Carmina

Catullus

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

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