Carmina

Catullus

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

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