Carmina

Catullus

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

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