Carmina

Catullus

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

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