by Catullus
No house without thee can give children, no parent rest on his offspring; but all is well if thou art willing. What god dare match himself with this god?
A land that should want thy sanctities would not be able to produce guardians for its borders — but could, if thou wert willing. What god dare match himself with this god?
Throw open the fastenings of the door; the bride is coming. See you how the torches shake their shining tresses?... noble shame delays.... Yet listening rather to this, she weeps that she must go.
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tardet ingenuus pudor.
quem tamen magis audiens,
flet quod ire necesse est.
flere desine. non tibi Au-
runculeia periculum est,
ne qua femina pulcrior
clarum ab Oceano diem
uiderit venientem.
talis in vario solet
divitis domini hortulo
stare flos hyacinthinus.
sed moraris, abit dies.
prodeas nova nupta.
prodeas nova nupta, si
iam videtur, et audias
nostra verba. viden? faces
aureas quatiunt comas:
prodeas nova nupta.
non tuus levis in mala
deditus vir adultera,
probra turpia persequens,
a tuis teneris volet
secubare papillis,
lenta sed velut adsitas
vitis implicat arbores,
implicabitur in tuum
complexum. sed abit dies:
prodeas nova nupta.
o cubile, quod omnibus
Weep no more. Not to you, Aurunculeia, is there danger that any fairer woman shall see the bright day coming from ocean.
So in the gay garden of a rich owner stands a hyacinth flower — but you delay, the day is passing; come forth, O bride.—’
Come forth, O bride, if now you will, and hear our words. See how the torches shake their golden tresses! — come forth, O bride.
Your husband will not, lightly given to some wicked paramour, and following shameful ways of dishonour, wish to lie away from your soft bosom; but as the pliant vine entwines the trees planted near it, so will he be entwined in your embrace. But the day is passing; come forth, O bride.
O bridal bed, to all.......
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candido pede lecti,
quae tuo veniunt ero,
quanta gaudia, quae vaga
nocte, quae medio die
gaudeat! sed abit dies:
prodeas nova nupta.
tollite, o pueri, faces:
flammeum video venire.
ite concinite in modum
‘io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.’
ne diu taceat procax
Fescennina iocatio,
nec nuces pueris neget
desertum domini audiens
concubinus amorem.
da nuces pueris, iners
concubine! satis diu
lusisti nucibus: lubet
iam servire Talasio.
concubine, nuces da.
............ white foot... bed.
What joys are coming for your lord, O what joys for him to know in the fleeting night, joys in the full day! — but the day is passing; come forth, O bride.
Raise aloft the torches, boys: I see the wedding veil coming. Go on, sing in measure, Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
Let not the merry Fescennine jesting be silent long, let the favourite boy give away nuts to the slaves, when he hears how his lord has left his love.
Give nuts to the slaves, favourite: your time is past: you have played with nuts long enough: you must now be the servant of Talassius. Give nuts, beloved slave.
sordebant tibi villicae,
concubine, hodie atque heri:
nunc tuum cinerarius
tondet os. miser a miser
concubine, nuces da.
diceris male te a tuis
unguentate glabris marite
abstinere, sed abstine.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
scimus haec tibi quae licent
sola cognita, sed marito
ista non eadem licent.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
nupta, tu quoque quae tuus
vir petet cave ne neges,
ni petitum aliunde eat.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
To-day and yesterday you disdained the country wives: now the barber shaves your cheeks. Wretched, all! wretched lover, throw the nuts.
They will say that you, perfumed bridegroom, are unwilling to give up your old pleasures; but abstain, lo Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
We know that you are acquainted with no unlawful joys; but a husband has not the same liberty. Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
You too, O bride, be sure you refuse not what your husband claims, lest he go elsewhere to find it. Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
en tibi domus ut potens
et beata viri tui,
quae tibi sine serviat
(io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee)
usque dum tremulum movens
cana tempus anilitas
omnia omnibus annuit.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
transfer omine cum bono
limen aureolos pedes,
rasilemque subi forem.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
aspice intus ut accubans
vir tuus Tyrio in toro
totus immineat tibi.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
See how mighty and rich for you is the house of your husband; be content to be mistress here, (Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!)
even till hoary old age, shaking a trembling head, nods assent to all for all. Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
Lift across the threshold with a good omen your golden feet, and enter within the polished door, lo Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
See how your husband within, reclining on a purple couch, is all eagerness for you. Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
illi non minus ac tibi
pectore uritur intimo
flamma, sed penite magis.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
mitte brachiolum teres,
praetextate, puellulae:
iam cubile adeat viri.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
vos bonae senibus viris
cognitae bene feminae,
collocate puellulam.
io Hymen Hymenaee io,
io Hymen Hymenaee.
iam licet venias, marite:
uxor in thalamo tibi est,
ore floridulo nitens,
alba parthenice velut
luteumve papaver.
In his inmost heart no less than in yours glows the flame, but deeper within. Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
Let go, young boy, the smooth arm of the damsel, let her now come to her husband’s bed. Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus!
Ye, honest matrons, well wedded to ancient husbands, set the damsel in her place. Io Hymen Hymenaeus io, io Hymen Hymenaeus.
Now you may come, bridegroom; your wife is in the bride-chamber, shining with flowery face, like a white daisy or yellow poppy.
at, marite, ita me iuvent
caelites, nihilo minus
pulcer es, neque te Venus
neglegit. sed abit dies:
perge, ne remorare.
non diu remor
atus es:
iam venis. bona te Venus
iuuerit, quoniam palam
quod cupis cupis, et bonum
non abscondis amorem.
ille pulueris Africi
siderumque micantium
subducat numerum prius,
qui vestri numerare vult
multa milia ludi.
ludite ut lubet, et brevi
liberos date. non decet
tam vetus sine liberis
nomen esse, sed indidem
semper ingenerari.
But, husband, so the gods help me, you are no less fair, nor does Venus neglect you. But the day is passing. Go on then, delay not.
Not long have you delayed. Already you come. May kindly Venus help you, since openly you take your desire and do not hide your honest love.
Let him first count up the number of the dust of Africa and of the glittering stars, who would number the many thousands of your joys.
Sport as ye will, and soon bring children forth. It is not fit that so old a name should be without children, but that they should be ever born from the same stock.
Torquatus volo parvulus
matris e gremio suae
porrigens teneras manus
dulce rideat ad patrem
semihiante labello.
sit suo similis patri
Manlio et facile insciis
noscitetur ab omnibus,
et pudicitiam suae
matris indicet ore.
talis illius a bona
matre laus genus approbet,
qualis unica ab optima
matre Telemacho manet
fama Penelopeo.
claudite ostia, virgines:
lusimus satis. at boni
coniuges, bene vivite et
munere assiduo valentem
exercete iuventam.
I would see a little Torquatus, stretching his baby hands from his mother’s lap, smile a sweet smile at his father with lips half parted.
May he be like his father Manlius, and easily be recognised by all, even those who do not know, and declare by his face the fair fame of his mother.
May such praise, due to his chaste mother, approve his descent, as for Telemachus son of Penelope remains unparagoned the honour derived from his noble mother.
Maidens, shut the doors. We have sported enough. But ye, happy pair, live happily, and in your wedded joys employ your vigorous youth.
LXII. exametrum carmen nuptiale
Vesper adest, iuvenes, consurgite: Vesper Olympo
exspectata diu vix tandem lumina tollit.
surgere iam tempus, iam pinguis linquere mensas,
iam veniet virgo, iam dicetur hymenaeus.
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
LXII
Youths. The evening is come, rise up, ye youths. Vesper from Olympus now at last is just raising his long-looked-for light. Now is it time to rise, now to leave the rich tables; now will come the bride, now will the Hymen-song be sung. Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
Cernitis, innuptae, iuvenes? consurgite contra;
nimirum Oetaeos ostendit Noctifer ignes.
sic certest; viden ut perniciter exsiluere?
non temere exsiluere, canent quod vincere par est.
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
Maidens. See ye, maidens, the youths? Rise up to meet them. For sure the night-star shows his Oetaean fires. So it is indeed; see you how nimbly they have sprung up? it is not for nothing that they have sprung up: they will sing something which it is worth while to look at. Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
non facilis nobis, aequales, palma parata est:
aspicite, innuptae secum ut meditata requirunt.
non frustra meditantur: habent memorabile quod sit;
nec mirum, penitus quae tota mente laborant.
nos alio mentes, alio divisimus aures;
iure igitur vincemur: amat victoria curam.
quare nunc animos saltem convertite vestros;
dicere iam incipient, iam respondere decebit.
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
Youths. No easy palm is set out for us, comrades; look how the maidens are conning what they have learnt. Not in vain do they learn, they have there something worthy of memory; no wonder, since they labour deeply with their whole mind. We have diverted elsewhere our thoughts, elsewhere our ears; fairly then shall we be beaten; victory loveth care Wherefore now at least match your minds with theirs. Anon they will begin to speak, anon it will be fitting for us to answer. Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
Hespere, quis caelo fertur crudelior ignis?
qui natam possis complexu avellere matris,
complexu matris retinentem avellere natam,
et iuveni ardenti castam donare puellam.
quid faciunt hostes capta crudelius urbe?
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
Maidens. Hesperus, what more cruel fire than thine moves in the sky? for thou canst endure to tear the daughter from her mother’s embrace, from her mother’s embrace to tear the close-clinging daughter, and give the chaste maiden to the burning youth. What more cruel than this do enemies when a city falls? Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
Hespere, quis caelo lucet iucundior ignis?
qui desponsa tua firmes conubia flamma,
quae pepigere viri, pepigerunt ante parentes,
nec iunxere prius quam se tuus extulit ardor.
quid datur a divis felici optatius hora?
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
Youths. Hesperus, what more welcome fire than thine shines in the sky? for thou with thy flame confirmest the contracted espousals, which husbands and parents have promised beforehand, but unite not till thy flame has arisen. What is given by the gods more desirable than the fortunate hour? Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
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Hesperus e nobis, aequales, abstulit unam.
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Maidens. Hesperus, friends, has taken away one of us.
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namque tuo adventu vigilat custodia semper,
nocte latent fures, quos idem saepe reuertens,
Hespere, mutato comprendis nomine Eous
at lubet innuptis ficto te carpere questu.
quid tum, si carpunt, tacita quem mente requirunt?
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
Youths. For at thy coming the guard is always awake. By night thieves hide themselves, whom thou, Hesperus, often overtakest as thou returnest, Hesperus the same but with changed name Eous. [Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!]
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But girls love to chide thee with feigned complaint. What then, if they chide him whom they desire in their secret heart? Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
Ut flos in saeptis secretus nascitur hortis,
ignotus pecori, nullo convolsus aratro,
quem mulcent aurae, firmat sol, educat imber;
multi illum pueri, multae optavere puellae:
idem cum tenui carptus defloruit ungui,
nulli illum pueri, nullae optavere puellae:
sic virgo, dum intacta manet, dum cara suis est;
cum castum amisit polluto corpore florem,
nec pueris iucunda manet, nec cara puellis.
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
Maidens. As a flower springs up secretly in a fenced garden, unknown to the cattle, torn up by no plough, which the winds caress, the sun strengthens, the shower draws forth, many boys, many girls, desire it; when the same flower fades, nipped by a sharp nail, no boys, no girls desire it: so a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long is she dear to her own; when she has lost her chaste flower with sullied body, she remains neither lovely to boys nor dear to girls. Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
Ut vidua in nudo vitis qua
e nascitur aruo,
numquam se extollit, numquam mitem educat uvam,
sed tenerum prono deflectens pondere corpus
iam iam contingit summum radice flagellum;
hanc nulli agricolae, nulli coluere iuvenci:
at si forte eadem est ulmo coniuncta marito,
multi illam agricolae, multi coluere iuvenci:
sic virgo dum intacta manet, dum inculta senescit;
cum par conubium maturo tempore adepta est,
cara viro magis et minus est invisa parenti.
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
Youths. As an unwedded vine which grows up in a bare field never raises itself aloft, never brings forth a mellow grape, but bending its tender form with downward weight, even now touches the root with topmost shoot; no farmers, no oxen tend it: but if it chance to be joined in marriage to the elm, many farmers, many oxen tend it: so a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long is she aging untended; but when in ripe season she is matched in equal wedlock, she is more dear to her husband and less distasteful to her father. [Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!]
Et tu ne pugna cum tali coniuge virgo.
non aequom est pugnare, pater cui tradidit ipse,
ipse pater cum matre, quibus parere necesse est.
virginitas non tota tua est, ex parte parentum est,
tertia pars patrest, pars est data tertia matri,
tertia sola tua est: noli pugnare duobus,
qui genero suo iura simul cum dote dederunt.
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
And you, maiden, strive not with such a husband; it is not right to strive with him to whom your father himself gave you, your father himself with your mother, whom you must obey. Your maidenhead is not all your own; partly it belongs to your parents, a third part is given to your father, a third part to your mother, only a third is yours; do not contend with two, who have given their rights to their son-in-law together with the dowry. Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
LXIII. de Berecinthia et Athi
Super alta vectus Attis celeri rate maria,
Phrygium ut nemus citato cupide pede tetigit,
adiitque opaca silvis redimita loca deae,
stimulatus ibi furenti rabie, vagus animis,
de volsit ili acuto sibi pondera silice,
itaque ut relicta sensit sibi membra sine viro,
etiam recente terrae sola sanguine maculans,
niveis citata cepit manibus leve typanum,
typanum tuum, Cybebe, tua, mater initia,
quatiensque terga tauri teneris cava digitis
canere haec suis adorta est tremebunda comitibus.
‘agite ite ad alta, Gallae, Cybeles nemora simul,