water.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">186 <i>No glimmer of hope</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>from Heyse,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Keinerlei Flucht, kein Schimmer der Hoffnung, stumm liegt Alles.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +<span class="i0">258 <i>Gordian.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She was a gordian shape of dazzling hue,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vermilion-spotted, golden, green, and blue.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Keats</span>, <i>Lamia</i>, Part I.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">308 <i>Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush' d rosy beneath them.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I have attempted here to give what I conceive Catullus may have meant to +convey by the remarkable collocation <i>At roseo niueae residebant uertice +uittae</i>. Properly, the wreaths are rosy, the locks snow-white; but the +colour of the wreaths is so blent with the colour of the locks that each +is lost in the other, and an inversion of epithets becomes possible.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A verse seems to have been lost here, which I have thus supplied.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LXVIII. 149.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Verse, to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">These little rites, a stone, a verse, receive,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis all a father, all a friend can give.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pope</span>, <i>Epitaph on the children of Lord Digby.</i></p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LXIX. 4.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Clarity</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>clearness, transparency.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Here clarity of candour, history's soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The critical mind in short.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Browning</span>, <i>Ring and Book</i>, i. 925.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">LXX.</p> + +<p>Sir Philip Sidney thus translates this poem:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Unto no body my woman saith shee had rather a wife be,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Then to myself, not though Jove grew a suter of hers.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">These be her words, but a woman's words to a love that is eager,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Midde [windes?] or waters stream do require to be writ.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">XCIX. 10.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Fricatrice.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To a lewd harlot, a base fricatrice.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ben Jonson</span>, <i>The Fox</i>, iv. 2.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4>THE END.</h4> + +<h5>BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.</h5> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> The translation follows this edition (Oxford, 1867), in the +constitution of the text, as well as in the sectional division of the +poems.</p></div></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Poems and Fragments of Catullus, by Catullus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CATULLUS *** + +***** This file should be named 18867-h.htm or 18867-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/8/6/18867/ + +Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi, Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Poems and Fragments of Catullus + +Author: Catullus + +Translator: Robinson Ellis + +Release Date: July 19, 2006 [EBook #18867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CATULLUS *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi, Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +THE +POEMS AND FRAGMENTS +OF +CATULLUS, + +TRANSLATED IN THE METRES OF THE ORIGINAL + + +BY + +ROBINSON ELLIS, + +FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, +PROFESSOR OF LATIN IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON. + + +LONDON: +JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. +1871. + + +LONDON: +BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. + + + + +TO ALFRED TENNYSON. + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The preface uses macrons and breves above some +letters to indicate stresses. I have rendered the letters with breve +inside parenthesis (like th(i)s) and the letters with macron inside +square brackets (like th[i]s).] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The idea of translating Catullus in the original metres adopted by the +poet himself was suggested to me many years ago by the admirable, +though, in England, insufficiently known, version of Theodor Heyse +(Berlin, 1855). My first attempts were modelled upon him, and were so +unsuccessful that I dropt the idea for some time altogether. In 1868, +the year following the publication of my larger critical edition[A] of +Catullus, I again took up the experiment, and translated into English +glyconics the first Hymenaeal, _Collis o Heliconici_. Tennyson's Alcaics +and Hendecasyllables had appeared in the interval, and had suggested to +me the new principle on which I was to go to work. It was not sufficient +to reproduce the ancient metres, unless the ancient quantity was +reproduced also. Almost all the modern writers of classical metre had +contented themselves with making an accented syllable long, an +unaccented short; the most familiar specimens of hexameter, +Longfellow's _Evangeline_ and Clough's _Bothie of Tober-na-Vuolich_ and +_Amours de Voyage_ were written on this principle, and, as a rule, +stopped there. They almost invariably disregarded position, perhaps the +most important element of quantity. In the first line of _Evangeline_-- + + _This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,_ + +there are no less than five violations of position, to say nothing of +the shortening of a syllable so distinctly long as the _i_ in +_primeval_. Mr. Swinburne, in his Sapphics and Hendecasyllables, while +writing on a manifestly artistic conception of those metres, and, in my +judgment, proving their possibility for modern purposes by the superior +rhythmical effect which a classically trained ear enabled him to make in +handling them, neglects position as a rule, though his nice sense of +metre leads him at times to observe it, and uniformly rejects any +approach to the harsh combinations indulged in by other writers. The +nearest approach to quantitative hexameters with which I am acquainted +in modern English writers is the _Andromeda_ of Mr. Kingsley, a poem +which has produced little effect, but is interesting as a step to what +may fairly be called a new development of the metre. For the experiments +of the Elizabethan writers, Sir Philip Sidney and others, by that +strange perversity which so often dominates literature, were as +decidedly unsuccessful from an accentual, as the modern experiments from +a quantitative point of view. Sir Philip Sidney has given in his +_Arcadia_ specimens of hexameters, elegiacs, sapphics, asclepiads, +anacreontics, hendecasyllables. The following elegiacs will serve as a +sample. + + _Unto a caitif wretch, whom long affliction holdeth, + And now fully believ's help to bee quite perished; + Grant yet, grant yet a look, to the last moment of his anguish, + O you (alas so I finde) caus of his onely ruine: + Dread not awhit (O goodly cruel) that pitie may enter + Into thy heart by the sight of this Epistle I send: + And so refuse to behold of these strange wounds the recitall, + Lest it might m' allure home to thyself to return._ + +In these the classical laws of position are most carefully observed; +every dactyl ending in a consonant is followed by a word beginning with +a vowel or _h_--_affl[i]ct(i)(o)n holdeth_, _mom[e]nt (o)f h(i)s +anguish_, _ca[u]se (o)f h(i)s onely_; _affliction wasteth_, _moment of +his dolour_, _cause of his dreary_, would have been as impossible to Sir +Philip Sidney as _mo[e]r(o)r t(e)nebat_, _mom[e]nt(a) p(e)r curae_, +_ca[u]s(a) v(e)l sola_ in a Latin writer of hexameters. Similarly where +the dactyl is incided after the second syllable, the third syllable +beginning a new word, the utmost care is taken that that word shall +begin not only with a syllable essentially short, but, when the second +syllable ends in a consonant, with a vowel: _[o]f th(i)s (e)pistle_, +but not _[o]f th(i)s d(i)saster_, still less _[o]f th(i)s d(i)rection._ +The other element of quantity is less rigidly defined; for (1) syllables +strictly long, as _I_, _thy_, _so_, are allowed to be short; (2) +syllables made long by the accent falling upon them are in some cases +shortened, as _r(u)[i]ne_, _p(e)r(i)sh[e]d_, _cr(u)[e]l_; (3) syllables +which the absence of the accent only allows to be long _in thesi_, are, +in virtue of the classical laws of position, permitted to rank as long +elsewhere--_mom[e]nt of his_, _[o]f this epistle_. It needs little +reflection to see that it is to one or other of these three +peculiarities that the failure of the Elizabethan writers of classical +metres must be ascribed. Pentameters like + + _Gratefulness, sweetness, holy love, hearty regard, + That the delights of life shall be to him dolorous, + And even in that love shall I reserve him a spite;_ + +sapphics like + + _Are then humane mindes privileg'd so meanly + As that hateful death can abridg them of power + With the vow of truth to record to all worlds + That we bee her spoils?_ + +hexameters like + + _F[i]re n(o) l(i)quor can cool: Nept[u]ne's re[a]lm would not avail us. + Nurs inw[a]rd m(a)l(a)di[e]s, which have not scope to bee breath'd out. + Oh n(o) n(o), worthie sheph[e]rd, worth c[a]n never enter a title;_ + +are too alien from ordinary pronunciation to please either an average +reader or a classically trained student. The same may be said of the +translation into English hexameters of the two first Eclogues of Virgil, +appended by William Webbe to his _Discourse of English Poetrie_ (1586, +recently reprinted by Mr. Arber). Here is his version of Ecl. I., 1-10. + + MELIBAEUS. + + _Tityrus, happilie then lyste tumbling under a beech tree, + All in a fine oate pipe these sweete songs lustilie chaunting: + We, poore soules goe to wracke, and from these coastes be remoued, + And fro our pastures sweete: thou Tityr, at ease in a shade plott + Makst thicke groues to resound with songes of brave Amarillis._ + + TITYRUS. + + _O Melibaeus, he was no man, but a God who releeude me: + Euer he shalbe my God: from this same Sheepcot his alters + Neuer, a tender lambe shall want, with blood to bedew them. + This good gift did he giue, to my steeres thus freelie to wander, + And to my selfe (thou seest) on pipe to resound what I listed._ + + _ib._ 50-56. + + _Here no unwoonted foode shall grieue young theaues who be laded, + Nor the infections foule of neighbours flocke shall annoie them. + Happie olde man. In shaddowy bankes and coole prettie places, + Heere by the quainted floodes and springs most holie remaining. + Here, these quicksets fresh which lands seuer out fro thy neighbors + And greene willow rowes which Hiblae bees doo rejoice in, + Oft fine whistring noise, shall bring sweete sleepe to thy sences._ + +The following stanzas are from a Sapphic ode into which Webbe +translated, or as we should say, transposed the fourth Eclogue of +Spenser's _Sheepheardes Calendar_. + + _Say, behold did ye euer her Angelike face, + Like to Phoebe fayre? or her heauenly hauour + And the princelike grace that in her remaineth? + haue yee the like seene?_ + + _Vnto that place Caliope dooth high her, + Where my Goddesse shines: to the same the Muser + After her with sweete Violines about them + cheerefully tracing._ + + _All ye Sheepheardes maides that about the greene dwell, + Speede ye there to her grace, but among ye take heede + All be Virgins pure that aproche to deck her, + dutie requireth._ + + _When ye shall present ye before her in place, + See ye not your selues doo demeane too rudely: + Bynd the fillets: and to be fine the waste gyrt + fast with a tawdryne._ + + _Bring the Pinckes therewith many Gelliflowres sweete, + And the Cullambynes: let vs haue the Wynesops, + With the Coronation that among the loue laddes + wontes to be worne much._ + + _Daffadowndillies all a long the ground strowe, + And the Cowslyppe with a prety paunce let heere lye. + Kyngcuppe and Lillies so beloude of all men + and the deluce flowre._ + +There are many faults in these verses; over quaintnesses of language, +constructions impossible in English, quantities of doubtful +correctness, harsh elisions, for Webbe has tried even elisions. Yet, if +I may trust my judgment, all of them can still be read with pleasure; +the sapphics may almost be called a success. This is even more true of +metres, where these faults are less perceptible or more easily avoided, +for instance, Asclepiads. Take the verses on solitariness, Arcadia, B. +II. fin. + + _O sweet woods, the delight [o]f s(o)l(i)t[a]riness! + O how much I do like your solitariness! + Where man's mind hath a freed consideration + Of goodness to receive lovely direction._ + +or the hendecasyllables immediately preceding, + + _Reason tell me thy minde, if here be reason, + In this strange violence, to make resistance, + Where sweet graces erect the stately banner._ + +It is obvious that a very little more trouble would have converted these +into very perfect and very pleasing poems. Had Sir Philip Sidney written +every asclepiad on the model of _Where man's mind hath a freed +consideration_, every hendecasyllable like _Where sweet graces erect the +stately banner_, the adjustment of accent and quantity thus attained +might, I think, have induced greater poets than he to make the +experiment on a larger scale. But neither he nor his contemporaries +were permitted to grasp as a principle a regularity which they sometimes +secured by chance; nor, so far as I am aware, have the various revivals +of ancient metre in this country or Germany in any case consistently +carried out the _whole_ theory, without which the reproduction is +partial, and cannot look for a more than partial success. Even the four +specimens given in the posthumous edition of Clough's poems, two of them +elegiac, one alcaic, one in hexameters, though professedly constructed +on a quantitative basis, and, in one instance (_Trunks the forest +yielded, with gums ambrosial oozing, &c._) combining legitimate quantity +(in which accent and position are alike observed) with illegitimate (in +which position is observed, but accent disregarded) into a not +unpleasing rhythm, cannot be considered as more than imperfect +realizations of the true positional principle. Tennyson's three +specimens are, at least in English, still unique. It is to be hoped that +he will not suffer them to remain so. Systems of Glyconics and +Asclepiads are, if I mistake not, easily manageable, and are only +thought foreign to the genius of our language because they have never +been written on strict principles of art by a really great master. + +What, then, are the rules on which such rhythms become possible? They +are, briefly, these:--(1) accented syllables, _as a general rule_, are +long, though some syllables which count as long need not be accented, +as in + + _All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing,_ + +_blossoms_, though only accented on the first syllable, counts for a +spondee, the shortness of the second _o_ being partly helped out by the +two consonants which follow it; partly by the fact that the syllable is +_in thesi_; (2) the laws of position are to be observed, according to +the general rules of classical prosody: (_a_) dactyls terminating in a +consonant like _beautiful_, _bounteous_, or ending in a double vowel or +a diphthong like _all of you, surely may, come to thee_, must be +followed by a word beginning with a vowel or _y_ or _h_; dactyls +terminating in a vowel or _y_, like _slippery_, should be followed, +except in rare cases, by words beginning with a consonant; trochees, +whether composed of one word or more, should, if ending in a consonant, +be followed by a vowel, if ending in the vowel _a_, by a consonant, +thus, _planted around_ not _planted beneath_, _Aurora the sun's_ not +_Aurora a sun's_ (see however, lxiv. 253), but _unto a wood, any again, +sorry at all, you be amused_. (_b_) Syllables made up of a vowel +followed by two or more consonants, each of which is distinctly heard in +pronunciation, as _long_, _sins_, _part_, _band_, _waits_, _souls_, +_ears_, _must_, _heart_, _bright_, _strength_, _end_, _and_, _rapt_, +_hers_, _dealt_, mo_ment_, bo_soms_, _answers_, moun_tains_, bear_est_, +tum_bling_, gi_ving_, com_ing_, harbour_ing_, diffi_cult_, immi_nent_, +strata_gems_, utter_ance_, happi_est_, trem_bling_ly, can never rank as +short, even if unaccented and followed by a vowel, _h_ or _y_. Thus, to +go back to Longfellow's line, + + _This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,_ + +_for(e)st_, _murmur(i)ng_, _pines (a)nd the_, are all inadmissible. But +where a vowel is followed by two consonants, one of which is unheard or +only heard slightly, as in _acc_use, sh_all_, _ass_emble, _diss_emble, +kind_ness_, com_pass_, _aff_ect, _app_ear, _ann_oy, or when the second +or third consonant is a liquid, as in _betray_, _beslime_, _besmear_, +_depress_, _dethrone_, _agree_, the vowel preceding is so much more +short than long as to be regularly admissible as short, rarely +admissible as long. On this principle I have allowed _dis[o]rd(e)rl(y)_, +_t[e]n(a)ntl(e)ss_, _heav(e)nl(y)_, to rank as dactyls. + +These rules are after all only an outline, and perhaps can never be made +more. It will be observed that they are more negative than positive. The +reason of this is not far to seek. The main difference between my verses +and those of other contemporary writers--the one point on which I claim +for myself the merit of novelty--is the strict observance throughout of +the rules of position. But the strict observance of position is in +effect the strict avoidance of unclassical collocations of syllables: it +is almost wholly negative. To illustrate my meaning I will instance the +poems written in pure iambics, the _Phaselus ille_ and _Quis hoc potest +uidere_. Heyse translates the first line of the former of these poems by + + _Die Galeotte, die ihr schauet, liebe Herrn,_ + +and this would be a fair representation of a pure iambic line, according +to the views of most German and most English writers. Yet not only is +_Die_ no short syllable, but _ihr_, itself long, is made more hopelessly +long by preceding three consonants in _schauet_, just as the last +syllable of _schauet_, although in itself short, loses its right to +stand for a true short in being followed by the first consonant of +_liebe_. My own translation, + + _The puny pinnace yonder you, my friends, discern,_ + +whatever its defects, is at least a pretty exact representation of a +pure iambic line. xxix. 6-8, are thus translated by Heyse:-- + + _Und jener soll in Uebermuthes Ueberfluss + Von einem Bett zum andern in die Runde gehn?_ + +by me thus, + + _Shall he in o'er-assumption, o'er-repletion he, + Sedately saunter every dainty couch along?_ + +The difference is purely negative; I have bound myself to avoid certain +positions forbidden by the laws of ancient prosody. To some I may seem +to have lost in vigour by the process; yet I believe the sense of +triumph over the difficulties of our language, the satisfaction of +approaching in a novel and perceptibly felt manner one of those +excellences which, as much as anything, contributes to the permanent +charm of Catullus, his dainty versification, will more than compensate +for any shortcomings which the difficulty of the task has made +inevitable. The same may be said of the elaborately artificial poem to +Camerius (c. lv.), and the almost unapproachable Attis (c. lxiii.). +Here, at least half the interest lies in the varied turns of the metre; +if these can be represented with anything like faithfulness, the gain in +exactness of prosody is enough, in my judgment, to counterbalance the +possible loss of freedom in expression. + +There is another circumstance which tends to make modern rules of +prosody necessarily negative. Quantity, in English revivals of ancient +metre, depends not only on position, but on accent. But accent varies +greatly in different words; _heavy level ever cometh any_, have the same +accent as _empty evil either boometh penny_; but the first syllable in +the former set of words is lighter than in the latter. Hence, though +accented, they may, on occasion, be considered and used as short; as, on +the same principle, _dolorous stratagem echoeth family_, usually +dactyls, may, on occasion, become tribrachs. But how lay down any +positive rule in matter necessarily so fluctuating? We cannot. All we +can do is to refuse admission as short syllables to any heavier accented +syllable. Here, then, much must be left to individual discretion. My +translation of the Attis will best show my own feeling in the matter. +But I am fully aware that in this respect I have fallen far short of +consistency. I have made _any_ sometimes short, more often long; _to_, +usually short, is lengthened in lxi. 26, lxvii. 19, lxviii. 143; _with_ +is similarly long, though not followed by a consonant, in lxi. 36; +_given_ is long in xxviii. 7, short in xi. 17, lxiv. 213; _are_ is short +in lxvii. 14; and more generally many syllables allowed to pass for +short in the Attis are elsewhere long. Nor have I scrupled to forsake +the ancient quantity in proper names; following Heyse, I have made the +first syllable of _Verona_ short in xxxv. 3, lxvii. 34, although it +retains its proper quantity in lxviii. 27. Again, _Pheneos_ is a dactyl +in lxviii. 111, while _Satrachus_ is an anapaest in xcv. 5. In many of +these instances I have acted consciously; if the writers of Greece and +Rome allowed many syllables to be doubtful, and almost as a principle +avoid perfect uniformity in the quantity of proper names, a greater +freedom may not unfairly be claimed by their modern imitators. If +Catullus could write _Phars(a)liam coeunt, Phars(a)lia regna +frequentant_, similar license may surely be extended to me. I believe, +indeed, that nothing in my translation is as violent as the double +quantity just mentioned in Catullus; but if there is, I would remind my +readers of Goethe's answer to the boy who told him he had been guilty of +a hexameter with seven feet, and applying the remark to any seeming +irregularities in my own translation would say, _Lass die Bestie +stehen_. + +It would not be difficult to swell this Preface by enlarging on the +novelty of the attempt, and indirectly panegyrising my own undertaking. +I doubt whether any real advantage would thus be gained. If I have +merely produced an elaborate failure, however much I might expatiate on +the principles which guided me, my work would be an elaborate failure +still. I shall therefore say no more, and shall be contented if I please +the, even in this classically trained country, too limited number of +readers who can really hear with their ears--if, to use the borrowed +language of a great poet, I succeed in making myself vocal to the +intelligent alone. + +[Footnote A: The translation follows this edition (Oxford, 1867), in the +constitution of the text, as well as in the sectional division of the +poems.] + + + + +CATULLUS. + + +I. + + Who shall take thee, the new, the dainty volume, + Purfled glossily, fresh with ashy pumice? + + You, Cornelius; you of old did hold them + Something worthy, the petty witty nothings, + + While you venture, alone of all Italians, 5 + Time's vast chronicle in three books to circle, + Jove! how arduous, how divinely learned! + + Therefore welcome it, yours the little outcast, + This slight volume. O yet, supreme awarder, + Virgin, save it in ages on for ever. 10 + + +II. + + Sparrow, favourite of my own beloved, + Whom to play with, or in her arms to fondle, + She delighteth, anon with hardy-pointed + Finger angrily doth provoke to bite her: + + When my lady, a lovely star to long for, 5 + Bends her splendour awhile to tricksy frolic; + Peradventure a careful heart beguiling, + Pardie, heavier ache perhaps to lighten; + + Might I, like her, in happy play caressing + Thee, my dolorous heart awhile deliver! 10 + . . . . . . . . + I would joy, as of old the maid rejoiced + Racing fleetly, the golden apple eyeing, + Late-won loosener of the wary girdle. + + +III. + + Weep each heavenly Venus, all the Cupids, + Weep all men that have any grace about ye. + Dead the sparrow, in whom my love delighted, + The dear sparrow, in whom my love delighted. + + Yea, most precious, above her eyes, she held him, 5 + Sweet, all honey: a bird that ever hail'd her + Lady mistress, as hails the maid a mother. + + Nor would move from her arms away: but only + Hopping round her, about her, hence or hither, + Piped his colloquy, piped to none beside her. 10 + + Now he wendeth along the mirky pathway, + Whence, they tell us, is hopeless all returning. + + Evil on ye, the shades of evil Orcus, + Shades all beauteous happy things devouring, + Such a beauteous happy bird ye took him. 15 + + Ah! for pity; but ah! for him the sparrow, + Our poor sparrow, on whom to think my lady's + Eyes do angrily redden all a-weeping. + + +IV. + +1. + + The puny pinnace yonder you, my friends, discern, + Of every ship professes agilest to be. + Nor yet a timber o'er the waves alertly flew + She might not aim to pass it; oary-wing'd alike + To fleet beyond them, or to scud beneath a sail. 5 + + Nor here presumes denial any stormy coast + Of Adriatic or the Cyclad orbed isles, + A Rhodos immemorial, or that icy Thrace, + Propontis, or the gusty Pontic ocean-arm, + + Whereon, a pinnace after, in the days of yore 10 + A leafy shaw she budded; oft Cytorus' height + With her did inly whisper airy colloquy. + +2. + + Amastris, you by Pontus, you, the box-clad hill + Of high Cytorus, all, the pinnace owns, to both + Was ever, is familiar; in the primal years 15 + She stood upon your hoary top, a baby tree, + Within your haven early dipt a virgin oar: + + To carry thence a master o'er the surly seas, + A world of angry water, hail'd to left, to right + The breeze of invitation, or precisely set 20 + The sheets together op'd to catch a kindly Jove. + + Nor yet of any power whom the coasts adore + Was heard a vow to soothe them, all the weary way + From outer ocean unto glassy quiet here. + + But all the past is over; indolently now 25 + She rusts, a life in autumn, and her age devotes + To Castor and with him ador'd, the twin divine. + + +V. + + Living, Lesbia, we should e'en be loving. + Sour severity, tongue of eld maligning, + All be to us a penny's estimation. + + Suns set only to rise again to-morrow. + We, when sets in a little hour the brief light, 5 + Sleep one infinite age, a night for ever. + + Thousand kisses, anon to these an hundred, + Thousand kisses again, another hundred, + Thousand give me again, another hundred. + + Then once heedfully counted all the thousands, 10 + We'll uncount them as idly; so we shall not + Know, nor traitorous eye shall envy, knowing + All those myriad happy many kisses. + + +VI. + + But that, Flavius, hardly nice or honest + This thy folly, methinks Catullus also + E'en had known it, a whisper had betray'd thee. + + Some she-malady, some unhealthy wanton, + Fires thee verily: thence the shy denial. 5 + + Least, you keep not a lonely night of anguish; + Quite too clamorous is that idly-feigning + Couch, with wreaths, with a Syrian odour oozing; + Then that pillow alike at either utmost + Verge deep-dinted asunder, all the trembling 10 + Play, the strenuous unsophistication; + All, O prodigal, all alike betray thee. + + Why? sides shrunken, a sullen hip disabled, + Speak thee giddy, declare a misdemeanour. + + So, whatever is yours to tell or ill or 15 + Good, confess it. A witty verse awaits thee + And thy lady, to place ye both in heaven. + + +VII. + + Ask me, Lesbia, what the sum delightful + Of thy kisses, enough to charm, to tire me? + + Multitudinous as the grains on even + Lybian sands aromatic of Cyrene; + + 'Twixt Jove's oracle in the sandy desert 5 + And where royally Battus old reposeth; + + Yea a company vast as in the silence + Stars which stealthily gaze on happy lovers; + + E'en so many the kisses I to kiss thee + Count, wild lover, enough to charm, to tire me; 10 + + These no curious eye can wholly number, + Tongue of jealousy ne'er bewitch nor harm them. + + +VIII. + + Ah poor Catullus, learn to play the fool no more. + Lost is the lost, thou know'st it, and the past is past. + + Bright once the days and sunny shone the light on thee, + Still ever hasting where she led, the maid so fair, + By me belov'd as maiden is belov'd no more. 5 + + Was then enacting all the merry mirth wherein + Thyself delighted, and the maid she said not nay. + Ah truly bright and sunny shone the days on thee. + + Now she resigns thee; child, do thou resign no less, + Nor follow her that flies thee, or to bide in woe 10 + Consent, but harden all thy heart, resolve, endure. + + Farewell, my love. Catullus is resolv'd, endures, + He will not ask for pity, will not importune. + + But thou'lt be mourning thus to pine unask'd alway. + O past retrieval faithless! Ah what hours are thine! 15 + When comes a likely wooer? who protests thou'rt fair? + + Who brooks to love thee? who decrees to live thine own? + Whose kiss delights thee? whose the lips that own thy bite? + Yet, yet, Catullus, learn to bear, resolve, endure. + + +IX. + + Dear Veranius, you of all my comrades + Worth, you only, a many goodly thousands, + + Speak they truly that you your hearth revisit, + Brothers duteous, homely mother aged? + + Yes, believe them. O happy news, Catullus! 5 + + I shall see him alive, alive shall hear him, + Tribes Iberian, uses, haunts, declaring + + As his wont is; on him my neck reclining + Kiss his flowery face, his eyes delightful. + + Now, all men that have any mirth about you, 10 + Know ye happier any, any blither? + + +X. + + In the Forum as I was idly roaming + Varus took me a merry dame to visit. + She a lady, methought upon the moment, + Of some quality, not without refinement. + +1. + + So, arrived, in a trice we fell on endless 5 + Themes colloquial; how the fact, the falsehood + With Bithynia, what the case about it, + Had it helped me to profit or to money. + + Then I told her a very truth; no atom + There for company, praetor, hungry natives, 10 + Home might render a body aught the fatter: + + Then our praetor a castaway, could hugely + Mulct his company, had a taste to jeer them. + +2. + + Spoke another, 'Yet anyways, to bear you + Men were ready, enough to grace a litter. 15 + They grow quantities, if report belies not.' + Then supremely myself to flaunt before her, + + I 'So thoroughly could not angry fortune + Spite, I might not, afflicted in my province, + Get erected a lusty eight to bear me. 20 + + But so scrubby the poor sedan, the batter'd + Frame-work, nobody there nor here could ever + Lift it, painfully neck to nick adjusting.' + +3. + + Quoth the lady, belike a lady wanton, + 'Just for courtesy, lend me, dear Catullus, 25 + Those same nobodies. I the great Sarapis + Go to visit awhile.' Said I in answer, + + 'Thanks; but, lady, for all my easy boasting, + 'Twas too summary; there's a friend who knows me, + Cinna Gaius, his the sturdy bearers. 30 + + 'Mine or Cinna's, an inch alone divides us, + I use Cinna's, as e'en my own possession. + But you're really a bore, a very tiresome + Dame unmannerly, thus to take me napping.' + + +XI. + + Furius and Aurelius, O my comrades, + Whether your Catullus attain to farthest + Ind, the long shore lash'd by reverberating + Surges Eoan; + Hyrcan or luxurious horde Arabian, 5 + Sacan or grim Parthian arrow-bearer, + Fields the rich Nile discolorates, a seven-fold + River abounding; + Whether o'er high Alps he afoot ascending + Track the long records of a mighty Caesar, 10 + Rhene, the Gauls' deep river, a lonely Britain + Dismal in ocean; + This, or aught else haply the gods determine, + Absolute, you, with me in all to part not; + Bid my love greet, bear her a little errand, 15 + Scarcely of honour. + Say 'Live on yet, still given o'er to nameless + Lords, within one bosom, a many wooers, + Clasp'd, as unlov'd each, so in hourly change all + Lewdly disabled. 20 + 'Think not henceforth, thou, to recal Catullus' + Love; thy own sin slew it, as on the meadow's + Verge declines, ungently beneath the plough-share + Stricken, a flower.' + + +XII. + + Marrucinian Asinius, hardly civil + Left-hand practices o'er the merry wine-cup. + Watch occasion, anon remove the napkin. + Call this drollery? Trust me, friend, it is not. + 'Tis most beastly, a trick among a thousand. 5 + + Not believe me? believe a friendly brother, + Laughing Pollio; he declares a talent + Poor indemnification, he the parlous + Child of voluble humour and facetious. + + So face hendecasyllables, a thousand, 10 + Or most speedily send me back the napkin; + Gift not prized at a sorry valuation, + But for company; 'twas a friend's memento. + + Cloth of Saetabis, exquisite, from utmost + Iber, sent as a gift to me Fabullus 15 + And Veranius. Ought not I to love them + As Veranius even, as Fabullus? + + +XIII. + + Please kind heaven, in happy time, Fabullus, + We'll dine merrily, dear my friend, together. + + Promise only to bring, your own, a dinner + Rich and goodly; withal a lily maiden, + Wine, and banter, a world of hearty laughing. 5 + + Promise only; betimes we dine, my gentle + Friend, most merrily; but, for your Catullus-- + Know he boasts but a pouch of empty cobwebs. + + Yet take contrary fee, the quintessential + Love, or sweeter if aught is, aught supremer, 10 + + Perfume savoury, mine; my love received it + Gift of every Venus, all the Cupids. + + Would you smell it? a god shall hear Fabullus + Pray unbody him only nose for ever. + + +XIV. + + Calvus, save that as eyes thou art beloved, + I could verily loathe thee for the morning's + Gift, Vatinius hardly more devoutly. + + Slain with poetry! done to death with abjects! + O what syllable earn'd it, act allow'd it? 5 + Gods, your malison on the sorry client + Sent that rascally rabble of malignants. + + Yet, if, freely to guess, the gift recherche + Some grammarian, haply Sulla, sent thee; + I repine not; a dear delight, a triumph 10 + This, thy drudgery thus to see rewarded. + + Gods! an horrible and a deadly volume! + + Sent so faithfully, friend, to thy Catullus, + Just to kill him upon a day, the festive, + Saturnalia, best of all the season. 15 + Sure, a drollery not without requital. + + For, come dawn, to the cases and the bookshops + I; there gather a Caesius and Aquinus, + With Suffenus, in every wretch a poison: + Such plague-prodigy thy remuneration! 20 + + Now good-morrow! away with evil omen + Whence ill destiny lamely bore ye, clumsy + Poet-rabble, an age's execration! + + +XIVB. + + Readers, any that in the future ever + Scan my fantasies, haply lay upon me + Hands adventurous of solicitation-- + + +XV. + + Lend thy bounty to me, to my beloved, + Kind Aurelius. I do ask a favour + + Fair and lawful; if you did e'er in earnest + Seek some virginal innocence to cherish, + Touch not lewdly the mistress of my passion. 5 + + Trust the people; avails not aught to fear them, + Such, who hourly within the streets repassing, + Run, good souls, on a busy quest or idle. + + You, you only the free, the felon-hearted, + Fright me, prodigal you of every virtue. 10 + + Well, let luxury run her heady riot, + Love flow over; enough abroad to sate thee: + This one trespass--a tiny boon--presume not. + + But should impious heat or humour headstrong + Drive thee wilfully, wretch, to such profaning, 15 + In one folly to dare a double outrage: + + Ah what misery thine; what angry fortune! + Heels drawn tight to the stretch shall open inward + Lodgment easy to mullet and to radish. + + +XVI. + + I'll traduce you, accuse you, and abuse you, + Soft Aurelius, e'en as easy Furius. + You that lightly a saucy verse resenting, + Misconceit me, sophisticate me wanton. + + Know, pure chastity rules the godly poet, 5 + Rules not poesy, needs not e'er to rule it; + Charms some verse with a witty grace delightful? + 'Tis voluptuous, impudent, a wanton. + + It shall kindle an icy thought to courage, + Not boy-fancies alone, but every frozen 10 + Flank immovable, all amort to pleasure. + + You my kisses, a million happy kisses, + Musing, read me a silky thrall to softness? + I'll traduce you, accuse you, and abuse you. + + +XVII. + +1. + + Kind Colonia, fain upon bridge more lengthy to gambol, + And quite ready to dance amain, fearing only the rotten + Legs too crazily steadied on planks of old resurrections, + Lest it plunge to the deep morass, there supinely to welter; + So surprise thee a sumptuous bridge thy fancy to pleasure, 5 + Passive under a Salian god's most lusty procession; + This rare favour, a laugh for all time, Colonia, grant me. + + In my township a citizen lives: Catullus adjures thee + Headlong into the mire below topsy-turvy to drown him. + Only, where the superfluent lake, the spongy putrescence, 10 + Sinks most murkily flushed, descends most profoundly the bottom. + + Such a ninny, a fool is he; witless even as any + Two years' urchin, across papa's elbow drowsily swaying. + +2. + + For though wed to a maiden in spring-tide youthfully budding, + Maiden crisp as a petulant kid, as airily wanton, 15 + Sweets more privy to guard than e'er grape-bunch shadowy-purpling; + He, he leaves her alone to romp idly, cares not a fouter. + Nor leans to her at all, the man's part; but helpless as alder + Lies, new-fell'd in a ditch, beneath axe Ligurian ham-strung, + As alive to the world, as if world nor wife were at issue. 20 + + Such this gaby, my own, my arch fool; he sees not, he hears not + Who himself is, or if the self is, or is not, he knows not. + + Him I'd gladly be lowering down thy bridge to the bottom, + If from stupor inanimate peradventure he wake him, + Leaving muddy behind him his sluggish heart's hesitation, 25 + As some mule in a glutinous sludge her rondel of iron. + + +XXI. + + Sire and prince-patriarch of hungry starvelings, + Lean Aurelius, all that are, that have been, + That shall ever in after years be famish'd; + + Wouldst thou lewdly my dainty love to folly + Tempt, and visibly? thou be near, be joking 5 + Cling and fondle, a hundred arts redouble? + + O presume not: a wily wit defeated + Pays in scandalous incapacitation. + + Yet didst folly to fulness add, 'twere all one; + Now shall beauty to thirst be train'd or hunger's 10 + Grim necessity; this is all my sorrow. + + Then hold, wanton, upon the verge; to-morrow + Comes preposterous incapacitation. + + +XXII. + + Suffenus, he, dear Varus, whom, methinks, you know, + Has sense, a ready tongue to talk, a wit urbane, + And writes a world of verses, on my life no less. + + Ten times a thousand he, believe me, ten or more, + Keeps fairly written; not on any palimpsest, 5 + As often, enter'd, paper extra-fine, sheets new, + New every roller, red the strings, the parchment-case + Lead-rul'd, with even pumice all alike complete. + + You read them: our choice spirit, our refin'd rare wit, + Suffenus, O no ditcher e'er appeared more rude, 10 + No looby coarser; such a shock, a change is there. + + How then resolve this puzzle? He the birthday-wit, + For so we thought him--keener yet, if aught is so-- + Becomes a dunce more boorish e'en than hedge-born boor, + If e'er he faults on verses; yet in heart is then 15 + Most happy, writing verses, happy past compare, + So sweet his own self, such a world at home finds he. + + Friend, 'tis the common error; all alike are wrong, + Not one, but in some trifle you shall eye him true + Suffenus; each man bears from heaven the fault they send, 20 + None sees within the wallet hung behind, our own. + + +XXIII. + + Needy Furius, house nor hoard possessing, + Bug or spider, or any fire to thaw you, + Yet most blest in a father and a step-dame, + Each for penury fit to tooth a flint-stone: + Is not happiness yours? a home united? 5 + Son, sire, mother, a lathy dame to match him. + + Who can wonder? in all is health, digestion, + Pure and vigorous, hours without a trouble. + Fires ye fear not, or house's heavy downfal, + Deeds unnatural, art in act to poison, 10 + Dangers myriad accidents befalling. + + Then your bodies? in every limb a shrivell'd + Horn, all dryness in all the world whatever, + Tann'd or frozen or icy-lean with ages. + Sure superlative happiness surrounds thee. 15 + Thee sweat frets not, an o'er-saliva frets not, + Frets not snivel or oozy rheumy nostril. + + Yet such purity lacks not e'en a purer. + White those haunches as any cleanly-silver'd + Salt, it takes you a month to barely dirt them. 20 + Then like beans, or inert as e'er a pebble, + Those impeccable heavy loins, a finger's + Breadth from apathy ne'er seduced to riot. + + Such prosperity, such superb profusion, + Slight not, Furius, idly nor reject not. 25 + As for sesterces, all the would-be fortune, + Cease to wish it; enough, methinks, the present. + + +XXIV. + + O thou blossom of all the race Juventian + Not now only, but all as yet arisen, + All to flower in after-years arising; + + Midas' treasury better you presented + Him that owns not a slave nor any coffer, 5 + Ere you suffer his alien arm's presuming. + + What? you fancy him all refin'd perfection? + Perfect! truly, without a slave, a coffer. + + Slight, reject it, away with it; for all that + He, he owns not a slave nor any coffer. 10 + + +XXV. + + Smooth Thallus, inly softer you than any furry rabbit, + Or glossy goose's oily plumes, or velvet earlap yielding, + Or feeble age's heavy thighs, or flimsy filthy cobweb; + + And Thallus, hungry rascal you, as hurricane rapacious, + When winks occasion on the stroke, the gulls agape declaring: 5 + + Return the mantle home to me, you watch'd your hour to pilfer, + The fleecy napkin and the rings from Thynia quaintly graven, + Whatever you parade as yours, vain fool, a sham reversion: + + Unglue the nails adroit to steal, unclench the spoil, deliver, + Lest yet that haunch voluptuous, those tender hands caressant, 10 + Should take an ugly print severe, the scourge's heavy branding; + + And strange to bruises you should heave, as heaves in open Ocean, + Some little hoy surprised adrift, when wails the windy water. + + +XXVI. + + Draughts, dear Furius, if my villa faces, + 'Tis not showery south, nor airy wester, + North's grim fury, nor east; 'tis only fifteen + Thousand sesterces, add two hundred over. + Draft unspeakable, icy, pestilential! 5 + + +XXVII. + + Boy, young caterer of Falernian olden, + Brim me cups of a fiercer harsher essence; + So Postumia, queen of healths presiding, + Bids, less thirsty the thirsty grape, the toper. + But dull water, avaunt. Away the wine-cup's 5 + Sullen enemy; seek the sour, the solemn! + Here Thyonius hails his own elixir. + + +XXVIII. + + Starving company, troop of hungry Piso, + Light of luggage, of outfit expeditious, + You, Veranius, you, my own Fabullus, + + Say, what fortune? enough of empty masters, + Frost and famine, a lingering probation? 5 + + Stands your diary fair? is any profit + Enter'd _given_? as I to serve a praetor + Count each beggarly gift a timely profit. + + Trust me, Memmius, you did aptly finger + My passivity, fool'd me most supinely. 10 + + Friends, confess it; in e'en as hard a fortune + You stand mulcted, on you a like abashless + Rake rides heavily. Court the great who wills it! + + Gods and goddesses evil heap upon ye, + Rogues to Romulus and to Remus outcast. 15 + + +XXIX. + + Can any brook to see it, any tamely bear-- + If any, gamester, epicure, a wanton, he-- + Mamurra's own whatever all the curly Gauls + Did else inherit, or the lonely Briton isle? + Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus? 5 + + Shall he, in o'er-assumption, o'er-repletion he, + Sedately saunter every dainty couch along, + A bright Adonis, as the snowy dove serene? + Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus? + Look idly, gamester, epicure, a wanton, you. 10 + + Unique commander, and was only this the plea + Detain'd you in that islet angle of the west, + To gorge the shrunk seducer irreclaimable + With haply twice a million, add a million yet? + What else was e'er unhealthy prodigality? 15 + + The waste? to lust a little? on the belly less? + Begin; a glutted hoard paternal; ebb the first. + To this, the booty Pontic; add the spoil from out + Iberia, known to Tagus' amber ory stream. + Not only Gaul, nor only quail the Briton isles. 20 + + What help a rogue to fondle? is not all his act + To swallow monies, empty purses heap on heap? + But you--to please him only, shame to Rome, to me! + Could you the son, the father, idly ruin all? + + +XXX. + + False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal, + Doth thy pity depart? Shall not a friend, traitor, a friend recal + + Love? what courage is here me to betray, me to repudiate? + . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 + Never sure did a lie, never a sin, please the celestials. + + This you heed not; alas! leave me to new misery, desolate. (5) + O where now shall a man trust? liveth yet any fidelity? + + You, you only did urge love to be free, life to surrender, you. + Guiding into the snare, falsely secure, prophet of happiness. 10 + + Now you leave me, retract, every deed, every word allow + Into nullity winds far to remove, vapoury clouds to bear. (10) + + You forget me, but yet surely the Gods, surely remembereth + Faith; hereafter again honour awakes, causeth a wretch to rue. + + +XXXI. + + O thou of islands jewel and of half-islands, + Fair Sirmio, whatever o'er the lakes' clear rim + Or waste of ocean, Neptune holds, a two-fold pow'r; + What joy have I to see thee, and to gaze what glee! + + Scarce yet believing Thunia past, the fair champaign 5 + Bithunian, yet in safety thee to greet once more. + From cares to part us--where is any joy like this? + + Then drops the soul her fardel, as the travel-tir'd + World-weary wand'rer touches home, returns, sinks down + In joy to slumber on the bed desir'd so long. 10 + This meed, this only counts for e'en an age all toil. + + O take a welcome, lovely Sirmio, thy lord's, + And greet him happy; greet him all the lake Lydian; + Laugh out whatever laughter at the hearth rings clear. + + +XXXII. + + List, I charge thee, my gentle Ipsithilla, + Lovely ravisher and my dainty mistress, + Say we'll linger a lazy noon together. + + Suits my company? lend a farther hearing: + See no jealousy make the gate against me, 5 + See no fantasy lead thee out a-roaming. + Keep close chamber; anon in all profusion + Count me kisses again again returning. + + Bides thy will? with a sudden haste command me; + Full and wistful, at ease reclin'd, a lover 10 + Here I languish alone, supinely dreaming. + + +XXXIII. + + Master-robber of all that haunt the bath-rooms, + Old Vibennius, and his heir the wanton; + (His the dirtier hands, the greedy father, + Yours the filthier heart, his heir as hungry;) + + Please your knaveries hoist a sail for exile, 5 + Pains and privacy? since by this the father's + Thefts are palpable, and a rusty favour, + Son, picks never a penny from the people. + + +XXXIV. + + Great Diana protecteth us, + Maids and boyhood in innocence. + Maidens virtuous, innocent + Boys, your song be Diana. + Hail, Latonia, thou that art 5 + Throned daughter of enthronis'd + Jove; near Delian olive of + Mighty mother y-boren. + Queen of mountainous heights, of all + Forests leafy, delightable; 10 + Glens in bowery depths remote, + Rivers wrathfully sounding. + Thee, Lucina, the travailing + Mother haileth, a sovereign + Juno; Trivia thou, the bright 15 + Moon, a glory reflected. + Thou thine annual orb anew, + Goddess, monthly remeasuring, + Farmsteads lowly with affluent + Corn dost fill to the flowing. 20 + Be thy heavenly name whate'er + Name shall please thee, in hallowing; + Still keep safely the glorious + Race of Romulus olden. + + +XXXV. + +1. + + Take Caecilius, him the tender-hearted + Bard, my paper, a wish from his Catullus. + Come from Larius, haste to leave the new-built + Comum's watery city, seek Verona. + + Some particular intimate reflexions 5 + One would tell thee, a friend we love together. + +2. + + So he'll quickly devour the way, if only + He's no booby; for all a snowy maiden + Chide imperious, and her hands around him + Both in jealousy clasp'd, refuse departure. 10 + + She, if only report the truth bely not, + Doats, as hardly within her own possession. + +3. + + For since lately she read his high-preluding + Queen of Dindymus, all her heart is ever + Melting inly with ardour and with anguish. 15 + + Maiden, laudable is that high emotion, + Muse more rapturous, you, than any Sappho. + The Great Mother he surely sings divinely. + + +XXXVI. + +1. + + Vilest paper of all dishonour, annals + Of Volusius, hear my lovely lady's + + Vow, and pay it; awhile she swore to Venus + And fond Cupid, if ever I returning + Ceased from enmity, left to launch iambics, 5 + + She would surely devote the sorry poet's + Choicest rarities unto sooty Vulcan, + The lame deity, there to blaze lamenting. + + With such drollery, such supreme defiance, + Swore strange oath to the gods the naughty wanton. 10 + +2. + + Now, O heavenly child of azure Ocean, + Queen of Idaly, queen of Urian highlands, + + Who Ancona the fair, the reedy Cnidos + Hauntest, Amathus and the lawny Golgi, + Or Dyrrhachium, hostel Adriatic; 15 + + Hear thy votaress, answer her petition; + 'Tis most graceful, a dainty thought to charm thee. + + But ye verses, away to fire, to burning, + Rank rusticities, empty vapid annals + Of Volusius, heap of all dishonour. 20 + + +XXXVII. + +1. + + O frowsy tavern, frowsy fellowship therein, + Ninth post in order next beyond the twins cap-crown'd, + + Shall manly service none but you alone employ, + Shall you alone whatever in the world smiles fair, + Possess it, every other hold to lack esteem? 5 + + Or if in idiot impotence arow you sit, + One hundred, yes two hundred, am not I, think you, + A man to bring mine action on your whole row there? + + So think not, he that likes not; answer how you may, + With scorpion I, with emblem all your haunt will scrawl. 10 + +2. + + For she the bright one, lately fled beyond these arms, + The maid belov'd as maiden is belov'd no more, + Whom I to win, stood often in the breach, fought long, + + Has sat amongst you. Her the grand, the great, all, all + Do dearly love her; yea, beshrew the damned wrong, 15 + Each slight seducer, every lounger highway-born, + + You chiefly, peerless paragon of the tribe long-lock'd, + Rude Celtiberia's child, the bushy rabbit-den, + + Egnatius, so modish in the big bush-beard, + And teeth a native lotion hardly scours quite pure. 20 + + +XXXVIII. + + Cornificius, ill is your Catullus, + Ill, ah heaven, a weary weight of anguish, + More more weary with every day, with each hour. + + You deny me the least, the very lightest + Help, one whisper of happy thought to cheer me. 5 + + Nay, I'm sorrowful. You to slight my passion? + Ah! one word, but a tiny word to cheer me, + Sad as ever a tear Simonidean. + + +XXXIX. + +1. + + Egnatius, spruce owner of superb white teeth, + Smiles sweetly, smiles for ever: is the bench in view + Where stands a pleader just prepar'd to rouse our tears, + + Egnatius smiles sweetly; near the pyre they mourn + Where weeps a mother o'er the lost, the kind one son, 5 + Egnatius smiles sweetly; what the time or place + + Or thing soe'er, smiles sweetly; such a rare complaint + Is his, not handsome, scarce to please the town, say I. + +2. + + So take a warning for the nonce, my friend; town-bred + Were you, a Sabine hale, a pearly Tiburtine, 10 + A frugal Umbrian body, Tuscan huge of paunch, + + A grim Lanuvian black of hue, prodigious-tooth'd, + A Transpadane, my country not to pass untax'd, + In short whoever cleanly cares to rinse foul teeth, + + Yet sweetly smiling ever I would have you not, 15 + For silly laughter, it's a silly thing indeed. + +3. + + Well: you're a Celtiberian; in the parts thereby + What pass'd the night in water, every man, come dawn, + Scours clean the foul teeth with it and the gums rose-red; + + So those Iberian snowy teeth, the more they shine, 20 + So much the deeper they proclaim the draught impure. + + +XL. + + What fatality, what chimera drives thee + Headlong, Ravidus, on to my iambics? + + What fell deity, most malign to listen, + Fires thy fury to quarrel unavailing? + + Wouldst thou busy the breath of half the people? 5 + Break with clamour at any cost the silence? + + Thou wilt do it; a wretch that hop'd my darling + Love to fondle, a sure retaliation. + + +XLI. + + Ameana, the maiden of the people, + Asks me sesterces, all the many thousands. + + Maiden she with a nose not wholly faultless, + Bankrupt Formian, your declar'd devotion. + + Wherefore look to the maiden, her relations: 5 + Call her family, summon all the doctors. + + Your poor maiden is oddly touch'd; a mirror + Sure would lend her a soberer reflexion. + + +XLII. + +1. + + Come all hendecasyllables whatever, + Wheresoever ye house you, all whatever. + + I the game of an impudent adultress? + She refuse to return to me the tablets + Where you syllable? O ye can't be silent. 5 + Up, have after her, ask renunciation. + + Would ye know her? a woman, you shall eye her + Strutting loftily, whiles she laughs a loud laugh + Vast and vulgar, a Gaulish hound beseeming. + Form your circle about her, ask her, urge her. 10 + + 'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over. + Hark, the note-book, adultress, hand it over.' + +2. + + What? you scorn us? O ugly filth, detested + Trull, whatever is all abomination. + + Nay then, louder. Enough as yet it is not. 15 + If this only remains, perhaps the dog-like + Face may colour, a brassy blush may yield us. + Swell your voices in higher harsher yellings, + + 'Hark, adulteress, hand the note-book over; + Hark, the note-book; adultress, hand it over.' 20 + + Look, she moves not at all: we waste the moments. + Change your quality, try another issue. + Such composure a sweeter air may alter. + 'Pure and virtuous, hand the note-book over.' + + +XLIII. + + Hail, fair virgin, a nose among the larger, + Feet not dainty, nor eyes to match a raven, + Mouth scarce tenible, hands not wholly faultless, + Tongue most surely not absolute refinement, + Bankrupt Formian, your declar'd devotion. 5 + Thou the beauty, the talk of all the province? + Thou my Lesbia tamely think to rival? + O preposterous, empty generation! + + +XLIV. + + O thou my Sabine farmstead or my Tiburtine, + For who Catullus would not harm, avow, kind souls, + Thou surely art at Tibur; and who quarrel will + Sabine declare thee, stake the world to prove their say: + + But be'st a Sabine, be'st a very Tiburtine, 5 + At thy suburban villa what delight I knew + To spit the tiresome cough away, my lungs' ill guest, + My belly brought me, not without a sad weak sin, + Because a costly dinner I desir'd too much. + + For I, to feast with Sestius, that host unmatch'd, 10 + A speech of his, pure poison, every line deep-drugg'd, + His speech against the plaintiff Antius, read through. + + Whereat a cold chill, soon a gusty cough in fits, + Shook, shook me ever, till to thy retreat I fled, + There duly dosed with nettle and repose found cure. 15 + So, now recruited, thanks superlative, dear farm, + I give thee, who so lightly didst avenge that sin. + + And trust me, farm, if ever I again take up + With Sextius' black charges, I'll rebel no more; + But let the chill things damn to cold, to cough, not me 20 + That read the volume--no, but him, the man's vain self. + + +XLV. + +1. + + While Septimius in his arms his Acme + Fondled closely, 'My own,' said he, 'my Acme, + + If I love not as unto death, nor hold me + Ever faithfully well-prepar'd to largest + Strain of fiery wooer yet to love thee, 5 + + Then in Libya, then may I alone in + Burning India face a sulky lion.' + + Scarce he ended, upon the right did eager + Love sneeze amity; 'twas before to leftward. + +2. + + Acme quietly back her head reclining 10 + Towards her boy, with a rosy mouth delightful + Kissed his passionate eyes elately swimming, + + Then 'Septimius, O my life' she murmur'd, + 'So may he that is in this hour ascendant + + Rule us ever, as in me burns a greater 15 + Fire, a fiercer, in every vein triumphing.' + + Scarce she ended, upon the right did eager + Love sneeze amity; 'twas before to leftward. + +3. + + So, that augury joyous each possessing, + Loves, is lov'd with an even emulation. 20 + + Poor Septimius, all to please his Acme, + Recks not Syria, recks not any Britain. + + In Septimius only faithful Acme + Makes her softnesses, holds her happy pleasures. + + When did mortal on any so rejoicing 25 + Look, on union hallow'd as divinely? + + +XLVI. + + Now soft spring with her early warmth returneth, + Now doth Zephyrus, health benignly breathing, + Still the boisterous equinoctial heaven. + + Leave we Phrygia, leave the plains, Catullus, + Leave Nicaea, the sultry soil of harvest: 5 + On for Asia, for the starry cities. + Now all flurry the soul is out a-ranging, + Now with vigour aflame the feet renew them. + + Farewell company true, my lovely comrades. + You so joyfully borne from home together, 10 + Now o'er many a weary way returning. + + +XLVII. + + Porcius, Socration, the greedy Piso's + Tools of thievery, rogues to famish ages, + + So that filthy Priapus ousts to please you + My Veranius even and Fabullus? + + What? shall you then at early noon carousing 5 + Lap in luxury? they, my jolly comrades, + Search the streets on a quest of invitation? + + +XLVIII. + + If, Juventius, I the grace win ever + Still on beauteous honied eyes to kiss thee, + I would kiss them a million, yet a million. + + Yea, nor count me to win the full attainment, + Not, tho' heavier e'en than ears at harvest, 5 + Fall my kisses, a wealthy crop delightful. + + +XLIX. + + Greatest speaker of any born a Roman, + Marcus Tullius, all that are, that have been, + That shall ever in after-years be famous; + + Thanks superlative unto thee Catullus + Renders, easily last among the poets. 5 + + He as easily last among the poets + As thou surely the first among the pleaders. + + +L. + +1. + + Dear Lucinius, yestereve we linger'd + Scrawling fancies, a hundred, in my tablets, + Wits in combat; a treaty this between us. + + Scribbling drolleries each of us together + Launched one arrowy metre and another, 5 + Tenders jocular o'er the merry wine-cup. + +2. + + So quite sorely with all your humour heated + Gay Lucinius, I that eve departed. + + Food my misery could not any lighten, + Sleep nor quiet upon my eyes descended. 10 + + Still untamable o'er the couch did I then + Turn and tumble, in haste to see the day-light, + Hear your prattle again, again be with you. + +3. + + Then, when weary with all the worry, numb'd, dead, + Sank my body, upon the bed reposing, 15 + This, O humorous heart, did I, a poem + Write, my tedious anguish all revealing. + + O beware then of hardihood; a lover's + Plea for charity, dear my friend, reject not: + What if Nemesis haply claim repayment? 20 + She is tyrannous. O beware offending. + + +LI. + + He to me like unto the Gods appeareth, + He, if I dare speak it, ascends above them, + Face to face who toward thee attently sitting + Gazes or hears thee + + Lovely in sweet laughter; alas within me 5 + Every lost sense falleth away for anguish; + When as I look'd on thee, upon my lips no + Whisper abideth, + Straight my tongue froze, Lesbia; soon a subtle + Fire thro' each limb streameth adown; with inward 10 + Sound the full ears tinkle, on either eye night's + Canopy darkens. + Ease alone, Catullus, alone afflicts thee; + Ease alone breeds error of heady riot; + Ease hath entomb'd princes of old renown and 15 + Cities of honour. + + +LII. + + Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die? + If in the curule chair a hump sits, Nonius; + A would-be consul lies in hope, Vatinius; + Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die? + + +LIII. + + How I laughed at a wag amid the circle! + He, when Calvus in high denunciation + Of Vatinius had declaim'd divinely, + Hands uplifted as in supreme amazement, + Cried 'God bless us! a wordy cockalorum!' 5 + + +LIV. + + Otho's head is a very dwarf; a rustic's + Shanks has Herius, only semi-cleanly; + Libo's airs to a fume of art refine them. + . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . 5 + _Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics_. + . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . + [_So may destiny doom me quite to silence_] + As I care not if every line offend thee 10 + And Sufficius, age in youth's revival. + . . . . . . . . + Thou shalt kindle at innocent iambics, + Mighty general, once again returning. + + +LV. + +1. + + List, I beg, provided you're in humour, + Speak your privacy, show what alley veils you. + You I sought on Campus, I, the lesser, + You on Circus, in all the bills but you, sir. + You with father Jove in holy temple. 5 + Then, where flocks the parade to Magnus' arches, + + Friend, I hail'd each lady promenader, + Each, I found, did face me quite sedately. + +2. + + What? they steal, I loudly cried protesting, + My Camerius? out upon the wenches! 10 + Answer'd one and lightly bared a bosom, + 'See! what bowery roses; here he hides him.' + + Yea 'twould task e'en Hercules to bear you, + You so scornful, friend, in your refusing. + +3. + + Not tho' I were warder of the Cretans, 15 + Not tho' Pegasus on his airy pinion, + + Perseus feathery-footed, I a Ladas, + Rhesus' chariot yok'd to snowy coursers, + Add each feathery sandal, every flying + Power, ask fleetness of all the winds of heaven, 20 + Mine, Camerius, and to me devoted; + Yet with drudgery sorely spent should I, yet + + Worn, outworn with languor unto languor + Faint, O friend, in an empty quest to find you. + +4. + + Say, where think you anon to be; declare it, 25 (15) + Fair and free, submit, commit to daylight. + What? still thrall to the lovely lily ladies? + Keep close mouth, lock fast the tongue within it, + Love's felicity falls without fruition; + Venus still is free to talk, a babbler. 30 (20) + Yet close palate, an if ye will it; only + In my love some part to bear refuse not. + + +LVII. + + O rare sympathies! happy rakes united! + There Mamurra the woman, here a Caesar. + + Who can wonder? An ugly brand on either, + His, true Formian, his, politely Roman, + Rests indelible, in the bone residing. 5 + + Either infamous, each a twin dishonour, + Bookish brethren, a dainty pair pedantic; + + One adultrous, as hungry he; with equal + Parts in women, a lusty corporation. + O rare sympathies! happy rakes united! 10 + + +LVIII. + + That bright Lesbia, Caelius, the self-same + Peerless Lesbia, she than whom Catullus + Self nor family more devoutly cherish'd, + By foul roads, or in every shameful alley, + Strains the vigorous issue of the people. 5 + + +LIX. + + Poor Rufa from Bononia Rufulus gallants, + Menenius' errant lady, she that in grave-yards + (You've seen her often) snaps from every pile her meal, + When hotly chasing dusty loaves the fire rolls down, + She felt some half-shorn corpseman and his hand's big blow. 5 + + +LX. + + Hadst thou a Libyan lioness on heights all stone, + A Scylla, barking wolvish at the loins' last verge, + To bear thee, O black-hearted, O to shame forsworn, + That unto supplication in my last sad need + Thou mightst not harken, deaf to ruth, a beast, no man? 5 + + +LXI. + + God, on verdurous Helicon + Dweller, child of Urania, + Thou that draw'st to the man the fair + Maiden, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus: 5 + + Wreathe thy brows in amaracus' + Fragrant blossom; an aureat + Veil be round thee; approach, in all + Joy, approach with a luminous + Foot, a sandal of amber. 10 + + Come, for jolly the time, awake. + Chant in melody musical + Hymns of bridal; on earth a foot + Beating, hands to the winds above + Torches oozily swinging. 15 + + Such, as she that on Idaly + Venus dwelleth, appear'd before + Him, the Phrygian arbiter, + So with Mallius happily + Happy Junia weddeth. 20 + + Like some myrtle of Asia + Bright in airily blossoming + Boughs, the wood Hamadryades + Nurse with showery dew, to be + Theirs, a tender plaything. 25 + + So come to us in haste; away, + Leave thy Thespian hollow-arch'd + Rock, muse-haunted, Aonian, + Drench'd in spray from aloft, the cold + Drift of Nymph Aganippe. 30 + + Homeward summon a sovereign + Wife most passionate, holden in + Love fast prisoner: ivy not + Closer closes an elm around, + Interchangeably trailing. 35 + + You too with him, O you for whom + Comes as joyous a time, your own. + Virgins stainless of heart, arise. + Chant in unison, Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 40 + + That, more readily listening, + Whiles your song to familiar + Duty calls him, he hie apace, + Lord of fair paramours, of youth's + Fair affection uniter. 45 + + + Who more worthy than he to list + Lovers wearily languishing? + Bends from heaven a sovereign + God adorabler? Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 50 + + You the father in years for his + Child beseecheth; a virginal + Zone falls slackly to earth for you, + You half-fear in his hankering + Lists the groomsman approaching. 55 + + You from motherly lap the bright + Girl can sever; your hand divine + Gives dominion, ushering + Warm the lover. O Hymen, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 60 + + Nought delightful, if you be far, + Nought unharmed of envious + Tongues, Love wins him: if you be near + Much he wins him. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 65 + + Houses cannot, if you be far, + Yield their children, a babe renew + Sire or mother: if you be near, + Comes renewal. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 70 + + If your great ceremonial + Fail, no champion yeomanry + Guards the border. If you be near + Arms the border. O excellent + God, that hath not a rival. 75 + + + Fling the portal apart. The bride + Waits. O see ye the luminous + Torch-flakes ruddily flickering? + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 80 + + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . + Nought she hears us: her innocent (80) + Eyes do weep to be going. 85 + + Weep not, lady; for envious + Tongue no lovelier owneth, Au- + Runculeia; nor any more + Fair saw rosily bright the dawn (85) + Leave his chamber in Ocean. 90 + + Such in many a flowering + Garden, trimm'd for a lord's delight, + Stands some delicate hyacinth. + Yet you tarry. The day declines. (90) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 95 + + Forth, fair bride, to the people, if + So it likes you, a-listening + Words that please us. O eye ye yon + Torches ruddily flickering? (95) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 100 + + Husband never of yours shall haunt + Stained wanton, a mutinous + Fancy shamefully following, + Tire not ever, or e'er from your (100) + Dainty bosom unyoke him. 105 + + He more lithe than a vine amid + Trees, that, mazily folded, it + Clasps and closes, in amorous + Arms shall close thee. The day declines. (105) + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 110 + + Couch of pleasure, _O odorous + Couch, whose gorgeous apparellings, + Silver-purple, on Indian + Woods do rest them; adown_ the bright + Feet in ivory glisten; 115 + + When thy lord in his hour attains, + What large extasy, while the night (110) + Fleets, or noon the meridian + Passes thoro'. The day declines. + Forth, fair bride, to the people. 120 + + + Lift the torches aloft in air, + Boys: the fiery veil is here. (115) + Come, to measure your hymn rehearse. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 125 + + Nor withhold ye the countryman's + Ribald raillery Fescenine. (120) + Nor if happily boys declare + Thy dominion attaint, refuse, + Youth, the nuts to be flinging. 130 + + Fling, O womanish youth; the boys + Ask thee charity. Time agone (125) + Toys and folly; to-day begins + Our high duty, Talassius. + Hasten, youth, to be flinging. 135 + + Thou didst surely but yestereve + Mock the women, a favourite (130) + Far above them: anon the first + Beard, the razor. Alack, alas! + Hasten, youth, to be flinging. 140 + + You, whom odorous oils declare + Bridegroom, swerve not; a slippery (135) + Love calls lightly, but yet refrain. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 145 + + Lawful only did e'er delight + You, we know; but it is not, O (140) + Husband, lawful as heretofore. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 150 + + Bride, thou also, if he demand + Aught, refuse not, assent, obey. (145) + Love can angrily pipe adieu. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 155 + + Look! thy mansion, a sovereign + Home most goodly, by him to thee (150) + Given. Reign as a queen within, + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 160 + + Still when hoary decrepitude, + Shaking wintery brows benign, (155) + Nods a tremulous Yes to all. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 165 + + + With fair augury smite the blest + Threshold, sunnily glistening (160) + Feet: yon ivory door approach, + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 170 + + See one seated, a banqueter. + 'Tis thy lord on a Tyrian (165) + Couch: his spirit is all to thee. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 175 + + Not less surely in him than in + Thee love lighteth a bosoming (170) + Flame; but deeper, a fire within. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 180 + + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 185 + + Thou, whose purple her arm, the slim + Arm, props happily, boy, depart. (175) + Time the bride be at entering. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 190 + + You in chastity tried the long + Years, good women of agedest (180) + Husbands, lay ye the bride to-night. + Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O + Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 195 + + + Husband, stay not: a bride within + Coucheth ready, the flowering (185) + Spring less lovely; a countenance + White as parthenice, beyond + Yellow poppy to gaze on. 200 + + Thou, so help me the favouring + Gods immortal, as heavenly (190) + Fair art also, adorned of + Venus' bounty. The day declines. + Come nor tarry to greet her. 205 + + Not too slothfully tarrying, + Thou art here. Benediction of (195) + Venus help thee, a man without + Shame of blameless, a love that is + Honest frankly revealing. 210 + + Dust of infinite Africa, + Stars that sparkle, a myriad (200) + Host, who measureth, your delights + He shall tell them, ineffable, + Multitudinous, over. 215 + + Make your happy delight, renew'd + Soon in children. A glorious (205) + Name and olden is ill without + Children, unto the first a new + Stock as goodly begetting. 220 + + Some Torquatus, a beauteous + Babe, on motherly breasts to thee (210) + Stretching, father, his innocent + Hands, smile softly from inchoate + Lips half-open a welcome. 225 + + Like his father, a Mallius + New presented, of every (215) + Eyeing stranger allowed his own; + Mother's chastity moulded in + Features childly revealing. 230 + + Glory speak of him issuing + Child of mother as excellent (220) + She, as only that age-renown'd + Wife, whose story Telemachus + Blazons, Penelopea. 235 + + Virgins, close ye the door. Enough + This our carol. O happiest (225) + Lovers, jollity live with you. + Still that genial youth to love's + Consummation attend ye. 240 + + +LXII. + +YOUTHS. + + Hesper is here; rise youths, rise all of you; high on Olympus + Hesper his orb long-look'd for aloft 'gins slowly to kindle. + Time is now to arise, from tables costly to part us; + Now doth a virgin approach, now soundeth a glad Hymenaeal. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 5 + +VIRGINS. + + See ye yon youthful band? O, maidens, rise ye to meet them. + Comes not Night's bright bearer a fire o'er Oeta revealing? + Surely; for even now, in a moment all have arisen, + Not for nought have arisen; a song waits, goodly to gaze on. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 10 + +YOUTHS. + + No light victory this, O comrades, ready before us. + Busy the virgins muse, their practis'd ditty recalling, + Muse nor shall miscarry; a song for memory waits us. + Rightly; for all their souls do inwards labour in issue. + + We--our thoughts one way, our ears have drifted another, 15 + So comes worthy defeat; no victory calls to the careless. + Come then, in even race let thought their melody rival; + They must open anon; 'twere better anon be replying. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Hesper, moveth in heaven a light more tyrannous ever? 20 + Thou from a mother's arms canst wrest her daughter asunder, + Wrest from a mother's arms her daughter woefully clinging, + Then to the burning youth his virgin beauty deliver. + Foes in a new-sack'd town, when wrought they crueller ever? + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 25 + +YOUTHS. + + Hesper, shineth in heaven a light more genial ever? + Thou with a bridal flame true lovers' unity crownest, + All which duly the men, which plighted duly the parents, + Then completed alone, when thou in splendour awakest. + When shone an happier hour than thy god-speeded arriving? 30 + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Sisters, Hesper a fellow of our bright company taketh. + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 35 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + + _Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus._ + +YOUTHS. + + . . . . . . . . . . . 40 + . . . . . . . . . . + Hesper, awaiting thee each sentinel holdeth alarum. + Night veils love's false thieves; thieves still when, Hesper, another + Name, but unalter'd still, thou tak'st them surely, returning. (35) + Yet be the maidens pleas'd in woeful fancy to chide thee. 45 + Maybe for all they chide, their hearts do inly desire thee. + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +VIRGINS. + + Look in a garden-croft when a flower privily growing, + Hid from grazing kine, by ploughshare never y-broken, (40) + Strok'd by the breeze, by the sun nurs'd sturdily, rear'd by + the showers; 50 + Many a wistful boy, and maidens many desire it: + + Yet if a slender nail hath nipt his bloom to deflour it, + Never a wistful boy, nor maidens any desire it: + + Such is a girl untoy'd with as yet, yet lovely to kinsmen; (45) + Once her body profan'd, herflow'r of chastity blighted, 55 + Boys no more she delights, nor seems so lovely to maidens; + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + +YOUTHS. + + Look as a lone lorn vine in a bare field sorrily growing, + Never an arm uplifts, no grape to maturity ripens, (50) + + Only with headlong weight her tender body declining, 60 + Bows, till topmost spray and roots meet feebly together; + Her no peasant swain, nor bullock tendeth her ever; + + Yet to the bachelor elm if marriage-fortune unite her, + Many a peasant tills and bullocks many about her; (55) + + Such is a maid untoy'd with as yet, in loneliness aging; 65 + Wins she a bridegroom meet, in time's warm fulness arriving, + So to the man more dear, and less unlovely to parents. + + O then, clasp thy love, nor fight, fair maiden, against him. + Sin 'twere surely to fight; thy father gave to his arms thee, (60) + Father's self and mother; obey nor wrongly defy them. 70 + . . . . . . . . . . + + Virgin's crown thou claim'st not alone, but partly the parents, + Father's one whole part, one goes to the mother allotted, + Rests one only to thee; O fight not with them alone thou, + Both to a son their rights and both their dowry deliver. 75 (65) + + Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. + + +LXIII. + + In a swift ship Attis hasting over ocean a mariner + When he gained the wood, the Phrygian, with a foot of agility, + When he near'd the leafy forest, dark sanctuary divine; + By unearthly fury frenzied, a bewildered agony, + With a flint of edge he shatter'd to the ground his humanity. 5 + Then aghast to see the lost limbs, the deform'd inutility, + While still the gory dabble did anew the soil pollute, + With a snowy palm the woman took affrayed a taborine. + Taborine, the trump that hails thee, Cybele, thy initiant. + Then a dainty finger heaving to the tremulous hide o' the bull, 10 + He began this invocation to the company, spirit-awed. + + "To the groves, ye sexless eunuchs, in assembly to Cybele, + Lost sheep that err rebellious to the lady Dindymene; + Ye, who all awing for exile in a country of aliens, + My unearthly rule obeying to be with me, my retinue, 15 + Could aby the surly salt seas' mid inexorability, + Could in utter hate to lewdness your sex dishabilitate; + + Let a gong clash glad emotion, set a giddy fury to roam, + All slow delay be banish'd, thither his ye thither away + To the Phrygian home, the wild wood, to the sanctuary divine; 20 + + Where rings the noisy cymbal, taborines are in echoing, + On a curved oat the Phrygian deep pipeth a melody, + With a fury toss the Maenads clad in ivies a frolic head, + To a barbarous ululation the religious orgy wakes, + Where fleets across the silence Cybele's holy family; 25 + Thither his we, so beseems us; to a mazy measure away." + + Thus as Attis, a woman, Attis, not a woman, urg'd the rest, + On a sudden yell'd in huddling agitation every tongue, + Taborines give airy murmur, give a clangorous echo gongs, + With a rush the brotherhood hastens to the woods, the bosom of Ide. 30 + Then in agony, breathless, errant, flush'd wearily, cometh on + Taborine behind him, Attis, thoro' leafy glooms a guide, + As a restive heifer yields not to the cumbrous onerous yoke. + Thither his the votaress eunuchs with an emulous alacrity. + Now faintly sickly plodding to the goddess's holy shrine, 35 + They took the rest which easeth long toil, nor ate withal. + Slow sleep descends on eyelids ready drowsily to decline, + In a soft repose departeth the devout spirit-agony. + When awoke the sun, the golden, that his eyes heaven-orient + Scann'd lustrous air, the rude seas, earth's massy solidity, 40 + When he smote the shadowy twilight with his healthy team sublime, + Then arous'd was Attis; o'er him sleep hastily fled away + To Pasithea's arms immortal with a tremulous hovering. + But awaked from his reposing, the delirious anguish o'er, + When as Attis' heart recalled him to the past solitarily, 45 + Saw clearly where he stood, what, an annihilate apathy, + With a soul that heaved within him, to the water he fled again. + Then as o'er the waste of ocean with a rainy eye he gazed + To the land of home he murmur'd miserable a soliloquy. + + + "Mother-home of all affection, dear home, my nativity, 50 + Whom in anguish I deserting, as in hatred a runaway + From a master, hither have hurried to the lonely woods of Ide, + + To be with the snows, the wild beasts, in a wintery domicile, + To be near each savage houser that a surly fury provokes, + What horizon, O beloved, may attain to thee anywhere? 55 + + Yet an eyeless orb is yearning ineffectually to thee. + For a little ere returneth the delirious hour again. + + Shall a homeless Attis hie him to the groves uninhabited? + Shall he leave a country, wealth, friends? bid a sire, a mother, adieu? + The palaestra lost, the forum, the gymnasium, the course? 60 + + O unhappy, fall a-weeping, thou unhappy soul, for aye. + + For is honour of any semblance, any beauty but of it I? + Who, a woman here, in order was a man, a youth, a boy, + To the sinewy ring a fam'd flower, the gymnasium's applause. + + With a throng about the portal, with a populace in the gate, 65 + With a flowery coronal hanging upon every column of home, + When anew my chamber open'd, as awoke the sunny morn. + + O am I to live the god's slave? feodary be to Cybele? + Or a Maenad I, an eunuch? or a part of a body slain? + + Or am I to range the green tracts upon Ida snowy-chill? 70 + Be beneath the stately caverns colonnaded of Asia? + Be with hind that haunts the covert, or in hursts that house the boar? + + Woe, woe the deed accomplish'd! woe, woe, the shame to me!" + + From rosy lips ascending when approached the gusty cry + To celestial ears recording such a message inly borne, 75 + Cybele, the thong relaxing from a lion-haled yoke, + Said, aleft the goad addressing to the foe that awes the flocks-- + + + "Come, a service; haste, my brave one; let a fury the madman arm, + Let a fury, a frenzy prick him to return to the wood again, + This is he my hest declineth, the unheedy, the runaway. 80 + + From an angry tail refuse not to abide the sinewy stroke, + To a roar let all the regions echo answer everywhere, + On a nervy neck be tossing that uneasy tawny mane." + + So in ire she spake, adjusting disunitedly then her yoke + At his own rebuke the lion doth his heart to a fury spur, 85 + With a step, a roar, a bursting unarrested of any brake. + But anear the foamy places when he came, to the frothy beach, + When he saw the sexless Attis by the seas' level opaline, + Then he rushed upon him; affrighted to the wintery wood he flew, + Cybele's for aye, for all years, in her order a votaress. 90 + Holy deity, great Cybele, holy lady Dindymene, + Be to me afar for ever that inordinate agony. + O another hound to madness, O another hurry to rage! + + +LXIV. + + Born on Pelion height, so legend hoary relateth, + Pines once floated adrift on Neptune billowy streaming + On to the Phasis flood, to the borders AEaetean. + Then did a chosen array, rare bloom of valorous Argos, + Fain from Colchian earth her fleece of glory to ravish, 5 + Dare with a keel of swiftness adown salt seas to be fleeting, + Swept with fir-blades oary the fair level azure of Ocean. + Then that deity bright, who keeps in cities her high ward, + Made to delight them a car, to the light breeze airily scudding, + Texture of upright pine with a keel's curved rondure uniting. 10 + That first sailer of all burst ever on Amphitrite. + + Scarcely the forward snout tore up that wintery water, + Scarcely the wave foamed white to the reckless harrow of oarsmen, + Straight from amid white eddies arose wild faces of Ocean, + Nereid, earnest-eyed, in wonderous admiration. 15 + Then, not after again, saw ever mortal unharmed + Sea-born Nymphs unveil limbs flushing naked about them. + Stark to the nursing breasts from foam and billow arising. + Then, so stories avow, burn'd Peleus hotly to Thetis, + Then to a mortal lover abode not Thetis unheeding, 20 + Then did a father agree Peleus with Thetis unite him. + + O in an aureat hour, O born in bounteous ages, + God-sprung heroes, hail: hail, mother of all benediction, + You my song shall address, you melodies everlasting. + Thee most chiefly, supreme in glory of heavenly bridal, 25 + Peleus, stately defence of Thessaly. Iuppiter even + Gave thee his own fair love, thy mortal pleasure approving. + Thee could Thetis inarm, most beauteous Ocean-daughter? + Tethys adopt thee, her own dear grandchild's wooer usurping? + Ocean, who earth's vast globe with a watery girdle inorbeth? 30 + + When the delectable hour those days did fully determine, + Straightway then in crowds all Thessaly flock'd to the palace, + Thronging hosts uncounted, a company joyous approaching. + Many a gift they carry, delight their faces illumines. + Left is Scyros afar, and Phthia's bowery Tempe, 35 + Vacant Crannon's homes, unvisited high Larisa, + Towards Pharsalia's halls, Pharsalia's only they hie them. + + Bides no tiller afield; necks soften of oxen in idlesse; + Feel not a prong'd crook'd hoe lush vines all weedily trailing; + Tears no steer deep clods with a downward coulter unearthed; 40 + Prunes no hedger's bill broad-verging verdurous arbours; + Steals a deforming rust on ploughs left rankly to moulder. + + But that sovran abode, each sumptuous inly retiring + Chamber, aflame with gold, with silver is all resplendent; + Thrones gleam ivory-white; cup-crown'd blaze brightly the tables; 45 + All the domain with treasure of empery gaudily flushes. + + There, set deeply within the remotest centre, a bridal + Bed doth a goddess inarm; smooth ivory glossy from Indies, + Robed in roseate hues, rich seashells' purple adorning. + + + It was a broidery freak'd with tissue of images olden, 50 + One whose curious art did blazon valour of heroes. + Gazing forth from a beach of Dia the billow-resounding, + Look'd on a vanish'd fleet, on Theseus quickly departing, + Restless in unquell'd passion, a feverous heart, Ariadne. + Scarcely her eyes yet seem their seeming clearly to vision. 55 + You might guess that arous'd from slumber's drowsy betrayal, + Sand-engirded, alone, then first she knew desolation. + He the betrayer--his oars with fugitive hurry the waters + Beat, each promise of old to the winds given idly to bear them. + + Him from amid shore-weeds doth Minos' daughter, in anguish 60 + Rigid, a Bacchant-form, dim-gazing stonily follow, + Stonily still, wave-tost on a sea of troublous affliction. + Holds not her yellow locks the tiara's feathery tissue; + Veils not her hidden breast light brede of drapery woven; + Binds not a cincture smooth her bosom's orbed emotion. 65 + Widely from each fair limb that footward-fallen apparel + Drifts its lady before, in billowy salt loose-playing. + + Not for silky tiara nor amice gustily floating + Recks she at all any more; thee, Theseus, ever her earnest + Heart, all clinging thought, all chained fancy requireth. 70 + Ah unfortunate! whom with miseries ever crazing, + Thorns in her heart deep planted, affray'd Erycina to madness, + From that earlier hour, when fierce for victory Theseus + Started alert from a beach deep-inleted of Piraeus, + Gain'd Gortyna's abode, injurious halls of oppression. 75 + + Once, 'tis sung in stories, a dire distemper atoning + Death of an ill-blest prince, Androgeos, angrily slaughter'd, + Taxed of her youthful array, her maidenly bloom fresh-glowing, + Feast to the monster bull, Cecropia, ransom-laden. + Then, when a plague so deadly, the garrison undermining, 80 + Spent that slender city, his Athens dearly to rescue, + Sooner life Theseus and precious body did offer, + Ere his country to Crete freight corpses, a life in seeming. + So with a ship fast-fleeted, a gale blown gently behind him, + Push'd he his onward journey to Minos' haughty dominion. 85 + + Him for very delight when a virgin fondly desiring + Gazed on, a royal virgin, in odours silkily nestled, + Pure from a maiden's couch, from a mother's pillowy bosom, + Like some myrtle, anear Eurotas' water arising, + Like earth's myriad hues, spring's progeny, rais'd to the breezes; 90 + Droop'd not her eyes their gaze unquenchable, ever-burning + Save when in each charm'd limb to the depths enfolded, a sudden + Flame blazed hotly within her, in all her marrow abiding. + + O thou cruel of heart, thou madding worker of anguish, + Boy immortal, of whom joy springs with misery blending, 95 + Yea, thou queen of Golgi, of Idaly leaf-embower'd, + O'er what a fire love-lit, what billows wearily tossing, + Drave ye the maid, for a guest so sunnily lock'd deep sighing. + What most dismal alarms her swooning fancy did echo! + Oft what a sallower hue than gold's cold glitter upon her! 100 + Whiles, heart-hungry in arms that monster deadly to combat, + Theseus drew towards death or victory, guerdon of honour. + Yet not lost the devotion, or offer'd idly the virgin's + Gifts, as her unvoic'd lips breathed incense faintly to heaven. + + As on Taurus aloft some oak agitatedly waving 105 + Tosses his arms, or a pine cone-mantled, oozily rinded, + When as his huge gnarled trunk in furious eddies a whirlwind + Riving wresteth amain; down falleth he, upward hoven, + Falleth on earth; far, near, all crackles brittle around him, + So to the ground Theseus his fallen foeman abasing, 110 + Slew, that his horned front toss'd vainly, a sport to the breezes. + Thence in safety, a victor, in height of glory returned, + Guiding errant feet to a thread's impalpable order. + Lest, upon egress bent thro' tortuous aisles labyrinthine, + Walls of blindness, a maze unravell'd ever, elude him. 115 + + Yet, for again I come to the former story, beseems not + Linger on all done there; how left that daughter a gazing + Father, a sister's arms, her mother woefully clinging, + Mother, who o'er that child moan'd desperate, all heart-broken; + How not in home that maid, in Theseus only delighted; 120 + How her ship on a shore of foaming Dia did harbour; + How, when her eyes lay bound in slumber's shadowy prison, + He forsook, forgot her, a wooer traitorous-hearted: + + Oft, say stories, at heart with frenzied fantasy burning, + Pour'd she, a deep-wrung breast, clear-ringing cries of oppression; 125 + Sometimes mournfully clomb to the mountain's rugged ascension, + Straining thence her vision across wide surges of ocean; + Now to the brine ran forth, upsplashing freshly to meet her, + Lifting raiment fine her thighs which softly did open; + Last, when sorrow had end, these words thus spake she lamenting, 130 + While from a mouth tear-stain'd chill sobs gushed dolorous ever. + + + 'Look, is it here, false heart, that rapt from country, from altar, + Household altar ashore, I wander, falsely deserted? + Ah! is it hence, Theseus, that against high heaven a traitor + Homeward thou thy vileness, alas thy perjury bearest? 135 + + Might not a thought, one thought, thy cruel counsel abating + Sway thee tender? at heart rose no compassion or any + Mercy, to bend thy soul, or me for pity deliver? + + Yet not this thy promise of old, thy dearly remembered + Voice, not these the delights thou bad'st thy poor one inherit; 140 + Nay, but wedlock happy, but envied joy hymeneal; + All now melted in air, with a light wind emptily fleeting. + + + Let not a woman trust, since that first treason, a lover's + Desperate oath, none hope true lover's promise is earnest. + They, while fondly to win their amorous humour essayeth, 145 + Fear no covetous oath, all false free promises heed not; + They if once lewd pleasure attain unruly possession, + Lo they fear not promise, of oath or perjury reck not. + + Yet indeed, yet I, when floods of death were around thee, + Set thee on high, did rather a brother choose to defend not, 150 + Ere I, in hate's last hour, false heart, fail'd thee to deliver. + + Now, for a goodly reward, to the beasts they give me, the flying + Fowls; no handful of earth shall bury me, pass'd to the shadows. + + + What grim lioness yeaned thee, aneath what rock's desolation? + What wild sea did bear, what billows foamy regorged thee? 155 + Seething sand, or Scylla the snare, or lonely Charybdis? + If for a life's dear joy comes back such only requital? + + Hadst not a will with spousal an honour'd wife to receive me? + Awed thee a father stern, cross age's churlish avising? + Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden, 160 + Might'st have led me, to wait, joy-filled, a retainer upon thee, + Now in waters clear thy feet like ivory laving, + Clothing now thy bed with crimson's gorgeous apparel. + + Yet to the brutish winds why moan I longer unheeded, + Crazy with an ill wrong? They senseless, voiceless, inhuman 165 + Utter'd cry they hear not, in answers hollow reply not. + He rides far already, the mid sea's boundary cleaving, + Strays no mortal along these weeds stretched lonely about me. + Thus to my utmost need chance, spitefuller injury dealing, + Grudges an ear, where yet might lamentation have entry. 170 + + + Jove, almighty, supreme, O would that never in early + Time on Gnossian earth great Cecrops' navies had harbour'd, + Ne'er to that unquell'd bull with a ransom of horror atoning, + Moor'd on Crete his cable a shipman's wily dishonour. + Never in youth's fair shape such ruthless stratagem hiding 175 + He, that vile one, a guest found with us a safe habitation. + + Whither flee then afar? what hope, poor lost one, upholds thee? + Mountains Idomenean? alas, broad surges of ocean + Part us, a rough rude space of flowing water, asunder. + Trust in a father's help? how trust, whom darkly deserting, 180 + Him I turned to alone, my brother's bloody defier? + Nay, but a loyal lover, a hand pledg'd surely, shall ease me. + Surely; for o'er wide water his oars move flexibly fleeting. + + Also a desert lies this region, a tenantless island, + Nowhere open way, seas splash in circle around me, 185 + Nowhere flight, no glimmer of hope; all mournfully silent, + Loneliness all, all points me to death, death only remaining. + + + Yet these luminous orbs shall sink not feebly to darkness, + Yet from grief-worn limbs shall feeling wholly depart not, + Till to the gods I cry, the betrayed, for justice on evil, 190 + Sue for life's last mercy the great federation of heaven. + + Then, O sworn to requite man's evil wrathfully, Powers + Gracious, on whose grim brows, with viper tresses inorbed, + Looks red-breathing forth your bosom's feverous anger; + + Now, yea now come surely, to these loud miseries harken, 195 + All I cry, the afflicted, of inmost marrow arising, + Desolate, hot with pain, with blinding fury bewilder'd. + + Yet, for of heart they spring, grief's children truly begotten, + Verily, Gods, these moans you will not idly to perish. + But with counsel of evil as he forsook me deceiving, 200 + Death to his house, to his heart, bring also counsel of evil. + + + When from an anguish'd heart these words stream'd sorrowful upwards, + Words which on iron deeds did sue for deadly requital, + Bow'd with a nod of assent almighty the ruler of heaven. + With that dreadful motion aneath earth's hollow, the ruffled 205 + Ocean shook, and stormy the stars 'gan tremble in ether. + Thereto his heart thick-sown with blindness cloudily dark'ning, + Thought not of all those words, Theseus, from memory fallen, + Words which his heedful soul had kept immovable ever. + Nor to his eager sire fair token of happy returning 210 + Rais'd, when his eyes safe-sighted Erectheus' populous haven. + Once, so stories tell, when Pallas' city behind him + Leaving, Theseus' fleet to the winds given hopefully parted, + Clasping then his son spake Aegeus, straitly commanding. + + + Son, mine only delight, than life more lovely to gaze on, 215 + Son, whom needs it faints me to launch full-tided on hazards, + Whom my winter of years hath laid so lately before me: + + Since my fate unkindly, thy own fierce valour unheeding, + Needs must wrest thee away, ere yet these dimly-lit eye-balls + Feed to the full on thee, thy worshipt body beholding; 220 + + Neither in exultation of heart I send thee a-warring; + Nor to the fight shalt bear fair fortune's happier earnest; + Rather, first in cries mine heart shall lighten her anguish, + When greylocks I sully with earth, with sprinkle of ashes; + + Next to the swaying mast shall a sail hang duskily swinging; 225 + So this grief, mine own, this burning sorrow within me, + Want not a sign, dark shrouds of Iberia, sombre as iron. + + Then, if haply the queen, lone ranger on haunted Itonus, + Pleas'd to defend our people, Erectheus' safe habitations, + Frown not, allow thine hand that bull all redly to slaughter, 230 + + Look that warily then deep-laid in steady remembrance, + These our words grow greenly, nor age move on to deface them; + + Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome, + See that on each straight yard down droop their funeral housings, + Whitely the tight-strung cordage a sparkling canvas aloft swing, 235 + + Which to behold straightway with joy shall cheer me, with inward + Joy, when a prosperous hour shall bring to thee happy returning. + + So for a while that charge did Theseus faithfully cherish. + Last, it melted away, as a cloud which riven in ether + Breaks to the blast, high peak and spire snow-silvery leaving. 240 + But from a rock's wall'd eyrie the father wistfully gazing, + Father whose eyes, care-dimm'd, wore hourly for ever a-weeping, + Scarcely the wind-puff'd sail from afar 'gan darken upon him, + Down the precipitous heights headlong his body he hurried, + Deeming Theseus surely by hateful destiny taken. 245 + So to a dim death-palace, alert from victory, Theseus + Came, what bitter sorrow to Minos' daughter his evil + Perjury gave, himself with an even sorrow atoning. + She, as his onward keel still moved, still mournfully follow'd; + Passion-stricken, her heart a tumultuous image of ocean. 250 + + Also upon that couch, flush'd youthfully, breathless Iacchus + Roam'd with a Satyr-band, with Nisa-begot Sileni; + Seeking thee, Ariadna, aflame thy beauty to ravish. + Wildly behind they rushed and wildly before to the folly, + Euhoe rav'd, Euhoe with fanatic heads gyrated; 255 + Some in womanish hands shook rods cone-wreathed above them, + Some from a mangled steer toss'd flesh yet gorily streaming; + Some girt round them in orbs, snakes gordian, intertwining; + Some with caskets deep did blazon mystical emblems, + Emblems muffled darkly, nor heard of spirit unholy. 260 + Part with a slender palm taborines beat merrily jangling; + Now with a cymbal slim would a sharp shrill tinkle awaken; + Often a trumpeter horn blew murmurous, hoarsely resounding. + Rose on pipes barbaric a jarring music of horror. + + Such, wrought rarely, the shapes this quilt did richly apparel, 265 + Where to the couch close-clasped it hung thick veils of adorning. + So to the full heart-sated of all their curious eying, + Thessaly's youth gave place to the Gods high-throned in heaven. + As, when dawn is awake, light Zephyrus even-breathing + Brushes a sleeping sea, which slant-wise curved in edges 270 + Breaks, while mounts Aurora the sun's high journey to welcome; + They, first smitten faintly by his most airy caressing, + Move slow on, light surges a plashing silvery laughter; + Soon with a waxing wind they crowd them apace, thick-fleeting, + Swim in a rose-red glow and far off sparkle in Ocean; 275 + So thro' column'd porch and chambers sumptuous hieing, + Thither or hither away, that company stream'd, home-wending. + + First from Pelion height, when they were duly departed, + Chiron came, in his hand green gifts of flowery forest. + All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing 280 + Breeds on mountainous heights, what near each showery river + Swells to the warm west-wind, in gales of foison alighting; + These did his own hands bear in girlonds twined of all hues, + That to the perfume sweet for joy laugh'd gaily the palace. + Follow'd straight Penios, awhile his bowery Tempe, 285 + Tempe, shrined around in shadowy woods o'erhanging, + Left to the bare-limb'd maids Magnesian, airily ranging. + No scant carrier he; tall root-torn beeches his heavy + Burden, bays stemm'd stately, in heights exalted ascending. + Thereto the nodding plane, and that lithe sister of youthful 290 + Phaethon flame-enwrapt, and cypress in air upspringing: + These in breadths inwoven he heap'd close-twin'd to the palace, + Whereto the porch wox green, with soft leaves canopied over. + + Him did follow anear, deep heart and wily, Prometheus, + Scarr'd and wearing yet dim traces of early dishonour, 295 + All which of old his body to flint fast-welded in iron, + Bore and dearly abied, on slippery crags suspended. + Last with his awful spouse, with children goodly, the sovran + Father approach'd; thou, Phoebus, alone, his warder in heaven, + Left, with that dear sister, on Idrus ranger eternal. 300 + Peleus sister alike and brother in high misprision + Held, nor lifted a torch when Thetis wedded at even. + So when on ivory thrones they rested, snowily gleaming, + Many a feast high-pil'd did load each table about them; + Whiles to a tremor of age their gray infirmity rocking, 305 + Busy began that chant which speaketh surely the Parcae. + + Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding, + Fell bright-white to the feet, with a purple border of issue. + Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush'd rosy beneath them; + Still each hand fulfilled its pious labour eternal. 310 + Singly the left upbore in wool soft-hooded a distaff, + Whereto the right large threads down drawing deftly, with upturn'd + Fingers shap'd them anew; then thumbs earth-pointed in even + Balance twisted a spindle on orb'd wheels smoothly rotating. + So clear'd softly between and tooth-nipt even it ever 315 + Onward moved; still clung on wan lips, sodden as ashes, + Shreds all woolly from out that soft smooth surface arisen. + Lastly before their feet lay fells, white, fleecy, refulgent, + Warily guarded they in baskets woven of osier. + They, as on each light tuft their voice smote louder approaching, 320 + Pour'd grave inspiration, a prophet chant to the future, + Chant which an after-time shall tax of vanity never. + + + O in valorous acts thy wondrous glory renewing, + Rich Aemathia's arm, great sire of a goodlier issue, + Hark on a joyous day what prophet-story the sisters 325 + Open surely to thee; and you, what followeth after, + Guide to a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Soon shall approach, and bear the delight long-wish'd for of husbands, + Hesper, a bride shall approach in starlight happy presented, + Softly to sway thy soul in love's completion abiding, 330 + Soon in a trance with thee of slumber dreamy to mingle, + Making smooth round arms thy clasp'd throat sinewy pillow. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Never hath house closed yet o'er loves so blissful uniting, + Never love so well his children in harmony knitten, 335 + So as Thetis agrees, as Peleus bendeth according. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + You shall a son see born that knows not terror, Achilles, + One whose back no foe, whose front each knoweth in onset; + Often a conqueror, he, where feet course swiftly together, 340 + Steps of a fire-fleet doe shall leave in his hurry behind him. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Him to resist in war, no champion hero ariseth, + Then on Phrygian earth when carnage Trojan is utter'd; + Then when a long sad strife shall Troy's crown'd city beleaguer, 345 + Waste her a third false heir from Pelops wary descending. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + His unmatchable acts, his deeds of glorious honour, + Oft shall mothers speak o'er sons untimely departed; + While from crowns earth-bow'd fall loosen'd silvery tresses, 350 + Beat on shrivell'd breasts weak palms their dusky defacing. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + As some labourer ears close-cluster'd lustily lopping, + Under a flaming sun, mows fields ripe-yellow in harvest, + _So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles_, + Charge Troy's children afield and fell them grimly with iron. 355 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Deeds of such high glory Scamander's river avoucheth, + Hurried in eddies afar thro' boisterous Hellespontus; + Then when a slaughter'd heap his pathway watery choking, + Brimmeth a warm red tide and blood with water allieth. 360 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Voucher of him last riseth a prey untimely devoted + E'en to the tomb, which mounded in heaps, high, spherical, earthen, + Grants to the snow-white limbs, to the stricken maiden a welcome. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. 365 + + Scarcely the war-worn Greeks shall win such favour of heaven, + Neptune's bonds of stone from Dardan city to loosen, + Dankly that high-heav'd grave shall gory Polyxena crimson. + She as a lamb falls smitten a twin-edg'd falchion under, + Boweth on earth weak knees, her limbs down flingeth unheeding. 370 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Up then, fair paramours, in fond love happily mingle. + Now in blessed treaty the bridegroom welcome a goddess; + Now give a bride long-veil'd to her husband's passionate yearning. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. 375 + + Her when duly the nurse with day-light early revisits, + Necklace of yester-night--she shall not clasp it about her. + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + Nor shall a mother fond, o'er brawls unlovely dishearten'd, + Lay her alone, or cease the delight of children awaiting. 380 + Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. + + In such prelude old, such good-night ditty to Peleus, + Sang their deep divination, ineffable, holy, the Parcae. + Such as in ages past, upon houses godly descending, + Houses of heroes came, in mortal company present, 385 + Gods high-throned in heaven, while yet was worship in honour. + + Often a sovran Jove, in his own bright temple appearing, + Yearly, whene'er his day did rites ceremonial usher, + Gazed on an hundred slain, on strong bulls heavily falling. + Often on high Parnassus a roving Liber in hurried 390 + Frenzy the Thyiads drave, their locks blown loosely, before him. + While all Delphi's city in eager jealousy trooping, + Blithely receiv'd their god on fuming festival altars. + Mavors often amidst encounter mortal of armies, + Streaming Triton's queen, or maid Ramnusian awful, 395 + Stood in body before them, a fainting host to deliver. + + Only when heinous sin earth's wholesome purity blasted, + When from covetous hearts fled justice sadly retreating, + Then did a brother his hands dye deep in blood of a brother, + Lightly the son forgat his parents' piteous ashes. 400 + Lightly the son's young grave his father pray'd for, an unwed + Maiden, a step-dame fair in freer luxury clasping. + Then did mother unholy to son that knew not abase her, + Shamefully, fear'd not unholy the blessed dead to dishonour. + Human, inhuman alike, in wayward infamy blending, 405 + Turned far from us away that righteous counsel of heaven. + Therefore proudly the Gods such sinful company view not, + Bear not day-light clear upon immortality breathing. + + +LXV. + + Though, outworn with sorrow, with hours of torturous anguish, + Ortalus, I no more tarry the Muses among; + Though from a fancy deprest fair blooms of poesy budding + Rise not at all; such grief rocks me, uneasily stirr'd: + + Coldly but even now mine own dear brother in ebbing 5 + Lethe his ice-wan feet laveth, a shadowy ghost. + He whom Troy's deep bosom, a shore Rhoetean above him, + Rudely denies these eyes, heavily crushes in earth. + + Ah! no more to address thee, or hear thy kindly replying, + Brother! O e'en than life round me delightfuller yet, 10 + Ne'er to behold thee again! Still love shall fail not alone in + Fancy to muse death's dark elegy, closely to weep. + Closely as under boughs of dimmest shadow the pensive + Daulian ever moans Itys in agony slain. + + Yet mid such desolation a verse I tender of ancient 15 + Battiades, new-drest, Ortalus, wholly for you. + Lest to the roving winds these words all idly deliver'd, + Seem too soon from a frail memory fallen away. + + E'en as a furtive gift, sent, some love-apple, a-wooing, + Leaps from breast of a coy maiden, a canopy pure; 20 + There forgotten alas, mid vestments silky reposing,-- + Soon as a mother's step starts her, it hurleth adown: + Straight to the ground, dash'd forth ungently, the gift shoots headlong; + She in tell-tale cheeks glows a disorderly shame. + + +LXVI. + + He whose glance scann'd clearly the lights uncounted of ether, + Found when arises a star, sinks in his haven again, + How yon eclipsed sun glares luminous obscuration, + How in seasons due vanishes orb upon orb; + How 'neath Latmian heights fair Trivia stealthily banish'd 5 + Falls, from her upward path lured by a lover awhile; + That same sage, that Conon, a lock of great Berenice + Saw me, in heavenly-bright deification afar + Lustrous, a gleaming glory; to gods full many devoted, + Whiles she her arms in prayer lifted, as ivory smooth; 10 + In that glorious hour when, flush'd with a new hymeneal, + Hotly the King to deface outer Assyria sped, + Bearing ensigns sweet of that soft struggle a night brings, + When from a virgin's arms spoils he had happily won. + + Stands it an edict true that brides hate Venus? or ever 15 + Falsely the parents' joy dashes a showery tear, + When to the nuptial door they come in rainy beteeming? + Now to the Gods I swear, tears be hypocrisy then. + So mine own queen taught me in all her weary lamentings, + Whiles her bridegroom bold set to the battle a face. 20 + What? for an husband lost thou weptst not gloomily lying? + Rather a brother dear, forced for a while to depart? + This, when love's sharp grief was gnawing inly to waste thee! + Ah poor wife! whose soul steep'd in unhappiness all, + Fell from reason away, nor abode thy senses! A nobler 25 + Spirit had I erewhile known thee, a fiery child. + + Pass'd that deed forgotten, a royal wooer had earn'd thee? + Deed that braver none ventureth ever again? + Yet what sorrow to lose thy lord, what murmur of anguish! + Jove, how rain'd those tears brush'd from a passionate eye! 30 + Who is this could wean thee, a God so mighty, to falter? + May not a lover live from the beloved afar? + Then for a spouse so goodly, before each spirit of heaven, + Me thou vowd'st, with slain oxen, a vast hecatomb, + Home if again he alighted. Awhile and Asia crouching 35 + Humbly to Egypt's realm added a boundary new; + I, in starry return to the ranks dedicated of heaven, + Debt of an ancient vow sum in a bounty to-day. + + Full of sorrow was I, fair queen, thy brows to abandon, + Full of sorrow; in oath answer, adorable head. 40 + Evil on him that oath who sweareth falsely soever! + Yet in a strife with steel who can a victory claim? + Steel could a mountain abase, no loftier any thro' heaven's + Cupola Thia's child lifteth his axle above, + Then, when a new-born sea rose Mede-uplifted; in Athos' 45 + Centre his ocean-fleet floated a barbarous host. + What shall a weak tress do, when powers so mighty resist not? + Jove! may Chalybes all perish, a people accurst, + Perish who earth's hid veins first labour'd dimly to quarry, + Clench'd in a molten mass iron, a ruffian heart! 50 + + Scarcely the sister-locks were parted dolefully weeping, + Straight that brother of young Memnon, in Africa born, + Came, and shook thro' heaven his pennons oary, before me, + Winged, a queen's proud steed, Locrian Arsinoe. + So flew with me aloft thro' darkening shadow of heaven, 55 + There to a god's pure breast laid me, to Venus's arms. + Him Zephyritis' self had sent to the task, her servant, + She from realms of Greece borne to Canopus of yore. + There, that at heav'n's high porch, not one sole crown, Ariadne's, + Golden above those brows Ismaros' youth did adore, 60 + Starry should hang, set alone; but luminous I might glisten, + Vow'd to the Gods, bright spoil won from an aureat head; + While to the skies I clomb still ocean-dewy, the Goddess + Placed me amid star-spheres primal, a glory to be. + + Close to the Virgin bright, to the Lion sulkily gleaming, 65 + Nigh Callisto, a cold child Lycaonian, I + Wheel obliquely to set, and guide yon tardy Bootes + Where scarce late his car dewy descends to the sea. + Yet tho' nightly the Gods' immortal steps be above me, + Tho' to the white waves dawn gives me, to Tethys, again; 70 + (Maid of Ramnus, a grace I here implore thee, if any + Word should offend; so much cannot a terror alarm, + I should veil aught true; not tho' with clamorous uproar + Rend me the stars; I speak verities hidden at heart): + Lightly for all I reck, so more I sorrow to part me 75 + Sadly from her I serve, part me forever away. + With her, a virgin as yet, I quaff'd no sumptuous essence; + With her, a bride, I drain'd many a prodigal oil. + + Now, O you whom gladly the marriage cresset uniteth, + See to the bridegroom fond yield ye not amorous arms, 80 + Throw not back your robes, nor bare your bosom assenting, + Save from an onyx stream sweetness, a bounty to me. + Yours, in a loyal bed which seek love's privilege, only; + Yieldeth her any to bear loathed adultery's yoke, + Vile her gifts, and lightly the dust shall drink them unheeding. 85 + Not of vile I seek gifts, nor of infamous, I. + Rather, O unstain'd brides, may concord tarry for ever + With ye at home, may love with ye for ever abide. + Thou, fair queen, to the stars if looking haply, to Venus + Lights thou kindle on eves festal of high sacrifice, 90 + Leave me the lock, thine own, nor blood nor bounty requiring. + Rather a largesse fair pay to me, envy me not. + Stars dash blindly in one! so might I glitter a royal + Tress, let Orion glow next to Aquarius' urn. + + +LXVII. + +CATULLUS. + + O to the goodman fair, O welcome alike to the father, + Hail, and Jove's kind grace shower his help upon you! + Door, that of old, men say, wrought Balbus ready obeisance, + Once, when his home, time was, lodged him, a master in years; + Door, that again, men say, grudg'd aught but a spiteful obeisance, 5 + Soon as a corpse outstretch'd starkly declar'd you a bride. + Come, speak truly to me; what shameful rumour avouches + Duty of years forsworn, honour in injury lost? + +DOOR. + + So be the tenant new, Caecilius, happy to own me, + I'm not guilty, for all jealousy says it is I. 10 + Never a fault was mine, nor man shall whisper it ever; + Only, my friend, your mob's noisy "The door is a rogue." + Comes to the light some mischief, a deed uncivil arising, + Loudly to me shout all, "Door, you are wholly to blame." + +CATULLUS. + + 'Tis not enough so merely to say, so think to decide it. 15 + Better, who wills should feel, see it, who wills, to be true. + +DOOR. + + How then? if here none asks, nor labours any to know it. + +CATULLUS. + + Nay, _I_ ask it; away scruple; your hearer is I. + +DOOR. + + First, what rumour avers, they gave her to us a virgin-- + They lie on her. A light lady! be sure, not alone 20 + Clipp'd her an husband first; weak stalk from a garden, a pointless + Falchion, a heart did ne'er fully to courage awake. + No; to the son's own bed, 'tis said, that father ascended, + Vilely; with act impure stain'd the facinorous house. + Whether a blind fierce lust in his heart burnt sinfully flaming, 25 + Or that inert that son's vigour, amort to delight, + Needed a sturdier arm, that franker quality somewhere, + Looser of youth's fast-bound girdle, a virgin as yet. + +CATULLUS. + + Truly a noble father, a glorious act of affection! + Thus in a son's kind sheets lewdly to puddle, his own. 30 + +DOOR. + + Yet not alone of this, her crag Chinaean abiding + Under, a watch-tower set warily, Brixia tells, + Brixia, trails whereby his waters Mella the golden, + Mother of her, mine own city, Verona the fair. + Add Postumius yet, Cornelius also, a twice-told 35 + Folly, with whom our light mistress adultery knew. + Asks some questioner here "What? a door, yet privy to lewdness? + You, from your owner's gate never a minute away? + Strange to the talk o' the town? since here, stout timber above you, + Hung to the beam, you shut mutely or open again." 40 + Many a shameful time I heard her stealthy profession, + While to the maids her guilt softly she hinted alone. + Spoke unabash'd her amours and named them singly, opining + Haply an ear to record fail'd me, a voice to reveal. + There was another; enough; his name I gladly dissemble; 45 + Lest his lifted brows blush a disorderly rage. + Sir, 'twas a long lean suitor; a process huge had assail'd him; + 'Twas for a pregnant womb falsely declar'd to be true. + +LXVIII. + + If, when fortune's wrong with bitter misery whelms thee, + Thou thy sad tear-scrawl'd letter, a mark to the storm, + Send'st, and bid'st me to succour a stranded seaman of Ocean, + Toss'd in foam, from death's door to return thee again; + Whom nor softly to rest love's tender sanctity suffers, 5 + Lost on a couch of lone slumber, unhappily lain; + Nor with melody sweet of poets hoary the Muses + Cheer, while worn with grief nightly the soul is awake: + Well-contented am I, that thou thy friendship avowest, + Ask'st the delights of love from me, the pleasure of hymns; 10 + Yet lest all unnoted a kindred story bely thee, + Deeming, Mallius, I calls of humanity shun; + Hear what a grief is mine, what storm of destiny whelms me. + Cease to demand of a soul's misery joy's sacrifice. + + Once, what time white robes of manhood first did array me, 15 + Whiles in jollity life sported a spring holiday, + Youth ran riot enow; right well she knows me, the Goddess, + She whose honey delights blend with a bitter annoy. + Henceforth dies sweet pleasure, in anguish lost of a brother's + Funeral. O poor soul, brother, O heavily ta'en, 20 + You all happier hours, you, dying brother, effaced; + All our house lies low mournfully buried in you; + Quench'd untimely with you joy waits not ever a morrow, + Joy which alive your love's bounty fed hour upon hour; + Now, since thou liest dead, heart-banish'd wholly desert me 25 + Vanities all, each gay freak of a riotous heart. + + How then obey? You write 'Let not Verona, Catullus, + Stay thee, if here each proud quality, Rome's eminence, + Freely the light limbs warms thou leavest coldly to languish,' + Infamy lies not there, Mallius, only regret. 30 + So forgive me, if I, whom grief so rudely bereaveth, + Deal not a joy myself know not, a beggar in all. + Books--if they're but scanty, a store full meagre, around me, + Rome is alone my life's centre, a mansion of home, + Rome my abode, house, hearth; there wanes and waxes a life's span; 35 + Hither of all those choice cases attends me but one. + Therefore deem not thou aught spiteful bids me deny thee; + Say not 'his heart is false, haply, to jealousy leans,' + If nor books I send nor flatter sorrow to silence. + Trust me, were either mine, either unask'd should appear. 40 + + + Goddesses, hide I may not in how great trial upheld me + Allius, how no faint charities held me to life. + Nor shall time borne fleetly nor years' oblivion ever + Make such zeal to the night fade, to the darkness, away. + As from me you learn it, of you shall many a thousand 45 + Learn it again. Grow old, scroll, to declare it anew. + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + So to the dead increase honour in year upon year. 50 + Nor to the spider, aloft her silk-slight flimsiness hanging, + Allius aye unswept moulder, a memory dim. (50) + + Well you wot, how sore the deceit Amathusia wrought me, + Well what a thing in love's treachery made me to fall; + Ready to burst in flame, as burn Trinacrian embers, 55 + Burn near Thermopylae's Oeta the fiery springs. + Sad, these piteous eyes did waste all wearily weeping, (55) + Sad, these cheeks did rain ceaseless a showery woe. + Wakeful, as hill-born brook, which, afar off silvery gleaming, + O'er his moss-grown crags leaps with a tumble adown; 60 + Brook which awhile headlong o'er steep and valley descending, + Crosses anon wide ways populous, hastes to the street; (60) + Cheerer in heats o' the sun to the wanderer heavily fuming, + Under a drought, when fields swelter agape to the sky. + + Then as tossing shipmen amid black surges of Ocean, 65 + See some prosperous air gently to calm them arise, + Safe thro' Pollux' aid or Castor, alike entreated; (65) + Mallius e'en such help brought me, a warder of harm. + He in a closed field gave scope of liberal entry; + Gave me an house of love, gave me the lady within, 70 + Busily there to renew love's even duty together; + Thither afoot mine own mistress, a deity bright, (70) + Came, and planted firm her sole most sunny; beneath her + Lightly the polish'd floor creak'd to the sandal again. + + So with passion aflame came wistful Laodamia 75 + Into her husband's home, Protesilaus, of yore; + Home o'er-lightly begun, ere slaughter'd victim atoning (75) + Waited of heaven's high-thron'd company grace to agree. + Nought be to me so dear, O Maid Ramnusian, ever, + I should against that law match me with opposite, I. 80 + Bloodless of high sacrifice, how thirsts each desolate altar! + This, when her husband fell, Laodamia did heed, (80) + Rapt from a bridegroom new, from his arms forced early to part her. + Early; for hardly the first winter, another again, + Yet in many a night's long dream had sated her yearning, 85 + So that love might wear cheerly, the master away; + Which not long should abide, so presag'd surely the Parcae, (85) + If to the wars her lord hurry, for Ilion arm. + + Now to revenge fair Helen, had Argos' chiefs, her puissance, + Set them afield; for Troy rous'd them, a cry not of home, 90 + Troy, dark death universal, of Asia grave and Europe, + Altar of heroes Troy, Troy of heroical acts, (90) + + Now to my own dear brother abhorred worker of ancient + Death. Ah woeful soul, brother, unhappily lost, + Ah fair light unblest, in darkness sadly receding, 95 + All our house lies low, brother, inearthed in you, + Quench'd untimely with you, joy waits not ever a morrow, (95) + Joy which alive your love's bounty fed hour upon hour. + Now on a distant shore, no kind mortality near him, + Far all household love, every familiar urn, 100 + Tomb'd in Troy the malign, in Troy the unholy reposing, + Strangely the land's last verge holds him, a dungeon of earth. (100) + + Thither in haste all Greece, one armed people assembling, + Flock'd on an ancient day, left the recesses of home, + Lest in a safe content, unreach'd, his stolen adultress. 105 + Paris inarm, in soft luxury quietly lain. + + E'en such chance, fair queen, such misery, Laodamia, (105) + Brought thee a loss as life precious, as heavenly breath. + Loss of a bridegroom dear; such whirling passion in eddies + Suck'd thee adown, so drew sheer to a sudden abyss, 110 + Deep as Graian abyss near Pheneos o'er Cyllene, + Strainer of ooze impure milk'd from a watery fen; (110) + Hewn, so stories avouch, in a mountain's kernel; an hero + Hew'd it, falsely declar'd Amphytrionian, he, + When those monster birds near grim Stymphalus his arrow 115 + Smote to the death; such task bade him a dastardly lord. + So that another God might tread that portal of heaven (115) + Freely, nor Hebe fair wither a chaste eremite. + Yet than abyss more deep thy love, thy depth of emotion; + Love which school'd thy lord, made of a master a thrall. 120 + + Not to a grandsire old so priz'd, so lovely the grandson + One dear daughter alone rears i' the soft of his years; (120) + He, long-wish'd for, an heir of wealth ancestral arriving,-- + Scarcely the tablets' marge holds him, a name to the will, + Straight all hopes laugh'd down, each baffled kinsman usurping 125 + Leaves to repose white hairs, stretches, a vulture, away; + Not in her own fond mate so turtle snowy delighteth, (125) + Tho' unabash'd, 'tis said, she the voluptuous hours + Snatches a thousand kisses, in amorous extasy biting. + Yet, more lightly than all ranges a womanly will. 130 + Great their love, their frenzy; but all their frenzy before thee + Fail'd, once clasp'd thy lord splendid in aureat hair. (130) + + Worthy in all or part thee, Laodamia, to rival, + Sought me my own sweet love, journey'd awhile to my arms. + Round her playing oft ran Cupid thither or hither, 135 + Lustrous, array'd in bright broidery, saffron of hue. + What, to Catullus alone if a wayward fancy resort not? (135) + Must I pale for a stray frailty, the shame of an hour? + Nay; lest all too much such jealous folly provoke her. + Juno's self, a supreme glory celestial, oft 140 + Crushes her eager rage, in wedlock-injury flaring, + Knowing yet right well Jove, what a losel is he. (140) + + Yet, for a man with Gods shall never lawfully match him + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 145 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 150 + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 155 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 160 + . . . . . . . . . . . + Lift thy father, a weak burden, unholpen, abhorr'd. + Not that a father's hand my love led to me, nor odours + Wafted her home on rich airs, of Assyria born; + Stealthy the gifts she gave me, a night unspeakable o'er us, 165 (145) + Gifts from her husband's dreams verily stolen, his own. + Then 'tis enough for me, if mine, mine only remaineth + That one day, whose stone shines with an happier hue. + + So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little + Verse to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon. 170 (150) + So your household names no rust nor seamy defacing + Soil this day, that new morrow, the next to the last. + Gifts full many to these heaven send as largely requiting, + Gifts Themis ever wont deal to the pious of yore. + Joys come plenty to thee, to thy own fair lady together, 175 (155) + Come to that house of mirth, come to the lady within; + Joy to the forward friend, our love's first fashioner, Anser, + Author of all this fair history, founder of all. + Lastly beyond them, above them, on her more lovely than even + Life, my lady, for whose life it is happy to be. 180 (160) + + +LXIX. + + Rufus, it is no wonder if yet no woman assenting + Softly to thine embrace tender a delicate arm. + Not tho' a gift should seek, some robe most filmy, to move her; + Not for a cherish'd gem's clarity, lucid of hue. + + Deep in a valley, thy arms, such evil story maligns thee, 5 + Rufus, a villain goat houses, a grim denizen. + All are afraid of it, all; what wonder? a rascally creature, + Verily! not with such company dally the fair. + + Slay, nor pity the brute, our nostril's rueful aversion. + Else admire not if each ravisher angrily fly. 10 + + +LXX. + + Saith my lady to me, no man shall wed me, but only + Thou; no other if e'en Jove should approach me to woo; + Yea; but a woman's words, when a lover fondly desireth, + Limn them on ebbing floods, write on a wintery gale. + + +LXXII. + + Lesbia, thou didst swear thou knewest only Catullus, + Cared'st not, if him thine arms chained, a Jove to retain. + Then not alone I loved thee, as each light lover a mistress, + Lov'd as a father his own sons, or an heir to the name. + + Now I know thee aright; so, if more hotly desiring, 5 + Yet must count thee a soul cheaper, a frailty to scorn. + 'Friend,' thou say'st, 'you cannot.' Alas! such injury leaveth + Blindly to doat poor love's folly, malignly to will. + + +LXXIII. + + Never again think any to work aught kindly soever, + Dream that in any abides honour, of injury free. + Love is a debt in arrear; time's parted service avails not; + Rather is only the more sorrow, a heavier ill: + Chiefly to me, whom none so fierce, so deadly deceiving 5 + Troubleth, as he whose friend only but inly was I. + + +LXXIV. + + Gellius heard that his uncle in ire exploded, if any + Dared, some wanton, a fault practise, a levity speak. + Not to be slain himself, see Gellius handle his uncle's + Lady; no Harpocrates muter, his uncle is hush'd. + So what he aim'd at, arriv'd at, anon let Gellius e'en this 5 + Uncle abuse; not a word yet will his uncle assay. + + +LXXVIII. + + Brothers twain has Gallus, of whom one owns a delightful + Son; his brother a fair lady, delightfuller yet. + Gallant sure is Gallus, a pair so dainty uniting; + Lovely the lady, the lad lovely, a company sweet. + Foolish sure is Gallus, an o'er-incurious husband; 5 + Uncle, a wife once taught luxury, stops not at one. + + +LXXIX. + + Lesbius, handsome is he. Why not? if Lesbia loves him + Far above all your tribe, angry Catullus, or you. + Only let all your tribe sell off, and follow, Catullus, + Kiss but his handsome lips children, a plenary three. + + +LXXXI. + + What? not in all this city, Juventius, ever a gallant + Poorly to win love's fresh favour of amorous you, + Only the lack-love signor, a wretch from sickly Pisaurum, + Guest of your hearth, no gilt statue as ashy as he? + Now your very delight, whose faithless fancy Catullus 5 + Banisheth, Ah light-reck'd lightness, apostasy vile! + + +LXXXII. + + Wouldst thou, Quintius, have me a debtor ready to owe thee + Eyes, or if earth have joy goodlier any than eyes? + One thing take not from me, to me more goodly than even + Eyes, or if earth have joy goodlier any than eyes. + + +LXXXIII. + + Lesbia while her lord stands near, rails ever upon me. + This to the fond weak fool seemeth a mighty delight. + Dolt, you see not at all. Could she forget me, to rail not, + Nought were amiss; if now scold she, or if she revile, + 'Tis not alone to remember; a shrewder stimulus arms her, 5 + Anger; her heart doth burn verily, thus to revile. + + +LXXXIV. + + _Stipends_ Arrius ever on opportunity _shtipends_, + _Ambush_ as _hambush_ still Arrius used to declaim. + Then, hoped fondly the words were a marvel of articulation, + While with an _h_ immense '_hambush_' arose from his heart. + So his mother of old, so e'en spoke Liber his uncle, 5 + Credibly; so grandsire, grandam alike did agree. + + Syria took him away; all ears had rest for a moment; + Lightly the lips those words, slightly could utter again. + None was afraid any more of a sound so clumsy returning; + Sudden a solemn fright seized us, a message arrives. 10 + 'News from Ionia country; the sea, since Arrius enter'd, + Changed; 'twas _Ionian_ once, now 'twas _Hionian_ all.' + + +LXXXV. + + Half I hate, half love. How so? one haply requireth. + Nay, I know not; alas feel it, in agony groan. + + +LXXXVI. + + Lovely to many a man is Quintia; shapely, majestic, + Stately, to me; each point singly 'tis easy to grant. + 'Lovely' the whole, I grant not; in all that bodily largeness, + Lives not a grain of salt, breathes not a charm anywhere. + Lesbia--she is lovely, an even temper of utmost 5 + Beauty, that every charm stealeth of every fair. + + +LXXXVII & LXXV. + + Ne'er shall woman avouch herself so rightly beloved, + Friend, as rightly thou art, Lesbia, lovely to me. + Ne'er was a bond so firm, no troth so faithfully plighted, + Such as against our love's venture in honour am I. + + Now so sadly my heart, dear Lesbia, draws me asunder, 5 + So in her own misspent worship uneasily lost, + Wert thou blameless in all, I may not longer approve thee, + Do anything thou wilt, cannot an enemy be. + + +LXXVI. + + If to a man bring joy past service dearly remember'd, + When to the soul her thought speaks, to be blameless of ill; + Faith not rudely profan'd, nor in oath or charter abused + Heaven, a God's mis-sworn sanctity, deadly to men. + Then doth a life-long pleasure await thee surely, Catullus, 5 + Pleasure of all this love's traitorous injury born. + + Whatso a man may speak, whom charity leads to another, + Whatso enact, by me spoken or acted is all. + Waste on a traitorous heart, nor finding kindly requital. + Therefore cease, nor still bleed agoniz'd any more. 10 + + Make thee as iron a soul, thyself draw back from affliction. + Yea, tho' a God say nay, be not unhappy for aye. + What? it is hard long love so lightly to leave in a moment? + Hard; yet abides this one duty, to do it: obey. + Here lies safety alone, one victory must not fail thee. 15 + One last stake to be lost haply, perhaps to be won. + + O great Gods immortal, if you can pity or ever + Lighted above dark death's shadow, a help to the lost; + Ah! look, a wretch, on me; if white and blameless in all I + Liv'd, then take this long canker of anguish away. 20 + If to my inmost veins, like dull death drowsily creeping, + Every delight, all heart's pleasure it wholly benumbs. + + Not anymore I pray for a love so faulty returning, + Not that a wanton abide chastely, she may not again. + Only for health I ask, a disease so deadly to banish. 25 + Gods vouchsafe it, as I ask, that am harmless of ill. + + +LXXVII. + + Rufus, a friend so vainly believ'd, so wrongly relied in, + (Vainly? alas the reward fail'd not, a heavier ill;) + Could'st thou thus steal on me, a lurking viper, an aching + Fire to the bones, nor leave aught to delight any more? + Nought to delight any more! ah cruel poison of equal 5 + Lives! ah breasts that grew each to the other awhile! + Yet far most this grieves me, to think thy slaver abhorred + Foully my own love's lips soileth, a purity rare. + Thou shalt surely atone thine injury: centuries harken, + Know thee afar; grow old, fame, to declare him anew. 10 + + +LXXXVIII. + + Gellius, how if a man in lust with a mother, a sister + Rioteth, one uncheck'd night, to iniquity bare? + How if a man's dark passion an aunt's own chastity spare not? + Canst thou tell what vast infamy lieth on him? + + Infamy lieth on him, no farthest Tethys, or ancient 5 + Ocean, of hundred streams father, abolisheth yet. + Infamy none o'ersteps, nor ventures any beyond it. + Not tho' a scorpion heat melt him, his own paramour. + + +LXXXIX. + + Gellius--he's full meagre. It is no wonder, a friendly + Mother, a sister is his loveable, healthy withal. + Then so friendly an uncle, a world of pretty relations. + Must not a man so blest meagre abide to the last? + Yea, let his hand touch only what hands touch only to trespass; 5 + Reason enough to become meagre, enough to remain. + + +XC. + + Rise from a mother's shame with Gellius hatefully wedded, + One to be taught gross rites Persic, a Magian he. + Weds with a mother a son, so needs should a Magian issue, + Save in her evil creed Persia determineth ill. + Then shall a son, so born, chant down high favour of heaven, 5 + Melting lapt in flame fatly the slippery caul. + + +XCI. + + Think not a hope so false rose, Gellius, in me to find thee + Faithful in all this love's anguish ineffable yet, + For that in heart I knew thee, had in thee honour imagin'd, + Held thee a soul to abhor vileness or any reproach. + + Only in her, I knew, thou found'st not a mother, a sister, 5 + Her that awhile for love wearily made me to pine. + Yea tho' mutual use did bind us straitly together, + Scarcely methought could lie cause to desert me therein. + + Thou found'st reason enow; so joys thy spirit in every + Shame, wherever is aught heinous, of infamy born. 10 + + +XCII. + + Lesbia doth but rail, rail ever upon me, nor endeth + Ever. A life I stake, Lesbia loves me at heart. + Ask me a sign? Our score runs parallel. I that abuse her + Ever, a life to the stake, Lesbia, love thee at heart. + + +XCIII. + + Lightly methinks I reck if Caesar smile not upon me: + Care not, whether a white, whether a swarth-skin, is he. + + +XCIV. + + Mentula--wanton is he; his calling sure is a wanton's. + Herbs to the pot, 'tis said wisely, the name to the man. + + +XCV. + + Nine times winter had end, nine times flush'd summer in harvest, + Ere to the world gave forth Cinna, the labour of years, + Zmyrna; but in one month Hortensius hundred on hundred + Verses, an unripe birth feeble, of hurry begot. + + Zmyrna to far Satrachus, to the stream of Cyprus, ascendeth; 5 + Zmyrna with eyes unborn study the centuries hoar. + Padus her own ill child shall bury, Volusius' annals; + In them a mackerel oft house him, a wrapper of ease. + + Dear to my heart be a friend's unbulky memorial ever; + Cherish an Antimachus, weighty as empty, the mob. 10 + + +XCVI. + + If to the silent dead aught sweet or tender ariseth, + Calvus, of our dim grief's common humanity born; + When to a love long cold some pensive pity recals us, + When for a friend long lost wakes some unhappy regret; + Not so deeply, be sure, Quintilia's early departing 5 + Grieves her, as in thy love dureth a plenary joy. + + +XCVIII. + + Asks some booby rebuke, some prolix prattler a judgment? + Vettius, all were said verily truer of you. + Tongue so noisome as yours, come chance, might surely on order + Bend to the mire, or lick dirt from a beggarly shoe. + Would you on all of us, all, bring, Vettius, utterly ruin? 5 + Speak; not a doubt, 'twill come utterly, ruin on all. + + +XCIX. + + Dear one, a kiss I stole, while you did wanton a-playing, + Sweet ambrosia, love, never as honily sweet. + + Dearly the deed I paid for; an hour's long misery waning + Ended, as I agoniz'd hung to the point of a cross, + Hoping vain purgation; alas! no potion of any 5 + Tears could abate that fair angriness, youthful as you. + + Hardly the sin was in act, your lips did many a falling + Drop dilute, which anon every finger away + Cleansed apace, lest still my mouth's infection abiding + Stain, like slaver abhorr'd breath'd from a foul fricatrice. 10 + + Add, that a booty to love in misery me to deliver + You did spare not, a fell worker of all agonies, + So that, again transmuted, a kiss ambrosia seeming + Sugary, turn'd to the strange harshness of harsh hellebore. + + Then such dolorous end since your poor lover awaiteth, 15 + Never a kiss will I venture, a theft any more. + + +C. + + Quintius, Aufilena; to Caelius, Aufilenus; + Lovers each, fair flower either of youths Veronese. + One to the brother bends, and one to the sister. A noble + Friendship, if e'er was true friendship, a rare brotherhood. + + Ask me to which I lean? You, Caelius: yours a devotion 5 + Single, a faith of tried quality, steady to me; + Into my inmost veins when love sank fiercely to burn them. + Mighty be your bright love, Caelius, happy be you! + + +CI. + + Borne o'er many a land, o'er many a level of ocean, + Here to the grave I come, brother, of holy repose, + Sadly the last poor gifts, death's simple duty, to bring thee; + Unto the silent dust vainly to murmur a cry. + + Since thy form deep-shrouded an evil destiny taketh 5 + From me, O hapless ghost, brother, O heavily ta'en, + Yet this bounty the while, these gifts ancestral of usance + Homely, the sad slight store piety grants to the tomb; + Drench'd in a brother's tears, and weeping freshly, receive them; + Yea, take, brother, a long Ave, a timeless adieu. 10 + + +CII. + + If to a friend sincere, Cornelius, e'er was a secret + Trusted, a friend whose soul steady to honour abides; + Me to the same brotherhood doubt not to be inly devoted, + Sworn upon oath, to the last secret, an Harpocrates. + + +CIII. + + Briefly, the sesterces all, give back, full quantity, Silo, + Then be a bully beyond exorability, you: + Else, if money be all, O cease so lewdly to practise + Bawd, yet bully beyond exorability, you. + + +CIV. + + What? should a lover adore, yet cruelly slander adoring? + I my lady, than eyes goodlier easily she? + Nay, I rail not at all. How rail, so blindly desiring? + Tappo alone dare brave all that is heinous, or you. + + +CV. + + Mentula toils, Pimplea, the Muses' mountain, ascending: + They with pitchforks hurl Mentula dizzily down. + + +CVI. + + Walks with a salesman a beauty, your eyes that beauty discerning? + Doubt not your eyes speak true; Sir, 'tis a beauty to sell. + + +CVII. + + If to delight man's wish, joy e'er unlook'd for, unhop'd for, + Falleth, a joy were such proper, a bliss to the soul. + Then 'tis a joy to the soul, like gold of Lydia precious, + Lesbia mine, that thou com'st to delight me again. + + Com'st yet again long-hop'd, long-look'd for vainly, returnest 5 + Freely to me. O day white with a luckier hue! + Lives there happier any than I, I only? a fairer + Destiny? Life so sweet know ye, or aught parallel? + + +CVIII. + + Loathly Cominius, if e'er this people's voice should arraign thee, + Hoary with all unclean infamy, worthy to die; + First should a tongue, I doubt not, of old so deadly to goodness, + Fall extruded, of each vulture a hungry regale; + Gouged be the carrion eyes some crow's black maw to replenish, 5 + Stomach a dog's fierce teeth harry, a wolf the remains. + + +CIX. + + Think you truly, belov'd, this bond of duty between us, + Lasteth, an ever-new jollity, ne'er to decease? + Grant it, Gods immortal, assure her promise in earnest; + Yea, be the lips sincere; yea, be the words from her heart. + So still rightly remain our lovers' charter, a life-long 5 + Friendship in us, whose faith fades not away to the last. + + +CX. + + Aufilena, the fair, if kind, is a favourite ever; + Asks she a price, then yields frankly? the price is her own. + You, that agreed to be kind, now vilely the treaty dishonour, + Give not at all, nor again take;--'tis a wrong to a wrong. + + Not to deceive were noble, a chastity ne'er had assented, 5 + Aufilena; but you--blindly to grasp at a gain, + Yet to withhold the effects,--'tis a greed more loathly than harlot's + Vileness, a wretch whose limbs ply to the lusts of a town. + + +CXI. + + One lord only to love, one, Aufilena, to live for, + Praise can a bride nowhere goodlier any betide; + Yet, when a niece with an uncle is even mother or even + Cousin--of all paramours this were as heinous as all. + + +CXII. + + Naso, if you show much, your company shows but a very + Little; a man you show, Naso, a woman in one. + + +CXIII. + + Pompey the first time consul, as yet Maecilia counted + Two paramours; reappears Pompey a consul again, + Two still, Cinna, remain; but grown, each unit an even + Thousand. Truly the stock's fruitful: adultery breeds. + + +CXIV. + + Rightly a lordly demesne makes Firman Mentula count for + Wealthy! the rich fine things, then the variety there! + Game in plenty to choose, fish, field, and meadow with hunting; + Only the waste exceeds strangely the quantity still. + Wealthy? perhaps I grant it; if all, wealth asks for, is absent. 5 + Praise the demesne? no doubt; only be needy the man. + + +CXV. + + Acres thirty in all, good grass, own Mentula master; + Forty to plough; bare seas, arid or empty, the rest. + Poorly methinks might Croesus a man so sumptuous equal, + Counted in one rich park owner of all he can ask. + Grass or plough, big woods, much mountain, mighty morasses; 5 + On to the farthest North, on to the boundary main. + + Vastness is all that is here; yet Mentula reaches a vaster-- + Man? not so; 'tis a vast mountainous ominous He. + + +CXVI. + + Oft with a studious heart, which hunted closely, requiring + Skill great Battiades' poesies haply to send, + Laying thus thy rage in rest, lest everlasting + Darts should reach me, to wound still an assailable head: + + Barren now I see that labour of any requital, 5 + Gellius; here all prayers fall to the ground, nor avail. + No; but a robe I carry, the barbs, thy folly, to muffle; + Mine strike sure; thy deep injury _they_ shall atone. + + + + +FRAGMENTS. + + +II. + + Here I give to be thine a fair grove, an holy, Priapus, + Where thy Lampsacus holds thee in chamber seemly, Priapus; + God, in every city, thou, most ador'd on a sea-shore + Hellespontian, eminent most of oystery sea-shores. + + +IV. + + Rapidly the spirit in an agony fled away. + + +V. + + Where yon lucent mast-top, a cup of silver, arises. + + + + +NOTES. + + +VIII. 2. + + _Lost is the lost, thou know'st it, and the past is past._ + +I am indebted for this expression to a translation of this poem by Dr. +J.A. Symonds, the whole of which I should have quoted here, had it not +been unfortunately mislaid. + + +XIV. 20. + + _Plague-prodigy._ + + Proves a plague-prodigy to God and man. + +BROWNING, _Ring and Book_, v. 664. + + +XVII. 26. + + _Rondel._ + +The round plate of iron which, according to Rich, Companion to the Latin +Dictionary, p. 609, formed the lower part of the sock worn by horses, +mules, &c., when on a journey, and, unlike our horse-shoes, was +removable at the end of it. + + +XXII. 11. + + _Looby_ + +a clown. + + Let me now the vices trace, + From his father's scoundrel race. + What could give the looby such airs? + Were they masons? were they butchers? + +TICKELL, _Theristes or the Lordling_, 23-26. + + +XXIII. + +For a spirited, though coarse, version of this poem, see Cotton's Poems, +p. 608, ed. 1689. + + 6 _Lathy._ + + On a lathy horse, all legs and length. + +BROWNING, _Flight of the Duchess_, v. 21. + + +XXIX. 8. + +The connexion between Adonis and the dove is specially referred to by +Diogenianus (_Praef._ p. 180 in Leutsch and Schneidewin's +_Paroemiographi Graeci_). It formed part of the legends of Cyprus, and +was alluded to by the lyric poet Timocreon (_Bergk. Poetae Lyrici +Graeci_, p. 1203). Compare Browning:-- + + Pompilia was no pigeon, Venus' Pet. + +_Ring and Book_, v. 701. + + +XXXV. 7. + + _So he'll quickly devour the way,_ + +move quickly over the road. So Shakespeare: + + Starting so + He seem'd in running to devour the way, + Staying no longer question. + +_2nd Part of Henry IV._, Act i. sc. 1. + + +XXXVII. 10. + + _With scorpion I, with emblem all your haunt will scrawl._ + +A member of the Saraceni family at Vicenza, finding that a beautiful +widow did not favour him, scribbled filthy pictures over the door. The +affair was brought before the Council of Ten at Venice. + +TROLLOPE'S _Paul the Pope_, p. 158. + + +XLIII. 3. + + _Mouth scarce tenible,_ + +easily running over. + + +XLV. 7. + + _A sulky lion._ + +Properly "green-eyed." The epithet would seem to be not merely +picturesque; the glaring of the eyes would be more marked in proportion +as the beast was in a fiercer and more excitable state. + + +LI. 5-12. + + I watch thy grace; and in its place + My heart a charmed slumber keeps, + While I muse upon thy face; + And a languid fire creeps + Thro' my veins to all my frame, + Dissolvingly and slowly: soon + From thy rose-red lips my name + Floweth; and then, as in a swoon, + With dinning sound my ears are rife, + My tremulous tongue faltereth, + I lose my colour, I lose my breath, + I drink the cup of a costly death, + Brimmed with delicious draughts of warmest life. + +TENNYSON, _Eleaenore_. + + +LIV. 6. + + _Yet thou flee'st not above my keen iambics_. + +This line is quoted as Catullus's by Porphyrion on Hor. c. 1. 16, 24. +His words, _Catullus cum maledicta minaretur_, compared with the last +lines of this poem, _Irascere iterum meis iambis Inmerentibus, unice +imperator_, seem to justify my view that they belong here. See my large +edition, p. 217, fragm. I. The following line, _So may destiny, &c._, is +a supplement of my own: it forms a natural introduction to the _Si non +uellem_ of v. 10. + + +LV. + +This is the only instance where Catullus has introduced a spondee into +the second foot of the phalaecian, which then becomes decasyllabic. The +alternation of this decasyllabic rhythm with the ordinary +hendecasyllable is studiously artistic; I have retained it throughout. +In the series of dactylic lines 17-22, Catullus no doubt intended to +convey the idea of rapidity, as, in the spondaic line immediately +following, of labour. + + 4 _You on Circus, in all the bills but you, Sir._ + +There seems to be no authority for the meaning ordinarily assigned to +_libellis_, "book-shops." I prefer to explain the word placards, either +announcing the sale of Camerius's effects, which would imply that he was +in debt, or describing him as a lost article. + + +LXI. + +In the rhythm of this poem, I have been obliged to deviate in two points +from Catullus. (1) In him the first foot of each line is nearly always a +trochee, only rarely a spondee: the monotonous effect of a positional +trochee in English, to say nothing of the difficulty, induced me to +substitute a spondee more frequently. (2) I have been rather less +scrupulous in allowing the last foot of the glyconic lines to be a +dactyl (-uu), in place of the more correct cretic (-u-). + +108. The words in italics are a supplement of my own. + + +LXII. 39-61. + + _Look in a garden croft, when a flower privily growing, &c._ + + _Opinion._ Look how a flower that close in closes grows, + Hid from rude cattle, bruised with no ploughs, + Which th' air doth stroke, sun strengthen, showers shoot higher, + It many youths and many maids desire; + The same, when cropt by cruel hand 'tis wither'd, + No youths at all, no maidens have desired; + So a virgin while untouch'd she doth remain + Is dear to hers; but when with body's stain + Her chaster flower is lost, she leaves to appear + Or sweet to young men or to maidens dear. + + _Truth._ Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet Hymen yield, + For as a lone vine in a naked field + Never extols her branches, never bears + Ripe grapes, but with a headlong heaviness wears + Her tender body, and her highest sprout + Is quickly levell'd with her fading root; + By whom no husbandmen, no youths will dwell; + But if by fortune she be married well, + To the elm her husband, many husbandmen + And many youths inhabit by her then; + So whilst a virgin doth untouch'd abide, + All unmanur'd she grows old with her pride; + But when to equal wedlock, in fit time, + Her fortune and endeavour lets her climb, + Dear to her love and parents she is held. + Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet Hymen yield. + +BEN JONSON, _The Barriers_. + + +LXIII. + +In the metre of this poem Catullus observes the following general type-- + +--' | --' -- +uu- u- -u -- | uu- uuu u- (so Heyse.) + uu | uu + +Except in 18, _Hilarate aere citatis erroribus animum_, 53, _Et earum +omnia adirem furibunda latibula_, where the Ionic a minore, which seems +to have been the original basis of the rhythm, is preserved intact in +the former half of the line. I have followed Catullus generally with +exactness, but with an occasional resolution of one long into two short +syllables, where it has not been introduced by the poet, _e.g._ in 31, +34, 49, 64, 65, 68, 79. In v. 10 I have ventured on a license which +Catullus does not admit, but which is, I think, justified by other and +earlier specimens of the metre, an anaclasis of the original Ionic a +minore at the end of the line. In reading this poem it should never be +forgotten that there is a pause in the middle of each line, which +practically divides it into two halves. Tennyson, in his _Boadicea_, +written on the model of the _Attis_, divides each verse similarly in the +middle; but in the first half he has changed the rhythm of Catullus to a +trochaic rhythm, in the second, while producing much of the effect of +the _Attis_ by the accumulation of short syllables at the end of the +line, he has not bound himself to the same strictly defined feet as +Catullus, and generally has preferred to take from the somewhat +emasculate character of the verse by adding an unaccented syllable at +the close. + + +LXIII. + + 8 _Taborine_ + + Beat loud the tabourines, let the trumpets blow. + +_Troilus and Cressida_, Act iv. sc. 5. + + 16 _Aby_ + +abide; as, I think, in Spenser's _Faerie Queene_, vi. 2, 19. + + But he was fierce and whot, + Ne time would give, nor any termes aby. + +Below, lxiv. 297, I have used it in its more common meaning of atoning +for, _Faerie Queene_, iv. 1, 53. + + Yet thou, false Squire, his fault shalt deare aby, + And with thy punishment his penance shalt supply. + +_Midsummer Night's Dream_, iii. 2. + + Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. + + 24 _Ululation._ + + There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud + Resounded through the air without a star. + +LONGFELLOW'S _Dante Inf_. iii. 22. + + 41 _When he smote the shadowy twilight with his healthy team sublime._ + + Ere yet they blind the stars, and the wild team + Which love thee, yearning for thy yoke, arise, + And shake the darkness from their loosen'd manes, + And beat the twilight into flakes of fire. + +TENNYSON, _Tithonus_. + + 83 _On a nervy neck._ + + Four maned lions hale + The sluggish wheels; solemn their toothed maws, + Their surly eyes brow-hidden, heavy paws + Uplifted drowsily, and nervy tails + Covering their tawny brushes. + +KEATS, _Endymion_, II. ad fin. + + +LXIV. 160. + + _Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden._ + +I have combined _thou_ with _your_ purposely, to suggest the idea +conveyed in _uestras_ as opposed to _potuisti_, the family abode as +opposed to the individual Theseus. + + 183 _Flexibly fleeting_ + +bent as they move rapidly through the water. + + 186 _No glimmer of hope_ + +from Heyse, + + Keinerlei Flucht, kein Schimmer der Hoffnung, stumm liegt Alles. + + 258 _Gordian._ + + She was a gordian shape of dazzling hue, + Vermilion-spotted, golden, green, and blue. + +KEATS, _Lamia_, Part I. + + 308 _Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush' d rosy beneath them._ + +I have attempted here to give what I conceive Catullus may have meant to +convey by the remarkable collocation _At roseo niueae residebant uertice +uittae_. Properly, the wreaths are rosy, the locks snow-white; but the +colour of the wreaths is so blent with the colour of the locks that each +is lost in the other, and an inversion of epithets becomes possible. + + _So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles._ + +A verse seems to have been lost here, which I have thus supplied. + + +LXVIII. 149. + + _So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little + Verse, to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon_. + + These little rites, a stone, a verse, receive, + 'Tis all a father, all a friend can give. + +POPE, _Epitaph on the children of Lord Digby._ + + +LXIX. 4. + + _Clarity_ + +clearness, transparency. + + Here clarity of candour, history's soul, + The critical mind in short. + +BROWNING, _Ring and Book_, i. 925. + + +LXX. + +Sir Philip Sidney thus translates this poem:-- + + Unto no body my woman saith shee had rather a wife be, + Then to myself, not though Jove grew a suter of hers. + These be her words, but a woman's words to a love that is eager, + Midde [windes?] or waters stream do require to be writ. + + +XCIX. 10. + + _Fricatrice._ + + To a lewd harlot, a base fricatrice. + +BEN JONSON, _The Fox_, iv. 2. + + +THE END. + +BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Poems and Fragments of Catullus, by Catullus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CATULLUS *** + +***** This file should be named 18867.txt or 18867.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/8/6/18867/ + +Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi, Ted Garvin, Taavi Kalju and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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