Carmina

Catullus

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

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