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AND ITALY.
73
O, best of all the scattered spots that lie
In sea or lake, apple of landscape’s eye,—
How gladly do I drop within thy nest,
With what a sigh of full, contented rest,
Scarce able to believe my journey o’er,
And that these eyes behold thee safe once more!
Oh, where’s the luxury, like the smile at heart,
When the mind, breathing, lays its load apart,—
When we come home again, tired out, and spread
The loosen’d limbs o’er all the wished-for bed!
This, this alone, is worth an age of toil.
Hail, lovely Sirmio! hail, paternal soil!
Joy, my bright waters, joy; your master’s come!
Laugh, every dimple on the cheek of home![1]
- ↑ AD SIRMIONEM PENINSULAM.Peninsularum, Sirmio, insularumque
Ocelle, quascunque in liquentibus stagnis,
Marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus;
Quam te libenter, quamque lætus inviso,
Vix mî ipse credens Thyniam, atque Bithynos
Liquisse campos, et videre te in tuto.
O quid solutis est beatius curis
Cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino
Labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum,
Desideratoque acquiescimus lecto?
Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis.
Salve, O venusta Sirmio, atque hero gaude;
Gaudete, vosque Lariæ lacus undæ:
Ridete quidquid est domi cachinnorum.The above translation, from the verses of Catullus, is by Mr. Leigh Hunt.
