Translation:Catullus 64/Lines 1-49

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Catullus 64, lines 1–49
by Catullus, translated from Latin by Wikisource

Dactylic hexameter

286607Catullus 64, lines 1–49Catullus
Literal English Translation Original Latin Line

It is said that formerly pines sprung from Pelion’s peak
swam the liquid waves of Neptune
To the waves of Phasis and the lands of Aeetes,
When the chosen youths, the strength of Argive manhood
Choosing to run away with the Golden Fleece from the Colchians,
They dared to traverse with swift ship through the salty waters,
Sweeping the azure sea with fir oars,
For whom the goddess herself occupying the citadels in the highest cities
Made the flying chariot with a light wind,
Fitting the pine timbers to the curved keel.
She first stained inexperienced Amphitrite with sailing;
But which likewise plowed the fickle wave with curved ship’s beak
And the water, twisted by the rowing grew warm with foam,
Aquatic Nereids emerged their faces from the white eddies
Admiring the apparition
On that day, and hardly any other, mortals saw with their own eyes
Marine nymphs, with naked body,
I sing, visible as far down as their breasts, standing out from the white whirlpool.
Then Peleus was taken with love of Thetis,
Then Thetis did not despise human marriages
Then the father himself realized Peleus must be joined to Thetis.
Oh heroes born in the more joyful of ages,
Greeting, race of gods! Oh good progeny of the mothers
Often I will address you in my song,
And you so increased in importance by fortunate wedding torches
Oh Peleus height of Thessaly, to whom Jupiter himself,
The father of the gods himself concedes the his own love?
Did Thetis, most beautiful daughter of Nereus hold you?
Did not Tethys and Oceanus, who surrounds the whole world with the sea,
 Agree to lead you, her own granddaughter?
Likewise these days come
At the appointed time, all Thessaly celebrates at the home assembly
The palace is filled with rejoicing crowd:
They bear gifts before them, they show their joy with their face.
Cieros is deserted, they leave Phthotic Tempe,
And the Crannonian homes and Larissian walls;
They gather at Pharsalus, they crowd the Pharsalian roofs.
No man tills his field, the necks of cattle grow soft,
The low vine is not cleansed by curved hoe,
The bull does not heave up turf with leaning-forward ploughshare,
The scythe of the pruners does not diminish the shade of the tree,
Dirty rust is spread on deserted plows.
But the home of (Peleus) himself, as far back as royal opulence went back,
They shone with gleaming gold and silver.
The ivory of the chairs gleamed white, the cups of the table shine,
The whole house rejoices with glittering royal treasure.
The pulvinar of the goddess was placed in the middle of the palace

Peliaco quondam prognatae uertice pinus
dicuntur liquidas Neptuni nasse per undas
Phasidos ad fluctus et fines Aeetaeos,
cum lecti iuuenes, Argiuae robora pubis,
auratam optantes Colchis auertere pellem
ausi sunt uada salsa cita decurrere puppi,
caerula uerrentes abiegnis aequora palmis.
diua quibus retinens in summis urbibus arces,
ipsa leui fecit uolitantem flamine currum,
pinea coniungens inflexae texta carinae.
illa rudem cursu prima imbuit Amphitriten.
quae simul ac rostro uentosum proscidit aequor,
tortaque remigio spumis incanuit unda,
emersere feri candenti e gurgite uultus
aequoreae monstrum Nereides admirantes.
illa, atque haud alia, uiderunt luce marinas
mortales oculi nudato corpore Nymphas
nutricum tenus exstantes e gurgite cano.
tum Thetidis Peleus incensus fertur amore,
tum Thetis humanos non despexit hymenaeos,
tum Thetidi pater ipse iugandum Pelea sensit.
o nimis optato saeclorum tempore nati
heroes, saluete, deum genus! o bona mater!
uos ego saepe meo uos carmine compellabo.
teque adeo eximie taedis felicibus aucte,
Thessaliae columen Peleu, cui Iuppiter ipse,
ipse suos diuum genitor concessit amores.
tene Thetis tenuit pulcerrima Neptunine?
tene suam Tethys concessit ducere neptem,
Oceanusque, mari totum qui amplectitur orbem?
quae simul optato finitae tempore luces
aduenere, domum conuentu tota frequentat
Thessalia, oppletur laetanti regia coetu:
dona ferunt prae se, declarant gaudia uultu.
deseritur Scyros, linquunt Phthiotica Tempe,
Crannonisque domos ac moenia Larisaea,
Pharsaliam coeunt, Pharsalia tecta frequentant.
rura colit nemo, mollescunt colla iuuencis,
non humilis curuis purgatur uinea rastris,
non glebam prono conuellit uomere taurus,
non falx attenuat frondatorum arboris umbram,
squalida desertis rubigo infertur aratris.
ipsius at sedes, quacumque opulenta recessit
regia, fulgenti splendent auro atque argento.
candet ebur soliis, collucent pocula mensae,
tota domus gaudet regali splendida gaza.
puluinar uero diuae geniale locatur
sedibus in mediis, Indo quod dente politum
tincta tegit roseo conchyli purpura fuco.

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