Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Beat ground with feet, while brandisht flaunts
  2. Thy hand the piney torch.
  3. For Vinia comes by Manlius woo'd,
  4. As Venus on th' Idalian crest,
  5. Before the Phrygian judge she stood
  6. And now with blessed omens blest,
  7. The maid is here to wed.
  8. A maiden shining bright of blee,
  9. As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,
  10. Which Hamadryad deity
  11. As toy for joyance aye befed
  12. With humour of the dew.
  13. Then hither come thou, hieing lief,
  14. Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave,
  15. Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff
  16. Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
  17. In cooly waves outpoured.
  18. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  19. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  20. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  21. As the tough ivy here and there
  22. Errant the tree enwinds.
  23. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  24. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  25. Like day, in measure join ye all
  26. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  27. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  28. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  29. The call to office due, he would
  30. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  31. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  32. Lover conjoining strait.
  33. What God than other Godheads more
  34. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  35. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  36. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  37. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  38. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  39. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  40. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  41. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  42. With ears that long to hear.
  43. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  44. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  45. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  46. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  47. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  48. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  49. While Fame approves for honesty—
  50. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  51. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  52. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  53. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  54. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  55. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  56. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  57. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  58. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  59. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  60. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  61. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  62. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  63. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  64. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  65. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  66. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  67. ---
  68. ---
  69. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  70. That needs she must advance.
  71. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  72. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  73. That fairer femininety
  74. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  75. Shall ever more behold.
  76. Such in the many-tinted bower
  77. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  78. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  79. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  80. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  81. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  82. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  83. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  84. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  85. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  86. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  87. Joys and adulterous delights
  88. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  89. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  90. Far from thy tender paps.
  91. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  92. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  93. He shall be ever twined in thine
  94. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  95. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  96. Couchlet which to me and all
  97. ---
  98. With bright white bedstead foot.
  99. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  100. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  101. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  102. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  103. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  104. Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  105. I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
  106. Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
  107. "0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  108. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus!"
  109. Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys
  110. In festal jest, from Fescennine,
  111. Nor yet denay their nuts to boys,
  112. He-Concubine! who learns in fine
  113. His lordling's love is fled.
  114. Throw nuts to boys thou idle all
  115. He-Concubine! wast fain full long
  116. With nuts to play: now pleased as thrall
  117. Be thou to swell Talasios' throng:
  118. He-Concubine throw nuts.
  119. Wont thou at peasant-girls to jape
  120. He-whore! Thy Lord's delight the while:
  121. Now shall hair-curling chattel scrape
  122. Thy cheeks: poor wretch, ah! poor and vile:—
  123. He-Concubine, throw nuts.
  124. 'Tis said from smooth-faced ingle train
  125. (Anointed bridegroom!) hardly fain
  126. Hast e'er refrained; now do refrain!
  127. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  128. O Hymen Hymenaeus!
  129. We know that naught save licit rites
  130. Be known to thee, but wedded wights
  131. No more deem lawful such delights.
  132. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  133. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  134. Thou too, 0 Bride, whatever dare
  135. Thy groom, of coy rebuff beware,