Parerga/Acme and Septimius
< Parerga
For other English-language translations of this work, see Catullus 45.
ACME AND SEPTIMIUS.
FROM CATULLUS.
"Acmen Septimius suos amores
Tenens in gremio, Mea, inquit, Acme,"
&c. &c.
Tenens in gremio, Mea, inquit, Acme,"
&c. &c.
Septimus, folding to his breast
Acme, his love, his spirit's joy———
"My own dear Acme," said the boy,
"Unless I fondly, madly love thee,
"Aye, and will love thee through the rest
"Of life, oh may I view above me
"The lion's blue eye-balls, and expire
"On desert Afric's sands of fire!"
Acme, his love, his spirit's joy———
"My own dear Acme," said the boy,
"Unless I fondly, madly love thee,
"Aye, and will love thee through the rest
"Of life, oh may I view above me
"The lion's blue eye-balls, and expire
"On desert Afric's sands of fire!"
Then Acme, ere she made reply,
Bending her head back gracefully,
With that rosy mouth of hers
Prest his eyes with fondest kiss,
Eyes all drunken with their bliss,
And sighed,—"My life, Septimius dear,
"May Love, who rules the universe,
"Blend our hearts for ever here!
"As he perceives the truest flame
"To penetrate my inmost frame."
Bending her head back gracefully,
With that rosy mouth of hers
Prest his eyes with fondest kiss,
Eyes all drunken with their bliss,
And sighed,—"My life, Septimius dear,
"May Love, who rules the universe,
"Blend our hearts for ever here!
"As he perceives the truest flame
"To penetrate my inmost frame."
Love heard the wish, Love heard the oath,
And, hovering near, confirm'd them both.
And now with mutual heart and mind
They love and are beloved again:—
O'er worlds Septimius would not reign
If Acme were to be resign'd;
And Acme deems life's every joy
Placed in th' affections of her boy.———
Oh, where was Love more true than this?
What lovers e'er knew greater bliss?
And, hovering near, confirm'd them both.
And now with mutual heart and mind
They love and are beloved again:—
O'er worlds Septimius would not reign
If Acme were to be resign'd;
And Acme deems life's every joy
Placed in th' affections of her boy.———
Oh, where was Love more true than this?
What lovers e'er knew greater bliss?