Carmina

Catullus

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.

>Or Ladas I or Perseus plumiped,
Or Rhesus borne in swifty car snow-white:
Add the twain foot-bewing'd and fast of flight,
And of the cursive' winds require the blow:
All these (Camérius!) couldst on me bestow.
Tho' were I wearied to each marrow bone
And by many o' languors clean forgone
Yet I to seek thee (friend!) would still assay.

Rufa the Bolognese drains Rufule dry,
(Wife to Menenius) she 'mid tombs you'll spy,
The same a-snatching supper from the pyre
Following the bread-loaves rolling forth the fire
Till frapped by half-shaved body-burner's ire.

Bare thee some lioness wild in Lybian wold?
Or Scylla barking from low'st inguinal fold?
With so black spirit, of so dure a mould,
E'en voice of suppliant must thou disregard
In latest circumstance ah, heart o'er hard?

Of Helicon-hill, O Thou that be

Haunter, Urania's progeny,

Who hurriest soft virginity

To man, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,

0 Hymen Hymenaeus.

About thy temples bind the bloom,

Of Marjoram flow'ret scented sweet;

Take flamey veil: glad hither come

Come hither borne by snow-hue'd feet

Wearing the saffron'd sock.

And, roused by day of joyful cheer,

Carolling nuptial lays and chaunts

With voice as silver ringing clear,

Beat ground with feet, while brandisht flaunts

Thy hand the piney torch.

For Vinia comes by Manlius woo'd,

As Venus on th' Idalian crest,

Before the Phrygian judge she stood

And now with blessed omens blest,

The maid is here to wed.

A maiden shining bright of blee,

As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,

Which Hamadryad deity

As toy for joyance aye befed

With humour of the dew.

Then hither come thou, hieing lief,

Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave,

Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff

Nymph Aganippe loves to lave

In cooly waves outpoured.

And call the house-bride, homewards bring

Maid yearning for new married fere,

Her mind with fondness manacling,

As the tough ivy here and there

Errant the tree enwinds.

And likewise ye, clean virginal

Maidens, to whom shall haps befall

Like day, in measure join ye all

Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,

0 Hymen Hymenaeus.

That with more will-full will a-hearing

The call to office due, he would

Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,

Guide to good Venus, and the good

Lover conjoining strait.

What God than other Godheads more

Must love-sick wights for aid implore?

Whose Godhead foremost shall adore

Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,

O Hymen Hymenaeus.

Thee for his own the trembling sire

Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue

Who laps of zone to loose aspire,

And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo