Translations From Catullus. Carm. 29.

peninsularum Sirmio, insularumque ocelle.     Sweet Sirmio! thou, the very eye         Of all peninsulas and isles,     That in our lakes of silver lie,         Or sleep enwreathed by Neptune's smiles--     How gladly back to thee I fly!         Still doubting, asking--can it be     That I have left Bithynia's sky,         And gaze in safety upon thee?     Oh! what is happier than to find         Our hearts at ease, our perils past;     When, anxious long, the lightened mind         Lays down its load of care at last:     When tired with toil o'er land and deep,         Again we tread the welcome floor     Of our own home, and sink to sleep         On the long-wished-for bed once more.     This, this it is that pays alone         The ills of all life's former track.--     Shine out, my beautiful, my own         Sweet Sirmio, greet thy master back.     And thou, fair Lake, whose water quaffs         The light of heaven like Lydia's sea,     Rejoice, rejoice--let all that laughs         Abroad, at home, laugh out for me!