Carmina

Catullus

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

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