Carmina

Catullus

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

  • He shall be ever twined in thine
  • Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  • Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  • Couchlet which to me and all
  • ---
  • With bright white bedstead foot.
  • What joys the lord of thee betide!
  • What love-liesse on vaguing way
  • 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  • For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  • Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  • Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  • I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
  • Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
  • "0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  • 0 Hymen Hymenaeus!"
  • Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys
  • In festal jest, from Fescennine,
  • Nor yet denay their nuts to boys,
  • He-Concubine! who learns in fine
  • His lordling's love is fled.
  • Throw nuts to boys thou idle all
  • He-Concubine! wast fain full long
  • With nuts to play: now pleased as thrall
  • Be thou to swell Talasios' throng:
  • He-Concubine throw nuts.
  • Wont thou at peasant-girls to jape
  • He-whore! Thy Lord's delight the while:
  • Now shall hair-curling chattel scrape
  • Thy cheeks: poor wretch, ah! poor and vile:—
  • He-Concubine, throw nuts.
  • 'Tis said from smooth-faced ingle train
  • (Anointed bridegroom!) hardly fain
  • Hast e'er refrained; now do refrain!
  • O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  • O Hymen Hymenaeus!
  • We know that naught save licit rites
  • Be known to thee, but wedded wights
  • No more deem lawful such delights.