30
CATULLUS.
whilst he believed her true. Here is his confession of the new phase of his love, the love that's merely a madness:—
"So loved has woman never been
As thou hast been by me,
Nor lover yet was ever seen
So true as I to thee.
As thou hast been by me,
Nor lover yet was ever seen
So true as I to thee.
But cruel, cruel Lesbia, thou
Hast by thy falsehood wrought
Such havoc in my soul, and now
So madly 'tis distraught,
Hast by thy falsehood wrought
Such havoc in my soul, and now
So madly 'tis distraught,
'Twould prize thee not, though thou shouldst grow
All pure and chaste as ice;
Nor could it cease to love thee, though
Besmirched with every vice."—(C. lxxv.)
All pure and chaste as ice;
Nor could it cease to love thee, though
Besmirched with every vice."—(C. lxxv.)
He can now condone the past for the mere bribe of a passing favour. He is one moment lifted to ecstasies by the "agreeable surprise" of Lesbia's unexpected kindness, and pours out his soul in transports breathing passionate prayers for a reunion which his secret heart seems to whisper has no elements of continuance. When he sings in C. cix.—
"So may each year that hurries o'er us find,
While others change with life's still changing hue,
The ties that bind us now more firmly twined,
Our hearts as fond, our love as warm and true"—
While others change with life's still changing hue,
The ties that bind us now more firmly twined,
Our hearts as fond, our love as warm and true"—
the petition is rendered of none effect by the misgiving implied in his fond hope that Lesbia's professions may be sincere. Full soon must the truth have un-
