Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Thy hand the piney torch.
  2. For Vinia comes by Manlius woo'd,
  3. As Venus on th' Idalian crest,
  4. Before the Phrygian judge she stood
  5. And now with blessed omens blest,
  6. The maid is here to wed.
  7. A maiden shining bright of blee,
  8. As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,
  9. Which Hamadryad deity
  10. As toy for joyance aye befed
  11. With humour of the dew.
  12. Then hither come thou, hieing lief,
  13. Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave,
  14. Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff
  15. Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
  16. In cooly waves outpoured.
  17. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  18. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  19. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  20. As the tough ivy here and there
  21. Errant the tree enwinds.
  22. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  23. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  24. Like day, in measure join ye all
  25. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  26. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  27. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  28. The call to office due, he would
  29. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  30. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  31. Lover conjoining strait.
  32. What God than other Godheads more
  33. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  34. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  35. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  36. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  37. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  38. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  39. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  40. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  41. With ears that long to hear.
  42. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  43. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  44. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  45. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  46. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  47. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  48. While Fame approves for honesty—
  49. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  50. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  51. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  52. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  53. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  54. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  55. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  56. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  57. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  58. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  59. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  60. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  61. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  62. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  63. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  64. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  65. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  66. ---
  67. ---
  68. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  69. That needs she must advance.
  70. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  71. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  72. That fairer femininety
  73. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  74. Shall ever more behold.
  75. Such in the many-tinted bower
  76. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  77. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  78. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  79. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  80. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  81. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  82. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  83. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  84. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  85. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  86. Joys and adulterous delights
  87. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  88. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  89. Far from thy tender paps.
  90. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  91. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  92. He shall be ever twined in thine
  93. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  94. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  95. Couchlet which to me and all
  96. ---
  97. With bright white bedstead foot.
  98. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  99. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  100. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  101. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  102. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  103. Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  104. I see the flamey veil draw nigh: