From now on the nightingales will sing of us sitting here outdoors, where wind lifts the hair of the willow and starts her dancing. God knows what they say to each other then. The plane tree holds out its broad hands in praise of the meadow, understanding just a little of the passion of the grass. I ask a rose, Where did you get such skin? She laughs. How could she answer? She is drunk, but not enough to say secrets, not so dissolute as I am. Wander with drunks if you want to know what they have been hiding.
They will open the purse-mouth and spill the lavishness. There is a wine fermenting in the breast of a mystic, and a voice there inviting you to a banquet. A human breast can give milk, but also wine, and also there is a flowing there that tells stories. Listen as you take in the milk, then the wine, and then the stories. Lay down your cap and your cloak. Start talking from the majesty itself. And now be quiet. Very few will hear. Most copper does not change to gold for any philosopher's stone. Bring your words to Shams. Let sunlight mix with language and be the world.
My little volume is complete, With all the care and polish neat That make it fair to see: To whom shall I then, to whose praise, Inscribe my lively graceful lays? Cornelius, friend, to thee. Thou only of th' Italian race Hast dared in three small books to trace All time's remotest flight: Oh Jove, how labour'd, learn'd and wise! Yet still thou ne'er wouldst quite despise The trifles that I write. Then take the book I now address, Though small its size, its merits less, 'Tis all thy friend can give; And let me, guardian Muse, implore That when at least, one age is o'er, This volume yet may live.
Dedication of The Poems to Cornelius Nepos The Poems of Catullus Translation by The Hon. George Lamb
Rain falls clear in warm showers, And the flat earth opens into flowers And fields and plains grow thick and green, Birds start their nests and sing like angels For love of soft summer, creeping across The Slopes; And hedgerows swell tall, And blossoms blow open, And glorious woods are all Echoing joy and hope. And after summer's soft winds, Zephyrus Whistles quietly with seeds and herbs, Sprouting delightful plants, painted Wet with dew falling from leaves, Waiting to be warm in the bright sun. Then autumn comes rushing, calling the plants To watch for winter, to grow while they can; And he dries the earth and drives dust Swirling to the sky, and wild winds Run to wrestle with the sun; leaves Are thrown from trees and lie dead on the ground, And green grass withers. And everything Slender and new ripens and rots, And a year runs away in passing days, And winter winds back, as winter must, Just so. Till the Michaelmas moon Promises snow- And Gawain soon Recalls what he has to do. But he stays with Arthur till All-Saints Day. And the king makes a feast in his honor, the court And their ladies merry around the Round Table, Gracious knights and lovely women
Grieving for love of Gawain, but laughing and drinking his name, smiling and joking While their hearts sank gray and cold. And Gawain Feasts, then sadly approaches his uncle And speaks of his journey, and bluntly says: "Lord of my life, I ask your leave. You know my promise" ... From "Sir Gawain and The Green Knight" Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Translation by Burton Raffel