Catullus

“ Hymen, O Hymenaeus, Hymen, hither, O Hymenaeus!
As an unwedded vine which grows up in a bare field
never raises itself aloft, never brings forth a mellow grape,
but bending its tender form with downward weight,
even now touches the root with topmost shoot;
no farmers, no oxen tend it:
but if it chance to be joined in marriage to the elm,
many farmers, many oxen tend it:
so a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long is she aging untended;
but when in ripe season she is matched in equal wedlock,
she is more dear to her husband and less distasteful to her father. ”

“ We have diverted elsewhere our thoughts, elsewhere our ears;
fairly then shall we be beaten; victory loveth care.
Wherefore now at least match your minds with theirs.
Anon they will begin to speak, anon it will be fitting for us to answer. ”

“ Ut flōs in saeptīs sēcrētus nāscitur hortīs,
ignōtus pecorī, nūllō convolsus arātrō, 40
quem mulcent aurae, firmat sōl, ēducat imber;
multī illum puerī, multae optāvēre puellae:
īdem cum tenuī carptus dēflōruit unguī,
nūllī illum puerī, nullae optāvēre puellae:
sīc virgō, dum intācta manet, dum cāra suīs est; ”