Carmina

Catullus

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

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