Youths
Vesper is here: youths, arise.
Vesper at last has just borne
aloft in the heavens his long awaited light. Now it is time to arise, now to
leave the luxurious tables, now will come the virgin, now will be sung the
Hymenaeus. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen come O Hymenaeus!
Maidens
Unwedded girls, do you see the youths? Arise in response: so it must be that
the Star of Eve displays its Oetaean fires. Surely it is thus; see how
fleetly they have leapt forth? Nor without intent have they leapt forth;
what they will sing, it is our task to surpass. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen
come O Hymenaeus!
Youths
For us, comrades, the palm of victory is not easily acquired; see how the
girls rehearse what they planned. They do not plan in vain, what they have
may be memorable. No wonder: for inwardly they toil with whole of their
minds. Our minds are parted in one direction, our ears in another:
rightfully therefore we shall be surpassed, for victory loves solicitude. So
then, at least now focus your attention: now they begin to sing, now we
shall have to respond. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen come O Hymenaeus!
Maidens
Hesperus! what crueler star is borne
aloft in the heavens? you who could pluck a maid from her mother's embrace,
pluck a clinging maid from her mother's embrace, and could give the chaste
girl to a burning youth. What more cruel could victors accomplish in
vanquished city? Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen come O Hymenaeus!
Youths
Hesperus! what more delightful star
shines in the heavens? you who strengthen with your flame the marriage
betrothals which husbands pledge, and which the fathers pledged before, and
they are not joined before your flame is borne aloft. What more wished for
do the gods give than that happy hour? Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen come O
Hymenaeus!
Maidens
Hesperus, comrades, has stolen one
girl away from us, ... [Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen come O
Hymenaeus!]
Youths
For at your approach a guard always keeps watch. Thieves lie in wait by
night, often on your return with your name changed, Hesperus, you catch the same men. Yet it
pleases the unwedded girls to criticize you with false complaints. But what
if they criticize the one whom with silent mind they long for? Hymen O
Hymenaeus, Hymen come O Hymenaeus!
Maidens
As grows the hidden flower in a walled garden, unknown to cattle, uprooted by
no plow, which the breezes caress, the sun strengthens, and the rain gives
growth: many boys and many girls have longed for it: this same flower when
plucked by a delicate fingernail sheds its blossoms: no boys and no girls
long for it: so the virgin, while she stays untouched, so long is she dear
to her own; when she has lost her chaste flower from her body profaned, she
does not remain a delight for the boys,she beauteous, nor is she dear to the
girls. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen come O Hymenaeus!
Youths
As the widowed vine which grows in naked field never uplifts itself, never
ripens a mellow grape, but bending prone beneath the weight of its tender
body now and again its highmost shoot touches with its root; this no farmer,
no oxen will cultivate: but if this same chance to be joined with marital
elm, many farmers, many oxen will cultivate it: so the virgin, while she
stays untouched, so long does she age, uncultivated; but when she obtains
fitting union at the right time, dearer is she to her husband and less of a
trouble to her father. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen come O Hymenaeus!
Youths and Maidens
Even you, virgin, do not struggle against such a mate. It is improper to
struggle with him to whom your father has handed you over, your father
himself together with your mother whom you must obey. Your maidenhead is not
wholly yours, in part it is your parents': a third part is your father's, a
third part is given to your mother, a third alone is yours: be unwilling to
struggle against two, who to their son-in-law their rights together with
dowry have given. Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen come O Hymenaeus!
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