No More Learning

And so we con Catullus' Latin lyrics. They have
something for us still, a melody and a theme tran-
scending language, or rather, belonging to all langu-
age. That is why we try to translate them, to trans-
fer the idea and the tone to a medium that will
reach the modern ear, preserving the flavor of the
original as far as possible, changing word, phrase,
and figure to fit today's way of expressing itself
when touched by the same world-old passion. This
we do not claim to have succeeded in doing, but
it is what we have tried to do. It may be thought
over-bold to translate ad claras Asiae volemus
urbes (XLVI) into:
Dawn flames crimson, luring eastward,
Asians magic blooms unfold.
Golden cities nod and beckon.
Who can tell what joys they hold?
However, in our opinion, this is just what trans-
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? CATULLUS 25
lation requires. For while the original has no such
images, it has a tone, flavor, or whatever you may
call it, that suggests them, and the translation must
meet this in some way.
Translations are often failures because they sound
like translations. To translate the word and not
the thought is false; to catch the thought and miss
the spirit is no less false; and to make labored
what was spontaneous is falsest of tM. Therefore,
the translation must have a kind of spontaniety of
its own, an English originality, as it were. Thus
we have used rhyme where the Latin does not be-
cause in English the lyric quality of verse largely
depends on rhyme. And in this faith have we taken
such liberties of interpretation.
Another generation will no doubt essay its own
translation. We have written as we have read.
The University of Montana^
Missoula,
January J IQ15
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? SELECTIONS FROM CATULLUS
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? CATULLUS
I
To whom shall I offer this book, young and spright-
ly,
Neat, polished, wide-margined, and finished po-
litely?
To you, my Cornelius, whose learning pedantic,
Has dared to set forth in three volumes gigantic
The history of ages -- ye gods, what a labor! --
And still to enjoy the small wit of a neighbor.
A man who can be light and learned at once, sir,
By life's subtle logic is far from a dunce, sir.
So take my small book -- if it meet with your favor.
The passing of years cannot dull its sweet savor.
29
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? 30 CATULLUS
II
Sweet bird, my Lady's dear delight,
Her breast thy refuge fair;
Ah, could'st thou know thy happiness
To be so sheltered there!
She gives her dainty finger tip
To thy sharp little bill
In sportive play -- a ruse, I trow,
Her longing love to still.
Ah, would that I, like her, might give
Such solace to my grief.
Might cool my absent heart's fierce fire
In such a sweet relief.
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? CATULLUS 31
III
Let Venus bow her head in grief,
And tears drown Cupid's eyes in sorrow,
And men of feeling everywhere
Forget to smile-- until tomorrow.
My lady's little bird lies dead,
The bird that was my lady's prize
And dearer than her eyes -- alas,
Those pretty, tender, tear-dimmed eyes!
It knew its mistress quite as well
As she her mother; near her breast
It fluttered ever, chirping soft
And in her bosom found its rest.
Now does it seek the darksome way,
Whence none return nor message bring --
Accursed be, ye deadly shades,
That vanquish every lovely thing!
Ah, cruel deed! poor little bird
A-flutter in your gloomy skies!
From her you've snatched her pretty pet;
From me, the brightness of her eyes.
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? 32 ^ CATULLUS
V
Come, let us live and love, my dear,
A fig for all the pratings drear
Of sour old sages, w^orldly w^ise.
Aye, suns may set again to rise;
But as for us, when once our sun
His little course of light has run,
An endless night we'll sleep away.
Then kiss me, sweet, while kiss we may.
A thousand kisses, hundreds then.
And straightway we'll begin again --
Another thousand, hundreds more.
And still a thousand as before.
Till hundred thousands we shall kiss.
And lose all count in drunken bliss,
Lest green-eyed envy, in dull spite,
Should steal away our deep delight.
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? CATULLUS 33
VII
You ask me, love, how many kisses
Shall surfeit me with burning blisses.
As many as the grains of sand
That burn on Airic's spicy strand
Between Jove's shrine of mystic gloom
And ancient Battus' sacred tomb,
Or as the countless stars that light
Sweet secret loves in moonless night.
So many kisses, not one less.
Might soothe Catullus' mad distress.
And let no curious gossip cloy
With evil tongue our perfect joy.
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? 34 CATULLUS
VIII
Catullus, cease to play the fool,
Consider what is past as past,
Bright days have shown for you, 'tis true;
Such days, you know, can never last.
Bright days have shown -- ah, that was when
You danced attendance to the maid,
More truly loved by you, of course.
Than e're was loved a heartless jade.
And then how many happy days
Were passed in loving by you both ;
You, loyal, eager, ardent, keen,
The maiden, also, nothing loth.
But now the maid no longer cares;
Then, what do you care? Never sigh,
Nor follow after when she flees,
Be obdurate and say goodby.
But as for you, reluctant girl.
Alone j^ou'll sit and grieve all day ;
For who will love you, call you fair.
When your Catullus stays away?
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? CATULLUS 35
IX
Veranus, best of all my friends,
Had I ten thousand others,
You're coming home, to your own hearth.
Your mother and dear brother? .
You're coming home -- oh, happy thought!
I'll see you safe and hear you
Tell happy tales of far-off lands,
The while we're gathered near you.
Your arms about my neck, I'll press
On lips and eyes fond kisses --
Oh, happy men o'er all the earth;
Who knows such joy as this is?
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? 36 CATULLUS
XIII
Come dine with me, Fabullus, do.
You shall dine well, I promise you.
If Fates are kind, and if you bring
Along with you the needful thing --
A dinner bountiful and fine,
A pretty girl, new salt, old wine,
And topping all a hearty laugh,
Mirth, jest, and wit and friendly chaff --
If these you bring, old friend, I swear.
That you shall dine on royal fare.
Catullus' purse is full -- but hold!
Of musty cobwebs -- now don't scold;
For in his turn, he'll offer you
A pure delight both rare and new.
An unguent, perfume -- what you will --
No name its qualities can fill.
More fragrant, elegant, more sweet,
Than ever you have chanced to meet.
A balm in which the gods might lave,
Which Venus to my mistress gave.
You'll say, when once you've smelled the stuff,
I haven't praised it half enough.
And pray the gods, without repose.
To make you nothing else hut nose.
Note. -- Unguents and perfumes, together with gar-
lands, were valued by the ancient Romans at their feasts
quite as highly as the viands.
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? CATULLUS 37
XIV
Did I not love you more than my own eyes,
Sweet Calvus, for this gift I'd hate you quite,
With all of old Vatinius' spleen and spite.
What have I done or said, in any wise.
That you should kill me off with this vile verse ?
And may misfortune hit the miscreant hard
Who sent to you the book of such a bard ;
Unless, as I suspect, 'twas Sulla's curse --
A pedant, he, and critic who might send
A book like this and call it witty stuf? .
Then I don't care, it can't be bad enough;
It serves you right for having such a friend.
Great gods! the wretched and accursed smutch!
And you must send the thing to me straightway,
That I be bored to death the live long day.
On Saturnalia too -- this is too much!
Don't think, my witty friend, I'm done with you;
At dawn straight to the book stalls shall I fly.
And gather all the vile stuflE I can buy,
Suffenus, Caecii, the whole rank crew,
And pay you back in kind, with interest too.
Meanwhile, farewell -- ye would-be bards depart
To that dark place from which ye drew your art,
And take your darling books along with you !
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?
3S CATULLUS
XXVI
Due on my fair estate there falls
Not north wind, south wind, east nor west;
But there falls due ten thousand pounds,---
All winds at once -- oh shrivelling pest!
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? CATULLUS 39
XXVII
Come boy, and pour for me a cup
Of old Falernian. Fill it up
With wine, strong, sparkling, bright, and clear;
Our host decrees no water here.
Let dullards drink the Nymph's pale brew,
The sluggish thin their blood with dew.
For such pale stuff we have no use;
For us the purple grape's rich juice.
Begone, ye chilling water sprite;
Here burning Bacchus rules tonight!
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? 40 CATULLUS
XXX
Art thou, Alfenus, false, forgetful, too.
To friend and comrade faithless, insincere?
Can hearts grow cold to what was once held dear.
And memory fail, that once was kind and true?
To bind me to thy soul, with promise sweet.
And then betray me when by ills beset --
And dost thou dare, false-hearted, to forget
The very gods are wroth at such deceit?
Thou, thou, in my deep need, couldst yet deceive.
Thou who didst bid me trust thee to the end.
Didst pledge thy faith to be my constant friend!
Alas, whom shall men trust, in whom believe?
By soft persuasion didst thou win my love,
And pledge by every vow that men can swear,
Then tossed thy words into the empty air,
A sport for wanton winds and clouds above.
Hast thou forgotten faith and loyalty
And friendship that doth love and mourn thee yet?
The gods are mindful most when men forget --
Take heed lest they, at last, remember diee.
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? CATULLUS 41
XXXI
Fair Sirmio, thou art the very eye
Of all the verdant isles that blooming lie
'Neath Neptune's sway, in limpid lake asleep,
Or raise rough crags against the surging deep.
How gladly do I visit thee again,
And leave behind the drear Bithynian plain
And Thynia, where I've toiled the long year
through,
Far from the fairest spot 'neath heaven's blue.
Oh, what is sweeter than, when toil is past.
To come back home, the mind care-free at last,
The foreign labors done, the rest well-earned,
To seek the welcome couch for which we've yearned ?
This, this, alone rewards us for dull toil.
Hail, lovely Sirmio ! dear native soil.
Rejoice; thy lord's returned -- Ye Lydian lake
Give answer, bid your rippling waves awake
To laughter; ye light winds waft joy along,
And let the whole house ring with mirth and song!
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? 42 CATULLUS
XXXIV
Goddess of the crescent moon,
Guardian of youth's radiant noon,
Hail to thee, Diana!
Maidens pure as lilies white.
Youths as spotless as the light.
Let us sing Diana!
Daughter of Latona's love,
Whiter than fair Venus' dove,
Better loved by mortals ;
Chaste child of Satumian Jove,
Cradled in an Olive grove
Near the Delian portals.
Born to be untouched and free,
Mistress of the wild-wood tree.
Goddess of the mountains,
Spirit, too, of light and shade,
Sunny slope and dusky glade,
Sprite of laughing fountains.
Tenderer tasks are also thine,
Groddess of the hill and pine,
Sweeter than all others:
Thou, with gentle look and mild,
Smilest on the new-bom child,
Patron of young mothers.
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? CATULLUS 43
By thy shining lunar light,
Thou dost mark the season's flight
For the farmer's pleasure;
Sendest, too, the quickening rain,
Fruitful vine, and golden grain.
Bountiful in measure.
Goddess of all kindliness,
By whatever name addressed,
Hail to thee, Diana!
Guard and save our ancient race.
By the favor of thy grace,
While v^^e sing Diana.
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? 44 CATULLUS
XXXV
Fly little note, without delay,
Find out Caecilius and say
To this sweet poet, blithe and gay,
Catullus asks that he, straightway,
His swift course to Verona take.
Though he must leave fair Como's lake
And, too, (a task, perchance, more hard
To ask of this erotic bard)
A maiden fairer than the skies
Beneath whose smiles Lake Como lies,
A maiden whose white arms will press
About his neck with soft caress,
And seek to hold him when he tries
To go -- who'll plead with lips and eyes.
And this I greatly fear, in sooth.
If rumor hath told me the truth.
They say her love for him hath sprung
From hearing his sweet verses sung;
That since Caecilius first came,
With his sweet songs and set aflame
Her tender heart, her soul hath known
No thought but him and him alone.
Methinks, my friend, a maid so rare
Must needs thy tender heart ensnare.
A girl whose taste can so esteem
Thy masterpiece hath caught, I ween.
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? CATULLUS 45
A bit of Sappho's grace and fire
And nobly kindled thy desire.
Nor should I wonder, rather blame,
If thou wert cold to such a flame.
Yet, if a poet can be wise,
Caecilius, flee those pleading eyes,
And hither come, post haste, to me.
For I've a new philosophy.
Compact of wisdom, wit, and sense,
'Gainst every ill a sure defense.
A mutual friend hath thought it out
And brought it here to talk about.
We wait thy coming eagerly,
To share this gift divine with thee.
'Twill charm thy mind with surer art
Than yonder maiden charmed thy heart.
And should'st thou fail us -- wo? betide!
But hold! why should Catullus chide?
I'd pardon much to such a maid.
And much to thee by her delayed.
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? 46 CATULLUS
XXXVIII
I'm sick in body, mind, and heart,
More wretched hourly do I grow;
And not a line from you, my friend,
A bit of sympathy to show.
Not one poor, flimsy, little line --
A simple, easy thing to do --
A little line to say you care,
What wonder if I'm grieved with you?
And thus my love is slighted? Ah,
When such a little thing would please --
One little, kindly line of love,
Though sadder than Simonides.
Note. -- Simonides was an elegiac poet of Ceos, a
master of pathos.
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? CATULLUS 47
XLIII
Pshaw, little girl, you're much too small,
YouVe scarcely any nose at all.
Your feet are shapeless, fingers, too,
Your eyes a dull and faded blue.
With lips as parched as last year's peas.
And silly tongue, untaught to please.
They say that Formian calls you fair.
And that they praise you everywhere.
A dull and senseless age -- ah me.
If they could Lesbia's beauty see!
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? 4l CATULLUS
XLVI
Spring again is in the breezes!
Soft and warm and sweet they blow;
Hushed the equinoctial fury,
Lulled by Zephyr singing low.
And she calls to you, Catullus,
Hasten, bid your comrades rise,
Phrygian fields can charm no longer,
Nicaea wearies heart and eyes.
Dawn flames crimson, luring Eastward,
Asia's magic blooms unfold,
Golden cities nod and beckon,
Who can tell what joys they hold?
Wealth and life and love -- and something
Still unknown and far more sweet;
Dreams outstrip the feet in spring time,
Youth gives wings to eager feet.
Say farewell to all your comrades.
Each must wander as he may.
Spring is here, and youth must follow
Life and love its own sweet way.
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? CATULLUS 49
XLVIII
Sweet Lesbia, let my kisses fall
On thy sweet tyes, nor say me nay,
Not though I kiss ten thousand times,
No niggard favor do I pray.
Ten thousand times ten thousand times
Were all too few -- ah, love, be kind!
Let kisses fall with lavish waste,
Like blood red leaves in autumn wind.
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? 50 CATULLUS
L
'Twas yesterday, Licinius mine,
While idling at our nuts and wine,
As gay young bloods think proper,
In sportive vein we teased the Muse
To scribble verses so profuse.
My faith, we scarce could stop her.
And when at last I left the place,
So fired with your rare wit and grace --
Or wine, you say -- ^you dare it? --
I tossed upon my bed all night,
Impatient for the morning light
And you -- by Jove, I swear it.
'Twas you I longed again to see,
To hear the clever repartee,
The thrust and answer ready.
I rose, my brain half dead for rest.
And scrawled these rhymes that might attest
My hand, at least, was steady.
Then speed the hour, sweet friend of mine,
When we shall meet at nuts and wine,
With wit and jest distracting.
And if you scorn a love like this. .
Then, oh, beware of Nemesis,
A lady most exacting.
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