by Catullus
I would kiss them a million, yet a million.
Yea, nor count me to win the full attainment,
Not, tho’ heavier e’en than ears at harvest, 5
Fall my kisses, a wealthy crop delightful.
XLIX.
Greatest speaker of any born a Roman,
Marcus Tullius, all that are, that have been,
That shall ever in after-years be famous;
Thanks superlative unto thee Catullus
Renders, easily last among the poets. 5
He as easily last among the poets
As thou surely the first among the pleaders.
L.
1.
Dear Lucinius, yestereve we linger’d
Scrawling fancies, a hundred, in my tablets,
Wits in combat; a treaty this between us.
Scribbling drolleries each of us together
Launched one arrowy metre and another, 5
Tenders jocular o’er the merry wine-cup.
2.
So quite sorely with all your humour heated
Gay Lucinius, I that eve departed.
Food my misery could not any lighten,
Sleep nor quiet upon my eyes descended. 10
Still untamable o’er the couch did I then
Turn and tumble, in haste to see the day-light,
Hear your prattle again, again be with you.
3.
Then, when weary with all the worry, numb’d, dead,
Sank my body, upon the bed reposing, 15
This, O humorous heart, did I, a poem
Write, my tedious anguish all revealing.
O beware then of hardihood; a lover’s
Plea for charity, dear my friend, reject not:
What if Nemesis haply claim repayment? 20
She is tyrannous. O beware offending.
LI.
He to me like unto the Gods appeareth,
He, if I dare speak it, ascends above them,
Face to face who toward thee attently sitting
Gazes or hears thee
Lovely in sweet laughter; alas within me 5
Every lost sense falleth away for anguish;
When as I look’d on thee, upon my lips no
Whisper abideth,
Straight my tongue froze, Lesbia; soon a subtle
Fire thro’ each limb streameth adown; with inward 10
Sound the full ears tinkle, on either eye night’s
Canopy darkens.
Ease alone, Catullus, alone afflicts thee;
Ease alone breeds error of heady riot;
Ease hath entomb’d princes of old renown and 15
Cities of honour.
LII.
Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die?
If in the curule chair a hump sits, Nonius;
A would-be consul lies in hope, Vatinius;
Enough, Catullus! how can you delay to die?
LIII.
How I laughed at a wag amid the circle!
He, when Calvus in high denunciation
Of Vatinius had declaim’d divinely,
Hands uplifted as in supreme amazement,
Cried ‘God bless us! a wordy cockalorum!’ 5
LIV.
Otho’s head is a very dwarf; a rustic’s
Shanks has Herius, only semi-cleanly;
Libo’s airs to a fume of art refine them.
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 5
Yet thou flee’st not above my keen iambics.
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
[So may destiny doom me quite to silence]
As I care not if every line offend thee 10
And Sufficius, age in youth’s revival.
. . . . . . . .
Thou shalt kindle at innocent iambics,
Mighty general, once again returning.
LV.
1.
List, I beg, provided you’re in humour,
Speak your privacy, show what alley veils you.
You I sought on Campus, I, the lesser,
You on Circus, in all the bills but you, sir.
You with father Jove in holy temple. 5
Then, where flocks the parade to Magnus’ arches,
Friend, I hail’d each lady promenader,
Each, I found, did face me quite sedately.
2.
What? they steal, I loudly cried protesting,
My Camerius? out upon the wenches! 10
Answer’d one and lightly bared a bosom,
‘See! what bowery roses; here he hides him.’
Yea ’twould task e’en Hercules to bear you,
You so scornful, friend, in your refusing.
3.
Not tho’ I were warder of the Cretans, 15
Not tho’ Pegasus on his airy pinion,
Perseus feathery-footed, I a Ladas,
Rhesus’ chariot yok’d to snowy coursers,
Add each feathery sandal, every flying
Power, ask fleetness of all the winds of heaven, 20
Mine, Camerius, and to me devoted;
Yet with drudgery sorely spent should I, yet
Worn, outworn with languor unto languor
Faint, O friend, in an empty quest to find you.
4.
Say, where think you anon to be; declare it, 25 (15)
Fair and free, submit, commit to daylight.
What? still thrall to the lovely lily ladies?
Keep close mouth, lock fast the tongue within it,
Love’s felicity falls without fruition;
Venus still is free to talk, a babbler. 30 (20)
Yet close palate, an if ye will it; only
In my love some part to bear refuse not.
LVII.
O rare sympathies! happy rakes united!
There Mamurra the woman, here a Caesar.
Who can wonder? An ugly brand on either,
His, true Formian, his, politely Roman,
Rests indelible, in the bone residing. 5
Either infamous, each a twin dishonour,
Bookish brethren, a dainty pair pedantic;
One adultrous, as hungry he; with equal
Parts in women, a lusty corporation.
O rare sympathies! happy rakes united! 10
LVIII.
That bright Lesbia, Caelius, the self-same
Peerless Lesbia, she than whom Catullus
Self nor family more devoutly cherish’d,
By foul roads, or in every shameful alley,
Strains the vigorous issue of the people. 5
LIX.
Poor Rufa from Bononia Rufulus gallants,
Menenius’ errant lady, she that in grave-yards
(You’ve seen her often) snaps from every pile her meal,
When hotly chasing dusty loaves the fire rolls down,
She felt some half-shorn corpseman and his hand’s big blow. 5
LX.
Hadst thou a Libyan lioness on heights all stone,
A Scylla, barking wolvish at the loins’ last verge,
To bear thee, O black-hearted, O to shame forsworn,
That unto supplication in my last sad need
Thou mightst not harken, deaf to ruth, a beast, no man? 5
LXI.
God, on verdurous Helicon
Dweller, child of Urania,
Thou that draw’st to the man the fair
Maiden, O Hymenaeus, O
Hymen, O Hymenaeus: 5
Wreathe thy brows in amaracus’
Fragrant blossom; an aureat
Veil be round thee; approach, in all
Joy, approach with a luminous
Foot, a sandal of amber. 10
Come, for jolly the time, awake.
Chant in melody musical
Hymns of bridal; on earth a foot
Beating, hands to the winds above
Torches oozily swinging. 15
Such, as she that on Idaly
Him, the Phrygian arbiter,
So with Mallius happily
Happy Junia weddeth. 20
Like some myrtle of Asia
Bright in airily blossoming
Boughs, the wood Hamadryades
Nurse with showery dew, to be
Theirs, a tender plaything. 25
So come to us in haste; away,
Leave thy Thespian hollow-arch’d
Rock, muse-haunted, Aonian,
Drench’d in spray from aloft, the cold
Drift of Nymph Aganippe. 30
Homeward summon a sovereign
Wife most passionate, holden in
Love fast prisoner: ivy not
Closer closes an elm around,
Interchangeably trailing. 35
You too with him, O you for whom
Comes as joyous a time, your own.
Virgins stainless of heart, arise.
Chant in unison, Hymen, O
Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 40
That, more readily listening,
Whiles your song to familiar
Duty calls him, he hie apace,
Lord of fair paramours, of youth’s
Fair affection uniter. 45
Who more worthy than he to list
Lovers wearily languishing?
Bends from heaven a sovereign
God adorabler? Hymen, O
Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 50
You the father in years for his
Child beseecheth; a virginal
Zone falls slackly to earth for you,
You half-fear in his hankering
Lists the groomsman approaching. 55
You from motherly lap the bright
Girl can sever; your hand divine
Gives dominion, ushering
Warm the lover. O Hymen, O
Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 60
Nought delightful, if you be far,
Nought unharmed of envious
Tongues, Love wins him: if you be near
Much he wins him. O excellent
God, that hath not a rival. 65
Houses cannot, if you be far,
Yield their children, a babe renew
Sire or mother: if you be near,
Comes renewal. O excellent
God, that hath not a rival. 70
If your great ceremonial
Fail, no champion yeomanry
Guards the border. If you be near
Arms the border. O excellent
God, that hath not a rival. 75
Fling the portal apart. The bride
Waits. O see ye the luminous
Torch-flakes ruddily flickering?
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . 80
. . . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
Nought she hears us: her innocent (80)
Eyes do weep to be going. 85
Weep not, lady; for envious
Tongue no lovelier owneth, Au-
Runculeia; nor any more
Fair saw rosily bright the dawn (85)
Leave his chamber in Ocean. 90
Such in many a flowering
Garden, trimm’d for a lord’s delight,
Stands some delicate hyacinth.
Yet you tarry. The day declines. (90)
Forth, fair bride, to the people. 95
Forth, fair bride, to the people, if
So it likes you, a-listening
Words that please us. O eye ye yon
Torches ruddily flickering? (95)
Forth, fair bride, to the people. 100
Husband never of yours shall haunt
Stained wanton, a mutinous
Fancy shamefully following,
Tire not ever, or e’er from your (100)
Dainty bosom unyoke him. 105
He more lithe than a vine amid
Trees, that, mazily folded, it
Clasps and closes, in amorous
Arms shall close thee. The day declines. (105)
Forth, fair bride, to the people. 110
Couch of pleasure, O odorous
Couch, whose gorgeous apparellings,
Silver-purple, on Indian
Woods do rest them; adown the bright
Feet in ivory glisten; 115
When thy lord in his hour attains,
What large extasy, while the night (110)
Fleets, or noon the meridian
Passes thoro’. The day declines.
Forth, fair bride, to the people. 120
Lift the torches aloft in air,
Boys: the fiery veil is here. (115)
Come, to measure your hymn rehearse.
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, Talassius.
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, assent, 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 hoary 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 chastity 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
Gods 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,
Multitudinous, 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 breasts 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 chastity 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 orb 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
