The Poems and Fragments of Catullus Part 5

Shall he, in o'er-a.s.sumption, o'er-repletion he, Sedately saunter every dainty couch along, A bright Adonis, as the snowy dove serene?

Can you look on, look idly, filthy Romulus?

Look idly, gamester, epicure, a wanton, you. 10

Unique commander, and was only this the plea Detain'd you in that islet angle of the west, To gorge the shrunk seducer irreclaimable With haply twice a million, add a million yet?

What else was e'er unhealthy prodigality? 15

The waste? to l.u.s.t a little? on the belly less?

Begin; a glutted h.o.a.rd paternal; ebb the first.

To this, the booty Pontic; add the spoil from out Iberia, known to Tagus' amber ory stream.

Not only Gaul, nor only quail the Briton isles. 20

What help a rogue to fondle? is not all his act To swallow monies, empty purses heap on heap?

But you--to please him only, shame to Rome, to me!

Could you the son, the father, idly ruin all?

x.x.x.

False Alfenus, in all amity frail, duty a prodigal, Doth thy pity depart? Shall not a friend, traitor, a friend recal

Love? what courage is here me to betray, me to repudiate?

. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Never sure did a lie, never a sin, please the celestials.

This you heed not; alas! leave me to new misery, desolate. (5) O where now shall a man trust? liveth yet any fidelity?

You, you only did urge love to be free, life to surrender, you.

Guiding into the snare, falsely secure, prophet of happiness. 10

Now you leave me, retract, every deed, every word allow Into nullity winds far to remove, vapoury clouds to bear. (10)

You forget me, but yet surely the G.o.ds, surely remembereth Faith; hereafter again honour awakes, causeth a wretch to rue.

x.x.xI.

O thou of islands jewel and of half-islands, Fair Sirmio, whatever o'er the lakes' clear rim Or waste of ocean, Neptune holds, a two-fold pow'r; What joy have I to see thee, and to gaze what glee!

Scarce yet believing Thunia past, the fair champaign 5 Bithunian, yet in safety thee to greet once more.

From cares to part us--where is any joy like this?

Then drops the soul her fardel, as the travel-tir'd World-weary wand'rer touches home, returns, sinks down In joy to slumber on the bed desir'd so long. 10 This meed, this only counts for e'en an age all toil.

O take a welcome, lovely Sirmio, thy lord's, And greet him happy; greet him all the lake Lydian; Laugh out whatever laughter at the hearth rings clear.

x.x.xII.

List, I charge thee, my gentle Ipsithilla, Lovely ravisher and my dainty mistress, Say we'll linger a lazy noon together.

Suits my company? lend a farther hearing: See no jealousy make the gate against me, 5 See no fantasy lead thee out a-roaming.

Keep close chamber; anon in all profusion Count me kisses again again returning.

Bides thy will? with a sudden haste command me; Full and wistful, at ease reclin'd, a lover 10 Here I languish alone, supinely dreaming.

x.x.xIII.

Master-robber of all that haunt the bath-rooms, Old Vibennius, and his heir the wanton; (His the dirtier hands, the greedy father, Yours the filthier heart, his heir as hungry;)

Please your knaveries hoist a sail for exile, 5 Pains and privacy? since by this the father's Thefts are palpable, and a rusty favour, Son, picks never a penny from the people.

x.x.xIV.

Great Diana protecteth us, Maids and boyhood in innocence.

Maidens virtuous, innocent Boys, your song be Diana.

Hail, Latonia, thou that art 5 Throned daughter of enthronis'd Jove; near Delian olive of Mighty mother y-boren.

Queen of mountainous heights, of all Forests leafy, delightable; 10 Glens in bowery depths remote, Rivers wrathfully sounding.

Thee, Lucina, the travailing Mother haileth, a sovereign Juno; Trivia thou, the bright 15 Moon, a glory reflected.

Thou thine annual orb anew, G.o.ddess, monthly remeasuring, Farmsteads lowly with affluent Corn dost fill to the flowing. 20 Be thy heavenly name whate'er Name shall please thee, in hallowing; Still keep safely the glorious Race of Romulus olden.

x.x.xV.

1.

Take Caecilius, him the tender-hearted Bard, my paper, a wish from his Catullus.

Come from Larius, haste to leave the new-built Comum's watery city, seek Verona.

Some particular intimate reflexions 5 One would tell thee, a friend we love together.

2.

So he'll quickly devour the way, if only He's no b.o.o.by; for all a snowy maiden Chide imperious, and her hands around him Both in jealousy clasp'd, refuse departure. 10

She, if only report the truth bely not, Doats, as hardly within her own possession.

3.

For since lately she read his high-preluding Queen of Dindymus, all her heart is ever Melting inly with ardour and with anguish. 15

Maiden, laudable is that high emotion, Muse more rapturous, you, than any Sappho.

The Great Mother he surely sings divinely.

x.x.xVI.