Figure 23: Albius Tibullus

 

 

Lygdarum aliorumque elegiae, ca. 20 BC

 

Latin text

http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/tib.html

 

English translation by Theodore C. Williams, 1908

http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext06/eltib10.htm

 

 

Liber II

 

I.

 

agricola adsiduo primum satiatus aratro

cantauit certo rustica uerba pede

et satur arenti primum est modulatus auena

carmen, ut ornatos diceret ante deos,

agricola et minio suffusus, Bacche, rubenti

primus inexperta duxit ab arte choros.

 

Twas some field-tiller from his plough at rest,

First hummed his homely words to numbers true,

Or trilled his pipe of straw in songs addressed

To his blithe woodland gods, with worship due.

 

Some rustic ruddied with vermilion clay

First led, O Bacchus, thy swift choric throng,

 

 

Liber III

 

III. 37-42

Artis opus rarae, fulgens testudine et auro

pendebat laeua garrula parte lyra.

Hanc primum ueniens plectro modulatus eburno

felices cantus ore sonante dedit;

sed postquam fuerant digiti cum uoce locuti,

edidit haec dulci tristia uerba modo:

 

His left hand bore the vocal lyre, all made

Of gleaming shell and gold.

He smote its strings with ivory instru-

ment, And words auspicious tuned his heav-

enly tongue; Then, while his hands and voice

concording blent, These sad, sweet words he

sung: