Love
XL: What fatality, what chimera drives thee
Translated by Robinson Ellis (1871) · From The Poems and Fragments of Catullus (1871)
What fatality, what chimera drives thee
Headlong, Ravidus, on to my iambics?
What fell deity, most malign to listen,
Fires thy fury to quarrel unavailing?
Wouldst thou busy the breath of half the people?
Break with clamour at any cost the silence?
Thou wilt do it; a wretch that hop'd my darling
Love to fondle, a sure retaliation.
Cite this poem
MLA
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XL: What fatality, what chimera drives thee.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/37/.
Chicago
Catullus, Gaius Valerius. “XL: What fatality, what chimera drives thee.” Translated by Robinson Ellis. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/catullus/37/.
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