LXI.
EPITHALAMIUM ON VINIA AND MANLIUS.
1.
Of Helicon-hill, O Thou that be Haunter, Urania's progeny, Who hurriest soft virginity To man, O Hymenæus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenæus. 5
2.
About thy temples bind the bloom, Of Marjoram flow'ret scented sweet; Take flamey veil: glad hither come Come hither borne by snow-hue'd feet Wearing the saffron'd sock. 10
3.
And, roused by day of joyful cheer, Carolling nuptial lays and chaunts With voice as silver-ringing clear, Beat ground with feet, while brandisht flaunts Thy hand the piney torch. 15
4.
For Vinia comes by Manlius woo'd, As Venus on th' Idalian crest, Before the Phrygian judge she stood And now with blessèd omens blest, The maid is here to wed. 20
5.
A maiden shining bright of blee, As Myrtle branchlet Asia bred, Which Hamadryad deity As toy for joyance aye befed With humour of the dew. 25
6.
Then hither come thou, hieing lief, Awhile to leave th' Aonian cave, Where 'neath the rocky Thespian cliff Nymph Aganippe loves to lave In cooly waves outpoured. 30
7.
And call the house-bride, homewards bring Maid yearning for new married fere, Her mind with fondness manacling, As the tough ivy here and there Errant the tree enwinds. 35
8.
And likewise ye, clean virginal Maidens, to whom shall haps befall Like day, in measure join ye all Singing, O Hymenæus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenæus. 40
9.
That with more will-full will a-hearing The call to office due, he would Turn footsteps hither, here appearing, Guide to good Venus, and the good Lover conjoining strait. 45
10.
What God than other Godheads more Must love-sick wights for aid implore? Whose Godhead foremost shall adore Mankind? O Hymenæus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenæus. 50
11.
Thee for his own the trembling sire Invokes, thee Virgins ever sue Who laps of zone to loose aspire, And thee the bashful bridegrooms woo With ears that long to hear. 55
12.
Thou to the hand of love-fierce swain Deliverest maiden fair and fain, From mother's fondling bosom ta'en Perforce, O Hymenæus Hymen O Hymen Hymenæus. 60
13.
Thou lacking, Venus ne'er avails-- While Fame approves for honesty-- Love-joys to lavish: ne'er she fails Thou willing:--with such Deity Whoe'er shall dare compare? 65
14.
Thou wanting, never son and heir The Hearth can bear, nor parents be By issue girt, yet can it bear, Thou willing:--with such Deity, Whoe'er shall dare compare? 70
15.
An lack a land thy sacring rite, The perfect rule we ne'er shall see Reach Earth's far bourne; yet such we sight, Thou willing:--with such Deity Whoe'er shall dare compare? 75
16.
Your folds ye gateways wide-ope swing! The maiden comes. Seest not the sheen Of links their splendent tresses fling? Let shame retard the modest mien. * * * *
17.
* * * * * * * * * * * * Who more she hears us weeps the more, 80 That needs she must advance. 81
18.
Cease raining tear-drops! not for thee, (86) Aurunculeia, risk we deem, That fairer femininety Clear day outdawned from Ocean stream 85 Shall ever more behold. (90)
19.
Such in the many-tinted bower Of rich man's garden passing gay Upstands the hyacinthine flower. But thou delayest, wanes the day: 90 _Prithee, come forth new Bride._
20.
Prithee, come forth new Bride! methinks, Drawing in sight, the talk we hold Thou haply hearest. See the Links! How shake their locks begilt with gold: 95 Prithee, new Bride come forth.
21.
Not lightly given thy mate to ill Joys and adulterous delights Foul fleshly pleasures seeking still Shall ever choose he lie o' nights 100 Far from thy tender paps.
22.
But as with pliant shoots the vine Round nearest tree-trunk winds her way, He shall be ever twined in thine Embraces:--yet, lo! wanes the day: 105 Prithee, come forth new Bride!
23.
Couchlet which to me and all * * * * * * * * * * * * 110 With bright white bedstead foot.
24.
What joys the lord of thee betide! What love-liesse on vaguing way O' nights! What sweets in morning tide For thee be stored! Yet wanes the day: 115 Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!
25.
Your lighted links, O boys, wave high: I see the flamey veil draw nigh: Hie, sing in merry mode and cry "O Hymen Hymenæus io, 120 O Hymen Hymenæus!"
26.
Lest longer mute tongue stays that joys In festal jest, from Fescennine, Nor yet denay their nuts to boys, He-Concubine! who learns in fine 125 His lordling's love is fled.
27.
Throw nuts to boys thou idle all He-Concubine! wast fain full long With nuts to play: now pleased as thrall Be thou to swell Talasios' throng: 130 He-Concubine throw nuts.
28.
Wont thou at peasant-girls to jape He-whore! Thy Lord's delight the while: Now shall hair-curling chattel scrape Thy cheeks: poor wretch, ah! poor and vile:-- 135 He-Concubine, throw nuts.
29.
'Tis said from smooth-faced ingle train (Anointed bridegroom!) hardly fain Hast e'er refrained; now do refrain! O Hymen Hymenæus io, 140 O Hymen Hymenæus!
30.
We know that naught save licit rites Be known to thee, but wedded wights No more deem lawful such delights. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 145 O Hymen Hymenæus.
31.
Thou too, O Bride, whatever dare Thy groom, of coy rebuff beware, Lest he to find elsewhither fare. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 150 O Hymen Hymenæus.
32.
Lo! here the house of high degree Thy husband's puissant home to be, Which ever shall obey thy gree. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 155 O Hymen Hymenæus!
33.
Till Time betide when eld the hoar Thy head and temples trembling o'er Make nod to all things evermore. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 160 O Hymen Hymenæus.
34.
O'erstep with omen meetest meet The threshold-stone thy golden feet Up, past the polisht panels fleet. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 165 O Hymen Hymenæus.
35.
Within bestrewn thy bridegroom see On couch of Tyrian cramoisy All imminent awaiting thee. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 170 O Hymen Hymenæus.
36.
For in his breast not less than thine Burn high the flames that deepest shrine, Yet his the lowe far deeper lien. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 175 O Hymen Hymenæus.
37.
Let fall the maid's soft arms, thou fair Boy purple-hem'd: now be thy care Her bridegroom's couch she seek and share. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 180 O Hymen Hymenæus.
38.
Ye wives time-tried to husbands wed, Well-known for chastity inbred, Dispose the virginette a-bed. O Hymen Hymenæus io, 185 O Hymen Hymenæus.
39.
Groom, now 'tis meet thou hither pace, With bride in genial bed to blend, For sheenly shines her flowery face Where the white chamomiles contend 190 With poppies blushing red.
40.
Yet bridegroom (So may Godhead deign Help me!) nowise in humbler way Art fair, nor Venus shall disdain Thy charms, but look! how wanes the day: 195 Forward, nor loiter more!
41.
No longer loitering makest thou, Now comest thou. May Venus good Aid thee when frankly takest thou Thy wishes won, nor true Love woo'd 200 Thou carest to conceal.
42.
Of Afric's wolds and wilds each grain, Or constellations glistening, First reckon he that of the twain To count alone were fain to bring 205 The many thousand joys.
43.
Play as ye please: soon prove ye deft At babying babes,--'twere ill design'd A name thus ancient should be left Heirless, but issue like of kind 210 Engendered aye should be.
44.
A wee Torquátus fain I'd see Encradled on his mother's breast Put forth his tender puds while he Smiles to his sire with sweetest gest 215 And liplets half apart.
45.
Let son like father's semblance show (Manlius!) so with easy guess All know him where his sire they know, And still his face and form express 220 His mother's honest love.
46.
Approve shall fair approof his birth From mother's seed-stock generous, As rarest fame of mother's worth Unique exalts Telemachus 225 Penelope's own son.
47.
Fast close the door-leaves, virgin band: Enow we've played. But ye the fair New-wedded twain live happy, and Functions of lusty married pair 230 Exercise sans surcease.
O Fosterer of the Helicon Hill, sprung from Urania, who beareth the gentle virgin to her mate, O Hymenaeus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Twine round thy temples sweet-smelling flowerets of marjoram; put on thy gold-tinted veil; light-hearted, hither, hither haste, bearing on snowy foot the golden-yellow sandal:
And a-fire with the joyous day, chanting wedding melodies with ringing voice, strike the ground with thy feet, with thine hand swing aloft the pine-link.
For Vinia--fair as Idalian Venus, when stood before the Phrygian judge--a virgin fair, weds Manlius 'midst happy auspices.
She, bright-shining as the Asian myrtle florid in branchlets, which the Hamadryads nurture for their pleasure with besprinkled dew.
Wherefore, hither! leaving the Aonian grot in the Thespian Rock, o'er which flows the chilling stream of Aganippe.
And summon homewards the mistress, eager for her new yoke, firm-prisoning her soul in love; as tight-clasping ivy, wandering hither, thither, enwraps the tree around.
And also ye, upright virgins, for whom a like day is nearing, chant ye in cadence, singing "O Hymenaeus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenaeus!"
That more freely, hearing himself to his duty called, will he bear hither his presence, Lord of true Venus, uniter of true lovers.
What god is worthier of solicitation by anxious amourists? Whom of the celestials do men worship more greatly? O Hymenaeus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Thee for his young the trembling father beseeches, for thee virgins unclasp the zone from their breasts, for thee the fear-full bridegroom harkeneth with eager ear.
Thou bearest to the youngster's arms that flower-like damsel, taken from her mother's bosom, O Hymenaeus Hymen, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Nor lacking thee may Venus take her will with fair Fame's approbation; but she may, with thy sanction. With such a God who dares compare?
Lacking thee, no house can yield heirs, nor parent be surrounded by offspring; but they may, with thy sanction. With such a God who dares compare?
Nor lacking thy rites may our land be protected e'en to its boundaries; but it may, with thy sanction. With such a God who dares compare?
Gates open wide: the virgin is here. See how the torch-flakes shake their gleaming locks? Let shame retard the modest:
* * * *
Yet hearing, greater does she weep, that she must onwards go.
Cease thy tears. For thee there is no peril, Aurunculeia, that any woman more beauteous from Ocean springing shall ever see the light of day.
Thou art like the hyacinthine flower, wont to stand aloft 'midst varied riches of its lordling's garden. But thou delayest, day slips by: advance, new mated one.
Advance, new mated, now in sight, and listen to our speech. Note how the torch-flakes shake their glittering tresses: advance, new mated one.
Nor given to ill adulteries, nor seeking lawless shames, shall thy husband ever wish to lie away from thy soft breasts,
But as the lithe vine amongst neighbouring trees doth cling, so shall he be enclasped in thine encircled arms. But day slips by: advance, new mated one.
O nuptial couch * * * * with feet of ivory white.
What joys are coming to thy lord, in gloom o' night, in noon of day. Let him rejoice! but day slips by: advance, new mated one.
High raise, O boys, the torches: I see the gleaming veil approach. Come, chant in cadence, "O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus."
Nor longer silent is lewd Fescinnine jest, nor to the boys the nuts deny, ingle, hearing thy master's love has flown.
Give nuts to the boys, O listless ingle; enough of days thou hast played with nuts: now 'tis meet to serve Talassius. O ingle, give the nuts!
The country lasses slighted were by thee, O ingle, till to-day: now the bride's tiresman shaves thy face. Wretched, wretched ingle, give the nuts.
They say that from thy hairless ingles, O sweet-scented bridegroom, thou canst scarce abstain: but abstain thou! O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus.
We know that these delights were known to thee only when lawful: but to the wedded these same no more are lawful. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Thou also, bride, what thy husband seekest beware of denying, lest he go elsewhere in its search. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Look, thy husband's home is thine, potent and goodly, and shall be thine for ever more. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Until with trembling movement thine hoary brow nods ever to everything. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Lift o'er the threshold with good omen thy glistening feet, and go through the polished gates. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Look! thy lord within, lying on Tyrian couch, all-expectant waits for thee. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Not less than in thine, in his breast burns an inmost flame, but more deeply inward. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus!
Unloose the damsel's slender arm, O purple-bordered youth: now let her approach her husband's couch. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Ye good dames of fair renown to aged spouses, put ye the damsel a-bed. O Hymen Hymenaeus io, O Hymen Hymenaeus.
Now thou mayst come, O bridegroom: thy wife is in the bridal-bed, with face brightly blushing as white parthenice 'midst ruddy poppies.
But, O bridegroom (so help me the heaven-dwellers) in no way less beautiful art thou, nor doth Venus slight thee. But the day slips by: on! nor more delay.
Nor long hast thou delayed, thou comest now. May kindly Venus help thee, since what thou dost desire thou takest publicly, and dost not conceal true love.
Of Afric's sands and glittering stars the number first let him tell, who wishes to keep count of your many-thousand sports.
Sport as ye like, and speedily give heirs. It does not become so old a name to be sans heirs, but for similar stock always to be generated.
A little Torquatus I wish, from his mother's bosom reaching out his dainty hands, and smiling sweetly at his father with lips apart.
May he be like his sire Manlius, and easily acknowledged by every stranger, and by his face point out his mother's faithfulness.
May such praise confirm his birth from true mother, such fame unique as rests with Telemachus from best of mothers, Penelope.
Close ye the doors, virgins: enough we've sported. But, fair bride and groom, live ye well, and diligently fulfil the office of vigorous youth.