COLLIS O HELICONII

Collis o Heliconii O inhibitant of the mountain of Helicon
cultor, Uraniae genus, son of Urania
qui rapis teneram ad virum who seize a dainty young woman and
virginem, o Hymenaee Hymen, carry her off to a man,
o Hymen Hymenaee; o Hymenaeus, Hymen!o Hymenaeus,Hymen!

cinge tempora floribus Crown your temples with folwers
suave olentis amaraci, take your flame-coloured veil
flammeum cape laetus, huc pleasant with fragrant marjoram
huc veni, niveo gerens and come over here wearing a reddish yellow
luteum pede soccum; slipper on a snow-white foot

excitusque hilari die, And having been roused from sleep
nuptialia concinens on a cheerful day
voce carmina tinnula, singing wedding songs in a high-pitched voice
pelle humum pedibus, manu strike the ground with your feet
pineam quate taedam. and shake the pinewood marriage-torch
with your hand
namque Iunia Manlio, Good virgin Iunia
qualis Idalium colens dons the veil for Manius with a good omen
venit ad Phrygium Venus like Venus, who dwells in Idalium
iudicem, bona cum bona as she came to Paris, the Phrygian judge
nubet alite virgo,

floridis velut enitens And she is just like an Asian myrtle tree
myrtus Asia ramulis shinning forth with small
quos Hamadryades deae flowery branches, which the wood nymphs
ludicrum sibi roscido nurture with dewy moisture
nutriunt umore. as amusement for themselves

quare age, huc aditum ferens, Therefore come, making an approach
perge linquere Thespiae over here and continue
rupis Aonios specus, leaving behind the Aonian caves
nympha quos super irrigat of the Thespian rock, the caves which
frigerans Aganippe. the nymph Aganippe makes wet
as she cools them from above
ac domum dominam voca And call the mistress
coniugis cupidam novi, desirous of her new husband
mentem amore revinciens, home, as you bind their minds with love
ut tenax hedera huc et huc like wandering ivy clinging to a tree
arborem implicat errans. in a tangle

vosque item simul, integrae Likewise, you unmarrierd virgins
virgines, quibus advenit whose own wedding day, as well,
par dies, agite in modum is coming soon, act in the right
dicite, o Hymenaee Hymen, and proper way, and sing, "O Hymeneaus
o Hymen Hymenaee. Hymen! O Hymeneaus Hymen!"

ut libentius, audiens In order that the leader of good Venus
se citarier ad suum the one, who conjoins good love
munus, huc aditum ferat might make his approach over here
dux bonae Veneris, boni more gladly when he hears himself
coniugator amoris. being called to the task.