Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. But under weight prone-bowed that tender body a-bending
  2. Makes she her root anon to touch her topmost of tendrils;
  3. Tends her never a hind nor tends her ever a herdsman:
  4. Yet if haply conjoined the same with elm as a husband,
  5. Tends her many a hind and tends her many a herdsman:
  6. Thus is the maid when whole, uncultured waxes she aged;
  7. But whenas union meet she wins her at ripest of seasons,
  8. More to her spouse she is dear and less she's irk to her parents.
  9. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!
Youths and Damsels
  1. But do thou cease to resist (O Maid!) such bridegroom opposing,
  2. Right it is not to resist whereto consigned thee a father,