The Cantos Project - Catullus Poem 61 (2)

GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS - CARMINA LXI - POEMS 61

Collis o Heliconii cultor, Uraniae genus, qui rapis teneram ad virum virginem, o Hymenaee Hymen, o Hymen Hymenaee, 5	You who dwell on Helicon Hill, sprung from Urania, who carry off the gentle virgin to her mate, O Hymenaeus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
cinge tempora floribus suave olentis amaraci, flammeum cape, laetus huc, huc veni niveo gerens luteum pede soccum, 10	Twine round your temples sweet-smelling flowers of marjoram; put on your gold-tinted veil; lighthearted here, come here, bearing on snowy foot the golden-yellow sandal:
excitusque hilari die nuptialia concinens voce carmina tinnula pelle humum pedibus, manu pineam quate taedam. 15	And afire with the joyous day, chanting wedding melodies with ringing voice, strike the ground with your feet, with your hand swing aloft the torch of pine.
namque Vinia Manilo, qualis Idalium colens venit ad Phrygium Venus iudicem, bona cum bona nubet alite virgo, 20	For Vinia—fair as Venus dwelling in Idalium when came to the Phrygian judge—a virgin fair, weds Manlius amid happy auspices.
floridis velut enitens myrtus Asia ramulis, quos hamadryades deae ludicrum sibi rosido nutriunt umore. 25	She, bright-shining as the Asian myrtle florid in its branches, which the Hamadryads nurture for their pleasure with besprinkled dew.
quare age huc aditum ferens perge linquere Thespiae rupis Aonios specus, nympha quos super irrigat frigerans Aganippe, 30	So come then! convey your approach here, leaving the Aonian cave in cliffs of Thespiae, over which flows the chilling stream of Aganippe
ac domum dominam voca coniugis cupidam novi, mentem amore revinciens ut tenax hedera huc et huc arborem implicat errans. 35	And summon homewards the mistress, eager for her new husband, firm-prisoning her soul in love; as tight-clasping ivy, wandering here and there, wraps the tree around.
vosque item simul, integrae virgines, quibus advenit par dies, agite in modum dicite, “o Hymenaee Hymen, o Hymen Hymenaee.” 40	And also you, upright virgins, for whom a like day is nearing, chant in cadence, singing “O Hymenaeus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenaeus!”
ut libentius, audiens se citarier ad suum munus, huc aditum ferat dux bonae Veneris, boni coniugator amoris. 45	That more freely, hearing himself to his duty called, will he bear here his presence, Lord of honorable love, uniter of true lovers.
quis deus magis anxiis est petendus amantibus? quem colent homines magis caelitum? o Hymenaee Hymen, o Hymen Hymenaee. 50	What god is worthier to be sought by anxious lovers? Whom of the celestials do men worship more greatly? O Hymenaeus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
te suis tremulus parens invocat, tibi virgines zonula solvunt sinus, te timens cupida novus captat aure maritus. 55	You for his young the trembling father beseeches, for you virgins unclasp the belt from their breasts, for you the fearful bridegroom harkens with eager ear.
tu fero iuveni in manus floridam ipse puellulam dedis a gremio suae matris, o Hymenaee Hymen, o Hymen Hymenaee. 60	You deliver into the hands of the untamed youth that flower-like maiden, taken from her mother's bosom, O Hymenaeus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
nil potest sine te Venus fama quod bona comprobet commodi capere: at potest te volente. quis huic deo compararier ausit? 65	Without you Venus can do nothing suitable that good repute sanctions; but she can, with you willing. Who dares to be compared with such a god?
nulla quit sine te domus liberos dare, nec parens stirpe nitier: at potest te volente. quis huic deo compararier ausit? 70	Without you, no house can produce heirs, no parent be surrounded by offspring; but they can, with you willing. Who dares to be compared with such a god?
quae tuis careat sacris non queat dare praesides terra finibus: at queat te volente. quis huic deo compararier ausit? 75	And lacking your rites no land can give protection to its territory; but it can, with you willing. Who dares to be compared with such a god?
claustra pandite ianuae, virgo adest. viden ut faces splendidas quatiunt comas? [* missing line] [* missing line] 80	Unbolt, open the gates: the virgin is here. See how the torches shake their gleaming locks? ...
[* missing line] [* missing line] tardet ingenuus pudor: quem tamen magis audiens flet quod ire necesse est. 85	... Her natural modesty detains her: hearing this the more, she weeps because she must go.
flere desine. Non tibi, Au- runculeia, periculum est ne qua femina pulchrior clarum ab Oceano diem viderit venientem. 90	Cease your tears. For you there is no peril, Aurunculeia, that any woman more beauteous will ever see the light of day coming from Ocean.
talis in vario solet divitis domini hortulo stare flos hyacinthinus. sed moraris, abit dies: prodeas, nova nupta. 95	You are like the hyacinth flower, which stands aloft amid varied riches of its master's garden. But you delay, day slips by: advance, new bride.
prodeas, nova nupta, si iam videtur, et audias nostra verba. vide ut faces aureas quatiunt comas: prodeas, nova nupta. 100	Advance, new bride, it now seems right, and listen to our speech. See how the torches shake their glittering tresses: advance, new bride.
non tuus levis in mala deditus vir adultera probra turpia persequens a tuis teneris volet secubare papillis, 105	Nor is your man a fickle husband, given to ill adulteries, seeking shameless acts, ever wishing to lie away from your soft breasts
lenta quin velut adsitas vitis implicat arbores, implicabitur in tuum complexum. Sed abit dies: prodeas, nova nupta. 110	But as the lithe vine among neighbouring trees doth cling, so shall he be enclasped in your embrace. But day slips by: advance, new bride.
o cubile quod omnibus [* missing line] [* missing line] [*** missing line] candido pede lecti, 115	O nuptial couch which for all ... with feet of ivory white.
quae tuo veniunt ero, quanta gaudia, quac vaga nocte, quae medio die gaudeat! sed abit dies: Prodeas, nova nupta. 120	What joys are coming to your man in fleeting night, in noon of day, let him rejoice! but day slips by: advance, new bride.
tollite, o pueri, faces: flammeum video venire. ite, concinite in modum “o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee.” 125	Raise high, O boys, the torches: I see the gleaming veil approach. Come, chant in cadence, “O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus.”
ne diu taceat procax fescennina iocatio, nec nuces pueris neget desertum domini audiens concubinus amorem. 130	Nor longer silent is lewd Fescinnine jest, nor, favorite, hearing your master's love has flown, deny the nuts to the boys.
da nuces pueris, iners concubine: satis diu lusisti nucibus: libet iam servire Talasio. concubine, nuces da. 135	Give nuts to the boys, O listless favorite; long enough have you played nuts: now you must serve Talassius. O favorite, give the nuts!
sordebant tibi vilicae, concubine, hodie atque heri: nunc tuum cinerarius tondet os. miser ah miser concubine, nuces da. 140	The country wives were dirt to you, O favorite, but yesterday: now the barber shaves your face. Wretched, wretched favorite, give the nuts.
diceris male te a tuis unguentate glabris marite abstinere: sed abstine. o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 145	They will say when the bridegroom has been anointed that you can scarce abstain from your hairless boys: but abstain! O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus.
scimus haec tibi quae licent sola cognita: sed marito ista non eadem licent. o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 150	We know that these delights were known to you only when lawful: but to the wedded these same no more are lawful. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
nupta, tu quoque quae tuus vir petet cave ne neges, ne petitum aliunde eat. o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 155	You also, bride, what your husband seeks beware of denying, lest he go elsewhere in its search. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
en tibi domus ut potens et beata viri tui: quae tibi sine serviat (o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee). 160	Look, your husband's home is yours, influential and goodly, allow it to serve you (O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!)
usque dum tremulum movens cana tempus anilitas omnia omnibus adnuit. o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 165	Until white-haired old age, shaking your trembling brow, nods assent to everything. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
transfer omine cum bono limen aureolos pedes, rasilemque subi forem. o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 170	Bring with good omen your golden feet across the threshold, and go through the polished doorway. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
adspice unus ut accubans vir tuus Tyrio in toro totus immineat tibi. o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 175	Look! your husband alone within, lying on Tyrian couch, all-expectant waits for you. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
illi non minus ac tibi pectore uritur intimo flamma, sed penite magis o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 180	No less than in yours, in his breast burns an inmost flame, but more deeply inward. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
mitte bracchiolum teres, praetextate, puellulae: iam cubile adeat viri. o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 185	Release the maiden's slender arm, boy with crimson-bordered toga: now let her approach her husband's couch. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus.
o bonae senibus viris cognitae bene feminae, conlocate puellulam. o Hymen Hymenaee io, o Hymen Hymenaee. 190	You good women of fair renown to aged spouses, put the maiden to bed. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus.
iam licet venias, marite: uxor in thalamo tibi est ore floridulo nitens alba parthenice velut luteumve papaver. 195	Now you may come, bridegroom: your wife is in the bedroom, with face brightly blushing as white parthenice amid ruddy poppies.
at, marite, (ita me iuvent caelites) nihilo minus pulcher es, neque te Venus neglegit. sed abit dies: perge, ne remorare. 200	But, bridegroom (so help me the heaven-dwellers) in no way less beautiful are you, nor does Venus slight you. But the day slips by: on! do not delay.
non diu remoratus es, iam venis. bona te Venus iuverit, quoniam palam quod cupis cupis et bonum non abscondis amorem. 205	You have not delayed for long, now you are coming. Kindly Venus will help you, since what you desire you take publicly, and do not conceal true love.
ille pulveris Africi siderumque micantium subducat numerum prius, qui vestri numerare vult multa milia ludi. 210	Whoever wishes to keep count of your many thousand games, first let him make an accounting of the number of Africa's sands and the glittering stars.
ludite ut libet, et brevi liberos date. non decet tam vetus sine liberis nomen esse, sed indidem semper ingenerari. 215	Play as you like, and speedily give heirs. It does not become so old a name to without children, but from similar stock always to be generated.
Torquatus volo parvulus matris e gremio suae porrigens teneras manus dulce rideat ad patrem semihiante labello. 220	A little Torquatus I wish, from his mother's lap reaching out his dainty hands, and smiling sweetly at his father with lips apart.
sit suo similis patri Manlio et facile insciis noscitetur ab omnibus et pudicitiam suae matris indicet ore. 225	May he be like his father Manlius, and easily acknowledged by every stranger, and by his face point out his mother's faithfulness.
talis illius a bona matre laus genus adprobet qualis unica ab optima matre Telemacho manet fama Penelopeo. 230	May such praise confirm his birth from true mother, such fame as rests only with Telemachus from best of mothers, Penelope.
claudite ostia, virgines: lusimus satis. at, boni coniuges, bene vivite et munere adsiduo valentem exercete iuventam. 235	Close the doors, virgins: enough we've played. But, fair bride and groom, live you well, and diligently fulfil the office of vigorous youth.