Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. For Vinia comes by Manlius woo'd,
  2. As Venus on th' Idalian crest,
  3. Before the Phrygian judge she stood
  4. And now with blessed omens blest,
  5. The maid is here to wed.
  6. A maiden shining bright of blee,
  7. As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,
  8. Which Hamadryad deity
  9. As toy for joyance aye befed
  10. With humour of the dew.
  11. Then hither come thou, hieing lief,
  12. Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave,
  13. Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff
  14. Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
  15. In cooly waves outpoured.
  16. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  17. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  18. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  19. As the tough ivy here and there
  20. Errant the tree enwinds.
  21. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  22. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  23. Like day, in measure join ye all
  24. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  25. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  26. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  27. The call to office due, he would
  28. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  29. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  30. Lover conjoining strait.
  31. What God than other Godheads more
  32. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  33. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  34. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  35. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  36. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  37. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  38. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  39. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  40. With ears that long to hear.
  41. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  42. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  43. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  44. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  45. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  46. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  47. While Fame approves for honesty—
  48. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  49. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  50. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  51. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  52. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  53. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  54. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  55. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  56. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  57. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  58. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  59. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  60. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  61. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  62. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  63. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  64. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  65. ---
  66. ---
  67. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  68. That needs she must advance.
  69. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  70. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  71. That fairer femininety
  72. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  73. Shall ever more behold.
  74. Such in the many-tinted bower
  75. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  76. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  77. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  78. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  79. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  80. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  81. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  82. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  83. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  84. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  85. Joys and adulterous delights
  86. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  87. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  88. Far from thy tender paps.
  89. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  90. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  91. He shall be ever twined in thine
  92. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  93. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  94. Couchlet which to me and all
  95. ---
  96. With bright white bedstead foot.
  97. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  98. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  99. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  100. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  101. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  102. Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  103. I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
  104. Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
  105. "0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,