Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff
  2. Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
  3. In cooly waves outpoured.
  4. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  5. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  6. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  7. As the tough ivy here and there
  8. Errant the tree enwinds.
  9. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  10. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  11. Like day, in measure join ye all
  12. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  13. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  14. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  15. The call to office due, he would
  16. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  17. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  18. Lover conjoining strait.
  19. What God than other Godheads more
  20. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  21. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  22. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  23. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  24. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  25. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  26. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  27. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  28. With ears that long to hear.
  29. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  30. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  31. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  32. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  33. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  34. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  35. While Fame approves for honesty—
  36. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  37. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  38. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  39. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  40. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  41. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  42. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  43. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  44. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  45. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  46. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  47. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  48. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  49. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  50. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  51. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  52. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  53. ---
  54. ---
  55. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  56. That needs she must advance.
  57. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  58. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,