Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  2. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  3. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  4. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  5. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  6. With ears that long to hear.
  7. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  8. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  9. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  10. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  11. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  12. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  13. While Fame approves for honesty—
  14. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  15. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  16. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  17. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  18. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  19. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  20. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  21. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  22. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  23. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  24. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  25. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  26. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  27. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  28. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  29. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  30. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  31. ---
  32. ---
  33. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  34. That needs she must advance.
  35. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  36. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  37. That fairer femininety
  38. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  39. Shall ever more behold.