Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. A maiden shining bright of blee,
  2. As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,
  3. Which Hamadryad deity
  4. As toy for joyance aye befed
  5. With humour of the dew.
  6. Then hither come thou, hieing lief,
  7. Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave,
  8. Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff
  9. Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
  10. In cooly waves outpoured.
  11. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  12. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  13. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  14. As the tough ivy here and there
  15. Errant the tree enwinds.
  16. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  17. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  18. Like day, in measure join ye all
  19. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  20. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  21. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  22. The call to office due, he would
  23. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  24. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  25. Lover conjoining strait.
  26. What God than other Godheads more
  27. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  28. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  29. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  30. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  31. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  32. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  33. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  34. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  35. With ears that long to hear.
  36. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  37. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  38. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  39. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  40. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  41. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  42. While Fame approves for honesty—
  43. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  44. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  45. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  46. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  47. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  48. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  49. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  50. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  51. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  52. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  53. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  54. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  55. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  56. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  57. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  58. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  59. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  60. ---
  61. ---
  62. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  63. That needs she must advance.
  64. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  65. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  66. That fairer femininety
  67. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream