Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. ---
  2. Loves her many a youth and longs for her many a maiden:
  3. Yet from her lissome stalk when cropt that flower deflowered,
  4. Loves her never a youth nor longs for her ever a maiden:
  5. Thus while the virgin be whole, such while she's the dearling of kinsfolk;
  6. Yet no sooner is lost her bloom from body polluted,
  7. Neither to youths she is joy, nor a dearling she to the maidens.
  8. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!
Youths
  1. E'en as an unmated vine which born in field of the barest
  2. Never upraises head nor breeds the mellowy grape-bunch,
  3. But under weight prone-bowed that tender body a-bending
  4. Makes she her root anon to touch her topmost of tendrils;
  5. Tends her never a hind nor tends her ever a herdsman:
  6. Yet if haply conjoined the same with elm as a husband,
  7. Tends her many a hind and tends her many a herdsman:
  8. Thus is the maid when whole, uncultured waxes she aged;
  9. But whenas union meet she wins her at ripest of seasons,
  10. More to her spouse she is dear and less she's irk to her parents.
  11. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!
Youths and Damsels
  1. But do thou cease to resist (O Maid!) such bridegroom opposing,