Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  2. Lover conjoining strait.
  3. What God than other Godheads more
  4. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  5. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  6. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  7. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  8. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  9. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  10. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  11. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  12. With ears that long to hear.
  13. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  14. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  15. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  16. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  17. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  18. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  19. While Fame approves for honesty—
  20. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  21. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  22. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  23. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  24. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  25. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  26. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  27. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  28. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  29. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  30. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  31. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  32. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  33. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  34. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  35. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  36. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  37. ---
  38. ---
  39. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  40. That needs she must advance.
  41. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  42. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  43. That fairer femininety