Carmina

Catullus

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

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