Living

Carmen XXXV (Burton)

by Gaius Valerius Catullus c. 84 – c. 54 BC

Translated by Sir Richard F. Burton (1894) · From The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus (1894)

Living

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 Shores adieu;"
For I determined certain fancies he
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;
A girl who (if the truth be truly told)
Dies of a hopeless passion uncontroul'd;
For since the doings of the Díndymus-dame,
By himself storied, she hath read, a flame
Wasting her inmost marrow-core hath burned.
I pardon thee, than Sapphic Muse more learn'd,
Damsel: for truly sung in sweetest lays
Was by Cecilius Magna Mater's praise.

MLA

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “Carmen XXXV (Burton).” Translated by Sir Richard F. Burton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/255/.

Chicago

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “Carmen XXXV (Burton).” Translated by Sir Richard F. Burton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/255/.

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