Page:The poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus - Francis Warre Cornish.djvu/139

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tossed by the black storm comes a favouring breeze with gentler breath, sought by prayer now to Pollux,

6 now to Castor; — such an aid to me was Manlius; he *s opened a broad track across the fenced field, he gave me access to a house and its mistress, under whose roof we should together enjoy each his own love.

7 Thither my fair goddess delicately stepped, and set the sole of her shining foot on the smooth threshold, as she pressed on her slender sandal: even as once Laodamia came burning with love to the house of Protesilaus, that house begun in vain, since not yet

7 had a victim's sacred blood appeased the Lords of;,.- heaven. Lady of Rhamnus, never may that please me which is undertaken amiss without the will of our Lords.

How much the starved altar craves for the blood

so of pious sacrifices, Laodamia learnt by the loss of her husband; forced to loose her arms from the neck of her new spouse, before the coming of one and then a second winter should content her eager love in the long nights, that she might endure to live,

8 though her marriage bond was broken off; and this 4; the Fates had ordained to come in no long time, if once he went as a soldier to the walls of Ilium.

por then, because of Helen's rape, had Troy begun to summon against herself the chieftains of

9 the Argives, Troy — O horror! — the common grave of Europe and Asia, Troy the untimely tomb of all heroes and heroic deeds: Troy brought pitiable death to my brother also: ah me, my brother taken from me unhappy, alas! dear light of my eyes, taken from thy unhappy brother: with thee now is all my house

9 buried; all my joys have perished together with thee, which while thou wert alive thy sweet love cherished.

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