ON RETURN TO SIRMIO AND HIS VILLA

Sirmio! of Islands and Peninsulas

Eyelet, and whatsoe’er in limpid meres

And vasty Ocean either Neptune owns,

Thy scenes how willing-glad once more I see,

At pain believing Thynia and the Fields

Bithynian left, I’m safe to sight thy Site.

Oh what more blessèd be than cares resolved,

When mind casts burthen and by peregrine

Work over wearied, lief we hie us home

To lie reposing in the longed-for bed!

This be the single meed for toils so triste.

Hail, O fair Sirmio, in thy lord rejoice:

And ye, O’ waves of Lybian Lake be glad,

And laugh what laughter pealeth in my home.

Carmina. C. Valerius Catullus. Leonard C. Smithers (Translator), Sir Richard Francis Burton (Translator). London. 1894.

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Current edition Perseus

Carmina (English) (Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.)

Translations (1)

Carmina Perseus (Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Smithers, Leonard Charles, prose translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 31 focus

Sirmio ! Eyelet of islands and peninsulas, which each Neptune holds whether in limpid lakes or on the wide sea, how gladly and how happily do I see you again,

scarcely believing that I’ve left behind Thynia and the Bithynian plains, and that I gaze on you safe and sound. O what greater blessing than cares released, when the mind casts down its burden, and when wearied with the toil of travel we reach our hearth,

and rest in the long-for bed. This and only this repays our numerous labors. Hail, lovely Sirmio , and rejoice in your master; and rejoice, you waves of the Lybian lake; laugh, you laughters echoing from my home.

C. Valerius Catullus Carmina 31

Leonard C. Smithers (Translator), Sir Richard Francis Burton (Translator)

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ON RETURN TO SIRMIO AND HIS VILLA

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