Carmina

Catullus

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

  • O Hymen Hymemeus io,
  • O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  • Let fall the maid's soft arms, thou fair
  • Boy purple-hem'd: now be thy care
  • Her bridegroom's couch she seek and share.
  • O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  • 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  • Ye wives time-tried to husbands wed,
  • Well-known for chastity inbred,
  • Dispose the virginette a-bed.
  • O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  • 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  • Groom, now 'tis meet thou hither pace,
  • With bride in genial bed to blend,
  • For sheenly shines her flowery face
  • Where the white chamomiles contend
  • With poppies blushing red.
  • Yet bridegroom (So may Godhead deign
  • Help me!) nowise in humbler way
  • Art fair, nor Venus shall disdain
  • Thy charms, but look! how wanes the day:
  • Forward, nor loiter more!
  • No longer loitering makest thou,
  • Now comest thou. May Venus good