Page:The poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus - Francis Warre Cornish.djvu/113



the while, gazing tearfully at the retreating ship, was revolving manifold cares in her wounded heart.

In another part of the tapestry youthful Bacchus was wandering with the rout of Satyrs and the Nysaborn Sileni, seeking thee, Ariadna, and fired with thy love; who then, busy here and there, were raging with frenzied mind, Evoe! crying tumultuously, Evoe! 55 shaking their heads.

Some of them were waving thyrsi with shrouded points, some tossing about the limbs of a mangled steer, some girding themselves with writhing serpents: some bearing solemnly dark mysteries enclosed in caskets, mysteries which the profane desire in vain to hear. Others beat timbrels with uplifted hands, or raised clear clashings with cymbals of rounded bronze: many blew horns with harsh-sounding drone, and the barbarian pipe shrilled with dreadful din.

Such were the figures that richly adorned the tapestry which embraced and shrouded with its folds the royal couch. Now when the Thessalian youth had gazed their fill, fixing their eager eyes on these wonders, they began to give place to the holy gods. Hereupon, as the west wind ruffling the quiet sea with its breath at morn urges on the sloping waves, when the Dawn is rising up to the gates of the travelling sun, the waters slowly at first, driven by gentle breeze step on and lightly sound with plash of laughter; then as the breeze grows fresh they crowd on close and closer, and floating afar reflect a brightness from the crimson light; so now, leaving the royal buildings of the portal, hither and thither variously with devious feet the guests passed away. After

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