Carmina

Catullus

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

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