Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. ---
  2. ---
  3. Who more she hears us weeps the more,
  4. That needs she must advance.
  5. Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
  6. Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
  7. That fairer femininety
  8. Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
  9. Shall ever more behold.
  10. Such in the many-tinted bower
  11. Of rich man's garden passing gay
  12. Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
  13. But thou delayest, wanes the day:
  14. “Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
  15. Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
  16. Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
  17. Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
  18. How shake their locks begilt with gold:
  19. Prithee, new Bride come forth.
  20. Not lightly given thy mate to ill
  21. Joys and adulterous delights
  22. Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
  23. Shall ever choose he lie o' nights
  24. Far from thy tender paps.
  25. But as with pliant shoots the vine
  26. Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
  27. He shall be ever twined in thine
  28. Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
  29. Prithee, come forth new Bride!
  30. Couchlet which to me and all
  31. ---
  32. With bright white bedstead foot.
  33. What joys the lord of thee betide!
  34. What love-liesse on vaguing way
  35. 0' nights! What sweets in morning tide
  36. For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
  37. Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
  38. Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:
  39. I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
  40. Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
  41. "0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  42. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus!"
  43. Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys
  44. In festal jest, from Fescennine,
  45. Nor yet denay their nuts to boys,
  46. He-Concubine! who learns in fine
  47. His lordling's love is fled.
  48. Throw nuts to boys thou idle all
  49. He-Concubine! wast fain full long
  50. With nuts to play: now pleased as thrall
  51. Be thou to swell Talasios' throng:
  52. He-Concubine throw nuts.
  53. Wont thou at peasant-girls to jape
  54. He-whore! Thy Lord's delight the while:
  55. Now shall hair-curling chattel scrape
  56. Thy cheeks: poor wretch, ah! poor and vile:—
  57. He-Concubine, throw nuts.
  58. 'Tis said from smooth-faced ingle train
  59. (Anointed bridegroom!) hardly fain
  60. Hast e'er refrained; now do refrain!
  61. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  62. O Hymen Hymenaeus!
  63. We know that naught save licit rites
  64. Be known to thee, but wedded wights
  65. No more deem lawful such delights.
  66. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  67. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  68. Thou too, 0 Bride, whatever dare
  69. Thy groom, of coy rebuff beware,
  70. Lest he to find elsewhither fare.
  71. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  72. O Hymen Hymenaeus.
  73. Lo! here the house of high degree
  74. Thy husband's puissant home to be,
  75. Which ever shall obey thy gree.
  76. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  77. O Hymen Hymenaeus!
  78. Till Time betide when eld the hoar
  79. Thy head and temples trembling o'er
  80. Make nod to all things evermore.
  81. O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
  82. 0 Hymen Hymenaeus.