Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  2. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  3. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  4. ---
  5. ---
  6. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  7. That needs she must advance.
  8. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  9. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  10. That fairer femininety
  11. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  12. Shall ever more behold.
  13. Such in the many-tinted bower
  14. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  15. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  16. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  17. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  18. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  19. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  20. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  21. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  22. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  23. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  24. Joys and adulterous delights
  25. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  26. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  27. Far from thy tender paps.
  28. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  29. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  30. He shall be ever twined in thine
  31. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  32. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  33. Couchlet which to me and all
  34. ---
  35. With bright white bedstead foot.
  36. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  37. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  38. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  39. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  40. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  41. Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  42. I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
  43. Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
  44. "0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  45. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus!"
  46. Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys