Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Loves her many a youth and longs for her many a maiden:
  2. Yet from her lissome stalk when cropt that flower deflowered,
  3. Loves her never a youth nor longs for her ever a maiden:
  4. Thus while the virgin be whole, such while she's the dearling of kinsfolk;
  5. Yet no sooner is lost her bloom from body polluted,
  6. Neither to youths she is joy, nor a dearling she to the maidens.
  7. 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: