The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus Part 7

Paeninsularum, Sirmio, insularumque Ocelle, quasc.u.mque in liquentibus stagnis Marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus, Quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso, Vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bithynos 5 Liquisse campos et videre te in tuto.

O quid solutis est beatius curis, c.u.m mens onus reponit, ac peregrino Labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum Desideratoque acquiescimus lecto. 10 Hoc est, quod unumst pro laboribus tantis.

Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude: Gaudete vosque, o Libuae lacus undae: Ridete, quidquid est domi cachinnorum.

x.x.xI.

ON RETURN TO SIRMIO AND HIS VILLA.

Sirmio! of Islands and Peninsulas Eyelet, and whatsoe'er in limpid meres And vasty Ocean either Neptune owns, Thy scenes how willing-glad once more I see, At pain believing Thynia and the Fields 5 Bithynian left, I'm safe to sight thy Site.

Oh what more blessed be than cares resolved, When mind casts burthen and by peregrine Work over wearied, lief we hie us home To lie reposing in the longed-for bed! 10 This be the single meed for toils so triste.

Hail, O fair Sirmio, in thy lord rejoice: And ye, O waves of Lybian Lake be glad, And laugh what laughter pealeth in my home.

Sirmio! Eyebabe of Islands and Peninsulas, which Neptune holds whether in limpid lakes or on mighty mains, how gladly and how gladsomely do I re-see thee, scarce crediting that I've left behind Thynia and the Bithynian champaign, and that safe and sound I gaze on thee. O what's more blissful than cares released, when the mind casts down its burden, and when wearied with travel-toils we reach our hearth, and sink on the craved-for couch.

This and only this repays our labours numerous. Hail, lovely Sirmio, and gladly greet thy lord; and joy ye, wavelets of the Lybian lake; laugh ye the laughters echoing from my home.

x.x.xII.

Amabo, mea dulcis Ipsithilla, Meae deliciae, mei lepores, Iube ad te veniam meridiatum.

Et si iusseris illud, adiuvato, Nequis liminis obseret tabellam, 5 Neu tibi lubeat foras abire, Sed domi maneas paresque n.o.bis Novem continuas fututiones.

Verum, siquid ages, statim iubeto: Nam pransus iaceo et satur supinus 10 Pertundo tunicamque palliumque.

x.x.xII.

CRAVING IPSITHILLA'S LAST FAVOURS.

I'll love my Ipsithilla sweetest, My desires and my wit the meetest, So bid me join thy nap o' noon!

Then (after bidding) add the boon Undraw thy threshold-bolt none dare, 5 Lest thou be led afar to fare; Nay bide at home, for us prepare Nine-fold continuous love-delights.

But aught do thou to hurry things, For dinner-full I lie aback, 10 And gown and tunic through I crack.

I'll love thee, my sweet Ipsithilla, my delight, my pleasure: an thou bid me come to thee at noontide. And an thou thus biddest, I adjure thee that none makes fast the outer door [against me], nor be thou minded to gad forth, but do thou stay at home and prepare for us nine continuous conjoinings. In truth if thou art minded, give instant summons: for breakfast o'er, I lie supine and ripe, thrusting through both tunic and cloak.

x.x.xIII.

O furum optime balneariorum Vibenni pater, et cinaede fili, (Nam dextra pater inquinatiore, Culo filius est voraciore) Cur non exilium malasque in oras 5 Itis, quandoquidem patris rapinae Notae sunt populo, et natis pilosas, Fili, non potes a.s.se venditare.

x.x.xIII.

ON THE VIBENII--BATH-THIEVES.

Oh, best of robbers who in Baths delight, Vibennius, sire and son, the Ingle hight, (For that the father's hand be fouler one And with his a.n.u.s greedier is the Son) Why not to banishment and evil hours 5 Haste ye, when all the parent's plundering powers Are public knowledge, nor canst gain a Cent Son! by the vending of thy piled vent.

O, chiefest of pilferers, baths frequenting, Vibennius the father and his pathic son (for with the right hand is the sire more in guilt, and with his backside is the son the greedier), why go ye not to exile and ill hours, seeing that the father's plunderings are known to all folk, and that, son, thou can'st not sell thine hairy b.u.t.tocks for a doit?

x.x.xIIII.

Dianae sumus in fide Puellae et pueri integri: _Dianam pueri integri_ Puellaeque canamus.

O Latonia, maximi 5 Magna progenies Iovis, Quam mater prope Deliam Deposivit olivam,

Montium domina ut fores Silvarumque virentium 10 Saltuumque reconditorum Amniumque sonantum.

Tu Lucina dolentibus Iuno dicta puerperis, Tu potens Trivia et notho's 15 Dicta lumine Luna.

Tu cursu, dea, menstruo Metiens iter annuom Rustica agricolae bonis Tecta frugibus exples. 20

Sis quoc.u.mque tibi placet Sancta nomine, Romulique, Antique ut solita's, bona Sospites ope gentem.

x.x.xIIII.

HYMN TO DIANA.

Diana's faith inbred we bear Youths whole of heart and maidens fair, Let boys no blemishes impair, And girls of Dian sing!

O great Latonian progeny, 5 Of greatest Jove descendancy, Whom mother bare 'neath olive-tree, Deep in the Delian dell;

That of the mountains reign thou Queen And forest ranges ever green, 10 And coppices by man unseen, And rivers resonant.

Thou art Lucina, Juno hight By mothers lien in painful plight, Thou puissant Trivia and the Light 15 b.a.s.t.a.r.d, yclept the Lune.

Thou G.o.ddess with thy monthly stage, The yearly march doth mete and guage And rustic peasant's messuage, Dost brim with best o' crops, 20

Be hailed by whatso name of grace, Please thee and olden Romulus' race, Thy wonted favour deign embrace, And save with choicest aid.

We, maids and upright youths, are in Diana's care: upright youths and maids, we sing Diana.

O Latonia, progeny great of greatest Jove, whom thy mother bare 'neath Delian olive,

That thou mightst be Queen of lofty mounts, of foliaged groves, of remote glens, and of winding streams.

Thou art called Juno Lucina by the mother in her travail-pangs, thou art named potent Trivia and Luna with an ill-got light.

Thou, G.o.ddess, with monthly march measuring the yearly course, dost glut with produce the rustic roofs of the farmer.

Be thou hallowed by whatsoe'er name thou dost prefer; and cherish, with thine good aid, as thou art wont, the ancient race of Romulus.

x.x.xV.

Poetae tenero, meo sodali Velim Caecilio, papyre, dicas, Veronam veniat, Novi relinquens Comi moenia Lariumque litus: Nam quasdam volo cogitationes 5 Amici accipiat sui meique.

Quare, si sapiet, viam vorabit, Quamvis candida milies puella Euntem revocet ma.n.u.sque collo Ambas iniciens roget morari, 10 Quae nunc, si mihi vera nuntiantur, Illum deperit inpotente amore: Nam quo tempore legit incohatam Dindymi dominam, ex eo misellae Ignes interiorem edunt medullam. 15 Ignosco tibi, Sapphica puella Musa doctior: est enim venuste Magna Caecilio incohata mater.

x.x.xV.

AN INVITATION TO POET CECILIUS.

Now to that tender bard, my Comrade fair, (Cecilius) say I, "Paper go, declare, Verona must we make and bid to New Comum's town-walls and Larian Sh.o.r.es adieu;"

For I determined certain fancies he 5 Accept from mutual friend to him and me.

Wherefore he will, if wise, devour the way, Though the blonde damsel thousand times essay Recall his going and with arms a-neck A-winding would e'er seek his course to check; 10 A girl who (if the truth be truly told) Dies of a hopeless pa.s.sion uncontroul'd; For since the doings of the Dindymus-dame, By himself storied, she hath read, a flame Wasting her inmost marrow-core hath burned. 15 I pardon thee, than Sapphic Muse more learn'd, Damsel: for truly sung in sweetest lays Was by Cecilius Magna Mater's praise.

To that sweet poet, my comrade, Caecilius, I bid thee, paper, say: that he hie him here to Verona, quitting New Comum's city-walls and Larius' sh.o.r.e; for I wish him to give ear to certain counsels from a friend of his and mine. Wherefore, an he be wise, he'll devour the way, although a milk-white maid doth thousand times r.e.t.a.r.d his going, and flinging both arms around his neck doth supplicate delay--a damsel who now, if truth be brought me, is undone with immoderate love of him. For, since what time she first read of the Dindymus Queen, flames devour the innermost marrow of the wretched one. I grant thee pardon, damsel, more learned than the Sapphic muse: for charmingly has the Mighty Mother been sung by Caecilius.