Carmina

Catullus

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

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