Carmina

Catullus

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

  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!