Page:The poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus - Francis Warre Cornish.djvu/87



Youths. Hesperus, what more welcome fire shines in the sky? for thou with thy flame confirmest the contracted espousals, which husbands and parents have promised beforehand, but have not united till thy flame has arisen. What is given by the gods more desirable than the fortunate hour? Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, be present, O Hymcnacus!

Maidens. Hesperus, friends, has taken away one

of us...



Youths. For at thy coming the guard is always awake. By night thieves hide themselves, whom thou, Hesperus, often overtakest returning, Hesperus the same but with changed name Eous. [Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, be present, O Hymenaeus!]



But girls love to chide thee with feigned complaint. What then, if they chide him whom they desire in their secret heart? Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, be present, O Hymenaeus!

Maidens. As a flower springs up secretly in a fenced garden, unknown to the cattle, torn up by no 4° plough, which the winds caress, the sun strengthens, the shower draws forth, many boys, many girls, desire it; when the same flower fades, nipped by a sharp nail, no boys, no girls, desire it: so a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long she is dear to her own; when she has lost her chaste flower with sullied bod) r, she remains neither lovely to boys nor dear to girls. Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, be present, O Hymenaeus!