---
title: "Poems · Carmina"
author: "Catullus"
translator: "Sir Richard Francis Burton"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 3 of 4
url: https://scriptura.si/works/catullus-poems/3/
cite: "Catullus, tr. Sir Richard Francis Burton, Poems · Carmina, section 3. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/catullus-poems/3/"
---

# Poems · Carmina

*Catullus, tr. Sir Richard Francis Burton*

Lesbia, the sparrow, a thousand kisses, a brother’s grave: the poems of Catullus in Latin beside English.

> Latin: ed. Elmer Truesdell Merrill, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0472.phi001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Sir Richard Francis Burton, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0472.phi001.perseus-eng3). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 3. Poems 64–67

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/catullus-poems/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/catullus-poems/3/#p-N

[¶0] E’en as she thus poured forth these words from anguish of bosom,
And for this cruel deed, distracted, sued she for vengeance,
Nodded the Ruler of Gods Celestial, matchless of All-might,
When at the gest earth-plain and horrid spaces of ocean
Trembled, and every sphere rockt stars and planets resplendent.
Meanwhile Theseus himself, obscured in blindness of darkness
As to his mind, dismiss’d from breast oblivious all things
Erewhile enjoined and held hereto in memory constant,
Nor for his saddened sire the gladness-signals uphoisting
Heralded safe return within sight of the Erechthean harbour.
For ’twas told of yore, when from walls of the Virginal Deess
Aegeus speeding his son, to the care of breezes committed,
Thus with a last embrace to the youth spoke words of commandment:

> Latin: “quae quoniam verae nascuntur pectore ab imo,”
“vos nolite pati nostrum vanescere luctum,”
“sed quali solam Theseus me mente reliquit,”
“tali mente, deae, funestet seque suosque.”
has postquam maesto profudit pectore voces
supplicium saevis exposcens anxia factis,
adnuit invicto caelestum numine rector,
quo nutu tellus atque horrida contremuerunt
aequora concussitque micantia sidera mundus.

[¶1] “Son! far nearer my heart (you alone) than life of the longest,”
“Son, I perforce dismiss to doubtful, dangerous chances,”
“Lately restored to me when eld draws nearest his ending,”
“Since such fortune in me, and in you such boiling of valour”
“Tear you away from me so loath, whose eyes in their languor”
“Never are sated with sight of my son, all-dearest of figures.”
“Nor will I send you forth with joy that gladdens my bosom,”
“Nor will I suffer you show boon signs of favouring Fortune,”
“But from my soul I’ll first express an issue of sorrow,”
“Soiling my hoary hairs with dust and ashes commingled;”
“Then will I hang stained sails fast-made to the wavering yard-arms,”
“So shall our mourning thought and burning torture of spirit”
“Show by the dark sombre-dye of Iberian canvas spread.”
“But, grant me the grace Who dwells in Sacred Itone,”
“(And our issue to guard and ward the seats of Erechtheus”
“Sware She) that if your right is besprent with blood of the Man-Bull,”
“Then do you so-wise act, and stored in memory’s heart-core”
“Dwell these mandates of me, no time their traces untracing.”
“Dip, when first shall arise our hills to gladden your eye-glance,”
“Down from your every mast the ill-omened vestments of mourning,”
“Then let the twisten ropes upheave the whitest of canvas,”
“Wherewith splendid shall gleam the tallest spars of the top-mast,”
“These seeing sans delay with joy exalting my spirit”
“Well shall I wot boon Time sets you returning before me.”

> Latin: ipse autem caeca mentem caligine Theseus
consitus oblito dimisit pectore cuncta
quae mandata prius constanti mente tenebat,
dulcia nec maesto sustollens signa parenti
sospitem Erechtheum se ostendit visere portum
namque ferunt olim, classi cum moenia divae
linquentem gnatum ventis concrederet Aegeus,
talia complexum iuveni mandata dedisse:
“gnate mihi longe iucundior unice vita,”
“gnate, ego quem in dubios cogor dimittere casus”
“reddite in extrema nuper mihi fine senectae,”
“quandoquidem fortuna mea ac tua fervida virtus”
“eripit invito mihi te, cui languida nondum”
“lumina sunt gnati cara saturata figura,”
“non ego te gaudens laetanti pectore mittam,”
“nec te ferre sinam fortunae signa secundae,”
“sed primum multas expromam mente querelas”
“canitiem terra atque infuso pulvere foedans,”
“inde infecta vago suspendam lintea malo,”
“nostros ut luctus nostraeque incendia mentis”
“carbasus obscurata decet ferrugine Hibera.”
“quod tibi si sancti concesserit incola Itoni,”
“quae nostrum genus ac sedes defendere Erechthei”
“adnuit, ut tauri respergas sanguine dextram,”
“tum vero facito ut memori tibi condita corde”
“haec vigeant mandata, nec ulla oblitteret aetas,”
“ut simul ac nostros invisent lumina collis,”
“funestam antennae deponant undique vestem”
“candidaque intorti sustollant vela rudentes,”
“quam primum cernens ut laeta gaudia mente”
“agnoscam, cum te reducem aetas prospera sistet.”

[¶2] Such were the mandates which stored at first in memory constant
Faded from Theseus’ mind like mists, compelled by the whirlwind,
Fleet from aerial crests of mountains hoary with snow-drifts.
But as the sire had sought the citadel’s summit for outlook,
Wasting his anxious eyes with tear-floods evermore flowing,
Forthright e’en as he saw the sail-gear darkened with dye-stain,
Headlong himself flung he from the sea-cliff’s pinnacled summit
Holding his Theseus lost by doom of pitiless Fortune.
Thus as he came to the home funest, his roof-tree paternal,
Theseus (vaunting the death), what dule to the maiden of Minos
Dealt with unminding mind so dree’d he similar dolour.
She too gazing in grief at the kelson vanishing slowly,
Self-wrapt, manifold cares revolved in spirit perturbed.
But from the further side came flitting bright-faced Iacchus
Girded by Satyr-crew and Nysa-reared Sileni
Burning with love unto thee (Ariadne!) and greeting thy presence.
…
Who flocking eager to fray did rave with infuriate spirit,
“Evoe” frenzying loud, with heads at “Evoe” rolling.
Brandisht some of the maids their thyrsi sheathed of spear-point,
Some snatcht limbs and joints of sturlings rended to pieces,
These girt necks and waists with writhing bodies of vipers,
Those with the gear enwombed in crates dark orgies ordained—
Orgies that ears profane must vainly lust for o’er hearing—
Others with palms on high smote hurried strokes on the cymbal,
Or from the polisht brass woke thin-toned tinkling music,
While from the many there boomed and blared hoarse blast of the horn-trump,
And with its horrid skirl loud shrilled the barbarous bag-pipe
Showing such varied forms, that richly-decorated couch-cloth
Folded in strait embrace the bedding drapery-veiled.
This when the Thessalan youths had eyed with eager inspection
Fulfilled, place they began to provide for venerate Godheads,
Even as Zephyrus’ breath, seas couching placid at dawn-tide,
Roughens, then stings and spurs the wavelets slantingly fretted—
Rising Aurora the while ’neath Sol the wanderer’s threshold—
Tardy at first they flow by the clement breathing of breezes
Urged, and echo the shores with soft-toned ripples of laughter,
But as the winds wax high so waves wax higher and higher,
Flashing and floating afar to outswim morn’s purpurine splendours,—
So did the crowd fare forth, the royal vestibule leaving,
And to their house each wight with vaguing paces departed.
After their wending, the first, foremost from Pelion’s summit,
Chiron came to the front with woodland presents surcharged:
Whatso of blooms and flowers bring forth Thessalian uplands
Mighty with mountain crests, whate’er of riverine lea flowers
Reareth Favonius’ air, bud-breeding, tepidly breathing,
All in his hands brought he, unseparate in woven garlands,
Whereat laughed the house as soothed by pleasure of perfume.
Presently Péneus appears, deserting verdurous Tempe—
Tempe girt by her belts of greenwood ever impending,
Left for the Mamonides with frequent dances to worship—
Nor is he empty of hand, for bears he tallest of beeches
Deracinate, and bays with straight boles lofty and stately,
Not without nodding plane-tree nor less the flexible sister
Fire-slain Phaëton left, and not without cypresses airy.
These in a line wide-broke set he, the Mansion surrounding,
So by the soft leaves screened, the porch might flourish in verdure.
Follows hard on his track with active spirit Prometheus,
Bearing extenuate sign of penalties suffer’d in by-gones.
Paid erewhiles what time fast-bound as to every member,
Hung he in carkanet slung from the Scythian rocktor.
Last did the Father of Gods with his sacred spouse and his offspring,
Proud from the Heavens proceed, thee leaving (Phoebus) in loneness,
Lone wi’ thy sister twin who haunteth mountains of Idrus:
For that the Virgin spurned as thou the person of Peleus,
Nor Thetis’ nuptial torch would greet by act of her presence.
When they had leaned their limbs upon snowy benches reposing,
Tables largely arranged with various viands were garnisht.
But, ere opened the feast, with infirm gesture their semblance
Shaking, the Parcae fell to chaunting veridique verses.
Robed were their tremulous frames all o’er in muffle of garments
Bright-white, purple of hem enfolding heels in its edges;
Snowy the fillets that bound heads aged by many a year-tide,
And, as their wont aye was, their hands plied labour unceasing.
Each in her left upheld with soft fleece clothed a distaff,
Then did the right that drew forth thread with upturn of fingers
Gently fashion the yarn which deftly twisted by thumb-ball
Speeded the spindle poised by thread-whorl perfect of polish;
Thus as the work was wrought, the lengths were trimmed wi’ the fore-teeth,
While to their thin, dry lips stuck wool-flecks severed by biting,
Which at the first outstood from yarn-hanks evenly fine-drawn.
Still at their feet in front soft fleece-flecks white as the snow-flake
Lay in the trusty guard of wickers woven in withies.
Always a-carding the wool, with clear-toned voices resounding
Told they such lots as these in song divinely directed,
Chaunts which none after-time shall ’stablish falsehood-convicted.
O who by virtues great all highmosthonours enhancest,
Guard of Emáthia-land, most famous made by thine offspring,
Take what the Sisters deign this gladsome day to disclose thee,
Oracles soothfast told,—And ye, by Destiny followed,
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
Soon to thy sight shall rise, their fond hopes bringing to bridegrooms,
Hesperus: soon shall come thy spouse with planet auspicious,
Who shall thy mind enbathe with a love that softens the spirit,
And as thyself shall prepare for sinking in languorous slumber,
Under thy neck robust, soft arms dispreading as pillow.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
Never a house like this such loves as these hath united,
Never did love conjoin by such-like covenant lovers,
As th’according tie Thetis deigned in concert wi’ Peleus.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
Born of yon twain shall come Achilles guiltless of fear-sense,
Known by his forceful breast and ne’er by back to the foeman,
Who shall at times full oft in doubtful contest of race-course
Conquer the fleet-foot doe with slot-tracks smoking and burning.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
None shall with him compare, howe’er war-doughty a hero,
Whenas the Phrygian rills flow deep with bloodshed of Teucer,
And beleaguering the walls of Troy with longest of warfare
He shall the works lay low, third heir of Pelops the perjured.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
His be the derring-do and deeds of valour egregious,
Often mothers shall own at funeral-rites of their children,
What time their hoary hairs from head in ashes are loosened,
And wi’ their hands infirm thay smite their bosoms loose duggèd.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
For as the toiling hind bestrewing denseness of corn-stalks
Under the broiling sun mows grain-fields yellow to harvest,
So shall his baneful brand strew earth with corpses of Troy-born.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
Aye to his valorous worth attest shall wave of Scamander
Which unto Hellè-Sea fast flowing ever dischargeth,
Straiter whose course shall grow by up-heaped barrage of corpses,
While in his depths runs warm his stream with slaughter commingled.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
Witness in fine shall be the victim rendered to death-stroke,
Whenas the earthern tomb on lofty tumulus builded
Shall of the stricken maid receive limbs white as the snow-flake.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
For when at last shall Fors to weary Achaians her fiat
Deal, of Dardanus-town to burst Neptunian fetters,
Then shall the high-reared tomb stand bathed with Polyxena’s life-blood,
Who, as the victim doomed to fall by the double-edged falchion,
Forward wi’ hams relaxt shall smite a body beheaded.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
Wherefore arise, ye pair, conjoin loves ardently longed-for,
Now doth the groom receive with happiest omen his goddess,
Now let the bride at length to her yearning spouse be delivered.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
Neither the nurse who comes at dawn to visit her nursling
E’er shall avail her neck to begird with yesterday’s ribband.
[Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O spindles.]
Nor shall the mother’s soul for ill-matcht daughter a-grieving
Lose by a parted couch all hopes of favourite grandsons.
Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
Thus in the bygone day Peleus’ fate foretelling
Chaunted from breasts divine prophetic verse the Parcae.
For that the pure chaste homes of heroes to visit in person
Oft-tide the Gods, and themselves to display where mortals were gathered,
Wont were the Heavenlies while none human piety spurned.
Often the Deities’ Sire, in fulgent temple a-dwelling,
Whenas in festal days received he his annual worship,
Looked upon hundreds of bulls felled prone on pavement before him.
Full oft Liber who roamed from topmost peak of Parnassus
Hunted his howling host, his Thyiads with tresses dishevelled.
Then with contending troops from all their city outflocking
Gladly the Delphians hailed their God with smoking of altars.
Often in death-full war and bravest of battle, or Mavors
Or rapid Triton’s Queen or eke the Virgin Rhamnusian,
Bevies of weaponed men exhorting, proved their presence.
But from the time when earth was stained with unspeakable scandals
And forth fro’ greeding breasts of all men justice departed,
Then did the brother drench his hands in brotherly bloodshed,
Stinted the son in heart to mourn decease of his parents,
Longèd the sire to sight his first-born’s funeral convoy
So more freely the flower of step-dame-maiden to rifle;
After that impious Queen her guiltless son underlying,
Impious, the household gods with crime ne’er dreading to sully—
All things fair and nefand being mixt in fury of evil
Turned from ourselves avert the great goodwill of the Godheads.
Wherefor they nowise deign our human assemblies to visit,
Nor do they suffer themselves be met in light of the day-tide.

> Latin: haec mandata prius constanti mente tenentem
Thesea ceu pulsae ventorum flamine nubes
aerium nivei montis liquere cacumen.
at pater, ut summa prospectum ex arce petebat
anxia in adsiduos absumens lumina fletus,
cum primum inflati conspexit lintea veli,
praecipitem sese scopulorum e vertice iecit
amissum credens immiti Thesea fato.
sic funesta domus ingressus tecta paterna
morte ferox Theseus, qualem Minoidi luctu
obtulerat mente immemori, talem ipse recepit.
quae tum prospectans cedentem maesta carinam
multiplices animo volvebat saucia curas.
at parte ex alia florens volitabat Iacchus
cum thiaso satyrorum et Nysigenis silenis
te quaerens, Ariadna, tuoque incensus arnore.
…
quae tum alacres passim lymphata mente furebant
euhoe bacchantes, euhoe capita inflectentes.
harum pars tecta quatiebant cuspide thyrsos,
pars e divulso iactabant membra iuvenco,
pars sese tortis serpentibus incingebant,
pars obscura cavis celebrabant orgia cistis,
orgia quae frustra cupiunt audire profani,
plangebant aliae proceris tympana palmis
aut tereti tenuis tinnitus aere ciebant,
multis raucisonos efflabant cornua bombos
barbaraque horribili stridebat tibia cantu.
talibus amplifice vestis decorata figuris
pulvinar complexa suo velabat amictu.
quae postquam cupide spectando Thessala pubes
expleta est, sanctis coepit decedere divis.
hic, qualis flatu placidum mare matutino
horrificans Zephyrus proclivas incitat undas
aurora exoriente vagi sub limina solis,
quae tarde primum clementi flamine pulsae
procedunt, leviterque sonant plangore cachinni,
post vento crescente magis magis increbescunt
purpureaque procul nantes ab luce refulgent,
sic tum vestibuli linquentes regia tecta
ad se quisque vago passim pede discedebant.
quorum post abitum princeps e vertice Peli
advenit Chiron portans silvestria dona:
nam quoscumque ferunt campi, quos Thessala magnis
montibus ora creat, quos propter fluminis undas
aura parit flores tepidi fecunda Favoni,
hos indistinctis plexos tulit ipse corollis,
quo permulsa domus iucundo risit odore.
confestim Penios adest, viridantia Tempe,
Tempe quae silvae cingunt super impendentes,
naiasin linquens Doris celebranda choreis,
non vacuus: namque ille tulit radicitus altas
fagos ac recto proceras stipite laurus,
non sine nutanti platano lentaque sorore
flammati Phaethontis et aeria cupressu.
haec circum sedes late contexta locavit,
vestibulum ut molli velatum fronde vireret.
post hunc consequitur sollerti corde Prometheus
extenuata gerens veteris vestigia poenae
quam quondam silici restrictus membra catena
persolvit pendens e verticibus praeruptis.
inde pater divum sancta cum coniuge natisque
advenit, caelo te solum, Phoebe, relinquens
unigenamque simul cultricem montibus Idri:
Pelea nam tecum pariter soror adspernata est
nec Thetidis taedas voluit celebrare iugalis.
qui postquam niveis flexerunt sedibus artus,
large multiplici constructae sunt dape mensae,
cum interea infirmo quatientes corpora motu
veridicos Parcae coeperunt edere cantus.
his corpus tremulum complectens undique vestis
candida purpurea talos incinxerat ora,
at roseae niveo residebant vertice vittae,
aeternumque manus carpebant rite laborem.
laeva colum molli lana retinebat amictum,
dextera tum leviter deducens fila supinis
formabat digitis, tum prono in pollice torquens
libratum tereti versabat turbine fusum,
atque ita decerpens aequabat semper opus dens,
laneaque aridulis haerebant morsa labellis
quae prius in levi fuerant exstantia filo.
ante pedes autem candentis mollia lanae
vellera virgati custodibant calathisci.
haec tum clarisona vellentes vellera voce
talia divino fuderunt carmine fata,
carmine perfidiae quod post nulla arguet aetas:
“o decus eximium magnis virtutibus augens,”
“Emathiae tutamen opis, clarissime nato,”
“accipe quod laeta tibi pandunt luce sorores,”
“veridicum oraclum. sed vos, quae fata secuntur,”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“adveniet tibi iam portans optata maritis”
“Hesperus, adveniet fausto cum sidere coniunx,”
“quae tibi flexanimo mentem perfundat amore”
“languidulosque paret tecum coniungere somnos”
“levia substernens robusto bracchia collo.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“nulla domus tales unquam contexit amores,”
“nullus amor tali coniunxit foedere amantes”
“qualis adest Thetidi, qualis concordia Peleo.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“nascetur vobis expers terroris Achilles,”
“hostibus haud tergo, sed forti pectore notus,”
“qui persaepe vago victor certamine cursus”
“flammea praevertet celeris vestigia cervae.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“non illi quisquam bello se conferet heros,”
“cum Phrygii Teucro manabunt sanguine campi”
“Troicaque obsidens longinquo moenia bello”
“periuri Pelopis vastabit tertius heres.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“illius egregias virtutes claraque facta”
“saepe fatebuntur gnatorum in funere matres,”
“cum incultum cano solvent a vertice crinem”
“putridaque infirmis variabunt pectora palmis.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“namque velut densas praecerpens messor aristas”
“sole sub ardenti flaventia demetit arva,”
“Troiugenum infesto prosternet corpora ferro.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“testis erit magnis virtutibus unda Scamandri,”
“quae passim rapido diffunditur Hellesponto,”
“cuius iter caesis angustans corporum acervis”
“alta tepefaciet permixta flumina caede.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“denique testis erit morti quoque reddita praeda”
“cum teres excelso coacervatum aggere bustum”
“excipiet niveos percussae virginis artus.”
“Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“nam simul ac fessis dederit fors copiam Achivis”
“urbis Dardaniae Neptunia solvere vincla,”
“alta Polyxenia madefient caede sepulcra,”
“quae, velut ancipiti succumbens victima ferro,”
“proiciet truncum submisso poplite corpus.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“quare agite optatos animi coniungite amores.”
“accipiat coniunx felici foedere divam,”
“dedatur cupido iam dudum nupta marito.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
“non illam nutrix orienti luce revisens”
“hesterno collum poterit circumdare filo”
“(currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi),”
“anxia nec mater discordis maesta puellae”
“secubitu caros mittet sperare nepotes.”
“currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.”
talia praefantes quondam felicia Pelei
carmina divino cecinerunt pectore Parcae.
praesentes namque ante domos invisere castas
heroum et sese mortali ostendere coetu
caelicolae nondum spreta pietate solebant.
saepe pater divum templo in fulgente, revisens
annua cum festis venissent sacra diebus,
conspexit terra centum procumbere tauros.
saepe vagus Liber Parnasi vertice summo
Thyiadas effusis euantis crinibus egit,
cum Delphi tota certatim ex urbe ruentes
acciperent laeti divum fumantibus aris.
saepe in letifero belli certamine Mavors
aut rapidi Tritonis era aut Rhamnusia virgo
armatas hominum est praesens hortata catervas.
sed postquam tellus scelere est imbuta nefando,
iustitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugarunt,
perfudere manus fraterno sanguine fratres,
destitit exstinctos natus lugere parentes,
optavit genitor primaevi funera nati
Liber ut innuptae poteretur flore novercae,
ignaro mater substernens se impia nato
impia non verita est divos scelerare parentes,
omnia fanda nefanda malo permixta furore
iustificam nobis mentem avertere deorum.
quare nec talis dignantur visere coetus
nec se contingi patiuntur lumine claro.

[¶3] Albeit care that consumes, with dule assiduous grieving,
Me from the Learnèd Maids (Hortalus!) ever seclude,
Nor can avail sweet births of the Muses thou to deliver
Thought o’ my mind; (so much floats it on flooding of ills:
For that the Lethe-wave upsurging of late from abysses,
Lavèd my brother’s foot, paling with pallor of death,
He whom the Trojan soil, Rhoetean shore underlying,
Buries for ever and aye, forcibly snatched from our sight.
…
I can address; no more shall I hear thee tell of thy doings,
Say, shall I never again, brother all liefer than life,
Sight thee henceforth? But I will surely love thee for ever
Ever what songs I sing saddened shall be by thy death;
Such as the Daulian bird ’neath gloom of shadowy frondage
Warbles, of Itys lost ever bemoaning the lot.)
Yet amid grief so great to thee, my Hortalus, send I
These strains sung to a mode borrowed from Battiades;
Lest shouldest weet of me thy words, to wandering wind-gusts
Vainly committed, perchance forth of my memory flowed—
As did that apple sent for a furtive giftie by wooer,
In the chaste breast of the Maid hidden a-sudden out-sprang;
For did the hapless forget when in loose-girt garment it lurkèd,
Forth would it leap as she rose, scared by her mother’s approach,
And while coursing headlong, it rolls far out of her keeping,
O’er the triste virgin’s brow flushes the conscious blush.

> Latin: Etsi me adsiduo defectum cura dolore
sevocat a doctis, Ortale, virginibus,
nec potis est dulcis Musarum expromere fetus
mens animi: tantis fluctuat ipsa malis,—
namque mei nuper Lethaeo gurgite fratris
pallidulum manans adluit unda pedem,
Troia Rhoeteo quem subter litore tellus
Ereptum nostris obterit ex oculis.
…
nunquam ego te vita frater amabilior
adspiciam posthac: at certe semper amabo,
semper maesta tua carmina morte canam,
qualia sub densis ramorum concinit umbris
Daulias absumpti fata gemens Ityli,—
sed tamen in tantis maeroribus, Ortale, mitto
haec expressa tibi carmina Battiadae,
ne tua dicta vagis nequiquam credita ventis
effluxisse meo forte putes animo,
ut missum sponsi furtivo munere malum
procurrit casto virginis e gremio,
quod miserae oblitae molli sub veste locatum,
dum adventu matris prosilit, excutitur;
atque illud prono praeceps agitur decursu,
huic manat tristi conscius ore rubor.

[¶4] He who every light of the sky world’s vastness inspected,
He who mastered in mind risings and settings of stars,
How of the fast rising sun obscured be the fiery splendours,
How at the seasons assured vanish the planets from view,
How Diana to lurk thief-like ’neath Latmian stone-fields,
Summoned by sweetness of Love, comes from her aëry gyre;
That same Cónon espied among lights Celestial shining
Me, Berenice’s Hair, which, from her glorious head,
Fulgent in brightness afar, to many a host of the Godheads
Stretching her soft smooth arms she vowed to devoutly bestow,
What time strengthened by joy of new-made wedlock the monarch
Bounds of Assyrian land hurried to plunder and pill;
Bearing of nightly strife new signs and traces delicious,
Won in the war he waged virginal trophies to win.
Loathsome is Venus to all new-paired? Else why be the parents’
Pleasure frustrated aye by the false flow of tears
Poured in profusion amid illuminate genial chamber?
Nay not real the ’groans; ever so help me the Gods!
This truth taught me my Queen by force of manifold ’plainings
After her new groom hied facing the fierceness of fight.
Yet so thou mournedst not for a bed deserted of husband,
As for a brother beloved wending on woefullest way?
How was the marrow of thee consumedly wasted by sorrow!
So clean forth of thy breast, rackt with solicitous care,
Mind fled, sense being reft! But I have known thee for certain
E’en from young virginal years lofty of spirit to be.
Hast thou forgotten the feat whose greatness won thee a royal
Marriage—a deed so prow, never a prower was dared?
Yet how sad was the speech thou spakest, thy husband farewelling!
(Jupiter!) Often thine eyes wiping with sorrowful hand!
What manner God so great thus changed thee? Is it that lovers
Never will tarry afar parted from person beloved?
Then unto every God on behalf of thy helpmate, thy sweeting,
Me thou gayest in vow, not without bloodshed of bulls,
If he be granted return, and long while nowise delaying,
Captive Asia he add unto Egyptian bounds.
Now for such causes I, enrolled in host of the Heavens,
By a new present, discharge promise thou madest of old:
Maugrè my will, O Queen, my place on thy head I relinquished,
Maugrè my will, I attest, swearing by thee and thy head;
Penalty due shall befall whoso makes oath to no purpose.
Yet who assumes the vaunt forceful as iron to be?
E’en was that mount o’erthrown, though greatest in universe, where through
Thía’s illustrious race speeded its voyage to end,
Whenas the Medes brought forth new sea, and barbarous youth-hood
Urged an Armada to swim traversing middle-Athos.
What can be done by Hair when such things yield them to Iron?
Jupiter! Grant Chalybon perish the whole of the race,
Eke who in primal times ore seeking under the surface
Showed th’ example, and spalled iron however so hard.
Shortly before I was shorn my sister tresses bewailèd
Lot of me, e’en as the sole brother to Memnon the Black,
Winnowing upper air wi’ feathers flashing and quiv’ring,
Chloris’ wing-borne steed, came before Arsinoë,
Whence upraising myself he flies through aëry shadows,
And in chaste Venus’ breast drops he the present he bears.
Eke Zephyritis had sent, for the purpose trusted, her bondsman,
Settler of Grecian strain on the Canopian strand.
So willed various Gods, lest sole ’mid lights of the Heavens
Should Ariadne’s crown taken from temples of her
Glitter in gold, but we not less shine fulgent in splendour,
We the consecrate spoils shed by a blond-hued head,
Even as weeping-wet sought I the fanes of Celestials
Placed me the Goddess a new light amid star-lights of old:
For with Virgo in touch and joining the furious Lion’s
Radiance with Callisto, maid of Lyc´on beloved,
Wind I still to the west, conducting tardy Boötes,
Who unwilling and slow must into Ocean merge.
Yet though press me o’night the pacing footprints of Godheads,
Tethys, hoary of hair, ever regains me by day.
(Lend me thy leave to speak such words, Rhamnusian Virgin,
Verities like unto these never in fear will I veil;
Albeit every star asperse me with enemy’s censure,
Secrets in soothfast heart hoarded perforce I reveal.)
Nowise gladdens me so this state as absence torments me,
Absence doomëd for aye ta’en fro’ my mistress’s head,
Where I was wont (though she such cares unknew in her girlhood)
Many a thousand scents, Syrian unguents, to sip.
Now do you pair conjoined by the longed-for light of the torches,
Earlier yield not selves unto unanimous wills
Nor wi’ the dresses doft your barèd nipples encounter,
Ere shall yon onyx-vase pour me libations glad,
Onyx yours, ye that seek only rights of virtuous bed-rite.
But who yieldeth herself unto advowtry impure,
Ah! may her loathed gifts in light dust uselessly soak,
For of unworthy sprite never a gift I desire.
Rather, O new-mated brides, be concord aye your companion,
Ever let constant love dwell in the dwellings of you.
Yet when thou sightest, O Queen, the Constellations, I pray thee,
Every festal day Venus the Goddess appease;
Nor of thy unguent-gifts allow myself to be lacking,
Nay, do thou rather add largeliest increase to boons.
Would but the stars down fall! Could I of my Queen be the hair-lock,
Neighbour to Hydrochois e’en let Oarion shine.

> Latin: Omnia qui magni dispexit lumina mundi,
qui stellarum ortus comperit atque obitus,
flammeus ut rapidi solis nitor obscuretur,
ut cedant certis sidera temporibus,
ut Triviam furtim sub Latmia saxa relegans
dulcis amor gyro devocet aerio,
idem me ille Conon caelesti in lumine vidit
e Bereniceo vertice caesariem
fulgentem clare, quam cunctis illa deorum
levia protendens bracchia pollicita est,
qua rex tempestate novo auctus hymenaeo
vastatum finis iuerat Assyrios,
dulcia nocturnae portans vestigia rixae
quam de virgineis gesserat exuviis.
estne novis nuptis odio Venus, atque parentum
frustrantur falsis gaudia lacrimulis
ubertim thalami quas intra limina fundunt?
non, ita me divi vera gemunt, iuerint.
id mea me multis docuit regina querelis
invisente novo proelia torva viro.
at tu non orbum luxti deserta cubile,
sed fratris cari flebile discidium?
quam penitus maestas exedit cura medullas!
ut tibi tunc toto pectore sollicitae
sensibus ereptis mens excidit! at te ego certe
cognoram a parva virgine magnanimam.
anne bonum oblita es facinus, quo regium adepta es
coniugium, quod non fortior ausit alis?
sed tum maesta virum mittens quae verba locuta es!
Iuppiter, ut tristi lumina saepe manu!
quis te mutavit tantus deus? an quod amantes
non longe a caro corpore abesse volunt?
atque ibi me cunctis pro dulci coniuge divis
non sine taurino sanguine pollicita es,
si reditum tetulisset. is haud in tempore longo
captam Asiam Aegypti finibus addiderat.
quis ego pro factis caelesti reddita coetu
pristina vota novo munere dissolvo.
invita, o regina, tuo de vertice cessi,
invita: adiuro teque tuumque caput:
digna ferat quod si quis inaniter adiurarit:
sed qui se ferro postulet esse parem?
ille quoque eversus mons est quem maximum in oris
progenies Thiae clara supervehitur,
cum Medi peperere novum mare, cumque inventus
per medium classi barbara navit Athon.
quid facient crines, cum ferro talia cedant?
Iuppiter, ut Chalybon omne genus pereat,
et qui principio sub terra quaerere venas
institit ac ferri fingere duritiem!
abiunctae paulo ante comae mea fata sorores
lugebant, cum se Memnonis Aethiopis
unigena impellens nutantibus aera pennis
obtulit Arsinoes † elocridicos ales equus,
isque per aetherias me tollens avolat umbras
et Veneris casto conlocat in gremio.
ipsa suum Zephyritis eo famulum legarat,
Graia Canopiis incola litoribus,
†hi dii ven ibi vario ne solum in lumine caeli
ex Ariadneis aurea temporibus
fixa corona foret, sed nos quoque fulgeremus
devotae flavi verticis exuviae,
uvidulam a fletu cedentem ad temple deum me
sidus in antiquis diva novum posuit:
Virginis et saevi contingens namque Leonis
lumina, Callisto iuncta Lycaoniae,
vertor in occasum, tardum dux ante Booten,
qui vix sero alto mergitur Oceano.
sed quamquam me nocte premunt vestigia divum,
lux autem canae Tethyi restituit,
(pace tua fari hic liceat, Rhamnusia virgo:
namque ego non ullo vera timore tegam,
nec si me infestis discerpent sidera dictis,
condita quin veri pectoris evoluam)
non his tam laetor rebus quam me afore semper
afore me a dominae vertice discrucior,
quicum ego, dum virgo quondam fuit, omnibus expers
unguentis, una milia multa bibi.
nunc vos optato quom iunxit lumine taeda,
non prius unanimis corpora coniugibus
tradite nudantes reiecta veste papillas,
quam iucunda mihi munera libet onyx,
vester onyx, casto colitis quae iura cubili.
sed quae se impuro dedit adulterio,
illius ah mala dona levis bibat irrita pulvis:
namque ego ab indignis praemia nulla peto.
sed magis, o nuptae, semper concordia vestras,
semper amor sedes incolat adsiduus.
tu vero, regina, tuens cum sidera divam
placabis festis luminibus Venerem,
unguinis expertem non siris esse tuam me,
sed potius largis adfice muneribus.
sidera cur retinent? utinam coma regia fiam
proximus Hydrochoi fulgeret Oarion.

[¶5] Quintus.:
O to the gentle spouse right dear, right dear to his parent,
Hail, and with increase fair Jupiter lend thee his aid,
Door,’tis said wast fain kind service render to Balbus
Erst while, long as the house by her old owner was held;
Yet wast rumoured again to serve a purpose malignant,
After the elder was stretched, thou being oped for a bride.
Come, then, tell us the why in thee such change be reported
That to thy lord hast abjured faithfulness owed of old?
Door.:
Never (so chance I to please Caeci1ius owning me now-a-days!)
Is it my own default, how so they say it be mine;
Nor can any declare aught sin by me was committed.
Yet it is so declared (Quintus!) by fable of folk;
Who, whenever they find things done no better than should be,
Come to me outcrying all:—“Door, the default is thine own!”
Quintus.:
This be never enough for thee one-worded to utter,
But in such way to deal, each and all sense it and see.
Door.:
What shall I do? None asks, while nobody troubles to know.
Quintus.:
Willing are we? unto us stay not thy saying to say.
Door.:
First let me note that the maid to us committed (assert they)
Was but a fraud: her mate never a touch of her had,
…
…
But that a father durst dishonour the bed of his first-born,
Folk all swear, and the house hapless with incest bewray;
Or that his impious mind was blunt with fiery passion
Or that his impotent son sprang from incapable seed.
And to be sought was one with nerve more nervous endowèd,
Who could better avail zone of the virgin to loose.
Quintus.:’Sooth, of egregious sire for piety wondrous, thou tellest,
Who in the heart of his son lief was …!
Yet professed herself not only this to be knowing,
Brixia-town that lies under the Cycnean cliff,
Traversed by Mella-stream’s soft-flowing yellow-hued current,
Brixia, Vérona’s mother, I love for my home.
Door.:
Eke of Posthumius’ loves and Cornelius too there be tattle,
With whom dared the dame evil advowtry commit.
Quintus.:
Here might somebody ask:—“How, Door, hast mastered such matter?”
“Thou that canst never avail threshold of owner to quit,”
“Neither canst listen to folk since here fast fixt to the side-posts”
“Only one office thou hast, shutting or opening the house.”
Door.:
Oft have I heard our dame in furtive murmurs o’er telling,
When with her handmaids alone, these her flagitious deeds,
Citing fore-cited names for that she never could fancy
Ever a Door was endow’d either with earlet or tongue.
Further she noted a wight whose name in public to mention
Nill I, lest he upraise eyebrows of carroty hue;
Long is the loon and large the law-suit brought they against him
Touching a child-bed false, claim of a belly that lied.

> Latin: O dulci iucunda viro, iucunda parenti,
salve, teque bona Iuppiter auctet ope,
Ianua, quam Balbo dicunt servisse benigne
olim, cum sedes ipse senex tenuit,
quamque ferunt rursus voto servisse maligne,
postquam es porrecto facta marita sene,
dic agedum nobis quare mutata feraris
in dominum veterem deseruisse fidem.
“non (ita Caecilio placeam, cui tradita nunc sum)”
“culpa mea est, quamquam dicitur esse mea,”
“nec peccatum a me quisquam pote dicere quicquam:”
“†verum istius populi ianua qui te facit!”
“qui, quacumque aliquid reperitur non bene factum,”
“ad me omnes clamant, ‘Ianua, culpa tua est.’”
non istuc satis est uno te dicere verbo,
sed facere ut quivis sentiat et videat.
“qui possum? nemo quaerit nec scire laborat.”
nos volumus; nobis dicere ne dubita.
“primum igitur, virgo quod fertur tradita nobis,”
“falsum est. non illam vir prior attigerit,”
“languidior tenera cui pendens sicula beta”
“nunquam se mediam sustulit ad tunicam:”
“sed pater illius gnati violasse cubile”
“dicitur et miseram conscelerasse domum,”
“sive quod impia mens caeco flagrabat amore,”
“seu quod iners sterili semine natus erat”
“et quaerendus is unde foret nervosius illud”
“quod posset zonam solvere virgineam.”
egregium narras mira pietate parentem,
qui ipse sui gnati minxerit in gremium.
“atqui non solum hoc se dicit cognitum habere”
“Brixia † chinea suppositum specula,”
“flavus quam molli praecurrit flumine Mella,”
“Brixia, Veronae mater amata meae,”
“sed de Postumio et Corneli narrat amore,”
“cum quibus illa malum fecit adulterium.”
“dixerit hic aliquis, ‘quid? tu istaec, Ianua, nosti,’”
“‘cui nunquam domini limine abesse licet,’”
“‘nec populum auscultare, sed hic suffixa tigillo’”
“‘tantum operire soles aut aperire domum?’”
“saepe illam audivi furtiva voce loquentem”
“solam cum ancillis haec sua flagitia,”
“nomine dicentem quos diximus, ut pote quae mi”
“speraret nec linguam esse nec auriculam.”
“praeterea addebat quendam, quem dicere nolo”
“nomine ne tollat rubra supercilia.”
“longus homo est, magnas cui lites intulit olim”
“falsum mendaci ventre puerperium.”