Catullus+64.212-237


 * Catullus 64.212-237**

For they say that once, when Aegeus entrusted his son, leaving
 * namque ferunt olim, classi cum moenia divae**

the walls of the goddess, with a fleet to the winds,
 * linquentem gnatum ventis concrederet Aegeus,**

having embraced (him) gave such orders to the young man:
 * talia complexum iuveni mandata dedisse:**

Only son more pleasing to me than a long life,
 * 215 “gnate mihi longe iucundior unice vita,**

son, whom I am compelled to send away into uncertain circumstances,
 * gnate, ego quem in dubios cogor dimittere casus,**

having been returned recently to me in the final end of old age,
 * reddite in extrema nuper mihi fine senectae,**

since my fortune and your ardent virtue/courage
 * quandoquidem fortuna mea ac tua fervida virtus**

snatch you from me, unwilling, whose enfeebled eyes
 * eripit invito mihi te, cui languida nondum**

have not yet been satisfied with the dear figure of his son,
 * 220 lumina sunt gnati cara saturata figure,**

I, not rejoicing, will send you with a not rejoicing heart, or I, not rejoicing, will not send you with a rejoicing heart,
 * non ego te gaudens laetanti pectore mittam,**

and I will not allow you to bear the signs of favorable fortune,
 * nec te ferre sinam fortunae signa secundae,**

but first I will give expression to many complaints with my mind,
 * sed primum multas expromam mente querellas,**

defiling my gray hair with earth and with dust poured on;
 * canitiem terra atque infuso pulvere foedans;**

then I will hang darkened sails on the wandering mast,
 * 225 inde infecta vago suspendam lintea malo,**

so that a sail, having been darkened with Spanish rust,
 * nostros ut luctus nostraeque incendia mentis**

would show our griefs and the fires/turmoils of our mind.
 * carbasus obscurata dicet ferrugine Hibera.**

But if the inhabitant of sacred Itonus, who has agreed to defend
 * quod tibi si sancti concesserit incola Itoni,**

our race and the home of Erectheus, will have granted to you
 * quae nostrum genus ac sedes defendere Erecthei**

that you sprinkle the right hand with the blood of the bull,
 * 230 annuit, ut tauri respergas sanguine dextram,**

then truly see to it that these orders flourish, having been preserved
 * tum vero facito ut memori tibi condita corde**

in your mindful heart, and that not any age/passage of time erases (them);
 * haec vigeant mandata, nec ulla oblitteret aetas;**

so that as soon as your eyes look upon our hills,
 * ut simul ac nostros invisent lumina collis**

let the twisted ropes (intorti rudentes) put down the
 * funestam antennae deponant undique vestem**

funereal clothing of the sail yard and raise the gleaming sails,
 * 235 candidaque intorti sustollant vela rudentes,**

so that I, as soon as seeing, will recognize joys with a
 * quam primum cernens ut laeta gaudia mente**

happy mind, when the successful day presents you returning."
 * agnoscam, cum te reducem aetas prospera sistet.”**