Caius Valerius Catullus (continued 3)
Richard Francis Burton translation
1.
O who by virtues great all highmost honours enhancest, Guard of Emáthia-land, most famous made by thine offspring, 325 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.
2.
Soon to thy sight shall rise, their fond hopes bringing to bridegrooms, Hesperus: soon shall come thy spouse with planet auspicious, 330 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.
3.
Never a house like this such loves as these hath united, 335 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.
4.
Born of yon twain shall come Achilles guiltless of fear-sense, Known by his forceful breast and ne'er by back to the foeman, 340 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.
5.
None shall with him compare, howe'er war-doughty a hero, Whenas the Phrygian rills flow deep with bloodshed of Teucer, 345 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.
6.
His be the derring-do and deeds of valour egregious, Often mothers shall own at funeral-rites of their children, 350 What time their hoary hairs from head in ashes are loosened, And wi' their hands infirm they smite their bosoms loose duggèd. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
7.
For as the toiling hind bestrewing denseness of corn-stalks Under the broiling sun mows grain-fields yellow to harvest, 355 So shall his baneful brand strew earth with corpses of Troy-born. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
8.
Aye to his valorous worth attest shall wave of Scamander Which unto Hellé-Sea fast flowing ever dischargeth, Straiter whose course shall grow by up-heaped barrage of corpses, 360 While in his depths runs warm his stream with slaughter commingled. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
9.
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. 365 Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
10.
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, 370 Forward wi' hams relaxt shall smite a body beheaded. Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
11.
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. 375 Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.
12.
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 380 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 385 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. 390 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 395 Or rapid Triton's Queen or eke the Virgin Rhamnusian, Bevies of weaponed men exhorting, provèd 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, 400 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— 405 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.
Pines aforetimes sprung from Pelion peak floated, so 'tis said, through liquid billows of Neptune to the flowing Phasis and the confines Aeetaean, when the picked youth, the vigour of Argive manhood seeking to carry away the Golden Fleece from Colchis, dared to skim o'er salt seas in a swift-sailing ship, sweeping caerulean ocean with paddles shapen from fir-wood. That Goddess who guards the castles in topmost parts of the towns herself fashioned the car, scudding with lightest of winds, uniting the interweaved pines unto the curving keel. That same first instructed untaught Amphitrite with sailing. Scarce had it split with its stem the windy waves, and the billow vext with oars had whitened into foam, when arose from the abyss of the hoary eddies the faces of sea-dwelling Nereids wondering at the marvel. And then on that propitious day mortal eyes gazed on sea-nymphs with naked bodies bare to the breasts outstanding from the foamy abyss. Then 'tis said Peleus burned with desire for Thetis, then Thetis contemned not mortal hymenaeals, then Thetis' sire himself sanctioned her joining to Peleus. O born in the time of joyfuller ages, heroes, hail! sprung from the gods, good progeny of mothers, hail! and favourably be ye inclined. You oft in my song I'll address, thee too I'll approach, Peleus, pillar of Thessaly, so increased in importance by thy fortunate wedding-torches, to whom Jupiter himself, the sire of the gods himself, yielded up his beloved. Did not Thetis embrace thee, she most winsome of Nereids born? Did not Tethys consent that thou should'st lead home her grandchild, and Oceanus eke, whose waters girdle the total globe? When in full course of time the longed-for day had dawned, all Thessaly assembled throngs his home, a gladsome company o'erspreading the halls: they bear gifts to the fore, and their joy in their faces they shew. Scyros desert remains, they leave Phthiotic Tempe, Crannon's homes, and the fortressed walls of Larissa; to Pharsalia they hie, 'neath Pharsalian roofs they gather. None tills the soil, the heifers' necks grow softened, the trailing vine is not cleansed by the curved rake-prongs, nor does the sickle prune the shade of the spreading tree-branches, nor does the bullock up-tear the glebe with the prone-bending ploughshare; squalid rust steals o'er the neglected ploughs.
But this mansion, throughout its innermost recesses of opulent royalty, glitters with gleaming gold and with silver. Ivory makes white the seats; goblets glint on the boards; the whole house delights in the splendour of royal treasure. Placed in the midst of the mansion is the bridal bed of the goddess, made glossy with Indian tusks and covered with purple, tinted with the shell-fish's rosy dye. This tapestry embroidered with figures of men of ancient time pourtrays with admirable art the heroes' valour. For looking forth from Dia's beach, resounding with crashing of breakers, Theseus hasting from sight with swiftest of fleets, Ariadne watches, her heart swelling with raging passion, nor scarce yet credits she sees what she sees, as, newly-awakened from her deceptive sleep, she perceives herself, deserted and woeful, on the lonely shore. But the heedless youth, flying away, beats the waves with his oars, leaving his perjured vows to the gusty gales. In the dim distance from amidst the sea-weed, the daughter of Minos with sorrowful eyes, like a stone-carved Bacchante, gazes afar, alas! gazes after him, heaving with great waves of grief. No longer does the fragile fillet bind her yellow locks, no more with light veil is her hidden bosom covered, no more with rounded zone the milky breasts are clasped; down fallen from her body everything is scattered, hither, thither, and the salt waves toy with them in front of her very feet. But neither on fillet nor floating veil, but on thee, Theseus, in their stead, was she musing: on thee she bent her heart, her thoughts, her love-lorn mind. Ah, woeful one, with sorrows unending distraught, Erycina sows thorny cares deep in thy bosom, since that time when Theseus fierce in his vigour set out from the curved bay of Piraeus, and gained the Gortynian roofs of the iniquitous ruler.
For of old 'tis narrated, that constrained by plague of the cruelest to expiate the slaughter of Androgeos, both chosen youths and the pick of the unmarried maidens Cecropia was wont to give as a feast to the Minotaur. When thus his strait walls with ills were vexed, Theseus with free will preferred to yield up his body for adored Athens rather than such Cecropian corpses be carried to Crete unobsequied. And therefore borne in a speedy craft by favouring breezes, he came to the imperious Minos and his superb seat. Instant the royal virgin him saw with longing glance, she whom the chaste couch out-breathing sweetest of scents cradled in her mother's tender enfoldings, like to the myrtle which the rivers of Eurotas produce, or the many-tinted blooms opening with the springtide's breezes, she bent not down away from him her kindling glance, until the flame spread through her whole body, and burned into her innermost marrow. Ah, hard of heart, urging with misery to madness, O holy boy, who mingles men's cares and their joyings, and thou queen of Golgos and of foliaged Idalium, on what waves did you heave the mind-kindled maid, sighing full oft for the golden-haired guest! What dreads she bore in her swooning soul! How often did she grow sallower in sheen than gold! When craving to contend against the savage monster Theseus faced death or the palm of praise. Then gifts to the gods not unmeet not idly given, with promise from tight-closed lips did she address her vows. For as an oak waving its boughs on Taurus' top, or a coniferous pine with sweating stem, is uprooted by savage storm, twisting its trunk with its blast (dragged from its roots prone it falleth afar, breaking all in the line of its fall) so did Theseus fling down the conquered body of the brute, tossing its horns in vain towards the skies. Thence backwards he retraced his steps 'midst great laud, guiding his errant footsteps by means of a tenuous thread, lest when outcoming from tortuous labyrinthines his efforts be frustrated by unobservant wandering. But why, turned aside from my first story, should I recount more, how the daughter fleeing her father's face, her sister's embrace, and e'en her mother's, who despairingly bemoaned her lost daughter, preferred to all these the sweet love of Theseus; or how borne by their boat to the spumy shores of Dia she came; or how her yokeman with unmemoried breast forsaking her, left her bound in the shadows of sleep? And oft, so 'tis said, with her heart burning with fury she outpoured clarion cries from depths of her bosom, then sadly scaled the rugged mounts, whence she could cast her glance o'er the vasty seething ocean, then ran into the opposing billows of the heaving sea, raising from her bared legs her clinging raiment, and in uttermost plight of woe with tear-stained face and chilly sobs spake she thus:—
"Is it thus, O perfidious, when dragged from my motherland's shores, is it thus, O false Theseus, that thou leavest me on this desolate strand? thus dost depart unmindful of slighted godheads, bearing home thy perjured vows? Was no thought able to bend the intent of thy ruthless mind? hadst thou no clemency there, that thy pitiless bowels might compassionate me? But these were not the promises thou gavest me idly of old, this was not what thou didst bid me hope for, but the blithe bride-bed, hymenaeal happiness: all empty air, blown away by the breezes. Now, now, let no woman give credence to man's oath, let none hope for faithful vows from mankind; for whilst their eager desire strives for its end, nothing fear they to swear, nothing of promises stint they: but instant their lusting thoughts are satiate with lewdness, nothing of speech they remember, nothing of perjuries reck. In truth I snatched thee from the midst of the whirlpool of death, preferring to suffer the loss of a brother rather than fail thy need in the supreme hour, O ingrate. For the which I shall be a gift as prey to be rent by wild beasts and the carrion-fowl, nor dead shall I be placed in the earth, covered with funeral mound. What lioness bare thee 'neath lonely crag? What sea conceived and spued thee from its foamy crest? What Syrtis, what grasping Scylla, what vast Charybdis? O thou repayer with such guerdon for thy sweet life! If 'twas not thy heart's wish to yoke with me, through holding in horror the dread decrees of my stern sire, yet thou couldst have led me to thy home, where as thine handmaid I might have served thee with cheerful service, laving thy snowy feet with clear water, or spreading the purple coverlet o'er thy couch. Yet why, distraught with woe, do I vainly lament to the unknowing winds, which unfurnished with sense, can neither hear uttered complaints nor can return them? For now he has sped away into the midst of the seas, nor doth any mortal appear along this desolate seaboard. Thus with o'erweening scorn doth bitter Fate in my extreme hour even grudge ears to my plaints. All-powerful Jupiter! would that in old time the Cecropian poops had not touched at the Gnossian shores, nor that bearing to the unquelled bull the direful ransom had the false mariner moored his hawser to Crete, nor that yon wretch hiding ruthless designs beneath sweet seemings had reposed as a guest in our halls! For whither may I flee? in what hope, O lost one, take refuge? Shall I climb the Idomenean crags? but the truculent sea stretching amain with its whirlings of waters separates us. Can I quest help from my father, whom I deserted to follow a youth besprinkled with my brother's blood? Can I crave comfort from the care of a faithful yokeman, who is fleeing with yielding oars, encurving 'midst whirling waters. If I turn from the beach there is no roof in this tenantless island, no way sheweth a passage, circled by waves of the sea; no way of flight, no hope; all denotes dumbness, desolation, and death. Natheless mine eyes shall not be dimmed in death, nor my senses secede from my spent frame, until I have besought from the gods a meet mulct for my betrayal, and implored the faith of the celestials with my latest breath. Wherefore ye requiters of men's deeds with avenging pains, O Eumenides, whose front enwreathed with serpent-locks blazons the wrath exhaled from your bosom, hither, hither haste, hear ye my plainings, which I, sad wretch, am urged to outpour from mine innermost marrow, helpless, burning, and blind with frenzied fury. And since in truth they spring from the veriest depths of my heart, be ye unwilling to allow my agony to pass unheeded, but with such mind as Theseus forsook me, with like mind, O goddesses, may he bring evil on himself and on his kin."
After she had poured forth these words from her grief-laden bosom, distractedly clamouring for requital against his heartless deeds, the celestial ruler assented with almighty nod, at whose motion the earth and the awe-full waters quaked, and the world of glittering stars did quiver. But Theseus, self-blinded with mental mist, let slip from forgetful breast all those injunctions which until then he had held firmly in mind, nor bore aloft sweet signals to his sad sire, shewing himself safe when in sight of Erectheus' haven. For 'tis said that aforetime, when Aegeus entrusted his son to the winds, on leaving the walls of the chaste goddess's city, these commands he gave to the youth with his parting embrace.
"O mine only son, far dearer to me than long life, lately restored to me at extreme end of my years, O son whom I must perforce dismiss to a doubtful hazard, since my ill fate and thine ardent valour snatch thee from unwilling me, whose dim eyes are not yet sated with my son's dear form: nor gladly and with joyous breast do I send thee, nor will I suffer thee to bear signs of helpful fortune, but first from my breast many a plaint will I express, sullying my grey hairs with dust and ashes, and then will I hang dusky sails to the swaying mast, so that our sorrow and burning lowe are shewn by Iberian canvas, rustily darkened. Yet if the dweller on holy Itone, who deigns defend our race and Erectheus' dwellings, grant thee to besprinkle thy right hand in the bull's blood, then see that in very truth these commandments deep-stored in thine heart's memory do flourish, nor any time deface them. Instant thine eyes shall see our cliffs, lower their gloomy clothing from every yard, and let the twisted cordage bear aloft snowy sails, where splendent shall shine bright topmast spars, so that, instant discerned, I may know with gladness and lightness of heart that in prosperous hour thou art returned to my face."
These charges, at first held in constant mind, from Theseus slipped away as clouds are impelled by the breath of the winds from the ethereal peak of a snow-clad mount. But his father as he betook himself to the castle's turrets as watchplace, dimming his anxious eyes with continual weeping, when first he spied the discoloured canvas, flung himself headlong from the top of the crags, deeming Theseus lost by harsh fate. Thus as he entered the grief-stricken house, his paternal roof, Theseus savage with slaughter met with like grief as that which with unmemoried mind he had dealt to Minos' daughter: while she with grieving gaze at his disappearing keel, turned over a tumult of cares in her wounded spirit.
But on another part [of the tapestry] swift hastened the flushed Iacchus with his train of Satyrs and Nisa-begot Sileni, thee questing, Ariadne, and aflame with love for thee. * * * * These scattered all around, an inspired band, rushed madly with mind all distraught, ranting "Euhoe," with tossing of heads "Euhoe." Some with womanish hands shook thyrsi with wreath-covered points; some tossed limbs of a rended steer; some engirt themselves with writhed snakes; some enacted obscure orgies with deep chests, orgies of which the profane vainly crave a hearing; others beat the tambours with outstretched palms, or from the burnished brass provoked shrill tinklings, blew raucous-sounding blasts from many horns, and the barbarous pipe droned forth horrible song.
With luxury of such figures was the coverlet adorned, enwrapping the bed with its mantling embrace. After the Thessalian youthhood with eager engazing were sated they began to give way to the sacred gods. Hence, as with his morning's breath brushing the still sea Zephyrus makes the sloping billows uprise, when Aurora mounts 'neath the threshold of the wandering sun, which waves heave slowly at first with the breeze's gentle motion (plashing with the sound as of low laughter) but after, as swells the wind, more and more frequent they crowd and gleam in the purple light as they float away,—so quitting the royal vestibule did the folk hie them away each to his home with steps wandering hither and thither.
After they had wended their way, chief from the Pelion vertex Chiron came, the bearer of sylvan spoil: for whatsoever the fields bear, whatso the Thessalian land on its high hills breeds, and what flowers the fecund air of warm Favonius begets near the running streams, these did he bear enwreathed into blended garlands wherewith the house rippled with laughter, caressed by the grateful odour.
Speedily stands present Penios, for a time his verdant Tempe, Tempe whose overhanging trees encircle, leaving to the Dorian choirs, damsels Magnesian, to frequent; nor empty-handed,—for he has borne hither lofty beeches uprooted and the tall laurel with straight stem, nor lacks he the nodding plane and the lithe sister of flame-wrapt Phaethon and the aerial cypress. These wreathed in line did he place around the palace so that the vestibule might grow green sheltered with soft fronds.
After him follows Prometheus of inventive mind, bearing diminishing traces of his punishment of aforetime, which of old he had suffered, with his limbs confined by chains hanging from the rugged Scythian crags. Then came the sire of gods from heaven with his holy consort and offspring, leaving thee alone, Phoebus, with thy twin-sister the fosterer of the mountains of Idrus: for equally with thyself did thy sister disdain Peleus nor was she willing to honour the wedding torches of Thetis. After they had reclined their snow-white forms along the seats, tables were loaded on high with food of various kinds.
In the meantime with shaking bodies and infirm gesture the Parcae began to intone their veridical chant. Their trembling frames were enwrapped around with white garments, encircled with a purple border at their heels, snowy fillets bound each aged brow, and their hands pursued their never-ending toil, as of custom. The left hand bore the distaff enwrapped in soft wool, the right hand lightly withdrawing the threads with upturned fingers did shape them, then twisting them with the prone thumb it turned the balanced spindle with well-polished whirl. And then with a pluck of their tooth the work was always made even, and the bitten wool-shreds adhered to their dried lips, which shreds at first had stood out from the fine thread. And in front of their feet wicker baskets of osier twigs took charge of the soft white woolly fleece. These, with clear-sounding voice, as they combed out the wool, outpoured fates of such kind in sacred song, in song which none age yet to come could tax with untruth.
"O with great virtues thine exceeding honour augmenting, stay of Emathia-land, most famous in thine issue, receive what the sisters make known to thee on this gladsome day, a weird veridical! But ye whom the fates do follow:—Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"Now Hesperus shall come unto thee bearing what is longed for by bridegrooms, with that fortunate star shall thy bride come, who ensteeps thy soul with the sway of softening love, and prepares with thee to conjoin in languorous slumber, making her smooth arms thy pillow round 'neath thy sinewy neck. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"No house ever yet enclosed such loves, no love bound lovers with such pact, as abideth with Thetis, as is the concord of Peleus. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"To ye shall Achilles be born, a stranger to fear, to his foemen not by his back, but by his broad breast known, who, oft-times the victor in the uncertain struggle of the foot-race, shall outrun the fire-fleet footsteps of the speedy doe. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"None in war with him may compare as a hero, when the Phrygian streams shall trickle with Trojan blood, and when besieging the walls of Troy with a long-drawn-out warfare perjured Pelops' third heir shall lay that city waste. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"His glorious acts and illustrious deeds often shall mothers attest o'er funeral-rites of their sons, when the white locks from their heads are unloosed amid ashes, and they bruise their discoloured breasts with feeble fists. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"For as the husbandman bestrewing the dense wheat-ears mows the harvest yellowed 'neath ardent sun, so shall he cast prostrate the corpses of Troy's sons with grim swords. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"His great valour shall be attested by Scamander's wave, which ever pours itself into the swift Hellespont, narrowing whose course with slaughtered heaps of corpses he shall make tepid its deep stream by mingling warm blood with the water. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"And she a witness in fine shall be the captive-maid handed to death, when the heaped-up tomb of earth built in lofty mound shall receive the snowy limbs of the stricken virgin. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"For instant fortune shall give the means to the war-worn Greeks to break Neptune's stone bonds of the Dardanian city, the tall tomb shall be made dank with Polyxena's blood, who as the victim succumbing 'neath two-edged sword, with yielding hams shall fall forward a headless corpse. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"Wherefore haste ye to conjoin in the longed-for delights of your love. Bridegroom thy goddess receive in felicitous compact; let the bride be given to her eager husband. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.
"Nor shall the nurse at orient light returning, with yester-e'en's thread succeed in circling her neck. [Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles.] Not need her solicitous mother fear sad discord shall cause a parted bed for her daughter, nor need she cease to hope for dear grandchildren. Haste ye, a-weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles."
With such soothsaying songs of yore did the Parcae chant from divine breast the felicitous fate of Peleus. For of aforetime the heaven-dwellers were wont to visit the chaste homes of heroes and to shew themselves in mortal assembly ere yet their worship was scorned. Often the father of the gods, a-resting in his glorious temple, when on the festal days his annual rites appeared, gazed on an hundred bulls strewn prone on the earth. Often wandering Liber on topmost summit of Parnassus led his yelling Thyiads with loosely tossed locks. * * * * When the Delphians tumultuously trooping from the whole of their city joyously acclaimed the god with smoking altars. Often in lethal strife of war Mavors, or swift Triton's queen, or the Rhamnusian virgin, in person did exhort armed bodies of men. But after the earth was infected with heinous crime, and each one banished justice from their grasping mind, and brothers steeped their hands in fraternal blood, the son ceased grieving o'er departed parents, the sire craved for the funeral rites of his first-born that freely he might take of the flower of unwedded step-dame, the unholy mother, lying under her unknowing son, did not fear to sully her household gods with dishonour: everything licit and lawless commingled with mad infamy turned away from us the just-seeing mind of the gods. Wherefore nor do they deign to appear at such-like assemblies, nor will they permit themselves to be met in the day-light.
LXV.
Esti me adsiduo confectum cura dolore Sevocat a doctis, Ortale, virginibus, Nec potisest dulces Musarum expromere fetus Mens animi, (tantis fluctuat ipsa malis: 5 Namque mei nuper Lethaeo gurgite fratris Pallidulum manans adluit unda pedem, Troia Rhoeteo quem subter littore tellus Ereptum nostris obterit ex oculis. * * * * Adloquar, audiero numquam tua facta loquentem, 10 Numquam ego te, vita frater amabilior, Aspiciam posthac. at certe semper amabo, Semper maesta tua carmina morte canam, Qualia sub densis ramorum concinit umbris Daulias absumpti fata gemens Itylei)— 15 Sed tamen in tantis maeroribus, Ortale, mitto Haec expressa tibi carmina Battiadae, Ne tua dicta vagis nequiquam credita ventis Effluxisse meo forte putes animo, Vt missum sponsi furtivo munere malum 20 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.
LXV.
To Hortalus Lamenting a Lost Brother.
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: 5 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, 10 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.) 15 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, 20 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.
Though outspent with care and unceasing grief, I am withdrawn, Ortalus, from the learned Virgins, nor is my soul's mind able to bring forth sweet babes of the Muses (so much does it waver 'midst ills: for but lately the wave of the Lethean stream doth lave with its flow the pallid foot of my brother, whom 'neath the Rhoetean seaboard the Trojan soil doth crush, thrust from our eyesight. * * * Never again may I salute thee, nor hear thy converse; never again, O brother, more loved than life, may I see thee in aftertime. But for all time in truth will I love thee, always will I sing elegies made gloomy by thy death, such as the Daulian bird pipes 'neath densest shades of foliage, lamenting the lot of slain Itys.) Yet 'midst sorrows so deep, O Ortalus, I send thee these verses re-cast from Battiades, lest thou shouldst credit thy words by chance have slipt from my mind, given o'er to the wandering winds, as 'twas with that apple, sent as furtive love-token by the wooer, which outleapt from the virgin's chaste bosom; for, placed by the hapless girl 'neath her soft vestment, and forgotten,—when she starts at her mother's approach, out 'tis shaken: and down it rolls headlong to the ground, whilst a tell-tale flush mantles the face of the distressed girl.
LXVI.
Omnia qui magni dispexit lumina mundi, Qui stellarum ortus comperit atque obitus, Flammeus ut rapidi solis nitor obscuretur, Vt cedant certis sidera temporibus, 5 Vt Triviam furtim sub Latmia saxa relegans Dulcis amor gyro devocet aerio, Idem me ille Conon caelesti in lumine vidit E Beroniceo vertice caesariem Fulgentem clare, quam cunctis illa deorum 10 Levia protendens brachia pollicitast, Qua rex tempestate novo auctus hymenaeo Vastatum finis iverat Assyrios, Dulcia nocturnae portans vestigia rixae, Quam de virgineis gesserat exuviis. 15 Estne novis nuptis odio venus? anne parentum Frustrantur falsis gaudia lacrimulis, Vbertim thalami quas intra lumina fundunt? Non, ita me divi, vera gemunt, iuerint. Id mea me multis docuit regina querellis 20 Invisente novo praelia torva viro. An tu non orbum luxti deserta cubile, Sed fratris cari flebile discidium? Quam penitus maestas excedit cura medullas! Vt tibi tum toto pectore sollicitae 25 Sensibus ereptis mens excidit! at te ego certe Cognoram a parva virgine magnanimam. Anne bonum oblita's facinus, quo regium adepta's Coniugium, quo non fortius ausit alis? Sed tum maesta virum mittens quae verba locuta's! 30 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's 35 Sei reditum tetullisset. is haut in tempore longo Captam Asiam Aegypti finibus addiderat. Quis ego pro factis caelesti reddita coetu Pristina vota novo munere dissoluo. Invita, o regina, tuo de vertice cessi, 40 Invita: adiuro teque tuomque caput, Digna ferat quod siquis inaniter adiurarit: Sed qui se ferro postulet esse parem? Ille quoque eversus mons est, quem maximum in orbi Progenies Thiae clara supervehitur, 45 Cum Medi peperere novom 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 50 Institit ac ferri frangere duritiem! Abiunctae paulo ante comae mea fata sorores Lugebant, cum se Memnonis Aethiopis Vnigena inpellens nictantibus aera pennis Obtulit Arsinoes Locridos ales equos, 55 Isque per aetherias me tollens avolat umbras Et Veneris casto collocat in gremio. Ipsa suum Zephyritis eo famulum legarat, Graia Canopieis incola litoribus. † Hi dii ven ibi vario ne solum in lumine caeli 60 Ex Ariadneis aurea temporibus Fixa corona foret, sed nos quoque fulgeremus Devotae flavi verticis exuviae, Vvidulam a fletu cedentem ad templa deum me Sidus in antiquis diva novom posuit: 65 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 divom, 70 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 verei pectoris evoluam): 75 Non his tam laetor rebus, quam me afore semper, Afore me a dominae vertice discrucior, Quicum ego, dum virgo curis fuit omnibus expers, Vnguenti Suriei milia multa bibi. Nunc vos, optato quom iunxit lumine taeda, 80 Non prius unanimis corpora coniugibus Tradite nudantes reiecta veste papillas, Quam iocunda mihi munera libet onyx, Voster onyx, casto petitis quae iura cubili. Sed quae se inpuro dedit adulterio, 85 Illius a mala dona levis bibat irrita pulvis: Namque ego ab indignis praemia nulla peto. Sed magis, o nuptae, semper concordia vostras Semper amor sedes incolat adsiduos. Tu vero, regina, tuens cum sidera divam 90 Placabis festis luminibus Venerem, Vnguinis expertem non siris esse tuam me, Sed potius largis adfice muneribus. Sidera corruerent utinam! coma regia fiam: Proximus Hydrochoi fulgeret Oarion!
LXVI.
(Loquitur) Berenice's Lock.
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, 5 How Diana to lurk thief-like 'neath Latmian stonefields, 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 10 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. 15 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 20 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, 25 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! 30 (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 gavest in vow, not without bloodshed of bulls, 35 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, 40 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, 45 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 50 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, 55 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 willèd various Gods, lest sole 'mid lights of the Heavens 60 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 starlights of old: 65 For with Virgo in touch and joining the furious Lion's Radiance with Callisto, maid of Lycáon 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, 70 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.) 75 Nowise gladdens me so this state as absence torments me, Absence doomèd 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, 80 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, 85 Ah! may her loathèd 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, 90 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.
He who scanned all the lights of the great firmament, who ascertained the rising and the setting of the stars, how the flaming splendour of the swift sun was endarkened, how the planets disappear at certain seasons, how sweet love with stealth detaining Trivia beneath the Latmian crags, draws her away from her airy circuit, that same Conon saw me amongst celestial light, the hair from Berenice's head, gleaming with brightness, which she outstretching graceful arms did devote to the whole of the gods, when the king flushed with the season of new wedlock had gone to lay waste the Assyrian borders, bearing the sweet traces of nightly contests, in which he had borne away her virginal spoils. Is Venus abhorred by new-made brides? Why be the parents' joys turned aside by feigned tears, which they shed copiously amid the lights of the nuptial chamber? Untrue are their groans, by the gods I swear! This did my queen teach me by her many lamentings, when her bridegroom set out for stern warfare. Yet thou didst not mourn the widowhood of desolate couch, but the tearful separation from a dear brother? How care made sad inroads in thy very marrow! In so much that thine whole bosom being agitated, and thy senses being snatched from thee, thy mind wandered! But in truth I have known thee great of heart ever since thou wast a little maiden. Hast thou forgotten that noble deed, by which thou didst gain a regal wedlock, than which none dared other deeds bolder? Yet what grieving words didst thou speak when bidding thy bridegroom farewell! Jupiter! as with sad hand often thine eyes thou didst dry! What mighty god changed thee? Was it that lovers are unwilling to be long absent from their dear one's body? Then didst thou devote me to the whole of the gods on thy sweet consort's behalf, not without blood of bullocks, should he be granted safe return. In no long time he added captive Asia to the Egyptian boundaries. Wherefore for these reasons I, bestowed 'midst the celestial host, by a new gift fulfil thine ancient promise. With grief, O queen, did I quit thy brow, with grief: I swear to thee and to thine head; fit ill befall whosoever shall swear lightly: but who may bear himself peer with steel? Even that mountain was swept away, the greatest on earth, over which Thia's illustrious progeny passed, when the Medes created a new sea, and the barbarian youth sailed its fleet through the middle of Athos. What can locks of hair do, when such things yield to iron? Jupiter! may the whole race of the Chalybes perish, and whoever first questing the veins 'neath the earth harassed its hardness, breaking it through with iron. Just before severance my sister locks were mourning my fate, when Ethiop Memnon's brother, the winged steed, beating the air with fluttering pennons, appeared before Locrian Arsinoe, and this one bearing me up, flies through aethereal shadows and lays me in the chaste bosom of Venus. Him Zephyritis herself had dispatched as her servant, a Grecian settler on the Canopian shores. For 'twas the wish of many gods that not alone in heaven's light should the golden coronet from Ariadne's temples stay fixed, but that we also should gleam, the spoils devote from thy golden-yellow head; when humid with weeping I entered the temples of the gods, the Goddess placed me, a new star, amongst the ancient ones. For a-touching the Virgin's and the fierce Lion's gleams, hard by Callisto of Lycaon, I turn westwards fore-guiding the slow-moving Bootes who sinks unwillingly and late into the vasty ocean. But although the footsteps of the gods o'erpress me in the night-tide, and the daytime restoreth me to the white-haired Tethys, (grant me thy grace to speak thus, O Rhamnusian virgin, for I will not hide the truth through any fear, even if the stars revile me with ill words yet I will unfold the pent-up feelings from truthful breast) I am not so much rejoiced at these things as I am tortured by being for ever parted, parted from my lady's head, with whom I (though whilst a virgin she was free from all such cares) drank many a thousand of Syrian scents.
Now do you, whom the gladsome light of the wedding torches hath joined, yield not your bodies to your desiring husbands nor throw aside your vestments and bare your bosom's nipples, before your onyx cup brings me jocund gifts, your onyx, ye who seek the dues of chaste marriage-bed. But she who giveth herself to foul adultery, may the light-lying dust responselessly drink her vile gifts, for I seek no offerings from folk that do ill. But rather, O brides, may concord always be yours, and constant love ever dwell in your homes. But when thou, O queen, whilst gazing at the stars, shalt propitiate the goddess Venus with festal torch-lights, let not me, thine own, be left lacking of unguent, but rather gladden me with large gifts. Stars fall in confusion! So that I become a royal tress, Orion might gleam in Aquarius' company.
LXVII.
O dulci iocunda viro, iocunda parenti, Salve, teque bona Iuppiter auctet ope, Ianua, quam Balbo dicunt servisse benigne Olim, cum sedes ipse senex tenuit, 5 Quamque ferunt rursus voto servisse maligno, 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) 10 Culpa meast, quamquam dicitur esse mea, Nec peccatum a me quisquam pote dicere quicquam: Verum istud populi fabula, Quinte, facit, Qui, quacumque aliquid reperitur non bene factum, Ad me omnes clamant: ianua, culpa tuast.' 15 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, 20 Falsumst. non illam vir prior attigerit, Languidior tenera cui pendens sicula beta Numquam se mediam sustulit ad tunicam: Sed pater illius gnati violasse cubile Dicitur et miseram conscelerasse domum, 25 Sive quod inpia 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, 30 Qui ipse sui gnati minxerit in gremium. Atqui non solum hoc se dicit cognitum habere Brixia Cycneae supposita speculae, Flavos quam molli percurrit flumine Mella, Brixia Veronae mater amata meae. 35 'Et de Postumio et Corneli narrat amore, Cum quibus illa malum fecit adulterium.' Dixerit hic aliquis: qui tu isthaec, ianua, nosti? Cui numquam domini limine abesse licet, Nec populum auscultare, sed heic suffixa tigillo 40 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. 45 Praeterea addebat quendam, quem dicere nolo Nomine, ne tollat rubra supercilia. Longus homost, magnas quoi lites intulit olim Falsum mendaci ventre puerperium.'
LXVII.
Dialogue concerning Catullus at a Harlot's Door.
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; 5 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 owèd of old?
Door.
Never (so chance I to please Cæcilius owning me now-a-days!) 10 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.
15 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) 20 Was but a fraud: her mate never a touch of her had, * * * * * * * * But that a father durst dishonour the bed of his firstborn, Folk all swear, and the house hapless with incest bewray; 25 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, 30 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.
35 Eke of Posthumius' loves and Cornelius too there be tattle, With whom darèd 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 40 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. 45 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.
Catullus.
O dear in thought to the sweet husband, dear in thought to his sire, hail! and may Jove augment his good grace to thee, Door! which of old, men say, didst serve Balbus benignly, whilst the oldster held his home here; and which contrariwise, so 'tis said, didst serve with grudging service after the old man was stretched stark, thou doing service to the bride. Come, tell us why thou art reported to be changed and to have renounced thine ancient faithfulness to thy lord?
Door.
No, (so may I please Caecilius to whom I am now made over!) it is not my fault, although 'tis said so to be, nor may anyone impute any crime to me; albeit the fabling tongues of folk make it so, who, whene'er aught is found not well done, all clamour at me: "Door, thine is the blame!"
Catullus.
It is not enough for thee to say this by words merely, but so to act that everyone may feel it and see it.
Door.
In what way can I? No one questions or troubles to know.
Catullus.
We are wishful: be not doubtful to tell us.
Door.
First then, the virgin (so they called her!) who was handed to us was spurious. Her husband was not the first to touch her, he whose little dagger, hanging more limply than the tender beet, never raised itself to the middle of his tunic: but his father is said to have violated his son's bed and to have polluted the unhappy house, either because his lewd mind blazed with blind lust, or because his impotent son was sprung from sterile seed, and therefore one greater of nerve than he was needed, who could unloose the virgin's zone.
Catullus.
Thou tellest of an excellent parent marvellous in piety, who himself urined in the womb of his son!
Door.
But not this alone is Brixia said to have knowledge of, placed 'neath the Cycnean peak, through which the golden-hued Mella flows with its gentle current, Brixia, beloved mother of my Verona. For it talks of the loves of Postumius and of Cornelius, with whom she committed foul adultery.
Catullus.
Folk might say here: "How knowest thou these things, O door? thou who art never allowed absence from thy lord's threshold, nor mayst hear the folk's gossip, but fixed to this beam art wont only to open or to shut the house!"
Door.
Often have I heard her talking with hushed voice, when alone with her handmaids, about her iniquities, quoting by name those whom we have spoken of, for she did not expect me to be gifted with either tongue or ear. Moreover she added a certain one whose name I'm unwilling to speak, lest he uplift his red eyebrows. A lanky fellow, against whom some time ago was brought a grave law-suit anent the spurious child-birth of a lying belly.
LXVIII.
Quod mihi fortuna casuque oppressus acerbo Conscriptum hoc lacrimis mittis epistolium, Naufragum ut eiectum spumantibus aequoris undis Sublevem et a mortis limine restituam, 5 Quem neque sancta Venus molli requiescere somno Desertum in lecto caelibe perpetitur, Nec veterum dulci scriptorum carmine Musae Oblectant, cum mens anxia pervigilat, Id gratumst mihi, me quoniam tibi dicis amicum, 10 Muneraque et Musarum hinc petis et Veneris: Sed tibi ne mea sint ignota incommoda, Mani, Neu me odisse putes hospitis officium, Accipe, quis merser fortunae fluctibus ipse, Ne amplius a misero dona beata petas. 15 Tempore quo primum vestis mihi tradita purast, Iocundum cum aetas florida ver ageret, Multa satis lusi: non est dea nescia nostri, Quae dulcem curis miscet amaritiem: Sed totum hoc studium luctu fraterna mihi mors 20 Abstulit. o misero frater adempte mihi, Tu mea tu moriens fregisti commoda, frater, Tecum una totast nostra sepulta domus, Omnia tecum una perierunt gaudia nostra, Quae tuos in vita dulcis alebat amor. 25 Cuius ego interitu tota de mente fugavi Haec studia atque omnis delicias animi. Quare, quod scribis Veronae turpe Catullo Esse, quod hic quivis de meliore nota Frigida deserto tepefactet membra cubili, 30 Id, Mani, non est turpe, magis miserumst. Ignosces igitur, si, quae mihi luctus ademit, Haec tibi non tribuo munera, cum nequeo. Nam, quod scriptorum non magnast copia apud me, Hoc fit, quod Romae vivimus: illa domus, 35 Illa mihi sedes, illic mea carpitur aetas: Huc una ex multis capsula me sequitur. Quod cum ita sit, nolim statuas nos mente maligna Id facere aut animo non satis ingenuo, Quod tibi non utriusque petenti copia factast: 40 Vltro ego deferrem, copia siqua foret. Non possum reticere, deae, qua me Allius in re Iuverit aut quantis iuverit officiis: Nec fugiens saeclis obliviscentibus aetas Illius hoc caeca nocte tegat studium: 45 Sed dicam vobis, vos porro dicite multis Milibus et facite haec charta loquatur anus * * * * Notescatque magis mortuos atque magis, Nec tenuem texens sublimis aranea telam 50 In deserto Alli nomine opus faciat. Nam, mihi quam dederit duplex Amathusia curam, Scitis, et in quo me corruerit genere, Cum tantum arderem quantum Trinacria rupes Lymphaque in Oetaeis Malia Thermopylis, 55 Maesta neque adsiduo tabescere lumina fletu Cessarent tristique imbre madere genae. Qualis in aerii perlucens vertice montis Rivos muscoso prosilit e lapide, Qui cum de prona praeceps est valle volutus, 60 Per medium sensim transit iter populi, Dulci viatori lasso in sudore levamen, Cum gravis exustos aestus hiulcat agros: Hic, velut in nigro iactatis turbine nautis Lenius aspirans aura secunda venit 65 Iam prece Pollucis, iam Castoris inplorata, Tale fuit nobis Manius auxilium. Is clusum lato patefecit limite campum, Isque domum nobis isque dedit dominam, Ad quam communes exerceremus amores. 70 Quo mea se molli candida diva pede Intulit et trito fulgentem in limine plantam Innixa arguta constituit solea, Coniugis ut quondam flagrans advenit amore Protesilaeam Laudamia domum 75 Inceptam frustra, nondum cum sanguine sacro Hostia caelestis pacificasset eros. Nil mihi tam valde placeat, Rhamnusia virgo, Quod temere invitis suscipiatur eris. Quam ieiuna pium desideret ara cruorem, 80 Doctast amisso Laudamia viro, Coniugis ante coacta novi dimittere collum, Quam veniens una atque altera rursus hiemps Noctibus in longis avidum saturasset amorem, Posset ut abrupto vivere coniugio, 85 Quod scirant Parcae non longo tempore adesse, Si miles muros isset ad Iliacos: Nam tum Helenae raptu primores Argivorum Coeperat ad sese Troia ciere viros, Troia (nefas) commune sepulcrum Asiae Europaeque, 90 Troia virum et virtutum omnium acerba cinis, Quaene etiam nostro letum miserabile fratri Attulit. ei misero frater adempte mihi, Ei misero fratri iocundum lumen ademptum, Tecum una totast nostra sepulta domus, 95 Omnia tecum una perierunt gaudia nostra, Quae tuos in vita dulcis alebat amor. Quem nunc tam longe non inter nota sepulcra Nec prope cognatos conpositum cineres, Sed Troia obscaena, Troia infelice sepultum 100 Detinet extremo terra aliena solo. Ad quam tum properans fertur simul undique pubes Graeca penetrales deseruisse focos, Ne Paris abducta gavisus libera moecha Otia pacato degeret in thalamo. 105 Quo tibi tum casu, pulcherrima Laudamia, Ereptumst vita dulcius atque anima Coniugium: tanto te absorbens vertice amoris Aestus in abruptum detulerat barathrum, Quale ferunt Grai Pheneum prope Cylleneum 110 Siccare emulsa pingue palude solum, Quod quondam caesis montis fodisse medullis Audit falsiparens Amphitryoniades, Tempore quo certa Stymphalia monstra sagitta Perculit imperio deterioris eri, 115 Pluribus ut caeli tereretur ianua divis, Hebe nec longa virginitate foret. Sed tuos altus amor barathro fuit altior illo, Qui durum domitam ferre iugum docuit: Nam nec tam carum confecto aetate parenti 120 Vna caput seri nata nepotis alit, Qui, cum divitiis vix tandem inventus avitis Nomen testatas intulit in tabulas, Inpia derisi gentilis gaudia tollens Suscitat a cano volturium capiti: 125 Nec tantum niveo gavisast ulla columbo Conpar, quae multo dicitur inprobius Oscula mordenti semper decerpere rostro, Quam quae praecipue multivolast mulier. Sed tu horum magnos vicisti sola furores, 130 Vt semel es flavo conciliata viro. Aut nihil aut paulo cui tum concedere digna Lux mea se nostrum contulit in gremium, Quam circumcursans hinc illinc saepe Cupido Fulgebat crocina candidus in tunica. 135 Quae tamen etsi uno non est contenta Catullo, Rara verecundae furta feremus erae, Ne nimium simus stultorum more molesti. Saepe etiam Iuno, maxima caelicolum, Coniugis in culpa flagrantem conquoquit iram, 140 Noscens omnivoli plurima furta Iovis. Atquei nec divis homines conponier aequomst, * * * * * * * * Ingratum tremuli tolle parentis onus. Nec tamen illa mihi dextra deducta paterna Fragrantem Assyrio venit odore domum, 145 Sed furtiva dedit muta munuscula nocte, Ipsius ex ipso dempta viri gremio. Quare illud satis est, si nobis is datur unis, Quem lapide illa diem candidiore notat. Hoc tibi, qua potui, confectum carmine munus 150 Pro multis, Alli, redditur officiis, Ne vostrum scabra tangat rubigine nomen Haec atque illa dies atque alia atque alia. Huc addent divi quam plurima, quae Themis olim Antiquis solitast munera ferre piis: 155 Sitis felices et tu simul et tua vita Et domus, ipsi in qua lusimus et domina, Et qui principio nobis te tradidit Anser, A quo sunt primo mi omnia nata bona. Et longe ante omnes mihi quae me carior ipsost, 160 Lux mea, qua viva vivere dulce mihist.
LXVIII.
To Manius on Various Matters.
When to me sore opprest by bitter chance of misfortune This thy letter thou send'st written wi' blotting of tears, So might I save thee flung by spuming billows of ocean, Shipwreckt, rescuing life snatcht from the threshold of death; 5 Eke neither Venus the Holy to rest in slumber's refreshment Grants thee her grace on couch lying deserted and lone, Nor can the Muses avail with dulcet song of old writers Ever delight thy mind sleepless in anxious care; Grateful be this to my thought since thus thy friend I'm entitled, 10 Hence of me seekest thou gifts Muses and Venus can give: But that bide not unknown to thee my sorrows (O Manius!) And lest office of host I should be holden to hate, Learn how in Fortune's deeps I chance myself to be drownèd, Nor fro' the poor rich boons furthermore prithee require. 15 What while first to myself the pure-white garment was given, Whenas my flowery years flowed in fruition of spring, Much I disported enow, nor 'bode I a stranger to Goddess Who with our cares is lief sweetness of bitter to mix: Yet did a brother's death pursuits like these to my sorrow 20 Bid for me cease: Oh, snatcht brother! from wretchedest me. Then, yea, thou by thy dying hast broke my comfort, O brother; Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house; Perisht along wi' thyself all gauds and joys of our life-tide, Douce love fostered by thee during the term of our days. 25 After thy doom of death fro' mind I banishèd wholly Studies like these, and all lending a solace to soul; Wherefore as to thy writ:—"Verona's home for Catullus Bringeth him shame, for there men of superior mark Must on a deserted couch fain chafe their refrigerate limbs:" 30 Such be no shame (Manius!): rather 'tis matter of ruth. Pardon me, then, wilt thou an gifts bereft me by grieving These I send not to thee since I avail not presènt. For, that I own not here abundant treasure of writings Has for its cause, in Rome dwell I; and there am I homed, 35 There be my seat, and there my years are gathered to harvest; Out of book-cases galore here am I followed by one. This being thus, nill I thou deem 'tis spirit malignant Acts in such wise or mind lacking of liberal mood That to thy prayer both gifts be not in plenty supplièd: 40 Willingly both had I sent, had I the needed supply. Nor can I (Goddesses!) hide in what things Allius sent me Aid, forbear to declare what was the aidance he deigned: Neither shall fugitive Time from centuries ever oblivious Veil in the blinds of night friendship he lavisht on me. 45 But will I say unto you what you shall say to the many Thousands in turn, and make paper, old crone, to proclaim * * * * And in his death become noted the more and the more, Nor let spider on high that weaves her delicate webbing 50 Practise such labours o'er Allius' obsolete name. For that ye weet right well what care Amathúsia two-faced Gave me, and how she dasht every hope to the ground, Whenas I burnt so hot as burn Trinacria's rocks or Mallia stream that feeds Œtéan Thermopylæ; 55 Nor did these saddened eyes to be dimmed by assiduous weeping Cease, and my cheeks with showers ever in sadness be wet. E'en as from aëry heights of mountain springeth a springlet Limpidest leaping forth from rocking felted with moss, Then having headlong rolled the prone-laid valley downpouring, 60 Populous region amid wendeth his gradual way, Sweetest solace of all to the sweltering traveller wayworn, Whenas the heavy heat fissures the fiery fields; Or, as to seamen lost in night of whirlwind a-glooming Gentle of breath there comes fairest and favouring breeze, 65 Pollux anon being prayed, nor less vows offered to Castor:— Such was the aidance to us Manius pleased to afford. He to my narrow domains far wider limits laid open, He too gave me the house, also he gave me the dame, She upon whom both might exert them, partners in love deeds. 70 Thither graceful of gait pacing my goddess white-hued Came and with gleaming foot on the worn sole of the threshold Stood she and prest its slab creaking her sandals the while; E'en so with love enflamed in olden days to her helpmate, Laodamía the home Protesiléan besought, 75 Sought, but in vain, for ne'er wi' sacrificial bloodshed Victims appeasèd the Lords ruling Celestial seats: Never may I so joy in aught (Rhamnusian Virgin!) That I engage in deed maugrè the will of the Lords. How starved altar can crave for gore in piety pourèd, 80 Laodamia learnt taught by the loss of her man, Driven perforce to loose the neck of new-wedded help-mate, Whenas a winter had gone, nor other winter had come, Ere in the long dark nights her greeding love was so sated That she had power to live maugrè a marriage broke off, 85 Which, as the Parcæ knew, too soon was fated to happen Should he a soldier sail bound for those Ilian walls. For that by Helena's rape, the Champion-leaders of Argives Unto herself to incite Troy had already begun, Troy (ah, curst be the name) common tomb of Asia and Europe, 90 Troy to sad ashes that turned valour and valorous men! Eke to our brother beloved, destruction ever lamented Brought she: O Brother for aye lost unto wretchedmost me, Oh, to thy wretchedmost brother lost the light of his life-tide, Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house: 95 Perisht along wi' thyself forthright all joys we enjoyèd, Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days; Whom now art tombed so far nor 'mid familiar pavestones Nor wi' thine ashes stored near to thy kith and thy kin, But in that Troy obscene, that Troy of ill-omen, entombèd 100 Holds thee, an alien earth-buried in uttermost bourne. Thither in haste so hot ('tis said) from allwhere the Youth-hood Grecian, farèd in hosts forth of their hearths and their homes, Lest with a stolen punk with fullest of pleasure should Paris Fairly at leisure and ease sleep in the pacific bed. 105 Such was the hapless chance, most beautiful Laodamia, Tare fro' thee dearer than life, dearer than spirit itself, Him, that husband, whose love in so mighty a whirlpool of passion Whelmed thee absorbèd and plunged deep in its gulfy abyss, E'en as the Grecians tell hard by Phenéus of Cylléne 110 Drained was the marish and dried, forming the fattest of soils, Whenas in days long done to delve through marrow of mountains Darèd, falsing his sire, Amphtryóniades; What time sure of his shafts he smote Stymphalian monsters Slaying their host at the hest dealt by a lord of less worth, 115 So might the gateway of Heaven be trodden by more of the godheads, Nor might Hébé abide longer to maidenhood doomed. Yet was the depth of thy love far deeper than deepest of marish Which the hard mistress's yoke taught him so tamely to bear; Never was head so dear to a grandsire wasted by life-tide 120 Whenas one daughter alone a grandson so tardy had reared, Who being found against hope to inherit riches of forbears In the well-witnessed Will haply by name did appear, And 'spite impious hopes of baffled claimant to kinship Startles the Vulturine grip clutching the frost-bitten poll. 125 Nor with such rapture e'er joyed his mate of snowy-hued plumage Dove-mate, albeit aye wont in her immoderate heat Said be the bird to snatch hot kisses with beak ever billing, As diddest thou:—yet is Woman multivolent still. But thou 'vailedest alone all these to conquer in love-lowe, 130 When conjoinèd once more unto thy yellow-haired spouse. Worthy of yielding to her in naught or ever so little Came to the bosom of us she, the fair light of my life, Round whom fluttering oft the Love-God hither and thither Shone with a candid sheen robed in his safflower dress. 135 She though never she bide with one Catullus contented, Yet will I bear with the rare thefts of my dame the discreet, Lest over-irk I give which still of fools is the fashion. Often did Juno eke Queen of the Heavenly host Boil wi' the rabidest rage at dire default of a husband 140 Learning the manifold thefts of her omnivolent Jove, Yet with the Gods mankind 'tis nowise righteous to liken, * * * * * * * * Rid me of graceless task fit for a tremulous sire. Yet was she never to me by hand paternal committed Whenas she came to my house reeking Assyrian scents; 145 Nay, in the darkness of night her furtive favours she deigned me, Self-willed taking herself from very mate's very breast. Wherefore I hold it enough since given to us and us only Boon of that day with Stone whiter than wont she denotes. This to thee—all that I can—this offering couched in verses 150 (Allius!) as my return give I for service galore; So wi' the seabriny rust your name may never be sullied This day and that nor yet other and other again. Hereto add may the Gods all good gifts, which Themis erewhiles Wont on the pious of old from her full store to bestow: 155 Blest be the times of the twain, thyself and she who thy life is, Also the home wherein dallied we, no less the Dame, Anser to boot who first of mortals brought us together, Whence from beginning all good Fortunes that blest us were born. Lastly than every else one dearer than self and far dearer, 160 Light of my life who alive living to me can endear.
That when, opprest by fortune and in grievous case, thou didst send me this epistle o'erwrit with tears, that I might bear up shipwrecked thee tossed by the foaming waves of the sea, and restore thee from the threshold of death; thou whom neither sacred Venus suffers to repose in soft slumber, desolate on a a lonely couch, nor do the Muses divert with the sweet song of ancient poets, whilst thy anxious mind keeps vigil:—this is grateful to me, since thou dost call me thy friend, and dost seek hither the gifts of the Muses and of Venus. But that my troubles may not be unknown to thee, O Manius, nor thou deem I shun the office of host, hear how I am whelmed in the waves of that same fortune, nor further seek joyful gifts from a wretched one. In that time when the white vestment was first handed to me, and my florid age was passing in jocund spring, much did I sport enow: nor was the goddess unknown to us who mixes bitter-sweet with our cares. But my brother's death plunged all this pursuit into mourning. O brother, taken from my unhappy self; thou by thy dying hast broken my ease, O brother; all our house is buried with thee; with thee have perished the whole of our joys, which thy sweet love nourished in thy lifetime. Thou lost, I have dismissed wholly from mind these studies and every delight of mind. Wherefore, as to what thou writest, "'Tis shameful for Catullus to be at Verona, for there anyone of utmost note must chafe his frigid limbs on a desolate couch;" that, Manius, is not shameful; rather 'tis a pity. Therefore, do thou forgive, if what grief has snatched from me, these gifts, I do not bestow on thee, because I am unable. For, that there is no great store of writings with me arises from this, that we live at Rome: there is my home, there is my hall, thither my time is passed; hither but one of my book-cases follows me. As 'tis thus, I would not that thou deem we act so from ill-will or from a mind not sufficiently ingenuous, that ample store is not forthcoming to either of thy desires: both would I grant, had I the wherewithal. Nor can I conceal, goddesses, in what way Allius has aided me, or with how many good offices he has assisted me; nor shall fleeting time with its forgetful centuries cover with night's blindness this care of his. But I tell it to you, and do ye declare it to many thousands, and make this paper, grown old, speak of it * * * * And let him be more and more noted when dead, nor let the spider aloft, weaving her thin-drawn web, carry on her work over the neglected name of Allius. For you know what anxiety of mind wily Amathusia gave me, and in what manner she overthrew me, when I was burning like the Trinacrian rocks, or the Malian fount in Oetaean Thermopylae; nor did my piteous eyes cease to dissolve with continual weeping, nor my cheeks with sad showers to be bedewed. As the pellucid stream gushes forth from the moss-grown rock on the aerial crest of the mountain, which when it has rolled headlong prone down the valley, softly wends its way through the midst of the populous parts, sweet solace to the wayfarer sweating with weariness, when the oppressive heat cracks the burnt-up fields agape: or, as to sailors tempest-tossed in black whirlpool, there cometh a favourable and a gently-moving breeze, Pollux having been prayed anon, and Castor alike implored: of such kind was Manius' help to us. He with a wider limit laid open my closed field; he gave us a home and its mistress, on whom we both might exercise our loves in common. Thither with gracious gait my bright-hued goddess betook herself, and pressed her shining sole on the worn threshold with creaking of sandal; as once came Laodamia, flaming with love for her consort, to the home of Protesilaus,—a beginning of naught! for not yet with sacred blood had a victim made propitiate the lords of the heavens. May nothing please me so greatly, Rhamnusian virgin, that I should act thus heedlessly against the will of those lords! How the thirsty altar craves for sacrificial blood Laodamia was taught by the loss of her husband, being compelled to abandon the neck of her new spouse when one winter was past, before another winter had come, in whose long nights she might so glut her greedy love, that she could have lived despite her broken marriage-yoke, which the Parcae knew would not be long distant, if her husband as soldier should fare to the Ilian walls. For by Helena's rape Troy had begun to put the Argive Chiefs in the field; Troy accurst, the common grave of Asia and of Europe, Troy, the sad ashes of heroes and of every noble deed, that also lamentably brought death to our brother. O brother taken from unhappy me! O jocund light taken from thy unhappy brother! in thy one grave lies all our house, in thy one grave have perished all our joys, which thy sweet love did nurture during life. Whom now is laid so far away, not amongst familiar tombs nor near the ashes of his kindred, but obscene Troy, malign Troy, an alien earth, holds thee entombed in its remote soil. Thither, 'tis said, hastening together from all parts, the Grecian manhood forsook their hearths and homes, lest Paris enjoy his abducted trollop with freedom and leisure in a peaceful bed. Such then was thy case, loveliest Laodamia, to be bereft of husband sweeter than life, and than soul; thou being sucked in so great a whirlpool of love, its eddy submerged thee in its steep abyss, like (so folk say) to the Graian gulph near Pheneus of Cyllene with its fat swamp's soil drained and dried, which aforetime the falsely-born Amphitryoniades dared to hew through the marrow of cleft mountains, at the time when he smote down the Stymphalian monsters with sure shafts by the command of his inferior lord, so that the heavenly portal might be pressed by a greater number of deities, nor Hebe longer remain in her virginity. But deeper than that abyss was thy deep love which taught [thy husband] to bear his lady's forceful yoke. For not so dear to the spent age of the grandsire is the late born grandchild an only daughter rears, who, long-wished-for, at length inherits the ancestral wealth, his name duly set down in the attested tablets; and casting afar the impious hopes of the baffled next-of-kin, scares away the vulture from the whitened head; nor so much does any dove-mate rejoice in her snow-white consort (though, 'tis averred, more shameless than most in continually plucking kisses with nibbling beak) as thou dost, though woman is especially inconstant. But thou alone didst surpass the great frenzies of these, when thou wast once united to thy yellow-haired husband. Worthy to yield to whom in naught or in little, my light brought herself to my bosom, round whom Cupid, often running hither thither, gleamed lustrous-white in saffron-tinted tunic. Still although she is not content with Catullus alone, we will suffer the rare frailties of our coy lady, lest we may be too greatly unbearable, after the manner of fools. Often even Juno, greatest of heaven-dwellers, boiled with flaring wrath at her husband's default, wotting the host of frailties of all-wishful Jove. Yet 'tis not meet to match men with the gods, * * * * bear up the ungrateful burden of a tremulous parent. Yet she was not handed to me by a father's right hand when she came to my house fragrant with Assyrian odour, but she gave me her stealthy favours in the mute night, withdrawing of her own will from the bosom of her spouse. Wherefore that is enough if to us alone she gives that day which she marks with a whiter stone. This gift to thee, all that I can, of verse completed, is requital, Allius, for many offices, so that this day and that, and other and other of days may not tarnish your name with scabrous rust. Hither may the gods add gifts full many, which Themis aforetimes was wont to bear to the pious of old. May ye be happy, both thou and thy life's-love together, and thy home in which we have sported, and its mistress, and Anser who in the beginning brought thee to us, from whom all my good fortunes were first born, and lastly she whose very self is dearer to me than all these,—my light, whom living, 'tis sweet to me to live.
LXVIIII.
Noli admirari, quare tibi femina nulla, Rufe, velit tenerum supposuisse femur, Non si illam rarae labefactes munere vestis Aut perluciduli deliciis lapidis. 5 Laedit te quaedam mala fabula, qua tibi fertur Valle sub alarum trux habitare caper. Hunc metuunt omnes. neque mirum: nam mala valdest Bestia, nec quicum bella puella cubet. Quare aut crudelem nasorum interfice pestem, 10 Aut admirari desine cur fugiunt.
LXVIIII.
To Rufus the Fetid.
Wonder not blatantly why no woman shall ever be willing (Rufus!) her tender thigh under thyself to bestow, Not an thou tempt her full by bribes of the rarest garments, Or by the dear delights gems the pellucidest deal. 5 Harms thee an ugly tale wherein of thee is recorded Horrible stench of the goat under thine arm-pits be lodged. All are in dread thereof; nor wonder this, for 'tis evil Beastie, nor damsel fair ever thereto shall succumb. So do thou either kill that cruel pest o' their noses, 10 Or at their reason of flight blatantly wondering cease.
Be unwilling to wonder wherefore no woman, O Rufus, is wishful to place her tender thigh 'neath thee, not even if thou dost tempt her by the gift of a rare robe or by the delights of a crystal-clear gem. A certain ill tale injures thee, that thou bearest housed in the valley of thine armpits a grim goat. Hence everyone's fear. Nor be marvel: for 'tis an exceeding ill beast, with whom no fair girl will sleep. Wherefore, either murder that cruel plague of their noses, or cease to marvel why they fly?
LXX.
Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle Quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat. Dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.
LXX.
On Woman's Inconstancy.
Never, my woman oft says, with any of men will she mate be, Save wi' my own very self, ask her though Jupiter deign! Says she: but womanly words that are spoken to desireful lover Ought to be written on wind or upon water that runs.
No one, saith my lady, would she rather wed than myself, not even if Jupiter's self crave her. Thus she saith! but what a woman tells an ardent amourist ought fitly to be graven on the breezes and in running waters.
LXXI.
Siquoi iure bono sacer alarum obstitit hircus, Aut siquem merito tarda podagra secat, Aemulus iste tuos, qui vostrum exercet amorem, Mirificost fato nactus utrumque malum, 5 Nam quotiens futuit, totiens ulciscitur ambos: Illam adfligit odore, ipse perit podagra.
LXXI.
To Verro.
An of a goat-stink damned from armpits fusty one suffer, Or if a crippling gout worthily any one rack, 'Tis that rival o' thine who lief in loves of you meddles, And, by a wondrous fate, gains him the twain of such ills. 5 For that, oft as he ——, so oft that penance be two-fold; Stifles her stench of goat, he too is kilt by his gout.
If ever anyone was deservedly cursed with an atrocious goat-stench from armpits, or if limping gout did justly gnaw one, 'tis thy rival, who occupies himself with your love, and who has stumbled by the marvel of fate on both these ills. For as oft as he swives, so oft is he taken vengeance on by both; she he prostrates by his stink, he is slain by his gout.
LXXII.
Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum, Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem. Dilexi tum te non tantum ut volgus amicam, Sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos. 5 Nunc te cognovi: quare etsi inpensius uror, Multo mi tamen es vilior et levior. Qui potisest? inquis. quod amantem iniuria talis Cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
LXXII.
To Lesbia the False.
Wont thou to vaunt whilòme of knowing only Catullus (Lesbia!) nor to prefer Jupiter's self to myself. Then, too, I loved thee well, not as vulgar wretch his mistress But as a father his sons loves and his sons by the law. 5 Now have I learnt thee aright; wherefor though burn I the hotter, Lighter and viler by far thou unto me hast become. "How can this be?" dost ask: 'tis that such injury ever Forces the hotter to love, also the less well to will.
Once thou didst profess to know but Catullus, Lesbia, nor wouldst hold Jove before me. I loved thee then, not only as a churl his mistress, but as a father loves his own sons and sons-in-law. Now I do know thee: wherefore if more strongly I burn, thou art nevertheless to me far viler and of lighter thought. How may this be? thou askest. Because such wrongs drive a lover to greater passion, but to less wishes of welfare.
LXXIII.
Desine de quoquam quicquam bene velle mereri Aut aliquem fieri posse putare pium. Omnia sunt ingrata, nihil fecisse benigne Prodest, immo etiam taedet obestque magis 5 Vt mihi, quem nemo gravius nec acerbius urget, Quam modo qui me unum atque unicum amicum habuit.
LXXIII.
Of an Ingrate.
Cease thou of any to hope desirèd boon of well-willing, Or deem any shall prove pious and true to his dues. Waxes the world ingrate, no deed benevolent profits, Nay full oft it irks even offending the more: 5 Such is my case whom none maltreats more grievously bitter, Than does the man that me held one and only to friend.
Cease thou to wish to merit well from anyone in aught, or to think any can become honourable. All are ingrate, naught benign doth avail to aught, but rather it doth irk and prove the greater ill: so with me, whom none doth o'erpress more heavily nor more bitterly than he who a little while ago held me his one and only friend.
LXXIIII.
Gellius audierat patruom obiurgare solere, Siquis delicias diceret aut faceret. Hoc ne ipsi accideret, patrui perdepsuit ipsam Vxorem et patruom reddidit Harpocratem. 5 Quod voluit fecit: nam, quamvis inrumet ipsum Nunc patruom, verbum non faciet patruos.
LXXIIII.
Of Gellius.
Wont was Gellius hear his uncle rich in reproaches, When any ventured aught wanton in word or in deed. Lest to him chance such befall, his uncle's consort seduced he, And of his uncle himself fashioned an Harpocrates. 5 Whatso he willed did he; and nowdays albe his uncle —— he, no word ever that uncle shall speak.
Gellius had heard that his uncle was wont to be wroth, if any spake of or practised love-sportings. That this should not happen to him, he kneaded up his uncle's wife herself, and made of his uncle a god of silence. Whatever he wished, he did; for now, even if he irrumate his uncle's self, not a word will that uncle murmur.
LXXVII.
Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amico (Frustra? immo magno cum pretio atque malo), Sicine subrepsti mei, atque intestina perurens Ei misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona? 5 Eripuisti, heu heu nostrae crudele venenum Vitae, heu heu nostrae pestis amicitiae. Sed nunc id doleo, quod purae pura puellae Savia conminxit spurca saliva tua. Verum id non inpune feres: nam te omnia saecla 10 Noscent, et qui sis fama loquetur anus.
LXXVII.
To Rufus, the Traitor Friend.
Rufus, trusted as friend by me, so fruitlessly, vainly, (Vainly? nay to my bane and at a ruinous price!) Hast thou cajoled me thus, and enfiring innermost vitals, Ravished the whole of our good own'd by wretchedest me? 5 Ravished; (alas and alas!) of our life thou cruellest cruel Venom, (alas and alas!) plague of our friendship and pest. Yet must I now lament that lips so pure of the purest Damsel, thy slaver foul soilèd with filthiest kiss. But ne'er hope to escape scot free; for thee shall all ages 10 Know, and what thing thou be, Fame, the old crone, shall declare.
O Rufus, credited by me as a friend, wrongly and for naught, (wrongly? nay, at an ill and grievous price) hast thou thus stolen upon me, and a-burning my innermost bowels, snatched from wretched me all our good? Thou hast snatched it, alas, alas, thou cruel venom of our life! alas, alas, thou plague of our amity. But now 'tis grief, that thy swinish slaver has soiled the pure love-kisses of our pure girl. But in truth thou shalt not come off with impunity; for every age shall know thee, and Fame the aged, shall denounce what thou art.
LXXVIII.
Gallus habet fratres, quorumst lepidissima coniunx Alterius, lepidus filius alterius. Gallus homost bellus: nam dulces iungit amores, Cum puero ut bello bella puella cubet. 5 Gallus homost stultus nec se videt esse maritum, Qui patruos patrui monstret adulterium.
LXXVIII.
Of Gallus.
Gallus hath brothers in pair, this owning most beautiful consort, While unto that is given also a beautiful son. Gallus is charming as man; for sweet loves ever conjoins he, So that the charming lad sleep wi' the charmer his lass. 5 Gallus is foolish wight, nor self regards he as husband, When being uncle how nuncle to cuckold he show.
Gallus has brothers, one of whom has a most charming spouse, the other a charming son. Gallus is a nice fellow! for pandering to their sweet loves, he beds together the nice lad and the nice aunt. Gallus is a foolish fellow not to see that he is himself a husband who as an uncle shews how to cuckold an uncle.
LXXVIIII.
Lesbius est pulcher: quid ni? quem Lesbia malit Quam te cum tota gente, Catulle, tua. Sed tamen hic pulcher vendat cum gente Catullum, Si tria notorum savia reppererit.
LXXVIIII.
Of Lesbius.
Lesbius is beauty-man: why not? when Lesbia wills him Better, Catullus, than thee backed by the whole of thy clan. Yet may that beauty-man sell all his clan with Catullus, An of three noted names greeting salute he can gain.
Lesbius is handsome: why not so? when Lesbia prefers him to thee, Catullus, and to thy whole tribe. Yet this handsome one may sell Catullus and his tribe if from three men of note he can gain kisses of salute.
LXXX.
Quid dicam, Gelli, quare rosea ista labella Hiberna fiant candidiora nive, Mane domo cum exis et cum te octava quiete E molli longo suscitat hora die? 5 Nescioquid certest: an vere fama susurrat Grandia te medii tenta vorare viri? Sic certest: clamant Victoris rupta miselli Ilia, et emulso labra notata sero.
LXXX.
To Gellius.
How shall I (Gellius!) tell what way lips rosy as thine are Come to be bleached and blanched whiter than wintry snow, Whenas thou quittest the house a-morn, and at two after noon-tide Rousèd from quiet repose, wakest for length of the day? 5 Certès sure am I not an Rumour rightfully whisper * * * * * * * * * * * *
What shall I say, Gellius, wherefore those lips, erstwhile rosy-red, have become whiter than wintery snow, thou leaving home at morn and when the noontide hour arouses thee from soothing slumber to face the longsome day? I know not forsure! but is Rumour gone astray with her whisper that thou devourest the well-grown tenseness of a man's middle? So forsure it must be! the ruptured guts of wretched Virro cry it aloud, and thy lips marked with lately-drained σεμεν publish the fact.
LXXXI.
Nemone in tanto potuit populo esse, Iuventi, Bellus homo, quem tu diligere inciperes, Praeterquam iste tuus moribunda a sede Pisauri Hospes inaurata pallidior statua, 5 Qui tibi nunc cordist, quem tu praeponere nobis Audes, et nescis quod facinus facias.
LXXXI.
To Juventius.
Could there never be found in folk so thronging (Juventius!) Any one charming thee whom thou couldst fancy to love, Save and except that host from deadliest site of Pisaurum, Wight than a statue gilt wanner and yellower-hued, 5 Whom to thy heart thou takest and whom thou darest before us Choose? But villain what deed doest thou little canst wot!
Could there be no one in so great a crowd, Juventius, no gallant whom thou couldst fall to admiring, beyond him, the guest of thy hearth from moribund Pisaurum, wanner than a gilded statue? Who now is in thine heart, whom thou darest to place above us, and knowest not what crime thou dost commit.
LXXXII.
Quinti, si tibi vis oculos debere Catullum Aut aliud siquid carius est oculis, Eripere ei noli, multo quod carius illi Est oculis seu quid carius est oculis.
LXXXII.
To Quintius.
Quintius! an thou wish that Catullus should owe thee his eyes Or aught further if aught dearer can be than his eyes, Thou wilt not ravish from him what deems he dearer and nearer E'en than his eyes if aught dearer there be than his eyes.
Quintius, if thou dost wish Catullus to owe his eyes to thee, or aught, if such may be, dearer than his eyes, be unwilling to snatch from him what is much dearer to him than his eyes, or than aught which itself may be dearer to him than his eyes.
LXXXIII.
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit: Haec illi fatuo maxima laetitiast. Mule, nihil sentis. si nostri oblita taceret, Sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur, 5 Non solum meminit, sed quae multo acrior est res Iratast. Hoc est, uritur et coquitur.
LXXXIII.
Of Lesbia's Husband.
Lesbia heaps upon me foul words her mate being present; Which to that simple soul causes the fullest delight. Mule! naught sensest thou: did she forget us in silence, Whole she had been; but now whatso she rails and she snarls, 5 Not only dwells in her thought, but worse and even more risky, Wrathful she bides. Which means, she is afire and she fumes.
Lesbia in her lord's presence says the utmost ill about me: this gives the greatest pleasure to that ninny. Ass, thou hast no sense! if through forgetfulness she were silent about us, it would be well: now that she snarls and scolds, not only does she remember, but what is a far bitterer thing, she is enraged. That is, she inflames herself and ripens her passion.
LXXXIIII.
Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda vellet Dicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias, Et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum, Cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias. 5 Credo, sic mater, sic Liber avonculus eius, Sic maternus avos dixerat atque avia. Hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures: Audibant eadem haec leniter et leviter, Nec sibi postilla metuebant talia verba, 10 Cum subito adfertur nuntius horribilis, Ionios fluctus, postquam illuc Arrius isset, Iam non Ionios esse, sed Hionios.
LXXXIIII.
On Arrius, a Roman 'Arry.
Wont is Arrius say "Chommodious" whenas "commodious" Means he, and "Insidious" aspirate "Hinsidious," What time flattering self he speaks with marvellous purity, Clamouring "Hinsidious" loudly as ever he can. 5 Deem I thus did his dame and thus-wise Liber his uncle Speak, and on spindle-side grandsire and grandmother too. Restful reposed all ears when he was sent into Syria, Hearing the self-same words softly and smoothly pronouncèd, Nor any feared to hear such harshness uttered thereafter, 10 Whenas a sudden came message of horrible news, Namely th' Ionian waves when Arrius thither had wended, Were "Ionian" no more—they had "Hionian" become.
Chommodious did Arrius say, whenever he had need to say commodious, and for insidious hinsidious, and felt confident he spoke with accent wondrous fine, when aspirating hinsidious to the full of his lungs. I understand that his mother, his uncle Liber, his maternal grand-parents all spoke thus. He being sent into Syria, everyone's ears were rested, hearing these words spoken smoothly and slightly, nor after that did folk fear such words from him, when on a sudden is brought the nauseous news that th' Ionian waves, after Arrius' arrival thither, no longer are Ionian hight, but are now the Hionian Hocean.
LXXXV.
Odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.
LXXXV.
How the Poet Loves.
Hate I, and love I. Haps thou'lt ask me wherefore I do so. Wot I not, yet so I do feeling a torture of pain.
I hate and I love. Wherefore do I so, peradventure thou askest. I know not, but I feel it to be thus and I suffer.
LXXXVI.
Quintia formosast multis, mihi candida, longa, Rectast. haec ego sic singula confiteor, Totum illud formosa nego: nam nulla venustas, Nulla in tam magnost corpore mica salis. 5 Lesbia formosast, quae cum pulcherrima totast, Tum omnibus una omnes surripuit Veneres.
LXXXVI.
Of Quintia.
Quintia beautiful seems to the crowd; to me, fair, and tall, Straight; and merits as these readily thus I confess, But that she is beauteous all I deny, for nothing of lovesome, Never a grain of salt, shows in her person so large. 5 Lesbia beautiful seems, and when all over she's fairest, Any Venus-gift stole she from every one.
Quintia is lovely to many; to me she is fair, tall, and shapely. Each of these qualities I grant. But that all these make loveliness I deny: for nothing of beauty nor scintilla of sprightliness is in her body so massive. Lesbia is lovely, for whilst the whole of her is most beautiful, she has stolen for herself every love-charm from all her sex.
LXXXVII.
Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatam Vere, quantum a me Lesbia amata mea's. Nulla fides ullo fuit umquam foedere tanta, Quanta in amore tuo ex parte reperta meast. LXXV Nunc est mens diducta tua, mea Lesbia, culpa, Atque ita se officio perdidit ipsa suo, Vt iam nec bene velle queat tibi, si optima fias, Nec desistere amare, omnia si facias.