Carmina

Catullus

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

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