Carmina

Catullus

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

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

Aid thee when frankly takest thou

Thy wishes won, nor true Love woo'd

Thou carest to conceal.

Of Afric's wolds and wilds each grain,

Or constellations glistening,

First reckon he that of the twain