Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  2. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  3. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  4. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  5. ---
  6. ---
  7. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  8. That needs she must advance.
  9. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  10. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  11. That fairer femininety
  12. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  13. Shall ever more behold.
  14. Such in the many-tinted bower
  15. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  16. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  17. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  18. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  19. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  20. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  21. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  22. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  23. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  24. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  25. Joys and adulterous delights
  26. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  27. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  28. Far from thy tender paps.
  29. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  30. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  31. He shall be ever twined in thine
  32. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  33. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  34. Couchlet which to me and all
  35. ---
  36. With bright white bedstead foot.
  37. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  38. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  39. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  40. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  41. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  42. Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  43. I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
  44. Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
  45. "0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  46. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus!"
  47. Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys
  48. In festal jest, from Fescennine,
  49. Nor yet denay their nuts to boys,
  50. He-Concubine! who learns in fine
  51. His lordling's love is fled.
  52. Throw nuts to boys thou idle all
  53. He-Concubine! wast fain full long
  54. With nuts to play: now pleased as thrall
  55. Be thou to swell Talasios' throng: