Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. About thy temples bind the bloom,
  2. Of Marjoram flow'ret scented sweet;
  3. Take flamey veil: glad hither come
  4. Come hither borne by snow-hue'd feet
  5. Wearing the saffron'd sock.
  6. And, roused by day of joyful cheer,
  7. Carolling nuptial lays and chaunts
  8. With voice as silver ringing clear,
  9. Beat ground with feet, while brandisht flaunts
  10. Thy hand the piney torch.
  11. For Vinia comes by Manlius woo'd,
  12. As Venus on th' Idalian crest,
  13. Before the Phrygian judge she stood
  14. And now with blessed omens blest,
  15. The maid is here to wed.
  16. A maiden shining bright of blee,
  17. As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,
  18. Which Hamadryad deity
  19. As toy for joyance aye befed
  20. With humour of the dew.
  21. Then hither come thou, hieing lief,
  22. Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave,
  23. Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff
  24. Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
  25. In cooly waves outpoured.
  26. And call the house-bride, homewards bring
  27. Maid yearning for new married fere,
  28. Her mind with fondness manacling,
  29. As the tough ivy here and there
  30. Errant the tree enwinds.
  31. And likewise ye, clean virginal
  32. Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
  33. Like day, in measure join ye all
  34. Singing, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  35. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  36. That with more will-full will a-hearing
  37. The call to office due, he would
  38. Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
  39. Guide to good Venus, and the good
  40. Lover conjoining strait.
  41. What God than other Godheads more
  42. Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
  43. Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
  44. Mankind? 0 Hymenaeus Hymen,
  45. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  46. Thee for his own the trembling sire
  47. Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
  48. Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
  49. And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
  50. With ears that long to hear.
  51. Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
  52. Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
  53. From mother's fondling bosom ta'en
  54. Perforce, 0 Hymenaeus Hymen
  55. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.
  56. Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails—
  57. While Fame approves for honesty—
  58. Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails
  59. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  60. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  61. Thou wanting, never son and heir
  62. The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
  63. By issue girt, yet can it bear,
  64. Thou willing:—with such Deity,
  65. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  66. An lack a land thy sacring rite,
  67. The perfect rule we ne'er shall see
  68. Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight,
  69. Thou willing:—with such Deity
  70. Whoe'er shall dare compare?
  71. Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
  72. The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
  73. Of links their splendent tresses fling?
  74. Let shame retard the modest mien.
  75. ---
  76. ---
  77. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  78. That needs she must advance.
  79. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  80. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  81. That fairer femininety
  82. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  83. Shall ever more behold.
  84. Such in the many-tinted bower
  85. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  86. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  87. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  88. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  89. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  90. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  91. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  92. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  93. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  94. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  95. Joys and adulterous delights
  96. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  97. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  98. Far from thy tender paps.
  99. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  100. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  101. He shall be ever twined in thine
  102. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  103. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  104. Couchlet which to me and all
  105. ---
  106. With bright white bedstead foot.
  107. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  108. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  109. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  110. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  111. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!