Carmina

Catullus

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

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