Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Of Marjoram flow'ret scented sweet;
  2. Take flamey veil: glad hither come
  3. Come hither borne by snow-hue'd feet
  4. Wearing the saffron'd sock.
  5. And, roused by day of joyful cheer,
  6. Carolling nuptial lays and chaunts
  7. With voice as silver ringing clear,
  8. Beat ground with feet, while brandisht flaunts
  9. Thy hand the piney torch.
  10. For Vinia comes by Manlius woo'd,
  11. As Venus on th' Idalian crest,
  12. Before the Phrygian judge she stood
  13. And now with blessed omens blest,
  14. The maid is here to wed.
  15. A maiden shining bright of blee,
  16. As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,
  17. Which Hamadryad deity
  18. As toy for joyance aye befed
  19. With humour of the dew.
  20. Then hither come thou, hieing lief,
  21. Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave,
  22. Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff
  23. Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
  24. In cooly waves outpoured.
  25. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  26. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  27. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  28. As the tough ivy here and there
  29. Errant the tree enwinds.
  30. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  31. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  32. Like day, in measure join ye all
  33. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  34. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  35. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  36. The call to office due, he would
  37. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  38. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  39. Lover conjoining strait.
  40. What God than other Godheads more
  41. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  42. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  43. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  44. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  45. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  46. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  47. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  48. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  49. With ears that long to hear.
  50. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  51. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  52. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  53. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  54. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  55. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  56. While Fame approves for honesty—
  57. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  58. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  59. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  60. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  61. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  62. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  63. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  64. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  65. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  66. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  67. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  68. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  69. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  70. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  71. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  72. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  73. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  74. ---
  75. ---
  76. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  77. That needs she must advance.
  78. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  79. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  80. That fairer femininety
  81. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  82. Shall ever more behold.
  83. Such in the many-tinted bower
  84. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  85. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  86. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  87. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  88. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  89. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  90. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  91. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  92. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  93. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  94. Joys and adulterous delights
  95. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  96. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights