Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  2. ---
  3. ---
  4. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  5. That needs she must advance.
  6. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  7. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  8. That fairer femininety
  9. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  10. Shall ever more behold.
  11. Such in the many-tinted bower
  12. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  13. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  14. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  15. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  16. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  17. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  18. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  19. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  20. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  21. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  22. Joys and adulterous delights
  23. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  24. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  25. Far from thy tender paps.
  26. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  27. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  28. He shall be ever twined in thine
  29. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  30. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  31. Couchlet which to me and all
  32. ---
  33. With bright white bedstead foot.
  34. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  35. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  36. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  37. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  38. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  39. Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  40. I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
  41. Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
  42. "0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  43. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus!"
  44. Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys
  45. In festal jest, from Fescennine,
  46. Nor yet denay their nuts to boys,
  47. He-Concubine! who learns in fine
  48. His lordling's love is fled.
  49. Throw nuts to boys thou idle all
  50. He-Concubine! wast fain full long
  51. With nuts to play: now pleased as thrall
  52. Be thou to swell Talasios' throng:
  53. He-Concubine throw nuts.
  54. Wont thou at peasant-girls to jape
  55. He-whore! Thy Lord's delight the while:
  56. Now shall hair-curling chattel scrape
  57. Thy cheeks: poor wretch, ah! poor and vile:—
  58. He-Concubine, throw nuts.
  59. 'Tis said from smooth-faced ingle train
  60. (Anointed bridegroom!) hardly fain
  61. Hast e'er refrained; now do refrain!
  62. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  63. O Hymen Hymenaeus!
  64. We know that naught save licit rites
  65. Be known to thee, but wedded wights
  66. No more deem lawful such delights.
  67. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  68. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  69. Thou too, 0 Bride, whatever dare
  70. Thy groom, of coy rebuff beware,
  71. Lest he to find elsewhither fare.
  72. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  73. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  74. Lo! here the house of high degree
  75. Thy husband's puissant home to be,
  76. Which ever shall obey thy gree.
  77. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  78. O Hymen Hymenaeus!
  79. Till Time betide when eld the hoar
  80. Thy head and temples trembling o'er
  81. Make nod to all things evermore.
  82. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  83. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  84. O'erstep with omen meetest meet