The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus | Page 7

show?Had not some fulsome work by thee been wrought.?Then what thou holdest, boon or bane be pleased 15 Disclose! For thee and thy beloved fain would I?Upraise to Heaven with my liveliest lay.
O Flavius, of thy sweetheart to Catullus thou would'st speak, nor could'st thou keep silent, were she not both ill-mannered and ungraceful. In truth thou affectest I know not what hot-blooded whore: this thou art ashamed to own. For that thou dost not lie alone a-nights thy couch, fragrant with garlands and Syrian unguent, in no way mute cries out, and eke the pillow and bolsters indented here and there, and the creakings and joggings of the quivering bed: unless thou canst silence these, nothing and again nothing avails thee to hide thy whoredoms. And why? Thou wouldst not display such drain��d flanks unless occupied in some tomfoolery. Wherefore, whatsoever thou hast, be it good or ill, tell us! I wish to laud thee and thy loves to the sky in joyous verse.
VII.
Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes?Tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.?Quam magnus numerus Libyssae arenae?Lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis,?Oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi 5 Et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum,?Aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,?Furtivos hominum vident amores,?Tam te basia multa basiare?Vesano satis et super Catullost, 10 Quae nec pernumerare curiosi?Possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
VII.
TO LESBIA STILL BELOVED.
Thou ask'st How many kissing bouts I bore?From thee (my Lesbia!) or be enough or more??I say what mighty sum of Lybian-sands?Confine Cyrene's Laserpitium-lands?'Twixt Oracle of Jove the Swelterer 5 And olden Battus' holy Sepulchre,?Or stars innumerate through night-stillness ken?The stolen Love-delights of mortal men,?For that to kiss thee with unending kisses?For mad Catullus enough and more be this, 10 Kisses nor curious wight shall count their tale,?Nor to bewitch us evil tongue avail.
Thou askest, how many kisses of thine, Lesbia, may be enough and to spare for me. As the countless Libyan sands which strew the spicy strand of Cyrene 'twixt the oracle of swelt'ring Jove and the sacred sepulchre of ancient Battus, or as the thronging stars which in the hush of darkness witness the furtive loves of mortals, to kiss thee with kisses of so great a number is enough and to spare for passion-driven Catullus: so many that prying eyes may not avail to number, nor ill tongues to ensorcel.
VIII.
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,?Et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.?Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,?Cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat?Amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla. 5 Ibi illa multa tum iocosa fiebant,?Quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat.?Fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.?Nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque, inpotens, noli?Nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive, 10 Sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.?Vale, puella. iam Catullus obdurat,?Nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam:?At tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.?Scelesta, vae te! quae tibi manet vita! 15 Quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella??Quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris??Quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis??At tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
VIII.
TO HIMSELF RECOUNTING LESBIA'S INCONSTANCY.
Woe-full Catullus! cease to play the fool?And what thou seest dead as dead regard!?Whil��me the sheeniest suns for thee did shine?When oft-a-tripping whither led the girl?By us belov��d, as shall none be loved. 5 There all so merry doings then were done?After thy liking, nor the girl was loath.?Then cert��s sheeniest suns for thee did shine.?Now she's unwilling: thou too (hapless!) will?Her flight to follow, and sad life to live: 10 Endure with stubborn soul and still obdure.?Damsel, adieu! Catullus obdurate grown?Nor seeks thee, neither asks of thine unwill;?Yet shalt thou sorrow when none woos thee more;?Reprobate! Woe to thee! What life remains? 15 Who now shall love thee? Who'll think thee fair??Whom now shalt ever love? Whose wilt be called??To whom shalt kisses give? whose liplets nip??But thou (Catullus!) destiny-doomed obdure.
Unhappy Catullus, cease thy trifling and what thou seest lost know to be lost. Once bright days used to shine on thee when thou wert wont to haste whither thy girl didst lead thee, loved by us as never girl will e'er be loved. There those many joys were joyed which thou didst wish, nor was the girl unwilling. In truth bright days used once to shine on thee. Now she no longer wishes: thou too, powerless to avail, must be unwilling, nor pursue the retreating one, nor live unhappy, but with firm-set mind endure, steel thyself. Farewell, girl, now Catullus steels himself, seeks thee not, nor entreats thy acquiescence. But thou wilt pine, when thou hast no entreaty proffered. Faithless, go thy way! what manner of life remaineth to thee? who now will visit thee? who find thee beautiful? whom wilt thou love now? whose girl wilt thou be called? whom wilt thou kiss? whose lips wilt thou bite? But thou, Catullus, remain hardened as steel.
VIIII.
Verani, omnibus e meis amicis?Antistans mihi milibus trecentis,?Venistine domum ad tuos Penates?Fratresque unanimos anumque matrem??Venisti. o mihi nuntii beati! 5 Visam te incolumem audiamque