Carmina

Catullus

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

  • His mother's honest love.
  • Approve shall fair approof his birth
  • From mother's seed-stock generous,
  • As rarest fame of mother's worth
  • Unique exalts Telemachus
  • Penelope's own son.
  • Fast close the door-leaves, virgin band:
  • Enow we've played. But ye the fair
  • New-wedded twain live happy, and
  • Functions of lusty married pair
  • Exercise sans surcease.

    • Youths
    1. Vesper is here, O youths, rise all; for Vesper Olympus
    2. Scales and in fine enfires what lights so long were expected!
    3. Time 'tis now to arise, now leave we tables rich laden,
    4. Now shall the Virgin come; now chaunt we the Hymenaeus.
    5. Hymen O Hymenaeus: Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!
    Damsels
    1. View ye the Youths, O Maids unwed? Then rise to withstand them:
    2. Doubtless the night-fraught Star displays his splendour Oetean.
    3. Sooth 'tis so; d'ye sight how Speedily sprang they to warfare?
    4. Nor for a naught up-sprang: they'll Sing what need we to conquer.