Gaius Valerius Catullus, Carmen 62.1-10
Throughout this poem, Catullus alternates between a group of young men and a group of young women attending a wedding, each group singing in friendly competition about their contrasting views on marriage. Here, Vesper, the evening star, rises over Olympus, signaling that the wedding is about to begin and it is time for both sides to ready themselves.
Tier 1
(pueri dicunt) iuvenes, vesper adest, surgite: Vesper tandem tollit Olympo diu expectata lumina. (here actually meaning light)
iam est tempus surgere, iam est tempus discedere a mensis plenis ciborum, iam virgo veniet, iam hymenaeus dicetur.
o Hymenaee Hymen, veni o Hymenaee Hymen!
(puellae dicunt) virgines, cernitis iuvenes? consurgite contra (opposite them);
sine dubio certe est, noctifer (bringer of night) ostendit Oetaeos ignes.
videsne quam perniciter (nimbly) exsiluerunt? non exsiluerunt sine causa, par est nobis vincere id quod canent.
o Hymenaee Hymen, veni o Hymenaee Hymen!
Tier 2
iuvenes, vesper adest, consurgite: Vesper vix tandem diu expectata lumina tollit Olympo.
iam tempus surgere, iam linquere pinguis mensas, iam virgo veniet, iam hymenaeus dicetur.
o Hymenaee Hymen, ades o Hymenaee Hymen!
innuptae, cernitis iuvenes? consurgite contra;
nimirum sic certest, noctifer ostendit Oetaeos ignes.
viden ut perniciter exsiluere? non temere exsiluere, par est vincere quod canent.
o Hymenaee Hymen, ades o Hymenaee Hymen!
Tier 3 - Carmen Ipsum
- Vesper adest, iuvenes, consurgite: Vesper Olympo
- exspectata diu vix tandem lumina tollit.
- surgere iam tempus, iam pinguis linquere mensas,
- iam veniet virgo, iam dicetur hymenaeus.
- Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
- Cernitis, innuptae, iuvenes? consurgite contra;
- nimirum Oetaeos ostendit Noctifer ignes.
- sic certest; viden ut perniciter exsiluere?
- non temere exsiluere, canent quod vincere par est.
- Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!
Written by Robert Amstutz
