Latin Poem ( Catullus) Translated by A Z Foreman Poems Found in Translation

Poems Found In Translation: “Catullus: Poem 31 (From Latin)”

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Catullus: Poem 31 (From Latin) Posted: 03 Oct 2015 04:49 PM PDT Poem 31: Homecoming By Gaius Valerius Catullus Translated by A.Z. Foreman Jewel of the headlands, blue eye of the islands That bow on outspread oceans and on slow Freshwater lakes to Neptune's rule in silence: I come to you with pleasure, Sirmio1. I hardly yet believe I've left behind The Asian1 plains to see you safe at last. No greater blessing than to feel the mind Lay down its burden, casting off the past Journeys' exhaustion, coming back among The household gods, to the bed for which I longed.  And this alone repays those many labors.  Hello, my gorgeous Sirmio! As your man Is glad, be glad. You too, Lake Garda's wavelets, Let loose and laugh as only sweet home can.   Notes: 1Sirmio, the location of Catullus' country house on Lake Garda. 2Catullus had just returned from Bithynia (modern northeastern Turkey) where he served on the staff of commander Gaius Memmius. The Original: Carmen XXXI Catullus Paene iÌ„nsulaÌ„rum, SirmioÌ„, IÌ„nsulaÌ„rumque ocelle, quaÌ„scumque in liquentibus staÌ„gniÌ„s mariÌ„que vaÌ„stoÌ„ fert uterque neptuÌ„nus, quam tÄ“ libenter quamque laetus invÄ«soÌ„, vix miÌ„ ipse creÌ„deÌ„ns ThyÌ„niam atque BithyÌ„nōs liÌ„quisse campoÌ„s et videÌ„re teÌ„ in tÅ«toÌ„. OÌ„ quid soluÌ„tiÌ„s est beaÌ„tius cuÌ„riÌ„s, cum meÌ„ns onus repoÌ„nit, ac peregriÌ„noÌ„ laboÌ„re fessiÌ„ veÌ„nimus larem ad nostrum, deÌ„siÌ„deraÌ„toÌ„que acquieÌ„scimus lÄ“ctō? Hoc est quod uÌ„num est proÌ„ laboÌ„ribus tantiÌ„s. SalveÌ„, oÌ„ venusta SirmioÌ„, atque eroÌ„ gaudÄ“ gaudente; voÌ„sque, oÌ„ LyÌ„diae lacuÌ„s undae, riÌ„deÌ„te quidquid est domÄ« cachinnōrum.