Carmina

Catullus

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

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