Carmina

Catullus

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

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

With ears that long to hear.

Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain

Deliverest maiden fair and fain,

From mother's fondling bosom ta'en

Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen

0 Hymen Hymenaeus.

Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—

While Fame approves for honesty—

Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails

Thou willing:—with such Deity

Whoe'er shall dare compare?

Thou wanting, never son and heir

The Hearth can bear, nor parents be

By issue girt, yet can it bear,

Thou willing:—with such Deity,

Whoe'er shall dare compare?

An lack a land thy sacring rite,

The perfect rule we ne'er shall see

Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,

Thou willing:—with such Deity

Whoe'er shall dare compare?

Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!

The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen

Of links their splendent tresses fling?