That yacht, which you see, my guests
says that it was the fastest of ships
and that it was not not able to surpass the challenge of any floating ship (timber)
whether with small oars or with a sail
there would be a need to fly
and it (my yacht) denies that the shore
of the menacing Adriatic denies this or the Cycladic islands
or well known Rhodes and the choppy Thracians
Propontis or the cruel Pontic sea
Where that later yacht before was
A leafy forest; for on a ridge or Mt. Cytorus
With its chattering leaves often it gave out a whistling sound
Oh Pontic Amastris and box tree bearing Cytorus
To you these things have been and (still) are very well known
My yacht says: from its earliest beginning
it says that it has stood on your peak
it has dipped its little oars in your water
and then through so many raging (uncontrollable) seas
it carried its master, whether a left or a right breeze
would call, or a favorable wind (Jupiter) had fallen
on both sheets (rope for sails) at the same time
nor had any vows to the gods of the shore
been made by it (the yacht) when it was coming
from the last sea up to this clear lake.
But these things were earlier: now with its
Secluded rest it grows old and dedicates itself to you
Oh twin Castor and Twin of Castor
By Catullus
I do not take credit for any of the work.
The translation can be found here along with the original Latin version
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Labels: ancient latin poetry, ancient latin poets, Catullus, famous poems, latin, Latin translation