Part 24 (1/2)
Nam, quod scriptorum non magnast copia apud me, Hoc fit, quod Romae vivimus: illa domus, Illa mihi sedes, illic mea carpitur aetas: 35 Huc una ex multis capsula me sequitur.
Quod c.u.m ita sit, nolim statuas nos mente maligna Id facere aut animo non satis ingenuo, Quod tibi non utriusque petenti copia factast: Vltro ego deferrem, copia siqua foret. 40 Non possum reticere, deae, qua me Allius in re Iuverit aut quantis iuverit officiis: Nec fugiens saeclis obliviscentibus aetas Illius hoc caeca nocte tegat studium: Sed dicam vobis, vos porro dicite multis 45 Milibus et facite haec charta loquatur a.n.u.s * * * *
Notescatque magis mortuos atque magis, Nec tenuem texens sublimis aranea telam In deserto Alli nomine opus faciat. 50 Nam, mihi quam dederit duplex Amathusia curam, Scitis, et in quo me corruerit genere, c.u.m tantum arderem quantum Trinacria rupes Lymphaque in Oetaeis Malia Thermopylis, Maesta neque adsiduo tabescere lumina fletu 55 Cessarent tristique imbre madere genae.
Qualis in aerii perlucens vertice montis Rivos muscoso prosilit e lapide, Qui c.u.m de p.r.o.na praeceps est valle volutus, Per medium sensim transit iter populi, 60 Dulci viatori la.s.so in sudore levamen, c.u.m gravis exustos aestus hiulcat agros: Hic, velut in nigro iactatis turbine nautis Lenius aspirans aura secunda venit Iam prece Pollucis, iam Castoris inplorata, 65 Tale fuit n.o.bis Manius auxilium.
Is clusum lato patefecit limite campum, Isque domum n.o.bis isque dedit dominam, Ad quam communes exerceremus amores.
Quo mea se molli candida diva pede 70 Intulit et trito fulgentem in limine plantam Innixa arguta const.i.tuit solea, Coniugis ut quondam flagrans advenit amore Protesilaeam Laudamia domum Inceptam frustra, nondum c.u.m sanguine sacro 75 Hostia caelestis pacifica.s.set eros.
Nil mihi tam valde placeat, Rhamnusia virgo, Quod temere invitis suscipiatur eris.
Quam ieiuna pium desideret ara cruorem, Doctast amisso Laudamia viro, 80 Coniugis ante coacta novi dimittere collum, Quam veniens una atque altera rursus hiemps Noctibus in longis avidum satura.s.set amorem, Posset ut abrupto vivere coniugio, Quod scirant Parcae non longo tempore adesse, 85 Si miles muros isset ad Iliacos: Nam tum Helenae raptu primores Argivorum Coeperat ad sese Troia ciere viros, Troia (nefas) commune sepulcrum Asiae Europaeque, Troia virum et virtutum omnium acerba cinis, 90 Quaene etiam nostro letum miserabile fratri Attulit. ei misero frater adempte mihi, Ei misero fratri iocundum lumen ademptum, Tec.u.m una totast nostra sepulta domus, Omnia tec.u.m una perierunt gaudia nostra, 95 Quae tuos in vita dulcis alebat amor.
Quem nunc tam longe non inter nota sepulcra Nec prope cognatos conpositum cineres, Sed Troia obscaena, Troia infelice sepultum Detinet extremo terra aliena solo. 100 Ad quam tum properans fertur _simul_ undique p.u.b.es Graeca penetrales deseruisse focos, Ne Paris abducta gavisus libera moecha Otia pacato degeret in thalamo.
Quo tibi tum casu, pulcherrima Laudamia, 105 Ereptumst vita dulcius atque anima Coniugium: tanto te absorbens vertice amoris Aestus in abruptum detulerat barathrum, Quale ferunt Grai Pheneum prope Cylleneum Siccare emulsa pingue palude solum, 110 Quod quondam caesis montis fodisse medullis Audit falsiparens Amphitryoniades, Tempore quo certa Stymphalia monstra sagitta Perculit imperio deterioris eri, Pluribus ut caeli tereretur ianua divis, 115 Hebe nec longa virginitate foret.
Sed tuos altus amor barathro fuit altior illo, Qui durum domitam ferre iugum docuit: Nam nec tam carum confecto aetate parenti Vna caput seri nata nepotis alit, 120 Qui, c.u.m divitiis vix tandem inventus avitis Nomen testatas intulit in tabulas, Inpia derisi gentilis gaudia tollens Suscitat a cano volturium capiti: Nec tantum niveo gavisast ulla columbo 125 Conpar, quae multo dicitur inprobius Oscula mordenti semper decerpere rostro, Quam quae praecipue multivolast mulier.
Sed tu horum magnos vicisti sola furores, Vt semel es flavo conciliata viro. 130 Aut nihil aut paulo cui tum concedere digna Lux mea se nostrum contulit in gremium, Quam circ.u.mcursans hinc illinc saepe Cupido Fulgebat crocina candidus in tunica.
Quae tamen etsi uno non est contenta Catullo, 135 Rara verecundae furta feremus erae, Ne nimium simus stultorum more molesti.
Saepe etiam Iuno, maxima caelicolum, Coniugis in culpa flagrantem conquoquit iram, Noscens omnivoli plurima furta Iovis. 140 Atquei nec divis homines conponier aequomst, * * * *
Ingratum tremuli tolle parentis onus.
Nec tamen illa mihi dextra deducta paterna Fragrantem a.s.syrio venit odore domum, Sed furtiva dedit muta munuscula nocte, 145 Ipsius ex ipso dempta viri gremio.
Quare illud satis est, si n.o.bis is datur unis, Quem lapide illa diem candidiore notat.
Hoc tibi, qua potui, confectum carmine munus Pro multis, Alli, redditur officiis, 150 Ne vostrum scabra tangat rubigine nomen Haec atque illa dies atque alia atque alia.
Huc addent divi quam plurima, quae Themis olim Antiquis solitast munera ferre piis: Sitis felices et tu simul et tua vita 155 Et domus, ipsi in qua lusimus et domina, Et qui principio n.o.bis te tradidit Anser, A quo sunt primo mi omnia nata bona.
Et longe ante omnes mihi quae me carior ipsost, Lux mea, qua viva vivere dulce mihist. 160
LXVIII.
TO MANIUS ON VARIOUS MATTERS.
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, s.h.i.+pwreckt, rescuing life s.n.a.t.c.ht from the threshold of death; Eke neither Venus the Holy to rest in slumber's refreshment 5 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 ent.i.tled, Hence of me seekest thou gifts Muses and Venus can give: 10 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 drowned, Nor fro' the poor rich boons furthermore prithee require.
What while first to myself the pure-white garment was given, 15 Whenas my flowery years flowed in fruition of spring, Much I disported enow, nor 'bode I a stranger to G.o.ddess 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, s.n.a.t.c.ht brother! from wretchedest me. 20 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 banished wholly 25 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. 30 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; 35 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 supplied: Willingly both had I sent, had I the needed supply. 40 Nor can I (G.o.ddesses!) 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 friends.h.i.+p he lavisht on me.
But will I say unto you what you shall say to the many 45 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. 50 For that ye weet right well what care Amathusia 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 Oetean Thermopylae; Nor did these saddened eyes to be dimmed by a.s.siduous weeping 55 Cease, and my cheeks with showers ever in sadness be wet.
E'en as from aery heights of mountain springeth a springlet Limpidest leaping forth from rocking felted with moss, Then having headlong rolled the p.r.o.ne-laid valley downpouring, Populous region amid wendeth his gradual way, 60 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:-- 65 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 G.o.ddess white-hued 70 Came and with gleaming foot on the worn sole of the threshold Stood she and prest its slab creaking her sandals the while; E'en so with love enflamed in olden days to her helpmate, Laodamia the home Protesilean besought, Sought, but in vain, for ne'er wi' sacrificial bloodshed 75 Victims appeased the Lords ruling Celestial seats: Never may I so joy in aught (Rhamnusian Virgin!) That I engage in deed maugre the will of the Lords.
How starved altar can crave for gore in piety poured, Laodamia learnt taught by the loss of her man, 80 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 maugre a marriage broke off, Which, as the Parcae knew, too soon was fated to happen 85 Should he a soldier sail bound for those Ilian 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! 90 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 enjoyed, 95 Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days; Whom now art tombed so far nor 'mid familiar pavestones Nor wi' thine ashes stored near to thy kith and thy kin, But in that Troy obscene, that Troy of ill-omen, entombed Holds thee, an alien earth-buried in uttermost bourne. 100 Thither in haste so hot ('tis said) from allwhere the Youth-hood Grecian, fared in hosts forth of their hearths and their homes, Lest with a stolen punk with fullest of pleasure should Paris Fairly at leisure and ease sleep in the pacific bed.
Such was the hapless chance, most beautiful Laodamia, 105 Tare fro' thee dearer than life, dearer than spirit itself, Him, that husband, whose love in so mighty a whirlpool of pa.s.sion Whelmed thee absorbed and plunged deep in its gulfy abyss, E'en as the Grecians tell hard by Pheneus of Cyllene Drained was the marish and dried, forming the fattest of soils, 110 Whenas in days long done to delve through marrow of mountains Dared, falsing his sire, Amphtryoniades; What time sure of his shafts he smote Stymphalian monsters Slaying their host at the hest dealt by a lord of less worth, So might the gateway of Heaven be trodden by more of the G.o.dheads, 115 Nor might Hebe abide longer to maidenhood doomed.
Yet was the depth of thy love far deeper than deepest of marish Which the hard mistress's yoke taught him so tamely to bear; Never was head so dear to a grandsire wasted by life-tide Whenas one daughter alone a grandson so tardy had reared, 120 Who being found against hope to inherit riches of forbears In the well-witnessed Will haply by name did appear, And 'spite impious hopes of baffled claimant to kins.h.i.+p Startles the Vulturine grip clutching the frost-bitten poll.
Nor with such rapture e'er joyed his mate of snowy-hued plumage 125 Dove-mate, albeit aye wont in her immoderate heat Said be the bird to s.n.a.t.c.h hot kisses with beak ever billing, As diddest thou:--yet is Woman multivolent still.
But thou 'vailedest alone all these to conquer in love-lowe, When conjoined once more unto thy yellow-haired spouse. 130 Worthy of yielding to her in naught or ever so little Came to the bosom of us she, the fair light of my life, Round whom fluttering oft the Love-G.o.d hither and thither Shone with a candid sheen robed in his safflower dress.