Carmen LXII: Nuptial Song by Youth and Damsels

Vesper is here, O youths, rise all; for Vesper OlympusScales 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!

View ye the Youths, O Maids unwed? Then rise to withstand them:Doubtless the night-fraught Star displays his splendour Oeteaen.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!

Nowise easy the palm for us (Companions!) be proffer'd,Lo! now the maidens muse and meditate matter of forethoughtNor 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!

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 clingingAnd 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!

Hesperus! say what flame more gladsome in Heavens be shining?Thou whose light makes sure long-pledged connubial promisePlighted 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 desired?Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!

Hesperus! one of ourselves (Companions!) carried elsewhitherHymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!

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 Eoeus.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!

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 showersLoves 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 ofkinsfolk;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!

E'en as an unmated vine which born in field of the barestNever upraises head nor breeds the mellowy grape-bunch,But under weight prone-bowed that tender body a-bendingMakes 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!

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!