Part 17 (1/2)
Vt vidua in nudo vitis quae nascitur arvo Numquam se extollit, numquam mitem educat uvam, 50 Sed tenerum p.r.o.no deflectens pondere corpus Iam iam contingit summum radice flagellum; Hanc nulli agricolae, nulli coluere bubulci: At si forte eademst ulmo coniuncta marito, Multi illam agricolae, multi coluere bubulci: 55 Sic virgo dum intacta manet, dum inculta senescit; c.u.m par conubium maturo tempore adeptast, Cara viro magis et minus est invisa parenti.
_Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee_! 58b
At tu ne pugna c.u.m tali coniuge virgo.
Non aequomst pugnare, pater cui tradidit ipse, 60 Ipse pater c.u.m matre, quibus parere necessest.
Virginitas non tota tuast, ex parte parentumst, Tertia pars patrist, pars est data tertia matri, Tertia sola tuast: noli pugnare duobus, Qui genero sua iura simul c.u.m dote dederunt. 65 Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
LXII.
NUPTIAL SONG BY YOUTH AND DAMSELS.
(Epithalamium.)
_Youths._
Vesper is here, O youths, rise all; for Vesper Olympus Scales 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! 5
_Damsels._
View ye the Youths, O Maids unwed? Then rise to withstand them: Doubtless the night-fraught Star displays his splendour Oetean.
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! 10
_Youths._
Nowise easy the palm for us (Companions!) be proffer'd, Lo! now the maidens muse and meditate matter of forethought Nor 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: 15 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!
_Damsels._
Hesperus! say what flame more cruel in Heaven be fanned? 20 Thou who the girl perforce canst tear from a mother's embraces, Tear from a parent's clasp her child despite of her clinging And 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! 25
_Youths._
Hesperus! say what flame more gladsome in Heavens be s.h.i.+ning?
Thou whose light makes sure long-pledged connubial promise Plighted 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 G.o.ds bestow than hour so desired? 30 Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!