Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Who hurriest soft virginity
  2. To man, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  3. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  4. About thy temples bind the bloom,
  5. Of Marjoram flow'ret scented sweet;
  6. Take flamey veil: glad hither come
  7. Come hither borne by snow-hue'd feet
  8. Wearing the saffron'd sock.
  9. And, roused by day of joyful cheer,
  10. Carolling nuptial lays and chaunts
  11. With voice as silver ringing clear,
  12. Beat ground with feet, while brandisht flaunts
  13. Thy hand the piney torch.
  14. For Vinia comes by Manlius woo'd,
  15. As Venus on th' Idalian crest,
  16. Before the Phrygian judge she stood
  17. And now with blessed omens blest,
  18. The maid is here to wed.
  19. A maiden shining bright of blee,
  20. As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,
  21. Which Hamadryad deity
  22. As toy for joyance aye befed
  23. With humour of the dew.
  24. Then hither come thou, hieing lief,
  25. Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave,
  26. Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff
  27. Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
  28. In cooly waves outpoured.
  29. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  30. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  31. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  32. As the tough ivy here and there
  33. Errant the tree enwinds.
  34. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  35. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  36. Like day, in measure join ye all
  37. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  38. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  39. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  40. The call to office due, he would
  41. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  42. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  43. Lover conjoining strait.
  44. What God than other Godheads more
  45. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  46. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  47. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  48. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  49. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  50. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  51. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  52. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  53. With ears that long to hear.
  54. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  55. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  56. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  57. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  58. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  59. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  60. While Fame approves for honesty—
  61. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  62. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  63. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  64. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  65. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  66. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  67. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  68. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  69. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  70. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  71. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  72. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  73. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  74. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  75. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  76. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  77. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  78. ---
  79. ---
  80. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  81. That needs she must advance.
  82. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  83. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  84. That fairer femininety
  85. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  86. Shall ever more behold.
  87. Such in the many-tinted bower
  88. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  89. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  90. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  91. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  92. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,