Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. In cooly waves outpoured.
  2. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  3. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  4. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  5. As the tough ivy here and there
  6. Errant the tree enwinds.
  7. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  8. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  9. Like day, in measure join ye all
  10. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  11. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  12. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  13. The call to office due, he would
  14. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  15. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  16. Lover conjoining strait.
  17. What God than other Godheads more
  18. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  19. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  20. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  21. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  22. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  23. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  24. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  25. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  26. With ears that long to hear.
  27. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  28. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  29. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  30. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  31. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  32. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  33. While Fame approves for honesty—
  34. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  35. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  36. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  37. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  38. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  39. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  40. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  41. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  42. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  43. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  44. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  45. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  46. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  47. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  48. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  49. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  50. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  51. ---
  52. ---
  53. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  54. That needs she must advance.
  55. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  56. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  57. That fairer femininety
  58. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  59. Shall ever more behold.
  60. Such in the many-tinted bower
  61. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  62. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  63. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  64. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  65. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  66. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  67. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  68. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  69. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  70. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  71. Joys and adulterous delights
  72. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  73. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  74. Far from thy tender paps.
  75. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  76. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  77. He shall be ever twined in thine
  78. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  79. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  80. Couchlet which to me and all
  81. ---
  82. With bright white bedstead foot.
  83. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  84. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  85. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  86. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  87. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  88. Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  89. I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
  90. Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
  91. "0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  92. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus!"
  93. Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys
  94. In festal jest, from Fescennine,
  95. Nor yet denay their nuts to boys,
  96. He-Concubine! who learns in fine
  97. His lordling's love is fled.
  98. Throw nuts to boys thou idle all
  99. He-Concubine! wast fain full long
  100. With nuts to play: now pleased as thrall
  101. Be thou to swell Talasios' throng:
  102. He-Concubine throw nuts.
  103. Wont thou at peasant-girls to jape
  104. He-whore! Thy Lord's delight the while:
  105. Now shall hair-curling chattel scrape
  106. Thy cheeks: poor wretch, ah! poor and vile:—
  107. He-Concubine, throw nuts.
  108. 'Tis said from smooth-faced ingle train
  109. (Anointed bridegroom!) hardly fain
  110. Hast e'er refrained; now do refrain!
  111. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  112. O Hymen Hymenaeus!
  113. We know that naught save licit rites
  114. Be known to thee, but wedded wights
  115. No more deem lawful such delights.
  116. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  117. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  118. Thou too, 0 Bride, whatever dare
  119. Thy groom, of coy rebuff beware,