---
title: "Poems · Carmina"
author: "Catullus"
translator: "Sir Richard Francis Burton"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 2 of 4
url: https://scriptura.si/works/catullus-poems/2/
cite: "Catullus, tr. Sir Richard Francis Burton, Poems · Carmina, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/catullus-poems/2/"
---

# Poems · Carmina

*Catullus, tr. Sir Richard Francis Burton*

Lesbia, the sparrow, a thousand kisses, a brother’s grave: the poems of Catullus in Latin beside English.

> Latin: ed. Elmer Truesdell Merrill, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0472.phi001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Sir Richard Francis Burton, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0472.phi001.perseus-eng3). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 2. Poems 42–64

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/catullus-poems/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/catullus-poems/2/#p-N

[¶0] Come, Hendecasyllabics, many as may
All hither, every one that of you be!
That fulsome harlot makes me laughing-stock
And she refuses at our prayer restore
Our stolen Note-books, an such slights ye bear.
Let us pursue her clamouring our demands.
“Who’s she?” ye question: yonder one ye sight
Mincingly pacing mime-like, perfect pest,
With jaws wide grinning like a Gallic pup.
Stand all round her dunning with demands,
“Return (O rotten whore!) our noting books.”
“Our noting books (O rotten whore!) return!”
No doit thou car’st? O Mire! O Stuff O’ stews!
Or if aught fouler filthier dirt there be.
Yet must we never think these words suffice.
But if naught else avail, at least a blush
Forth of that bitch-like brazen brow we’ll squeeze.
Cry all together in a higher key
“Restore (O rotten whore!) our noting books,”
“Our noting books (O rotten whore!) restore!”
Still naught avails us, nothing is she moved.
Now must our measures and our modes be changed
An we would anywise our cause advance.
“Restore (chaste, honest Maid!) our noting books!”

> Latin: Adeste, hendecasyllabi, quot estis
omnes undique, quotquot estis omnes.
iocum me putat esse moecha turpis
et negat mihi vestra reddituram
pugillaria, si pati potestis.
persequamur eam, et reflagitemus.
quae sit quaeritis? illa quam videtis
turpe incedere, mimice ac moleste
ridentem catuli ore Gallicani.
circumsistite eam, et reflagitate:
“moecha putida, redde codicillos,”
“redde, putida moecha, codicillos.”
non assis facis? o lutum, lupanar,
aut si perditius potes quid esse.
sed non est tamen hoc satis putandum.
quod si non aliud potest, ruborem
ferreo canis exprimamus ore.
conclamate iterum altiore voce
“moecha putida, redde codicillos,”
“redde, putida moecha, codicillos.”
sed nil proficimus, nihil movetur.
mutanda est ratio modusque nobis,
si quid proficere amplius potestis,
“pudica et proba, redde codicillos.”

[¶1] Hail, girl who neither nose of minim size
Owns, nor a pretty foot, nor jetty eyes,
Nor thin long fingers, nor mouth dry of slaver
Nor yet too graceful tongue of pleasant flavour,
Leman to Formian that rake-a-hell.
What, can the Province boast of thee as belle?
Thee with my Lesbia durst it make compare?
O Age insipid, of all humour bare!

> Latin: Salve, nec minimo puella naso
nec bello pede nec nigris ocellis
nec longis digitis nec ore sicco
nec sane nimis elegante lingua,
decoctoris amica Formiani.
ten provincia narrat esse bellam?
tecum Lesbia nostra comparatur?
o saeclum insapiens et infacetum!

[¶2] O Farm our own, Sabine or Tiburtine,
(For style thee “Tiburs” Who have not at heart
To hurt Catullus, whereas all that have
Wage any Wager thou be Sabine classed)
But whether Sabine or of Tiburs truer
To thy suburban Cottage fared I fain
And fro’ my bronchials drave that cursèd cough
Which not unmerited on me my maw,
A-seeking sumptuous banquetings, bestowed.
For I requesting to be Sestius’ guest
Read against claimant Antius a speech,
Full-filled with poisonous pestilential trash.
Hence a grave frigid rheum and frequent cough
Shook me till fled I to thy bosom, where
Repose and nettle-broth healed all my ills.
Wherefore recruited now best thanks I give
To thee for nowise punishing my sins:
Nor do I now object if noisome writs
Of Sestius hear I, but that cold and cough
And rheum may plague, not me, but Sestius’ self
Who asks me only his ill writs to read.

> Latin: O funde noster seu Sabine seu Tiburs
(nam te esse Tiburtem autumant quibus non est
cordi Catullum laedere: at quibus cordi est
quovis Sabinum pignore esse contendunt),
sed seu Sabine sive verius Tiburs,
fui libenter in tua suburbana
villa malamque pectore expuli tussim,
non immerenti quam mihi meus venter,
dum sumptuosas adpeto, dedit, cenas.
nam, Sestianus dum volo esse conviva,
orationem in Antium petitorem
plenam veneni et pestilentiae legi.
hic me gravido frigida et frequens tussis
quassavit usque dum in tuum sinum fugi
et me recuravi otioque et urtica.
quare refectus maximas tibi grates
ago, meum quod non es ulta peccatum.
nec deprecor iam, si nefaria scripta
Sesti recepso, quin gravedinem et tussim
non mi, sed ipsi Sestio ferat frigus,
qui tunc vocat me cum malum librum legi.

[¶3] To Acmé quoth Septumius who his fere
Held on his bosom—“Acmé, mine! next year,”
“Unless I love thee fondlier than before,”
“And with each twelve month love thee more and more,”
“As much as lover’s life can slay with yearning,”
“Alone in Lybia, or Hind’s clime a-burning,”
“Be mine to encounter Lion grisly-eyed!”
While he was speaking Love on leftward side
(As wont) approving sneeze from dextral sped.
But Acmé backwards gently bending head,
And the love-drunken eyes of her sweet boy
Kissing with yonder rosy mouth, “My joy,”
She murmured, “my life-love Septumillus mine!”
“Unto one master’s hest let’s aye incline,”
“As burns with fuller and with fiercer fire”
“In my soft marrow set, this love-desire!”
While she was speaking, Love from leftward side
(As wont) with sneeze approving rightwards hied.
Now with boon omens wafted on their way,
In mutual fondness, love and loved are they.
Love-sick Septumius holds one Acmé’s love,
Of Syrias or either Britains high above,
Acmé to one Septumius full of faith
Her love and love-liesse surrendereth.
Who e’er saw mortals happier than these two?
Who e’er a better omened Venus knew?

> Latin: Acmen Septimius suos amores
tenens in gremio “mea,” inquit, “Acme,”
“ni te perdite amo atque amare porro”
“omnes sum adsidue paratus annos”
“quantum qui pote plurimum perire,”
“solus in Libya Indiaque tosta”
“caesio veniam obvius leoni.”
hoc ut dixit, Amor, sinistra ut ante,
dextra sternuit adprobationem.
at Acme leviter caput reflectens
et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos
illo purpureo ore saviata
“sic,” inquit, “mea vita, Septimille,”
“huic uni domino usque serviamus,”
“ut multo mihi maior acriorque”
“ignis mollibus ardet in medullis.”
hoc ut dixit, Arnor, sinistra ut ante,
dextra sternuit adprobationem.
nunc ab auspicio bono profecti
mutuis animis amant amantur.
unam Septimius misellus Acmen
mavult quam Syrias Britanniasque:
uno in Septimio fidelis Acme
facit delicias libidinesque.
quis ullos homines beatiores
vidit, quis Venerem auspicatiorem?

[¶4] Now Spring his cooly mildness brings us back,
Now th’ equinoctial heaven’s rage and wrack
Hushes at hest of Zephyr’s bonny breeze.
Far left (Catullus!) be the Phrygian leas
And summery Nicaea’s fertile downs:
Fly we to Asia’s fame-illumined towns.
Now lust my fluttering thoughts for wayfare long,
Now my glad eager feet grow steady, strong.
O fare ye well, my comrades, pleasant throng,
Ye who together far from homesteads flying,
By many various ways come homewards hieing.

> Latin: Iam ver egelidos refert tepores,
iam caeli furor aequinoctialis
iucundis Zephyri silescit auris.
linquantur Phrygii, Catulle, campi
Nicaeaeque ager uber aestuosae:
ad claras Asiae volemus urbes.
iam mens praetrepidans avet vagari,
iam laeti studio pedes vigescunt.
o dulces comitum valete coetus,
longe quos simul a domo profectos
diversae variae viae reportant.

[¶5] Porcius and Socration, pair sinister
Of Piso, scabs and starvelings of the world,
You to Fabúllus and my Verianiólus,
Hath dared yon snipt Priapus to prefer?
Upon rich banquets sumptuously spread
Still gorge you daily while my comrades must
Go seek invitals where the three roads fork?

> Latin: Porci et Socration, duae sinistrae
Pisonis, scabies famesque mundi,
vos Veraniolo meo et Fabullo
verpus praeposuit Priapus ille?
vos convivia lauta sumptuose
de die facitis? mei sodales
quaerunt in trivio vocationes?

[¶6] Those honied eyes of thine (Juventius!)
If any suffer me sans stint to buss,
I’d kiss of kisses hundred thousands three,
Nor ever deem I’d reach satiety,
Not albe denser than dried wheat-ears show
The kissing harvests our embraces grow.

> Latin: Mellitos oculos tuos, Iuventi,
siquis me sinat usque basiare,
usque ad milia basiem trecenta,
nec unquam videar satur futurus,
non si densior aridis aristis
sit nostrae seges osculationis.

[¶7] Most eloquent ’mid race of Romulus>
That is or ever was (Marc Tullius!)
Or in the coming years the light shall see,
His thanks, the warmest, offers unto thee
Catullus, poet sorriest that be,
And by such measure poet sorriest,
As thou of pleaders art the bestest best.

> Latin: Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta,
tanto pessimus omnium poeta
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

[¶8] Idly (Licinius!) we our yesterday,
Played with my tablets much as pleased us play,
In mode becoming souls of dainty strain.
Inditing verses either of us twain
Now in one measure then in other line
We rang the changes amid wit and wine.
Then fared I homewards by thy fun so fired
And by thy jests (Licinius!) so inspired,
Nor food my hapless appetite availed
Nor sleep in quiet rest my eyelids veiled,
But o’er the bedstead wild in furious plight
I tossed a-longing to behold the light,
So I might talk wi’ thee, and be wi’ thee.
But when these wearied limbs from labour free
Were on my couchlet strewn half-dead to lie,
For thee (sweet wag!) this poem for thee wrote I,
Whereby thou mete and weet my cark and care.
Now be not over-bold, nor this our prayer
Outspit thou (apple of mine eyes!): we pray
Lest doom thee Nemesis hard pain repay:—
She’s a dire Goddess,’ware thou cross her way.

> Latin: Hesterno, Licini, die otiosi
multum lusimus in meis tabellis,
ut convenerat esse delicatos.
scribens versiculos uterque nostrum
ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc,
reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum.
atque illinc abii tuo lepore
incensus, Licini, facetiisque,
ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret,
nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos,
sed toto indomitus furore lecto
versarer cupiens videre lucem,
ut tecum loquerer simulque ut essem.
at defessa labore membra postquam
semimortua lectulo iacebant,
hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci,
ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem.
nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras,
oramus, cave despuas, ocelle,
ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te.
est vehemens dea: laedere hanc caveto.

[¶9] Peer of a God meseemeth he,
Nay passing Gods (and that can be!)
Who all the while sits facing thee
Sees thee and hears
Thy low sweet laughs which (ah me!) daze
Mine every sense, and as I gaze
Upon thee (Lesbia!) o’er me strays
…
My tongue is dulled, my limbs adown
Flows subtle flame; with sound its own
Rings either ear, and o’er are strown
Mine eyes with night.
Ease has thy lot, Catullus, crost,
Ease gladdens thee at heaviest cost,
Ease killed the Kings ere this and lost
the tallest towns.

> Latin: Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, adspexi, nihil est super mi
…
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures, gemina teguntur
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis.
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes.

[¶10] What is’t, Catullus? Why delay to out die?
That Wen hight Nonius sits in curule chair,
For Consulship Vatinius false doth swear;
What is’t, Catullus? Why delay to out die?

> Latin: Quid est, Catulle? quid moraris emori?
sella in curuli struma Nonius sedet,
per consulatum perierat Vatinius:
quid est, Catulle? quid moraris emori?

[¶11] I laughed at one ’mid Forum-crowd unknown
Who, when Vatinius’ crimes in wondrous way
Had by my Calvus been explained, exposed,
His hand upraising high admiring cried
“Great Gods! the loquent little Doodle-diddle!”

> Latin: Risi nescio quem modo e corona,
qui, cum mirifice Vatiniana
meus crimina Calvus explicasset,
admirans ait haec manusque tollens
“di magni, salaputium disertum!”

[¶12] The head of Otho, puniest of pates
…
The rustic half-washt shanks of Nerius
And Libo’s subtle silent fizzling-farts.
…
I wish that leastwise these should breed disgust
In thee and old Fuficius, rogue twice-cookt.
Again at these mine innocent iamb-lines
Wi’ wrath be wrothest; unique Emperor!

> Latin: Othonis caput oppido est pusillum,
…
et eri rustica semilauta crura,
subtile et leve peditum Libonis,
…
si non omnia, displicere vellem
tibi et Fuficio, seni recocto
…
irascere iterum meis iambis
immerentibus, unice imperator.

[¶13] We pray, an’ haply irk it not when prayed,
Show us where shadowed hidest thou in shade!
Thee throughout Campus Minor sought we all,
Thee in the Circus, thee in each bookstall,
Thee in Almighty Jove’s fane consecrate.
Nor less in promenade titled from The Great
(Friend!) I accosted each and every quean,
But mostly madams showing mien serene,
For thee I pestered all with many pleas—
“Give me Camérius, wanton baggages!”
Till answered certain one a-baring breasts
“Lo,’twixt these rosy paps he haply rests!”
But now to find thee were Herculean feat.
Not if I feigned me that guard of Crete,
Not if with Pegasèan wing I sped,
Or Ladas I or Perseus plumiped,
Or Rhesus borne in swifty car snow-white:
Add the twain foot-bewing’d and fast of flight,
And of the cursive’ winds require the blow:
All these (Camérius!) couldst on me bestow.
Tho’ were I wearied to each marrow bone
And by many o’ languors clean forgone
Yet I to seek thee (friend!) would still assay.
In such proud lodging (friend) wouldst self denay?
Tell us where haply dwell’st thou, speak outright,
Be bold and risk it, trusting truth to light,
Say do these milk-white girls thy Steps detain?
If aye in tight-sealed lips thy tongue remain,
All Amor’s fruitage thou shalt cast away:
Verbose is Venus, loving verbal play!
But, an it please thee, padlockt palate bear,
So in your friendship I have partner-share.

> Latin: Oramus, si forte non molestum est,
demonstres ubi sint tuae tenebrae.
te campo quaesivimus minore,
te in circo, te in omnibus libellis,
te in templo summi Iovis sacrato.
in Magni simul ambulatione
femellas omnes, amice, prendi,
quas vultu vidi tamen serenas.
† A velte sic ipse flagitabam:
“camerium mihi, pessimae puellae!”
quaedam inquit nudum † reduc †
“en hic in roseis latet papillis.”
sed te iam ferre Herculi labos est:
Non custos si fingar ille Cretum,
non si Pegaseo ferar volatu,
non Ladas ego pinnipesve Perseus,
non Rhesi niveae citaeque bigae:
adde huc plumipedes volatilesque,
ventorumque simul require cursum,
quos vinctos, Cameri, mihi dicares:
defessus tamen omnibus medullis
et multis langoribus peresus
essem te mihi, amice, quaeritando.
tanto ten fastu negas, amice?
dic nobis ubi sis futurus, ede
audacter, committe, crede luci.
nunc te lacteolae tenent puellae?
si linguam clauso tenes in ore,
fructus proicies amoris omnes:
verbosa gaudet Venus loquella.
vel vi vis, licet obseres palatum,
dum veri sis particeps amoris.

[¶14] Right well are paired these Cinaedes sans shame
Mamurra and Caesar, both of pathic fame.
No wonder! Both are fouled with foulest blight,
One urban being, Formian t’other wight,
And deeply printed with indelible stain:
Morbose is either, and the twin-like twain
Share single Couchlet; peers in shallow lore,
Nor this nor that for lechery hungers more,
As rival wenchers who the maidens claim
Right well are paired these Cinaedes sans shame.

> Latin: O rem ridiculam, Cato, et iocosam
dignamque auribus et tuo cachinno.
ride, quidquid amas, Cato, Catullum:
res est ridicula et nimis iocosa.
deprendi modo pupulum puellae
trusantem: hunc ego, si placet Dionae,
pro telo rigida mea cecidi.
Pulchre convenit improbis cinaedis,
Mamurrae pathicoque Caesarique.
nec mirum: maculae pares utrisque,
urbana altera et illa Formiana,
impressae resident nec eluentur:
morbosi pariter gemelli utrique,
uno in lecticulo erudituli ambo,
non hic quam ille magis vorax adulter,
rivales socii puellularum:
pulchre convenit improbis cinaedis.

[¶15] Caelius! That Lesbia of ours, that Lesbia,
That only Lesbia by Catullus loved,
Than self, far fondlier, than all his friends,
She now Where four roads fork, and wind the wynds
Husks the high-minded scions Remus-sprung.

> Latin: Caeli, Lesbia nostra, Lesbia illa,
illa Lesbia, quam Catullus unam
plus quam se atque suos amavit omnes,
nunc in quadriviis et angiportis
glubit magnanimi Remi nepotes.

[¶16] Rufa the Bolognese drains Rufule dry,
(Wife to Menenius) she ’mid tombs you’ll spy,
The same a-snatching supper from the pyre
Following the bread-loaves rolling forth the fire
Till frapped by half-shaved body-burner’s ire.

> Latin: Bononiensis Rufa Rufulum fellat,
uxor Meneni, saepe quam in sepulcretis
vidistis ipso rapere de rogo cenam,
cum devolutum ex igne prosequens panem
ab semiraso tunderetur ustore.

[¶17] Bare thee some lioness wild in Lybian wold?
Or Scylla barking from low’st inguinal fold?
With so black spirit, of so dure a mould,
E’en voice of suppliant must thou disregard
In latest circumstance ah, heart o’er hard?

> Latin: Num te leaena montibus Libystinis
aut Scylla latrans infima inguinum parte
tam mente dura procreavit ac taetra,
ut supplicis vocem in novissimo casu
contemptam haberes, ah nimis fero corde?

[¶18] Of Helicon-hill, O Thou that be
Haunter, Urania’s progeny,
Who hurriest soft virginity
To man, O Hymenaeus Hymen,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
About thy temples bind the bloom,
Of Marjoram flow’ret scented sweet;
Take flamey veil: glad hither come
Come hither borne by snow-hue’d feet
Wearing the saffron’d sock.
And, roused by day of joyful cheer,
Carolling nuptial lays and chaunts
With voice as silver ringing clear,
Beat ground with feet, while brandisht flaunts
Thy hand the piney torch.
For Vinia comes by Manlius woo’d,
As Venus on th’ Idalian crest,
Before the Phrygian judge she stood
And now with blessed omens blest,
The maid is here to wed.
A maiden shining bright of blee,
As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred,
Which Hamadryad deity
As toy for joyance aye befed
With humour of the dew.
Then hither come thou, hieing lief,
Awhile to leave th’ Aonian cave,
Where ’neath the rocky Thespian cliff
Nymph Aganippe loves to lave
In cooly waves outpoured.
And call the house-bride, homewards bring
Maid yearning for new married fere,
Her mind with fondness manacling,
As the tough ivy here and there
Errant the tree enwinds.
And likewise ye, clean virginal
Maidens, to whom shall haps befall
Like day, in measure join ye all
Singing, O Hymenaeus Hymen,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
That with more will-full will a-hearing
The call to office due, he would
Turn footsteps hither, here appearing,
Guide to good Venus, and the good
Lover conjoining strait.
What God than other Godheads more
Must love-sick wights for aid implore?
Whose Godhead foremost shall adore
Mankind? O Hymenaeus Hymen,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Thee for his own the trembling sire
Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue
Who laps of zone to loose aspire,
And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo
With ears that long to hear.
Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain
Deliverest maiden fair and fain,
From mother’s fondling bosom ta’en
Perforce, O Hymenaeus Hymen
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Thou lacking, Venus ne’er avails—
While Fame approves for honesty—
Love-joys to lavish: ne’er she fails
Thou willing:—with such Deity
Whoe’er shall dare compare?
Thou wanting, never son and heir
The Hearth can bear, nor parents be
By issue girt, yet can it bear,
Thou willing:—with such Deity,
Whoe’er shall dare compare?
An lack a land thy sacring rite,
The perfect rule we ne’er shall see
Reach Earth’s far bourne; yet such we sight,
Thou willing:—with such Deity
Whoe’er shall dare compare?
Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing!
The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen
Of links their splendent tresses fling?
Let shame retard the modest mien.
…
…
…
…
Who more she hears us weeps the more,
That needs she must advance.
Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee,
Aurunculeia, risk we deem,
That fairer femininety
Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream
Shall ever more behold.
Such in the many-tinted bower
Of rich man’s garden passing gay
Upstands the hyacinthine flower.
But thou delayest, wanes the day:
“Prithee, come forth new Bride.”
Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks,
Drawing in sight, the talk we hold
Thou haply hearest. See the Links!
How shake their locks begilt with gold:
Prithee, new Bride come forth.
Not lightly given thy mate to ill
Joys and adulterous delights
Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still
Shall ever choose he lie o’ nights
Far from thy tender paps.
But as with pliant shoots the vine
Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way,
He shall be ever twined in thine
Embraces:— yet, lo! wanes the day:
Prithee, come forth new Bride!
Couchlet which to me and all
…
…
…
With bright white bedstead foot.
What joys the lord of thee betide!
What love-liesse on vaguing way
O’ nights! What sweets in morning tide
For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:
Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
Your lighted links, O boys, wave high:
I see the flamey veil draw nigh:
Hie, sing in merry mode and cry
“O Hymen Hymenaeus io,”
“O Hymen Hymenaeus!”
Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys
In festal jest, from Fescennine,
Nor yet denay their nuts to boys,
He-Concubine! who learns in fine
His lordling’s love is fled.
Throw nuts to boys thou idle all
He-Concubine! wast fain full long
With nuts to play: now pleased as thrall
Be thou to swell Talasios’ throng:
He-Concubine throw nuts.
Wont thou at peasant-girls to jape
He-whore! Thy Lord’s delight the while:
Now shall hair-curling chattel scrape
Thy cheeks: poor wretch, ah! poor and vile:—
He-Concubine, throw nuts.’Tis said from smooth-faced ingle train
(Anointed bridegroom!) hardly fain
Hast e’er refrained; now do refrain!
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus!
We know that naught save licit rites
Be known to thee, but wedded wights
No more deem lawful such delights.
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Thou too, O Bride, whatever dare
Thy groom, of coy rebuff beware,
Lest he to find elsewhither fare.
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Lo! here the house of high degree
Thy husband’s puissant home to be,
Which ever shall obey thy gree.
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Till Time betide when eld the hoar
Thy head and temples trembling o’er
Make nod to all things evermore.
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
O’erstep with omen meetest meet
The threshold-stone thy golden feet
Up, past the polisht panels fleet.
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymerneus.
Within bestrewn thy bridegroom see
On couch of Tyrian cramoisy
All imminent awaiting thee.
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
For in his breast not less than thine
Burn high the flames that deepest shrine,
Yet his the lowe far deeper lien.
O Hymen Hymemeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Let fall the maid’s soft arms, thou fair
Boy purple-hem’d: now be thy care
Her bridegroom’s couch she seek and share.
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Ye wives time-tried to husbands wed,
Well-known for chastity inbred,
Dispose the virginette a-bed.
O Hymen Hymenaeus io,
O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Groom, now ’tis meet thou hither pace,
With bride in genial bed to blend,
For sheenly shines her flowery face
Where the white chamomiles contend
With poppies blushing red.
Yet bridegroom (So may Godhead deign
Help me!) nowise in humbler way
Art fair, nor Venus shall disdain
Thy charms, but look! how wanes the day:
Forward, nor loiter more!
No longer loitering makest thou,
Now comest thou. May Venus good
Aid thee when frankly takest thou
Thy wishes won, nor true Love woo’d
Thou carest to conceal.
Of Afric’s wolds and wilds each grain,
Or constellations glistening,
First reckon he that of the twain
To count alone were fain to bring
The many thousand joys.
Play as ye please: soon prove ye deft
At babying babes,—’twere ill design’d
A name thus ancient should be left
Heirless, but issue like of kind
Engendered aye should be.
A wee Torquaitus fain I’d see
Encradled on his mother’s breast
Put forth his tender puds while he
Smiles to his sire with sweetest gest
And liplets half apart.
Let son like father’s semblance show
(Manlius!) so with easy guess
All know him where his sire they know,
And still his face and form express
His mother’s honest love.
Approve shall fair approof his birth
From mother’s seed-stock generous,
As rarest fame of mother’s worth
Unique exalts Telemachus
Penelope’s own son.
Fast close the door-leaves, virgin band:
Enow we’ve played. But ye the fair
New-wedded twain live happy, and
Functions of lusty married pair
Exercise sans surcease.

> Latin: Collis o Heliconii
cultor, Uraniae genus,
qui rapis teneram ad virum
virginem, o Hymenaee Hymen,
o Hymen Hymenaee,
cinge tempora floribus
suave olentis amaraci,
flammeum cape, laetus huc,
huc veni niveo gerens
luteum pede soccum,
excitusque hilari die
nuptialia concinens
voce carmina tinnula
pelle humum pedibus, manu
pineam quate taedam.
namque Vinia Manilo,
qualis Idalium colens
venit ad Phrygium Venus
iudicem, bona cum bona
nubet alite virgo,
floridis velut enitens
myrtus Asia ramulis,
quos hamadryades deae
ludicrum sibi rosido
nutriunt umore.
quare age huc aditum ferens
perge linquere Thespiae
rupis Aonios specus,
nympha quos super irrigat
frigerans Aganippe,
ac domum dominam voca
coniugis cupidam novi,
mentem amore revinciens
ut tenax hedera huc et huc
arborem implicat errans.
vosque item simul, integrae
virgines, quibus advenit
par dies, agite in modum
dicite, “o Hymenaee Hymen,”
“o Hymen Hymenaee.”
ut libentius, audiens
se citarier ad suum
munus, huc aditum ferat
dux bonae Veneris, boni
coniugator amoris.
quis deus magis anxiis
est petendus amantibus?
quem colent homines magis
caelitum? o Hymenaee Hymen,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
te suis tremulus parens
invocat, tibi virgines
zonula solvunt sinus,
te timens cupida novus
captat aure maritus.
tu fero iuveni in manus
floridam ipse puellulam
dedis a gremio suae
matris, o Hymenaee Hymen,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
nil potest sine te Venus
fama quod bona comprobet
commodi capere: at potest
te volente.quis huic deo
compararier ausit?
nulla quit sine te domus
liberos dare, nec parens
stirpe nitier: at potest
te volente.quis huic deo
compararier ausit?
quae tuis careat sacris
non queat dare praesides
terra finibus: at queat
te volente.quis huic deo
compararier ausit?
claustra pandite ianuae,
virgo adest. viden ut faces
splendidas quatiunt comas?
…
…
…
…
tardet ingenuus pudor:
quem tamen magis audiens
flet quod ire necesse est.
flere desine. Non tibi, Au-
runculeia, periculum est
ne qua femina pulchrior
clarum ab Oceano diem
viderit 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.vide ut 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 quin velut adsitas
vitis implicat arbores,
implicabitur in tuum
complexum.Sed abit dies:
prodeas, nova nupta.
o cubile quod omnibus
…
…
…
candido pede lecti,
quae tuo veniunt ero,
quanta gaudia, quac vaga
nocte, quae medio die
gaudeat! sed abit dies:
Prodeas, nova nupta.
tollite, o pueri, faces:
flammeum video venire.
ite, concinite in modum
“o Hymen Hymenaee io,”
“o 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: libet
iam servire Talasio.
concubine, nuces da.
sordebant tibi vilicae,
concubine, hodie atque heri:
nunc tuum cinerarius
tondet os. miser ah miser
concubine, nuces da.
diceris male te a tuis
unguentate glabris marite
abstinere: sed abstine.
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
scimus haec tibi quae licent
sola cognita: sed marito
ista non eadem licent.
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
nupta, tu quoque quae tuus
vir petet cave ne neges,
ne petitum aliunde eat.
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
en tibi domus ut potens
et beata viri tui:
quae tibi sine serviat
(o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee).
usque dum tremulum movens
cana tempus anilitas
omnia omnibus adnuit.
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
transfer omine cum bono
limen aureolos pedes,
rasilemque subi forem.
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
adspice unus ut accubans
vir tuus Tyrio in toro
totus immineat tibi.
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
illi non minus ac tibi
pectore uritur intimo
flamma, sed penite magis
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
mitte bracchiolum teres,
praetextate, puellulae:
iam cubile adeat viri.
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
o bonae senibus viris
cognitae bene feminae,
conlocate puellulam.
o Hymen Hymenaee io,
o Hymen Hymenaee.
iam licet venias, marite:
uxor in thalamo tibi est
ore floridulo nitens
alba parthenice velut
luteumve papaver.
at, marite, (ita me iuvent
caelites) nihilo minus
pulcher es, neque te Venus
neglegit. sed abit dies:
perge, ne remorare.
non diu remoratus es,
iam venis. bona te Venus
iuverit, quoniam palam
quod cupis cupis et bonum
non abscondis amorem.
ille pulveris Africi
siderumque micantium
subducat numerum prius,
qui vestri numerare vult
multa milia ludi.
ludite ut libet, et brevi
liberos date. non decet
tam vetus sine liberis
nomen esse, sed indidem
semper ingenerari.
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 adprobet
qualis unica ab optima
matre Telemacho manet
fama Penelopeo.
claudite ostia, virgines:
lusimus satis. at, boni
coniuges, bene vivite et
munere adsiduo valentem
exercete iuventam.

[¶19] Youths:
Vesper is here, O youths, rise all; for Vesper Olympus
Scales and in fine enfires what lights so long were expected!
Time ’tis now to arise, now leave we tables rich laden,
Now shall the Virgin come; now chaunt we the Hymenaeus.
Hymen O Hymenaeus: Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Damsels:
View ye the Youths, O Maids unwed? Then rise to withstand them:
Doubtless the night-fraught Star displays his splendour Oetean.
Sooth ’tis so; d’ye sight how Speedily sprang they to warfare?
Nor for a naught up-sprang: they’ll Sing what need we to conquer.
Hymen O Hymenaeus: Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Youths:
Nowise easy the palm for us (Companions!) be proffer’d,
Lo! now the maidens muse and meditate matter of forethought
Nor meditate they in vain; they muse a humorous something.
Yet naught wonder it is, their sprites be wholly in labour.
We bear divided thought one way and hearing in other:
Vanquish’t by right we must be, since Victory loveth the heedful.
Therefore at least d’ye turn your minds the task to consider,
Soon shall begin their say whose countersay shall befit you.
Hymen O Hymenaeus: Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Damsels:
Hesperus! say what flame more cruel in Heaven be fanned?
Thou who the girl perforce canst tear from a mother’s embraces,
Tear from a parent’s clasp her child despite of her clinging
And upon love-hot youth bestowest her chastest of maidenhoods!
What shall the foeman deal more cruel to city becaptured?
Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Youths:
Hesperus! say what flame more gladsome in Heavens be shining?
Thou whose light makes sure long-pledged connubial promise
Plighted erewhile by men and erstwhile plighted by parents.
Yet to be ne’er fulfilled before thy fire’s ardours have risen!
What better boon can the gods bestow than hour so desirèd?
Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Damsels:
…
Hesperus! one of ourselves (Companions!) carried elsewhither
…
Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Youths:
…
For at thy coming in sight a guard is constantly watching.
Hidden o’nights lurk thieves and these as oft as returnest,
Hesper! thou seizest them with title changed to Eous.
Pleases the bevy unwed with feigned complaints to accuse thee.
What if assail they whom their souls in secrecy cherish?
Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Damsels:
E’en as a flow’ret born secluded in garden enclosed,
Unto the flock unknown and ne’er uptorn by the ploughshare,
Soothed by the zephyrs and strengthened by suns and nourish’t by showers
…
Loves her many a youth and longs for her many a maiden:
Yet from her lissome stalk when cropt that flower deflowered,
Loves her never a youth nor longs for her ever a maiden:
Thus while the virgin be whole, such while she’s the dearling of kinsfolk;
Yet no sooner is lost her bloom from body polluted,
Neither to youths she is joy, nor a dearling she to the maidens.
Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Youths:
E’en as an unmated vine which born in field of the barest
Never upraises head nor breeds the mellowy grape-bunch,
But under weight prone-bowed that tender body a-bending
Makes she her root anon to touch her topmost of tendrils;
Tends her never a hind nor tends her ever a herdsman:
Yet if haply conjoined the same with elm as a husband,
Tends her many a hind and tends her many a herdsman:
Thus is the maid when whole, uncultured waxes she aged;
But whenas union meet she wins her at ripest of seasons,
More to her spouse she is dear and less she’s irk to her parents.
Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus! Youths and Damsels:
But do thou cease to resist (O Maid!) such bridegroom opposing,
Right it is not to resist whereto consigned thee a father,
Father and mother of thee unto whom obedience is owing.
Not is that maidenhood all thine own, but partly thy parents!
Owneth thy sire one third, one third is right of thy mother,
Only the third is thine: stint thee to strive with the others,
Who to the stranger son have yielded their dues with a dower!
Hymen O Hymenaeus: Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!

> Latin: 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.
cernitis, innuptae, iuvenes? consurgite contra:
nimirum Oetaeos ostendit Noctifer ignes.
sic certe est: viden ut perniciter exsiluere?
non temere exsiluere; canent quod vincere par est.
Hymen O Hymenaee, Hymen ades O Hymenaee.
non facilis nobis, aequales, palma parata est:
adspicite, 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.
Hespere, qui 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.
Hespere, qui caelo lucet iucundior ignis?
qui desponsa tua firmes conubia flammma,
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.
Hesperus e nobis, aequales, abstulit unam
…
namque tuo adventu vigilat custodia semper.
nocte latent fures, quos idem saepe revertens,
Hespere, mutato comprendis nomine eosdem.
at libet innuptis ficto te carpere questu.
quid tum, si carpunt tacita quem mente requirunt?
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee.
ut flos in saeptis secretus nascitur hortis,
ignotus pecori, nullo convulsus 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.
ut vidua in nudo vitis quae nascitur arvo
nunquam se extollit, nunquam mitem educat uvam,
sed tenerum prono deflectens pondere corpus
iam iam contingit summum radice flagellum,
hanc nulli agricolae, nulli accoluere iuvenci;
at si forte eadem est ulmo coniuncta marito,
multi illam agricolae, multi accoluere iuvenci:
sic virgo, dum intacta manet, dum inculta senescit;
cum par conubium maturo tempore adepta est,
cara viro magis et minus est invisa parenti.
et tu ne pugna cum tali coniuge, virgo.
non aequum 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 patri, pars est data tertia matri,
tertia sola tua est.noli pugnare duobus,
qui genero sua iura simul cum dote dederunt.
Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee.

[¶20] O’er high deep seas in speedy ship his voyage Atys sped
Until he trod the Phrygian grove with hurried eager tread
And as the gloomy tree-shorn stead, the she-god’s home, he sought
There sorely stung with fiery ire and madman’s vaguing thought,
Share he with sharpened flint the freight wherewith his form was fraught.
Then as the she-he sensed limbs were void of manly strain
And sighted freshly shed a-ground spot of ensanguined stain,
Snatched she the timbrel’s legier load with hands as snowdrops white,
Thy timbrel, Mother Cybele, the firstings of thy rite,
And as her tender finger-tips on bull-back hollow rang
She rose a-grieving and her song to listening comrades sang.
“Up Gallae, hie together, haste for Cybele’s deep grove,”
“Hie to the Dindymnean dame, ye flocks that love to rove;”
“The which affecting stranger steads as bound in exile’s brunt”
“My sect pursuing led by me have nerved you to confront”
“The raging surge of salty sea and ocean’s tyrant hand”
“As your hate of Venus’ hest your manly forms unmann’d,”
“Gladden your souls, ye mistresses, with sense of error bann’d.”
“Drive from your spirits dull delay, together follow ye”
“To hold of Phrygian goddess, home of Phrygian Cybebe,”
“Whereloud the cymbal’s voice resounds with timbrel-echoes blending,”
“And where the Phrygian piper drones grave bass from reed a-bending,”
“Where toss their ivy-circled heads with might the Maenades”
“Where ply mid shrilly lullilooes the holiest mysteries,”
“Where to fly here and there be wont the she-god’s vaguing train,”
“Thither behoves us lead the dance in quick-step hasty strain.”
Soon as had Atys (bastard-she) this lay to comrades sung
The Chorus sudden lulliloos with quivering, quavering tongue,
Again the nimble timbrel groans, the scooped-out cymbals clash,
And up green Ida flits the Choir, with footsteps hurrying rash
Then Atys frantic, panting, raves, a-wandering, lost, insane,
And leads with timbrel hent and treads the shades where shadows rain,
Like heifer spurning load of yoke in yet unbroken pride;
And the swift Gallae follow fain their first and fleet-foot guide.
But when the home of Cybele they make with toil out-worn
O’er much, they lay them down to sleep and gifts of Ceres scorn;
Till heavy slumbers seal their eyelids langourous, drooping lowly,
And raving frenzy flies each brain departing softly, slowly.
But when Dan Sol with radiant eyes that fire his face of gold
Surveyed white aether and solid soil and waters uncontrol’d,
And chased with steeds sonorous-hooved the shades of lingering night,
Then sleep from waking Atys fled fleeting with sudden flight,
By Nymph Pasithae welcomed to palpitating breast.
Thus when his frenzy raging rash was soothed to gentlest rest,
Atys revolved deeds lately done, as thought from breast unfolding,
And what he’d lost and what he was with lucid sprite beholding,
To shallows led by surging soul again the way ’gan take.
There casting glance of weeping eyes where vasty billows brake,
Sad-voiced in pitifullest lay his native land bespake.
“Country of me, Creatress mine, born to thee and bred,”
“By hapless me abandoned as by thrall from lordling fled,”
“When me to Ida’s groves and glades these vaguing footsteps bore”
“To tarry ’mid the snows and where lurk beasts in antres frore”
“And seek the deeply hidden lairs where furious ferals meet!”
“Where, Country! whither placed must I now hold thy site and seat?”
“Lief would these balls of eyes direct to thee their line of sight,”
“Which for a while, a little while, would free me from despite.”
“Must I for ever roam these groves from house and home afar?”
“Of country, parents, kith and kin (life’s boon) myself debar?”
“Fly Forum, flyPalestra, fly the Stadium, the Gymnase?”
“Wretch, ah poor wretch, I’m doomed (my soul!) to mourn throughout my days,”
“For what of form or figure is, which I failed to enjoy?”
“I full-grown man, I blooming youth, I stripling, I a boy,”
“I of Gymnasium erst the bloom, I too of oil the pride:”
“Warm was my threshold, ever stood my gateways opening wide,”
“My house was ever garlanded and hung with flowery freight,”
“And couch to quit with rising sun, has ever been my fate:”
“Now must I Cybele’s she-slave, priestess of gods, be hight?”
“I Maenad I, mere bit of self, I neutral barren wight?”
“I spend my life-tide couch’t beneath high-towering Phrygian peaks?”
“I dwell on Ida’s verdant slopes mottled with snowy streaks,”
“Where homes the forest-haunting doe, where roams the wildling boar?”
“Now, now I rue my deed foredone, now, now it irks me sore!”
Whenas from out those roseate lips these accents rapid flew,
Bore them to ears divine consigned a Nuncio true and new;
Then Cybele her lions twain disjoining from their yoke
The left-hand enemy of the herds a-goading thus bespoke:
“Up feral fell! up, hie with him, see rage his foot-steps urge,”
“See that his fury smite him till he seek the forest verge,”
“He who with over-freedom fain would fly mine empery.”
“Go, slash thy flank with lashing tail and sense the strokes of thee,”
“Make the whole mountain to thy roar sound and resound again,”
“And fiercely toss thy brawny neck that bears the tawny mane!”
So quoth an angered Cybele, and yoke with hand untied:
The feral rose in fiery wrath and self-inciting hied,
A-charging, roaring through the brake with breaking paws he tore.
But when he reached the humid sands where surges cream the shore,
Spying soft Atys lingering near the marbled pave of sea
He springs: the terror-madded wretch back to the wood doth flee,
Where for the remnant of her days a bondmaid’s life led she.
Great Goddess, Goddess Cybele, Dindymus dame divine,
Far from my house and home thy wrath and wrack, dread mistress mine:
Goad others on with Fury’s goad, others to Ire consign!

> Latin: 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
devolvit 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, tubam Cybelles, tua, mater, initia,
quatiensque terga tauri teneris cava digitis
canere haec suis adorta est tremebunda comitibus
“agite ite ad alta, Gallae, Cybeles nemora simul,”
“simul ite, Dindymenae dominae vaga pecora,”
“aliena quae petentes velut exsules loca”
“sectam meam exsecutae duce me mihi comites”
“rapidum salum tulistis truculentaque pelagi”
“et corpus evirastis Veneris nimio odio,”
“hilarate erae citatis erroribus animum.”
“mora tarda mente cedat; simul ite, sequimini”
“Phrygiam ad domum Cybelles, Phrygia ad nemora deae,”
“ubi cymbalum sonat vox, ubi tympana reboant,”
“tibicen ubi canit Phryx curvo grave calamo,”
“ubi capita maenades vi iaciunt hederigerae,”
“ubi sacra sancta acutis ululatibus agitant,”
“ubi suevit illa divae volitare vaga cohors,”
“quo nos decet citatis celerare tripudiis.”
simul haec comitibus Attis cecinit notha mulier,
thiasus repente linguis trepidantibus ululat,
leve tympanum remugit, cava cymbala recrepant,
viridem citus adit Idam properante pede chorus.
furibunda simul anhelans vaga vadit animam agens
comitata tympano Attis per opaca nemora dux,
veluti iuvenca vitans onus indomita iugi:
rapidae ducem secuntur Gallae properipedem.
itaque, ut domum Cybelles tetigere lassulae,
nimio e labore somnum capiunt sine Cerere.
piger his labante langore oculos sopor operit:
abit in quiete molli rabidus furor animi.
sed ubi oris aurei Sol radiantibus oculis
lustravit aethera album, sola dura, mare ferum,
pepulitque noctis umbras vegetis sonipedibus,
ibi Somnus excitam Attin fugiens citus abiit:
trepidante eum recepit dea Pasithea sinu.
ita de quiete molli rapida sine rabie
simul ipsa pectore Attis sua facta recoluit,
liquidaque mente vidit sine quis ubique foret,
animo aestuante rusum reditum ad vada tetulit.
ibi maria vasta visens lacrimantibus oculis
patriam adlocuta maesta est ita voce miseriter:
“patria o mei creatrix, patria o mea genetrix,”
“ego quam miser relinquens, dominos ut erifugae”
“famuli solent, ad Idae tetuli nemora pedem,”
“ut apud nivem et ferarum gelida stabula forem”
“et earum omnia adirem furibunda latibula,”
“ubinam aut quibus locis te positam, patria, reor?”
“cupit ipsa pupula ad te sibi derigere aciem,”
“rabie fera carens dum breve tempus animus est.”
“egone a mea remota haec ferar in nemora domo?”
“patria, bonis, amicis, genitoribus abero?”
“abero foro, palaestra, stadio, et gymnasiis?”
“miser ah miser, querendum est etiam atque etiam, anime.”
“quod enim genus figurae est ego non quod obierim?”
“ego mulier, ego adulescens, ego ephebus, ego puer,”
“ego gymnasi fui flos, ego eram decus olei:”
“mihi ianuae frequentes, mihi limina tepida,”
“mihi floridis corollis redimita domus erat,”
“linquendum ubi esset orto mihi sole cubiculum.”
“ego nunc deum ministra et Cybeles famula ferar?”
“ego maenas, ego mei pars, ego vir sterilis ero?”
“ego viridis algida Idae nive amicta loca colam?”
“ego vitam agam sub altis Phrygiae columinibus,”
“ubi cerva silvicultrix, ubi aper nemorivagus?”
“iam iam dolet quod egi, iam iamque paenitet.”
roseis ut huic labellis sonitus citus abiit
geminas deorum ad aures nova nuntia referens,
ibi iuncta iuga resoluens Cybele leonibus
laevumque pecoris hostem stimulans ita loquitur.
“Agedum,” inquit, “age ferox i, fac ut hunc furor agitet,”
“fac uti furoris ictu reditum in nemora ferat,”
“mea libere nimis qui fugere imperia cupit.”
“age caede terga cauda, tua verbera patere,”
“fac cuncta mugienti fremitu loca retonent,”
“rutilam ferox torosa cervice quate iubam.”
ait haec minax Cybelle religatque iuga manu.
ferus ipse sese adhortans rabidum incitat animo,
vadit, fremit, refringit virgulta pede vago.
at ubi umida albicantis loca litoris adiit
tenerumque vidit Attin prope marmora pelagi,
facit impetum: ille demens fugit in nemora fera:
ibi semper omne vitae spatium famula fuit.
dea magna, dea Cybelle, dea domina Dindymi,
procul a mea tuus sit furor omnis, era, domo:
alios age incitatos, alios age rabidos.

[¶21] Pine-trees gendered whilome upon soaring Peliac summit
Swam (as the tale is told) through liquid surges of Neptune
Far as the Phasis-flood and frontier-land Aeetean;
Whenas the youths elect, of Argive vigour the oak-heart,
Longing the Golden Fleece of the Colchis-region to harry,
Dared in a poop swift-paced to span salt seas and their shallows,
Sweeping the deep blue seas with sweeps a-carven of fir-wood.
She, that governing Goddess of citadels crowning the cities,
Builded herself their car fast-flitting with lightest of breezes,
Weaving plants of the pine conjoined in curve of the kelson;
Foremost of all to imbue rude Amphitrite with ship-lore.
Soon as her beak had burst through wind-rackt spaces of ocean,
While the oar-tortured wave with spumy whiteness was blanching,
Surged from the deep abyss and hoar-capped billows the faces
Seaborn, Nereids eyeing theprodigy wonder-smitten.
There too mortal orbs through softened spendours regarded
Ocean-nymphs who exposed bodies denuded of raiment
Bare to the breast upthrust from hoar froth capping the sea-depths.
Then Thetis Peleus fired (men say) a-sudden with love,
Then Thetis nowise spurned to mate and marry with mortal,
Then Thetis’ Sire himself her yoke with Peleus sanctioned.
Oh, in those happier days now fondly yearned-for, you heroes
Born; (all hail!) of the gods begotten, and excellent issue
Bred by your mothers, all hail! and placid deal me your favour.
Oft with the sound of me, in strains and spells I’ll invoke you;
You too by wedding-torch so happily, highly augmented,
Peleus, Thessaly’s ward, in whose favor Jupiter himself,
The Father of the gods, resigned his passions.
You Thetis, fairest of maids Nereian, vouchsafed to marry?
You did Tethys empower to woo and wed with her grandchild;
Nor less Oceanus, with water compassing th’ Earth-globe?
But when ended the term, and wisht-for light of the day-tide
Uprose, flocks to the house in concourse mighty, convened,
Thessaly all, with glad assembly the Palace fulfilling:
Presents afore they bring, and joy in faces declare they.
Cieros abides a desert: they quit Phthiotican Tempe,
Homesteads of Crannon-town, eke bulwarkt walls Larissa;
Meeting at Pharsalus, and roof Pharsalian seeking.
None will the fields now till; soft wax all necks the oxen,
Never the humble vine is purged by curve of the rake-tooth,
Never a pruner’s hook thins out the shade of the tree-tufts,
Never a bull up-plows broad glebe with bend of the coulter,
Over whose point unuse displays the squalor of rust-stain.
But in the homestead’s heart, where’er that opulent palace
Hides a retreat, all shines with splendour of gold and of silver.
Ivory blanches the seats, bright gleam the flagons a-table,
All of the mansion joys in royal riches and grandeur.
But for the Diva’s use bestrewn is the genial bedstead,
Hidden in midmost stead, and its polisht framework of Indian
Tusk underlies its cloth empurpled by juice of the dye-shell.
This be a figured cloth with forms of manhood primeval
Showing by marvel-art the gifts and graces of heroes.
Here upon Dia’s strand wave-resonant, ever-regarding
Theseus borne from sight outside by fleet of the fleetest,
Stands Ariadne with heart full-filled with furies unbated,
Nor can her sense as yet believe she ’spies the espied,
When like one that awakes new roused from slumber deceptive,
Sees she her hapless self lone left on loneliest sandbank:
While as the mindless youth with oars disturbeth the shallows,
Casts to the windy storms what vows he vainly had vowed.
Him through the sedges afar the sad-eyed maiden of Minos,
Likest a Bacchant-girl stone-carven, (O her sorrow!)
’Spies, a-tossing the while on sorest billows of love-care.
Now no more on her blood-hued hair fine fillets retains she,
No more now light veil conceals her bosom erst hidden,
Now no more smooth zone contains her milky-hued paplets:
All gear dropping adown from every part of her person
Thrown, lie fronting her feet to the briny wavelets a sea-toy.
But at such now no more of her veil or her fillet a-floating
Had she regard: on you, Theseus! all of her heart-strength,
All of her sprite, her mind, forlorn, were evermore hanging.
Ah, sad soul, by grief and grievance driven beside you,
Sowed Erycina first those brambly cares in thy bosom,
What while issuing fierce with will enstarkened, Theseus
Forth from thebow-bent shore Piraean putting a-seawards
Reacht the Gortynian roofs where dwelt the injurious Monarch.
For ’twas told of yore how forced by pestilence cruel,
Eke as a blood rite due for the Androgeonian murder,
Many a chosen youth and the bloom of damsels unmarried
Food for the Minotaur, Cecropia was wont to befurnish.
Seeing his narrow walls in such wise vexed with evils,
Theseus of freest will for dear-loved Athens his body
Offered a victim so that no more to Crete be deported
Lives by Cecropia doomed to burials burying nowise;
Then with a swifty ship and soft breathed breezes a-stirring,
Sought he Minos the Haughty where homed in proudest of Mansions.
Him as with yearning glance forthright espied the royal
Maiden, whom pure chaste couch aspiring delicate odours
Cherisht, in soft embrace of a mother comforted all-whiles,
(E’en as the myrtles begot by the flowing floods of Eurotas,
Or as the tincts distinct brought forth by breath of the springtide)
Never the burning lights of her eyes from gazing upon him
Turned she, before fierce flame in all her body conceived she
Down in its deepest depths and burning within her marrow.
Ah, with unmitigate heart exciting wretchedmost furies,
You, Boy sacrosanct! man’s grief and gladness commingling,
You too of Golgos Queen and Lady of leafy Idalium,
Whelm’d you in what manner waves that maiden fantasy-fired,
All for a blond-haired youth suspiring many a singulf!
Whiles how dire was the dread she dreed in languishing heart-strings;
How yet more, ever more, with golden splendour she paled!
Whenas yearning to mate his might with the furious monster
Theseus braved his death or sought the prizes of praises.
Then of her gifts to gods not ingrate, nor profiting naught,
Promise with silent lip, addressed she timidly vowing.
For as an oak that shakes on topmost summit of Taurus
Its boughs, or cone-growing pine from bole bark resin exuding,
Whirlwind of passing might that twists the stems with its storm-blasts,
Uproots, deracinates, forthright its trunk to the farthest,
Prone falls, shattering wide what lies in line of its downfall,—
Thus was that wildling flung by Theseus and vanquisht of body,
Vainly tossing its horns and goring the wind to no purpose.
Thence with abounding praise returned he, guiding his footsteps,
While a fine drawn thread checked steps in wander abounding,
Lest when issuing forth of the winding maze labyrinthine
Baffled become his track by inobservable error.
But for what cause should I, from early subject digressing,
Tell of the daughter who the face of her sire unseeing,
Eke her sister’s embrace nor less her mother’s endearments,
Who in despair bewept her hapless child that so gladly
Chose before every and each the lively wooing of Theseus?
Or how borne by the ship to the yeasting shore-line of Dia
Came she? or how when bound her eyes in bondage of slumber
Left her that chosen mate with mind unmindful departing?
Often (they tell) with heart inflamed by fiery fury
Poured she shrilling of shrieks from deepest depths of her bosom;
Now she would sadly scale the broken faces of mountains,
Whence she might overglance the boundless boiling of billows,
Then she wouldrush to bestem the salt-plain’s quivering wavelet
And from her ankles bare the dainty garment uplifting,
Spoke she these words (’tis said) from sorrow’s deepest abysses,
While from her tear-drencht face outburst cold shivering sobs.
“Thus from my patrial shore, O traitor, hurried to exile,”
“Me on a lonely strand hast left, perfidious Theseus?”
“Thus wise farest, despite the godhead of Deities spurned,”
“(Reckless, alas!) to your home convoying perjury-curses?”
“Naught, then, ever availed that mind of cruelest counsel”
“Alter? No saving grace in you was evermore ready,”
“That to have pity on me vouchsafed your pitiless bosom?”
“Nevertheless not in past time such were the promises wordy”
“Lavished; nor such hopes to me the hapless were bidden;”
“But the glad married joys, the longed-for pleasures of wedlock.”
“All now empty and vain, by breath of the breezes bescattered!”
“Now, let woman no more trust her to man when he sweareth,”
“Ne’er let her hope to find or truth or faith in his pleadings,”
“Who when lustful thought forelooks to somewhat attaining,”
“Never an oath they fear, shall spare no promise to promise.”
“Yet no sooner they sate all lewdness and lecherous fancy,”
“Nothing remember of words and reck they naught of fore-swearing.”
“Certes, you did I snatch from midmost whirlpool of ruin”
“Deadly, and held it cheap loss of a brother to suffer”
“Rather than fail your need (O false!) at hour the supremest.”
“Therefore my limbs are doomed to be torn of birds, and of ferals”
“Prey, nor shall upheapt Earth afford a grave to my body.”
“Say me, what lioness bare you ’neath lone rock of the desert?”
“What sea spued you conceived from out the spume of his surges!”
“What manner Syrt, what ravening Scylla, what vasty Charybdis?”
“you who for sweet life saved such meeds are lief of returning!”
“If never willed your breast with me to mate you in marriage,”
“Hating the savage law decreed by primitive parent,”
“Still of your competence ’twas within your household to home me,”
“Where I might serve as slave in gladsome service familiar,”
“Laving your snow-white feet in clearest chrystalline waters”
“Or with its purpling gear your couch in company strewing.”
“Yet for what cause should I complain in vain to the winds that unknow me,”
“(I so beside me with grief!) which ne’er of senses endued”
“Hear not the words sent forth nor aught avail they to answer?”
“Now be his course well-nigh engaged in midway of ocean,”
“Nor any mortal shape appears in barrens of sea-wrack.”
“Thus at the latest hour with insults over-sufficient”
“E’en to my plaints fere Fate begrudges ears that would hear me.”
“Jupiter! Lord of All-might, Oh would in days that are bygone”
“Ne’er had Cecropian poops toucht ground at Gnossian foreshore,”
“Nor to the unconquered Bull that tribute direful conveying”
“Had the false Seaman bound to Cretan island his hawser,”
“Nor had yon evil wight,’neath shape the softest hard purpose”
“Hiding, enjoyed repose within our mansion beguested!”
“Whither can wend I now? What hope lends help to the lost one?”
“Idomenean mounts shall I scale? Ah, parted by whirlpools”
“Widest, yon truculent main where yields it power of passage?”
“Aid of my sire can I crave? Whom I willing abandoned,”
“Treading in tracks of a youth bewrayed with blood of a brother!”
“Can I console my soul with the helpful love of a helpmate”
“Who flies me with pliant oars, flies overbounding the sea-depths?”
“Nay, if this Coast I quit, this lone isle lends me no roof-tree,”
“Nor aught issue allows begirt by billows of Ocean:”
“Nowhere is path for flight: none hope shows: all things are silent:”
“All be a desolate waste: all makes display of destruction.”
“Yet never close these eyes in latest languor of dying,”
“Ne’er from my wearied frame go forth slow-ebbing my senses,”
“Ere from the Gods just doom implore I, treason-betrayed,”
“And with my breath supreme firm faith of Celestials invoke I.”
“Therefore, O you who ’venge man’s deed with penalties direful,”
“Eumenides! aye wont to bind with viperous hairlocks”
“Foreheads,—Oh, deign outspeak fierce wrath from bosom outbreathing,”
“Hither, Oh hither, speed, and lend you all ear to my grievance,”
“Which now sad I (alas!) outpour from innermost vitals”
“Maugre my will, sans help, blind, fired with furious madness.”
“And, as indeed all spring from veriest core of my bosom,”
“Suffer you not the cause of grief and woe to evanish;”
“But with the Will wherewith could Theseus leave me in loneness,”
“Goddesses! bid that Will lead him, lead his, to destruction.”

> Latin: Peliaco quondam prognatae vertice pinus
dicuntur liquidas Neptuni nasse per undas
Phasidos ad fluctus et fines Aeeteos,
cum lecti iuvenes, Argivae robora pubis,
auratam optantes Colchis avertere pellem
ausi sunt vada salsa cita decurrere puppi,
caerula verrentes abiegnis aequora palmis.
diva quibus retinens in summis urbibus arces
ipsa levi fecit volitantem flamine currum,
pinea coniungens inflexae texta carinae.
illa rudem cursu prima imbuit Amphitriten.
quae simul ac rostro ventosum proscidit aequor
tortaque remigio spumis incanduit unda,
emersere freti candenti e gurgite vultus
aequoreae monstrum Nereides admirantes.
illa, siqua alia, viderunt luce marinas
mortales oculis nudato corpore nymphas
nutricum tenus exstantes e gurgite cano.
tum Thetidis Peleus incensus fertur amore,
tum Thetis humanos non despexit hymenaeos,
tum Thetidi pater ipse iugandum Pelea sensit.
o nimis optato saeclorum tempore nati
heroes, salvete, deum genus, o bona matrum
progenies, salvete iterum …
vos ego saepe meo, vos carmine compellabo,
teque adeo eximie taedis felicibus aucte
Thessaliae columen Peleu, cui Iuppiter ipse,
ipse suos divum genitor concessit amores.
tene Thetis tenuit pulcherrirma Nereine?
tene suam Tethys concessit ducere neptem
Oceanusque, mari totum qui amplectitur orbem?
quae simul optatae finito tempore luces
advenere, domum conventu tota frequentat
Thessalia, oppletur laetanti regia coetu:
dona ferunt prae se, declarant gaudia vultu.
deseritur Cieros, linquunt Phthiotica Tempe
Crannonisque domos ac moenia Larisaea,
Pharsalum coeunt, Pharsalia tecta frequentant.
rura colit nemo, mollescunt colla iuvencis,
non humilis curvis purgatur vinea rastris,
non glaebam prono convellit vomere taurus,
non falx attenuat frondatorum arboris umbram,
squalida desertis robigo infertur aratris.
ipsius at sedes, quacumque opulenta recessit
regia, fulgenti splendent auro atque argento.
candet ebur soliis, conlucent pocula mensae,
tota domus gaudet regali splendida gaza.
pulvinar vero divae geniale locatur
sedibus in mediis, Indo quod dente politum
tincta tegit roseo conchyli purpura fuco.
haec vestis priscis hominum variata figuris
heroum mira virtutes indicat arte.
namque fluentisono prospectans litore Diae
Thesea cedentem celeri cum classe tuetur
indomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores,
necdum etiam sese quae visit visere credit,
ut pote fallaci quae tunc primum excita somno
desertam in sola miseram se cernat harena.
immemor at iuvenis fugiens pellit vada remis,
irrita ventosae linquens promissa procellae.
quem procul ex alga maestis Minois ocellis
saxea ut effigies bacchantis prospicit, eheu,
prospicit et magnis curarum fluctuat undis,
non flavo retinens subtilem vertice mitram,
non contecta levi velatum pectus amictu,
non tereti strophio lactentis vincta papillas,
omnia quae toto delapsa e corpore passim
ipsius ante pedes fluctus salis adludebant.
sic neque tum mitrae neque tum fluitantis amictus
illa vicem curans toto ex te pectore, Theseu,
toto animo, tota pendebat perdita mente.
ah misera, adsiduis quam luctibus exsternavit
spinosas Erycina serens in pectore curas
illa tempestate, ferox quo ex tempore Theseus
egressus curvis e litoribus Piraei
attigit iniusti regis Gortynia tecta.
nam perhibent olim crudeli peste coactam
Androgeoneae poenas exsolvere caedis
electos iuvenes simul et decus innuptarum
Cecropiam solitam esse dapem dare Minotauro.
quis angusta malis cum moenia vexarentur,
ipse suum Theseus pro caris corpus Athenis
proicere optavit potius quam talia Cretam
funera Cecropiae nec funera portarentur.
atque ita nave levi nitens ac lenibus auris
magnanimum ad Minoa venit sedesque superbas.
hunc simul ac cupido conspexit lumine virgo
regia, quam suavis exspirans castus odores
lectulus in molli complexu matris alebat,
quales Eurotae progignunt flumina myrtos
aurave distinctos educit verna colores,
non prius ex illo flagrantia declinavit
lumina quam cuncto concepit corpore flammam
funditus atque imis exarsit tota medullis.
heu misere exagitans immiti corde furores,
sancte puer, curis hominum qui gaudia misces,
quaeque regis Golgos quaeque Idalium frondosum,
qualibus incensam iactastis mente puellam
fluctibus in flavo saepe hospite suspirantem!
quantos illa tulit languenti corde timores,
quanto saepe magis fulgore expalluit auri,
cum saevum cupiens contra contendere monstrum
aut mortem appeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis.
non ingrata tamen frustra munuscula divis
promittens tacito succendit vota labello.
nam velut in summo quatientem bracchia Tauro
quercum aut conigeram sudanti cortice pinum
indomitus turbo contorquens flamine robur
eruit (illa procul radicitus exturbata
prona cadit, † lateque cum eius obvia frangens),
sic domito saevum prostravit corpore Theseus
nequiquam vanis iactantem cornua ventis.
inde pedem sospes multa cum laude reflexit
errabunda regens tenui vestigia filo,
ne labyrintheis e flexibus egredientem
tecti frustraretur inobservabilis error.
sed quid ego a primo digressus carmine plura
commemorem, ut linquens genitoris filia vultum,
ut consanguineae complexum, ut denique matris,
quae misera in gnata deperdita laetabatur,
omnibus his Thesei dulcem praeoptarit amorem,
aut ut vecta rati spumosa ad litora Diae
venerit, aut ut eam devinctam lumina somno
liquerit immemori discedens pectore coniunx?
saepe illam perhibent ardenti corde furentem
clarisonas imo fudisse ex pectore voces,
ac tum praeruptos tristem conscendere montes
unde aciem in pelagi vastos protenderet aestus,
tum tremuli salis adversas procurrere in undas
mollia nudatae tollentem tegmina surae,
atque haec extremis maestam dixisse querelis,
frigidulos udo singultus ore cientem:
“sicine me patriis avectam, perfide, ab aris,”
“perfide, deserto liquisti in litore, Theseu?”
“sicine discedens neglecto numine divum”
“immernor ah devota domum periuria portas?”
“nullane res potuit crudelis flectere mentis”
“consilium? tibi nulla fuit clementia praesto”
“immite ut nostri vellet miserescere pectus?”
“at non haec quondam blanda promissa dedisti”
“voce mihi, non haec miserae sperare iubebas,”
“sed conubia laeta, sed optatos hymenaeos:”
“quae cuncta aerii discerpunt irrita venti.”
“nunc iam nulla viro iuranti femina credat,”
“nulla viri speret sermones esse fideles:”
“quis dum aliquid cupiens animus praegestit apisci,”
“nil metuunt iurare, nihil promittere parcunt:”
“sed simul ac cupidae mentis satiata libido est,”
“dicta nihil meminere, nihil periuria curant.”
“certe ego te in medio versantem turbine leti”
“eripui et potius germanum amittere crevi”
“quam tibi fallaci supremo in tempore deessem:”
“pro quo dilaceranda feris dabor alitibusque”
“praeda neque iniecta tumulabor mortua terra.”
“quaenam te genuit sola sub rupe leaena,”
“quod mare conceptum spumantibus exspuit undis.”
“quae Syrtis, quae Scylla rapax, quae vasta Charybdis,”
“talia qui reddis pro dulci praemia vita?”
“si tibi non cordi fuerant conubia nostra,”
“saeva quod horrebas prisci praecepta parentis,”
“at tamen in vestras potuisti ducere sedes”
“quae tibi iucundo famularer serva labore”
“candida permulcens liquidis vestigia lymphis”
“purpureave tuum constemens veste cubile.”
“sed quid ego ignaris nequiquam conqueror auris”
“exsternata malo, quae nullis sensibus auctae”
“nec missas audire queunt nec reddere voces?”
“ille autem prope iam mediis versatur in undis,”
“nec quisquam adparet vacua mortalis in alga.”
“sic nimis insultans extremo tempore saeva”
“fors etiam nostris invidit questibus auris.”
“Iuppiter omnipotens, utinam ne tempore primo”
“Gnosia Cecropiae tetigissent litora puppes,”
“indomito nec dira ferens stipendia tauro”
“perfidus in Creta religasset navita funem,”
“nec malus hic celans dulci crudelia forma”
“consilia in nostris requiesset sedibus hospes!”
“nam quo me referam? quali spe perdita nitor?”
“Idaeosne petam montes? ah, gurgite lato”
“discernens ponti truculentum ubi dividit aequor?”
“an patris auxilium sperem, quemne ipsa reliqui”
“respersum iuvenem fraterna caede secuta?”
“coniugis an fido consoler memet amore,”
“quine fugit lentos incurvans gurgite remos?”
“praeterea nullo litus, sola insula, tecto,”
“nec patet egressus pelagi cingentibus undis:”
“nulla fugae ratio, nulla spes: omnia muta,”
“omnia sunt deserta, ostentant omnia letum.”
“non tamen ante mihi languescent lumina morte,”
“nec prius a fesso secedent corpore sensus”
“quam iustam a divis exposcam prodita multam”
“caelestumque fidem postrema comprecer hora.”
“quare, facta virum multantes vindice poena”
“Eumenides, quibus anguino redimita capillo”
“frons exspirantis praeportat pectoris iras,”
“huc huc adventate, meas audite querelas,”
“quas ego, vae miserae, extremis proferre medullis”
“cogor inops, ardens, amenti caeca furore.”