Carmina

Catullus

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

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