The Poems and Fragments of Catullus Part 10

Lift the torches aloft in air, Boys: the fiery veil is here. (115) Come, to measure your hymn rehea.r.s.e.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 125

Nor withhold ye the countryman's Ribald raillery Fescenine. (120) Nor if happily boys declare Thy dominion attaint, refuse, Youth, the nuts to be flinging. 130

Fling, O womanish youth; the boys Ask thee charity. Time agone (125) Toys and folly; to-day begins Our high duty, Tala.s.sius.

Hasten, youth, to be flinging. 135

Thou didst surely but yestereve Mock the women, a favourite (130) Far above them: anon the first Beard, the razor. Alack, alas!

Hasten, youth, to be flinging. 140

You, whom odorous oils declare Bridegroom, swerve not; a slippery (135) Love calls lightly, but yet refrain.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 145

Lawful only did e'er delight You, we know; but it is not, O (140) Husband, lawful as heretofore.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 150

Bride, thou also, if he demand Aught, refuse not, a.s.sent, obey. (145) Love can angrily pipe adieu.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 155

Look! thy mansion, a sovereign Home most goodly, by him to thee (150) Given. Reign as a queen within, Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 160

Still when h.o.a.ry decrepitude, Shaking wintery brows benign, (155) Nods a tremulous Yes to all.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 165

With fair augury smite the blest Threshold, sunnily glistening (160) Feet: yon ivory door approach, Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 170

See one seated, a banqueter.

'Tis thy lord on a Tyrian (165) Couch: his spirit is all to thee.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 175

Not less surely in him than in Thee love lighteth a bosoming (170) Flame; but deeper, a fire within.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 180

. . . . . . 185

Thou, whose purple her arm, the slim Arm, props happily, boy, depart. (175) Time the bride be at entering.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 190

You in chast.i.ty tried the long Years, good women of agedest (180) Husbands, lay ye the bride to-night.

Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 195

Husband, stay not: a bride within Coucheth ready, the flowering (185) Spring less lovely; a countenance White as parthenice, beyond Yellow poppy to gaze on. 200

Thou, so help me the favouring G.o.ds immortal, as heavenly (190) Fair art also, adorned of Venus' bounty. The day declines.

Come nor tarry to greet her. 205

Not too slothfully tarrying, Thou art here. Benediction of (195) Venus help thee, a man without Shame of blameless, a love that is Honest frankly revealing. 210

Dust of infinite Africa, Stars that sparkle, a myriad (200) Host, who measureth, your delights He shall tell them, ineffable, Mult.i.tudinous, over. 215

Make your happy delight, renew'd Soon in children. A glorious (205) Name and olden is ill without Children, unto the first a new Stock as goodly begetting. 220

Some Torquatus, a beauteous Babe, on motherly b.r.e.a.s.t.s to thee (210) Stretching, father, his innocent Hands, smile softly from inchoate Lips half-open a welcome. 225

Like his father, a Mallius New presented, of every (215) Eyeing stranger allowed his own; Mother's chast.i.ty moulded in Features childly revealing. 230

Glory speak of him issuing Child of mother as excellent (220) She, as only that age-renown'd Wife, whose story Telemachus Blazons, Penelopea. 235

Virgins, close ye the door. Enough This our carol. O happiest (225) Lovers, jollity live with you.

Still that genial youth to love's Consummation attend ye. 240

LXII.

YOUTHS.

Hesper is here; rise youths, rise all of you; high on Olympus Hesper his...o...b..long-look'd for aloft 'gins slowly to kindle.

Time is now to arise, from tables costly to part us; Now doth a virgin approach, now soundeth a glad Hymenaeal.

Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 5

VIRGINS.

See ye yon youthful band? O, maidens, rise ye to meet them.

Comes not Night's bright bearer a fire o'er Oeta revealing?

Surely; for even now, in a moment all have arisen, Not for nought have arisen; a song waits, goodly to gaze on.

Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus. 10

YOUTHS.

No light victory this, O comrades, ready before us.

Busy the virgins muse, their practis'd ditty recalling, Muse nor shall miscarry; a song for memory waits us.

Rightly; for all their souls do inwards labour in issue.

We--our thoughts one way, our ears have drifted another, 15 So comes worthy defeat; no victory calls to the careless.

Come then, in even race let thought their melody rival; They must open anon; 'twere better anon be replying.

Hymen O Hymenaeus, O Hymen come Hymenaeus.

VIRGINS.

Hesper, moveth in heaven a light more tyrannous ever? 20 Thou from a mother's arms canst wrest her daughter asunder, Wrest from a mother's arms her daughter woefully clinging, Then to the burning youth his virgin beauty deliver.