The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus Part 10

Far left (Catullus!) be the Phrygian leas And summery Nicaea's fertile downs: 5 Fly we to Asia's fame-illumined towns.

Now l.u.s.t my fluttering thoughts for wayfare long, Now my glad eager feet grow steady, strong.

O fare ye well, my comrades, pleasant throng, Ye who together far from homesteads flying, 10 By many various ways come homewards hieing.

Now springtide brings back its mild and tepid airs, now the heaven's fury equinoctial is calmed by Zephyr's benign breath. The Phrygian meadows are left behind, O Catullus, and the teeming fields of sun-scorched Nicaea: to the glorious Asian cities let us haste. Now my palpitating soul craves wander, now my feet grow vigorous with glad zeal. O charming circlet of comrades, fare ye well, who are together met from distant homes to which divers sundered ways lead back.

x.x.xXVII.

Porci et Socration, duae sinistrae Pisonis, scabies famesque mundi Vos Veraniolo meo et Fabullo Verpus praeposuit Priapus ille?

Vos convivia lauta sumptuose 5 De die facitis? mei sodales Quaerunt in trivio vocationes?

x.x.xXVII.

TO PORCIUS AND SOCRATION.

Porcius and Socration, pair sinister Of Piso, scabs and starvelings of the world, You to Fabullus and my Verianolus, Hath dared yon snipt Priapus to prefer?

Upon rich banquets sumptuously spread 5 Still gorge you daily while my comrades must Go seek invitals where the three roads fork?

Porcius and Socration, twins in rascality of Piso, scurf and famisht of the earth, you before my Veraniolus and Fabullus has that prepuce-lacking Priapus placed? Shall you betimes each day in luxurious opulence banquet?

And must my cronies quest for dinner invitations, [lounging] where the three cross-roads meet?

x.x.xXVIII.

Mellitos oculos tuos, Iuventi, Siquis me sinat usque basiare, Vsque ad milia basiem trecenta, Nec umquam videar satur futurus, Non si densior aridis aristis 5 Sit nostrae seges osculationis.

x.x.xXVIII.

TO JUVENTIUS.

Those honied eyes of thine (Juventius!) If any suffer me sans stint to buss, I'd kiss of kisses hundred thousands three, Nor ever deem I'd reach satiety, Not albe denser than dried wheat-ears show 5 The kissing harvests our embraces grow.

Thine honey-sweet eyes, O Juventius, had I the leave to kiss for aye, for aye I'd kiss e'en to three hundred thousand kisses, nor ever should I reach to future plenity, not even if thicker than dried wheat sheaves be the harvest of our kisses.

x.x.xXVIIII.

Disertissime Romuli nepotum, Quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli, Quotque post aliis erunt in annis, Gratias tibi maximas Catullus Agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5 Tanto pessimus omnium poeta Quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

x.x.xXVIIII.

TO MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO.

Most eloquent 'mid race of Romulus That is or ever was (Marc Tullius!) Or in the coming years the light shall see, His thanks, the warmest, offers unto thee Catullus, poet sorriest that be, 5 And by such measure poet sorriest, As thou of pleaders art the bestest best.

Most eloquent of Romulus' descendancy, who are, who have been, O Marcus Tullius, and who shall later be in after time, to thee doth give his greatest grat.i.tude Catullus, pettiest of all the poets,--and so much pettiest of all the poets as thou art peerless 'mongst all pleaders.

L.

Hesterno, Licini, die otiosi Multum lusimus in meis tabellis, Vt convenerat esse delicatos.

Scribens versiculos uterque nostrum Ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc, 5 Reddens mutua per ioc.u.m atque vinum.

Atque illinc abii tuo lepore Incensus, Licini, facetiisque, Vt nec me miserum cibus iuvaret, Nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos, 10 Sed toto indomitus furore lecto Versarer cupiens videre lucem, Vt tec.u.m loquerer, simulque ut essem.

At defessa labore membra postquam Semimortua lectulo iacebant, 15 Hoc, iocunde, tibi poema feci, Ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem.

Nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras, Oramus, cave despuas, ocelle, Ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te. 20 Est vemens dea: laedere hanc caveto.

L.

TO HIS FRIEND LICINIUS.

Idly (Licinius!) we our yesterday, Played with my tablets much as pleased us play, In mode becoming souls of dainty strain.

Inditing verses either of us twain Now in one measure then in other line 5 We rang the changes amid wit and wine.

Then fared I homewards by thy fun so fired And by thy jests (Licinius!) so inspired, Nor food my hapless appet.i.te availed Nor sleep in quiet rest my eyelids veiled, 10 But o'er the bedstead wild in furious plight I tossed a-longing to behold the light, So I might talk wi' thee, and be wi' thee.

But when these wearied limbs from labour free Were on my couchlet strewn half-dead to lie, 15 For thee (sweet wag!) this poem for thee wrote I, Whereby thou mete and weet my cark and care.

Now be not over-bold, nor this our prayer Outspit thou (apple of mine eyes!): we pray Lest doom thee Nemesis hard pain repay:-- 20 She's a dire G.o.ddess, 'ware thou cross her way.

Yestreen, Licinius, in restful day, much mirthful verse we flashed upon my tablets, as became us, men of fancy. Each jotting versicles in turn sported first in this metre then in that, exchanging mutual epigrams 'midst jokes and wine. But I departed thence, afire, Licinius, with thy wit and drolleries, so that food was useless to my wretched self; nor could sleep close mine eyes in quiet, but all o'er the bed in restless fury did I toss, longing to behold daylight that with thee I might speak, and again we might be together. But afterwards, when my limbs, weakened by my restless labours, lay stretched in semi-death upon the bed, this poem, O jocund one, I made for thee, from which thou mayst perceive my dolour. Now 'ware thee of presumptuousness, and our pleadings 'ware thee of rejecting, we pray thee, eye-babe of ours, lest Nemesis exact her dues from thee. She is a forceful G.o.ddess; 'ware her wrath.

LI.

Ille mi par esse deo videtur, Ille, si fas est, superare divos, Qui sedens adversus identidem te Spectat et audit Dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5 Eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te, Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi * * * *

Lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus Flamma demanat, sonitu suopte 10 Tintinant aures geminae, teguntur Lumina nocte.

LIb.

Otium, Catulle, tibi molestumst: Otio exultas nimiumque gestis. 15 Otium et reges prius et beatas Perdidit urbes.

LI.

TO LESBIA.

Peer of a G.o.d meseemeth he, Nay pa.s.sing G.o.ds (and that can be!) Who all the while sits facing thee Sees thee and hears Thy low sweet laughs which (ah me!) daze 5 Mine every sense, and as I gaze Upon thee (Lesbia!) o'er me strays * * * *

My tongue is dulled, my limbs adown Flows subtle flame; with sound its own 10 Rings either ear, and o'er are strown Mine eyes with night.

LIb.

Ease has thy lot, Catullus, crost, Ease gladdens thee at heaviest cost, 15 Ease killed the Kings ere this and lost The tallest towns.

He to me to be peer to a G.o.d doth seem, he, if such were lawful, to o'er-top the G.o.ds, who sitting oft a-front of thee doth gaze on thee, and doth listen to thine laughter lovely, which doth s.n.a.t.c.h away from sombre me mine every sense: for instant falls my glance on thee, Lesbia, naught is left to me [of voice], but my tongue is numbed, a keen-edged flame spreads through my limbs, with sound self-caused my twin ears sing, and mine eyes are enwrapped with night.

Sloth, O Catullus, to thee is hurtful: in sloth beyond measure dost thou exult and pa.s.s thy life. Sloth hath erewhile ruined rulers and gladsome cities.

LII.

Quid est, Catulle? quid moraris emori?

Sella in curuli struma Nonius sedet, Per consulatum peierat Vatinius: Quid est, Catulle? quid moraris emori?

LII.

CATULLUS TO HIMSELF.

What is't, Catullus? Why delay to out die?

That Wen hight Nonius sits in curule chair, For Consulship Vatinius false doth swear; What is't, Catullus? Why delay to out die?