The Poems and Fragments of Catullus Part 13

He rides far already, the mid sea's boundary cleaving, Strays no mortal along these weeds stretched lonely about me.

Thus to my utmost need chance, spitefuller injury dealing, Grudges an ear, where yet might lamentation have entry. 170

Jove, almighty, supreme, O would that never in early Time on Gnossian earth great Cecrops' navies had harbour'd, Ne'er to that unquell'd bull with a ransom of horror atoning, Moor'd on Crete his cable a s.h.i.+pman's wily dishonour.

Never in youth's fair shape such ruthless stratagem hiding 175 He, that vile one, a guest found with us a safe habitation.

Whither flee then afar? what hope, poor lost one, upholds thee?

Mountains Idomenean? alas, broad surges of ocean Part us, a rough rude s.p.a.ce of flowing water, asunder.

Trust in a father's help? how trust, whom darkly deserting, 180 Him I turned to alone, my brother's b.l.o.o.d.y defier?

Nay, but a loyal lover, a hand pledg'd surely, shall ease me.

Surely; for o'er wide water his oars move flexibly fleeting.

Also a desert lies this region, a tenantless island, Nowhere open way, seas splash in circle around me, 185 Nowhere flight, no glimmer of hope; all mournfully silent, Loneliness all, all points me to death, death only remaining.

Yet these luminous...o...b.. shall sink not feebly to darkness, Yet from grief-worn limbs shall feeling wholly depart not, Till to the G.o.ds I cry, the betrayed, for justice on evil, 190 Sue for life's last mercy the great federation of heaven.

Then, O sworn to requite man's evil wrathfully, Powers Gracious, on whose grim brows, with viper tresses inorbed, Looks red-breathing forth your bosom's feverous anger;

Now, yea now come surely, to these loud miseries harken, 195 All I cry, the afflicted, of inmost marrow arising, Desolate, hot with pain, with blinding fury bewilder'd.

Yet, for of heart they spring, grief's children truly begotten, Verily, G.o.ds, these moans you will not idly to perish.

But with counsel of evil as he forsook me deceiving, 200 Death to his house, to his heart, bring also counsel of evil.

When from an anguish'd heart these words stream'd sorrowful upwards, Words which on iron deeds did sue for deadly requital, Bow'd with a nod of a.s.sent almighty the ruler of heaven.

With that dreadful motion aneath earth's hollow, the ruffled 205 Ocean shook, and stormy the stars 'gan tremble in ether.

Thereto his heart thick-sown with blindness cloudily dark'ning, Thought not of all those words, Theseus, from memory fallen, Words which his heedful soul had kept immovable ever.

Nor to his eager sire fair token of happy returning 210 Rais'd, when his eyes safe-sighted Erectheus' populous haven.

Once, so stories tell, when Pallas' city behind him Leaving, Theseus' fleet to the winds given hopefully parted, Clasping then his son spake Aegeus, straitly commanding.

Son, mine only delight, than life more lovely to gaze on, 215 Son, whom needs it faints me to launch full-tided on hazards, Whom my winter of years hath laid so lately before me:

Since my fate unkindly, thy own fierce valour unheeding, Needs must wrest thee away, ere yet these dimly-lit eye-b.a.l.l.s Feed to the full on thee, thy wors.h.i.+pt body beholding; 220

Neither in exultation of heart I send thee a-warring; Nor to the fight shalt bear fair fortune's happier earnest; Rather, first in cries mine heart shall lighten her anguish, When greylocks I sully with earth, with sprinkle of ashes;

Next to the swaying mast shall a sail hang duskily swinging; 225 So this grief, mine own, this burning sorrow within me, Want not a sign, dark shrouds of Iberia, sombre as iron.

Then, if haply the queen, lone ranger on haunted Itonus, Pleas'd to defend our people, Erectheus' safe habitations, Frown not, allow thine hand that bull all redly to slaughter, 230

Look that warily then deep-laid in steady remembrance, These our words grow greenly, nor age move on to deface them;

Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome, See that on each straight yard down droop their funeral housings, Whitely the tight-strung cordage a sparkling canvas aloft swing, 235

Which to behold straightway with joy shall cheer me, with inward Joy, when a prosperous hour shall bring to thee happy returning.

So for a while that charge did Theseus faithfully cherish.

Last, it melted away, as a cloud which riven in ether Breaks to the blast, high peak and spire snow-silvery leaving. 240 But from a rock's wall'd eyrie the father wistfully gazing, Father whose eyes, care-dimm'd, wore hourly for ever a-weeping, Scarcely the wind-puff'd sail from afar 'gan darken upon him, Down the precipitous heights headlong his body he hurried, Deeming Theseus surely by hateful destiny taken. 245 So to a dim death-palace, alert from victory, Theseus Came, what bitter sorrow to Minos' daughter his evil Perjury gave, himself with an even sorrow atoning.

She, as his onward keel still moved, still mournfully follow'd; Pa.s.sion-stricken, her heart a tumultuous image of ocean. 250

Also upon that couch, flush'd youthfully, breathless Iacchus Roam'd with a Satyr-band, with Nisa-begot Sileni; Seeking thee, Ariadna, aflame thy beauty to ravish.

Wildly behind they rushed and wildly before to the folly, Euhoe rav'd, Euhoe with fanatic heads gyrated; 255 Some in womanish hands shook rods cone-wreathed above them, Some from a mangled steer toss'd flesh yet gorily streaming; Some girt round them in orbs, snakes gordian, intertwining; Some with caskets deep did blazon mystical emblems, Emblems m.u.f.fled darkly, nor heard of spirit unholy. 260 Part with a slender palm taborines beat merrily jangling; Now with a cymbal slim would a sharp shrill tinkle awaken; Often a trumpeter horn blew murmurous, hoa.r.s.ely resounding.

Rose on pipes barbaric a jarring music of horror.

Such, wrought rarely, the shapes this quilt did richly apparel, 265 Where to the couch close-clasped it hung thick veils of adorning.

So to the full heart-sated of all their curious eying, Thessaly's youth gave place to the G.o.ds high-throned in heaven.

As, when dawn is awake, light Zephyrus even-breathing Brushes a sleeping sea, which slant-wise curved in edges 270 Breaks, while mounts Aurora the sun's high journey to welcome; They, first smitten faintly by his most airy caressing, Move slow on, light surges a plas.h.i.+ng silvery laughter; Soon with a waxing wind they crowd them apace, thick-fleeting, Swim in a rose-red glow and far off sparkle in Ocean; 275 So thro' column'd porch and chambers sumptuous hieing, Thither or hither away, that company stream'd, home-wending.

First from Pelion height, when they were duly departed, Chiron came, in his hand green gifts of flowery forest.

All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing 280 Breeds on mountainous heights, what near each showery river Swells to the warm west-wind, in gales of foison alighting; These did his own hands bear in girlonds twined of all hues, That to the perfume sweet for joy laugh'd gaily the palace.

Follow'd straight Penios, awhile his bowery Tempe, 285 Tempe, shrined around in shadowy woods o'erhanging, Left to the bare-limb'd maids Magnesian, airily ranging.

No scant carrier he; tall root-torn beeches his heavy Burden, bays stemm'd stately, in heights exalted ascending.

Thereto the nodding plane, and that lithe sister of youthful 290 Phaethon flame-enwrapt, and cypress in air upspringing: These in breadths inwoven he heap'd close-twin'd to the palace, Whereto the porch wox green, with soft leaves canopied over.

Him did follow anear, deep heart and wily, Prometheus, Scarr'd and wearing yet dim traces of early dishonour, 295 All which of old his body to flint fast-welded in iron, Bore and dearly abied, on slippery crags suspended.

Last with his awful spouse, with children goodly, the sovran Father approach'd; thou, Phoebus, alone, his warder in heaven, Left, with that dear sister, on Idrus ranger eternal. 300 Peleus sister alike and brother in high misprision Held, nor lifted a torch when Thetis wedded at even.

So when on ivory thrones they rested, snowily gleaming, Many a feast high-pil'd did load each table about them; Whiles to a tremor of age their gray infirmity rocking, 305 Busy began that chant which speaketh surely the Parcae.

Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding, Fell bright-white to the feet, with a purple border of issue.

Wreaths sat on each h.o.a.r crown, whose snows flush'd rosy beneath them; Still each hand fulfilled its pious labour eternal. 310 Singly the left upbore in wool soft-hooded a distaff, Whereto the right large threads down drawing deftly, with upturn'd Fingers shap'd them anew; then thumbs earth-pointed in even Balance twisted a spindle on orb'd wheels smoothly rotating.

So clear'd softly between and tooth-nipt even it ever 315 Onward moved; still clung on wan lips, sodden as ashes, Shreds all woolly from out that soft smooth surface arisen.

Lastly before their feet lay fells, white, fleecy, refulgent, Warily guarded they in baskets woven of osier.

They, as on each light tuft their voice smote louder approaching, 320 Pour'd grave inspiration, a prophet chant to the future, Chant which an after-time shall tax of vanity never.

O in valorous acts thy wondrous glory renewing, Rich Aemathia's arm, great sire of a goodlier issue, Hark on a joyous day what prophet-story the sisters 325 Open surely to thee; and you, what followeth after, Guide to a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Soon shall approach, and bear the delight long-wish'd for of husbands, Hesper, a bride shall approach in starlight happy presented, Softly to sway thy soul in love's completion abiding, 330 Soon in a trance with thee of slumber dreamy to mingle, Making smooth round arms thy clasp'd throat sinewy pillow.

Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Never hath house closed yet o'er loves so blissful uniting, Never love so well his children in harmony knitten, 335 So as Thetis agrees, as Peleus bendeth according.

Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

You shall a son see born that knows not terror, Achilles, One whose back no foe, whose front each knoweth in onset; Often a conqueror, he, where feet course swiftly together, 340 Steps of a fire-fleet doe shall leave in his hurry behind him.

Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Him to resist in war, no champion hero ariseth, Then on Phrygian earth when carnage Trojan is utter'd; Then when a long sad strife shall Troy's crown'd city beleaguer, 345 Waste her a third false heir from Pelops wary descending.

Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

His unmatchable acts, his deeds of glorious honour, Oft shall mothers speak o'er sons untimely departed; While from crowns earth-bow'd fall loosen'd silvery tresses, 350 Beat on shrivell'd b.r.e.a.s.t.s weak palms their dusky defacing.

Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

As some labourer ears close-cl.u.s.ter'd l.u.s.tily lopping, Under a flaming sun, mows fields ripe-yellow in harvest, _So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles_, Charge Troy's children afield and fell them grimly with iron. 355 Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Deeds of such high glory Scamander's river avoucheth, Hurried in eddies afar thro' boisterous h.e.l.lespontus; Then when a slaughter'd heap his pathway watery choking, Brimmeth a warm red tide and blood with water allieth. 360 Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Voucher of him last riseth a prey untimely devoted E'en to the tomb, which mounded in heaps, high, spherical, earthen, Grants to the snow-white limbs, to the stricken maiden a welcome.