Carmina

Catullus

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

  • What God than other Godheads more
  • Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  • Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  • Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  • O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  • Thee for his own the trembling sire
  • Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  • Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  • And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  • With ears that long to hear.
  • Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  • Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  • From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  • Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  • 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  • Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  • While Fame approves for honesty—
  • Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  • Thou willing:—with such Deity
  • Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  • Thou wanting, never son and heir
  • The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  • By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  • Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  • Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  • An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  • The perfect rule we ne'er shall see