Catullus 61 Translation

Introduction

Carmen 61

COLLIS o Heliconii

O haunter of the Heliconian mount,

cultor, Vraniae genus,

Urania’s son,

qui rapis teneram ad uirum

thou who bearest away the tender maid

uirginem, o Hymenaee Hymen,

to her bridegroom, O Hymenaeus Hymen,

o Hymen Hymenaee;

O Hymen Hymenaeus!

cinge tempora floribus

Bind thy brows with the flowers

suaue olentis amaraci,

of fragrant marjoram,

flammeum cape laetus, huc

put on the marriage veil, hither,

huc ueni, niueo gerens

hither merrily come, wearing on thy snow-white

luteum pede soccum;

foot the yellow shoe,

excitusque hilari die,

and wakened on this joyful day,

nuptialia concinens

singing with resonant voice

uoce carmina tinnula,

the nuptial songs,

pelle humum pedibus, manu

beat the ground with thy feet,

pineam quate taedam.

shake with thy hand the pine torch.

namque Iunia Manlio,

For now shall Vinia wed with Manlius,

qualis Idalium colens

Vinia as fair as Venus

uenit ad Phrygium Venus

who dwells in Idalium, when she came

iudicem, bona cum bona

to the Phrygian judge;

nubet alite uirgo,

a good maiden with a good omen

floridis uelut enitens

like the Asian myrtle

myrtus Asia ramulis

shining with flowering sprays,

quos Hamadryades deae

which the Hamadryad goddesses

ludicrum sibi roscido

with dewy moisture nourish

nutriunt umore.

as a plaything for themselves.

quare age, huc aditum ferens,

Hither then, come hither, haste

perge linquere Thespiae

to leave the Aonian caves

rupis Aonios specus,

of the Thespian rock,

nympha quos super irrigat

which the nymph Aganippe besprinkles

frigerans Aganippe.

with cooling shower from above;

ac domum dominam uoca

call to her home the lady of the house,

coniugis cupidam noui,

full of desire for her bridegroom;

mentem amore reuinciens,

bind her heart with love,

ut tenax hedera huc et huc

as here and there the clinging ivy

arborem implicat errans.

straying clasps the tree.

uosque item simul, integrae

Ye too with me, unwedded

uirgines, quibus aduenit

virgins, for whom a like day

par dies, agite in modum

is coming, come, in measure

dicite, o Hymenaee Hymen,

say, “O Hymenaeus Hymen,

o Hymen Hymenaee.

O Hymen Hymenaeus!”

ut libentius, audiens

that hearing himself summoned

se citarier ad suum

to his own office, the god may come

munus, huc aditum ferat

more readily hither,

dux bonae Veneris, boni

the herald of genial Venus,

coniugator amoris.

the coupler of honest love.

quis deus magis est ama-

What god is more worthy to be invoked

tis petendus amantibus?

by lovers who are loved?

quem colent homines magis

whom of the heavenly ones shall men worship

caelitum, o Hymenaee Hymen,

more than thee? O Hymenaeus Hymen,

o Hymen Hymenaee?

O Hymen Hymenaeus!

te suis tremulus parens

Thee for his children the aged father

inuocat, tibi uirgines

invokes, for thee the maidens loose

zonula soluunt sinus,

their garments from the girdle:

te timens cupida nouos

for thee the bridegroom listens fearfully

captat aure maritus.

with eager ear.

tu fero iuueni in manus

Thou thyself givest into the hands

floridam ipse puellulam

of the fiery youth the blooming maiden

dedis a gremio suae

from her mother’s bosom,

matris, o Hymenaee Hymen,

O Hymenaeus Hymen,

o Hymen Hymenaee.

O Hymen Hymenaeus!

nil potest sine te Venus,

No pleasure can Venus take

fama quod bona comprobet,

without thee, such as honest fame

commodi capere, at potest

may approve, but can

te uolente. quis huic deo

if thou art willing. What god

compararier ausit?

dare match himself with this god?

nulla quit sine te domus

No house without thee can

liberos dare, nec parens

give children, no parent rest

stirpe nitier; ac potest

on his offspring ; but all is well

te uolente. quis huic deo

if thou art willing. What god

compararier ausit?

dare match himself with this god?

quae tuis careat sacris,

A land that should want thy sanctities

non queat dare praesides

would not be able to produce

terra finibus: at queat

guardians for its borders–but could

te uolente. quis huic deo

if thou art willing. What god

compararier ausit?

dare match himself with this god?

uirgo adest. uiden ut faces

the bride is coming. See you how the torches

splendidas quatiunt comas?

shake their shining tresses?

tardet ingenuus pudor.

noble shame delays. . . .

quem tamen magis audiens,

Yet listening rather to this,

flet quod ire necesse est.

she weeps that she must go.

flere desine. non tibi Au-

Weep no more. Not to you

runculeia periculum est,

Aurunculeia, is there danger

ne qua femina pulcrior

that any fairer woman

clarum ab Oceano diem

shall see the bright day

uiderit uenientem.

coming from ocean.

talis in uario solet

So in the gay garden

diuitis domini hortulo

of a rich owner

stare flos hyacinthinus.

stands a hyacinth flower–

sed moraris, abit dies.

but you delay, the day is passing;

prodeas noua nupta.

come forth, O bride.

prodeas noua nupta, si

Come forth, O bride, if

iam uidetur, et audias

now you will, and hear

nostra uerba. uiden? faces

our words. See how the torches

aureas quatiunt comas:

shake their golden tresses!

prodeas noua nupta.

come forth, O bride.

non tuus leuis in mala

Your husband will not,

deditus uir adultera,

lightly given to some wicked paramour,

probra turpia persequens,

and following shameful ways of dishonour,

a tuis teneris uolet

wish to lie away

secubare papillis,

from your soft bosom.

lenta sed uelut adsitas

but as the pliant vine entwines

uitis implicat arbores,

the trees planted near it,

implicabitur in tuum

so will he be entwined in your

complexum. sed abit dies:

embrace. But the day is passing;

prodeas noua nupta.

come forth, O bride.

o cubile, quod omnibus

O bridal bed, to all

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candido pede lecti,

white foot . . . bed,

quae tuo ueniunt ero,

What joys are coming for your lord,

quanta gaudia, quae uaga

O what joys to know in the fleeting

nocte, quae medio die

night, joys in the full day!–

gaudeat! sed abit dies:

but the day is passing;

prodeas noua nupta.

come forth, O bride.

tollite, o pueri, faces:

Raise aloft the torches, boys:

flammeum uideo uenire.

I see the wedding veil coming.

ite concinite in modum

Go on, sing in measure,

‘io Hymen Hymenaee io,

“Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.’

io Hymen Hymenaeus!”

ne diu taceat procax

Let not the merry Fescennine

Fescennina iocatio,

jesting be silent,

nec nuces pueris neget

let the favourite boy give away nuts to the sla ves

desertum domini audiens

when he hears how his lord

concubinus amorem.

has left his love.

da nuces pueris, iners

Give nuts to the slaves,

concubine! satis diu

favourite: your time is past,

lusisti nucibus: lubet

you have played with nuts long enough: s.

iam seruire Talasio.

you must now be the servant of Talassius.

concubine, nuces da.

Give nuts, beloved slave.

sordebant tibi uillicae,

Today and yesterday

concubine, hodie atque heri:

you disdained the country wives,

nunc tuum cinerarius

now the barber shaves

tondet os. miser a miser

your cheeks. Wretched, ah! wretched

concubine, nuces da.

lover, throw the nuts!

diceris male te a tuis

They will say that you,

unguentate glabris marite

perfumed bridegroom, are unwilling .

abstinere, sed abstine.

to give up your old pleasures; but abstain

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

scimus haec tibi quae licent

We know that you are acquainted

sola cognita, sed marito

with no unlawful joys: but a husband

ista non eadem licent.

has not the same liberty.

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

nupta, tu quoque quae tuus

You too, O bride, be sure you refuse not

uir petet caue ne neges,

what your husband claims,

ni petitum aliunde eat.

lest he go elsewhere to find it.

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

en tibi domus ut potens

See how mighty and rich for you

et beata uiri tui,

is the house of your husband;

quae tibi sine seruiat

be content to be mistress here,

(io Hymen Hymenaee io,

(Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee)

io Hymen Hymenaeus!)

usque dum tremulum mouens

even till hoary old age,

cana tempus anilitas

shaking a trembling head,

omnia omnibus annuit.

nods assent to all for all.

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

transfer omine cum bono

Bear over the threshold with a good

limen aureolos pedes,

omen your golden feet,

rasilemque subi forem.

and enter within the polished door.

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

aspice intus ut accubans

See how your husband within,

uir tuus Tyrio in toro

reclining on a purple couch,

totus immineat tibi.

is all eagerness for you.

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

illi non minus ac tibi

In his inmost heart

pectore uritur intimo

no less than in yours glows

flamma, sed penite magis.

the flame, but deeper within.

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

mitte brachiolum teres,

Let go, young boy,

praetextate, puellulae:

the smooth arm of the damsel,

iam cubile adeat uiri.

let her now come to her husband’s bed.

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

uos bonae senibus uiris

Ye, honest matrons, well wedded

cognitae bene feminae,

to ancient husbands,

collocate puellulam.

set the damsel in her place.

io Hymen Hymenaee io,

Io Hymen Hymenaeus io,

io Hymen Hymenaee.

io Hymen Hymenaeus!

iam licet uenias, marite:

Now you may come, bridegroom;

uxor in thalamo tibi est,

your wife, is in the bride-chamber,

ore floridulo nitens,

shining with flowery face,

alba parthenice uelut

like a white daisy

luteumue papauer.

or yellow poppy.

at, marite, ita me iuuent

But, husband, so the gods help me,

caelites, nihilo minus

you are no less fair,

pulcer es, neque te Venus

nor does Venus

neglegit. sed abit dies:

neglect you. But the day is passing.

perge, ne remorare.

Go on then, delay not.

non diu remoratus es:

Not long have you delayed.

iam uenis. bona te Venus

Already you come. May kindly Venus

iuuerit, quoniam palam

help you, since openly

quod cupis cupis, et bonum

you take your desire and

non abscondis amorem.

do not hide your honest love.

ille pulueris Africi

Let him first count up the number

siderumque micantium

of the dust of Africa

subducat numerum prius,

and of the glittering stars,

qui uestri numerare uolt

who would number

multa milia ludi.

the many thousands of your joys.

ludite ut lubet, et breui

Sport as ye will, and soon

liberos date. non decet

bring children forth. It is not fit ldren

tam uetus sine liberis

that so old a name should be without chi

nomen esse, sed indidem

but that they should be ,

semper ingenerari.

ever born from the same stock.

Torquatus uolo paruulus

I would see a little Torquatus,

matris e gremio suae

stretching his baby hands

porrigens teneras manus

from his mother’s lap,

dulce rideat ad patrem

smile a sweet smile at his father

semihiante labello.

with lips half parted.

sit suo similis patri

May he be like his father

Manlio et facile insciis

Manlius, and easily be recognised by all,

noscitetur ab omnibus,

even those who do not know,

et pudicitiam suae

and declare by his face

matris indicet ore.

the fair fame of his mother.

talis illius a bona

May such praise, due to his

matre laus genus approbet,

chaste mother, approve his descent,

qualis unica ab optima

as for Telemachus son of Penelope

matre Telemacho manet

remains unparagoned the honour

fama Penelopeo.

derived from his noble mother.

claudite ostia, uirgines:

Maidens, shut the doors.

lusimus satis. at boni

We have sported enough. But ye,

coniuges, bene uiuite et

happy pair, live happily,

munere assiduo ualentem

and in your office exercise joyously

exercete iuuentam.

your vigorous youth.

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