Carmina

Ever a Door was endow’d either with earlet or tongue.

Further she noted a wight whose name in public to mention

Nill I, lest he upraise eyebrows of carroty hue;

Long is the loon and large the law-suit brought they against him

Touching a child-bed false, claim of a belly that lied.

When to me sore opprest by bitter chance of misfortune

This thy letter thou send’st written wi’ blotting of tears,

So might I save thee flung by spuming billows of ocean,

Shipwreckt, rescuing life snatcht from the threshold of death;

Eke neither Venus the Holy to rest in slumber’s refreshment

Grants thee her grace on couch lying deserted and lone,

Nor can the Muses avail with dulcet song of old writers

Ever delight thy mind sleepless in anxious care;

Grateful be this to my thought since thus thy friend I’m entitled,

Hence of me seekest thou gifts Muses and Venus can give:

But that bide not unknown to thee my sorrows (O Manius!)

And lest office of host I should be holden to hate,

Learn how in Fortune’s deeps I chance myself to be drownèd,

Nor fro’ the poor rich boons furthermore prithee require.

What while first to myself the pure-white garment was given,

Whenas my flowery years flowed in fruition of spring,

Much I disported enow, nor ’bode I a stranger to Goddess

Who with our cares is lief sweetness of bitter to mix:

Yet did a brother’s death pursuits like these to my sorrow

Bid for me cease: Oh, snatcht brother! from wretchedest me.

Then, yea, thou by thy dying hast broke my comfort, O brother;

Buried together wi’ thee lieth the whole of our house;

Perisht along wi’ thyself all gauds and joys of our life-tide,

Douce love fostered by thee during the term of our days.

After thy doom of death fro’ mind I banishèd wholly

Studies like these, and all lending a solace to soul;

Wherefore as to thy writ:—Verona’s home for Catullus

Bringeth him shame, for there men of superior mark

Must on a deserted couch fain chafe their refrigerate limbs:

Such be no shame (Manius!): rather ’tis matter of ruth.

Pardon me, then, wilt thou an gifts bereft me by grieving

These I send not to thee since I avail not present.

For, that I own not here abundant treasure of writings

Has for its cause, in Rome dwell I; and there am I homed,

There be my seat, and there my years are gathered to harvest;

Out of book-cases galore here am I followed by one.

This being thus, nill I thou deem ’tis spirit malignant

Acts in such wise or mind lacking of liberal mood

That to thy prayer both gifts be not in plenty supplièd:

Willingly both had I sent, had I the needed supply.

Nor can I (Goddesses!) hide in what things Allius sent me

Aid, forbear to declare what was the aidance he deigned:

Neither shall fugitive Time from centuries ever oblivious

Veil in the blinds of night friendship he lavisht on me.

But will I say unto you what you shall say to the many

Thousands in turn, and make paper, old crone, to proclaim

And in his death become noted the more and the more,

Nor let spider on high that weaves her delicate webbing

Practise such labours o’er Allius’ obsolete name.

For that ye weet right well what care Amathúsia two-faced

Gave me, and how she dasht every hope to the ground,

Whenas I burnt so hot as burn Trinacria’s rocks or

Mallia stream that feeds Œtéan Thermopylae;

Nor did these saddened eyes to be dimmed by assiduous weeping

Cease, and my cheeks with showers ever in sadness be wet.

E’en as from aëry heights of mountain springeth a springlet

Limpidest leaping forth from rocking felted with moss,

Then having headlong rolled the prone-laid valley downpouring,

Populous region amid wendeth his gradual way,

Sweetest solace of all to the sweltering traveller wayworn,

Whenas the heavy heat fissures the fiery fields;

Or, as to seamen lost in night of whirlwind a-glooming

Gentle of breath there comes fairest and favouring breeze,

Pollux anon being prayed, nor less vows offered to Castor:—

Such was the aidance to us Manius pleased to afford.

He to my narrow domains far wider limits laid open,

He too gave me the house, also he gave me the dame,

She upon whom both might exert them, partners in love deeds.

Thither graceful of gait pacing my goddess white-hued

Came and with gleaming foot on the worn sole of the threshold

Stood she and prest its slab creakihg her sandals the while;

E’enso with love enflamed in olden days to her helpmate,

Laodamía the home Protesiléan besought,

Sought, but in vain, for ne’er wi’ sacrificial blood shed

Victims appeased the Lords ruling Celestial seats:

Never may I so joy in aught (Rhamnusian Virgin!)

That I engage in deed maugrè the will of the Lords.

How starved altar can crave for gore in piety poured,

Laodamia learnt taught by the loss of her man,

Driven perforce to loose the neck of new-wedded help-mate,

Whenas a winter had gone, nor other winter had come,

Ere in the long dark nights her greeding love was so sated

That she had power to live maugrè a marriage broke off,

Which, as the Parcae knew, too soon was fated to happen

Should he a soldier sail bound for those llian walls.

For that by Helena’s rape, the Champion-leaders of Argives

Unto herself to incite Troy had already begun,

Troy (ah, curst be the name) common tomb of Asia and Europe,

Troy to sad ashes that turned valour and valorous men!

Eke to our brother beloved, destruction ever lamented

Brought she: O Brother for aye lost unto wretchedmost me,

Oh, to thy wretchedmost brother lost the light of his life-tide,

Buried together wi’ thee lieth the whole of our house:

Perisht along wi’ thyself forthright all joys we enjoyèd,

Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days;