Is there else a Heavenly power
That grants to men so sweet an hour?

[Quid datur a divis felici optatius hora?]

gaius valerius catullus
Catullus (c. 84 BC – c. 54 BC) Latin poet [Gaius Valerius Catullus]
Carmina # 62 “Nuptual Song,” st. 5, l. 40 [Youths] [tr. Symons-Jeune (1923)]
    (Source)

Singing to Hesperus, the Evening Star, in celebration of the hour of marriage. Or maybe the hour of the marriage bed; the translations are unclear.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

Say, what more blissful can the gods bestow,
Than the fond hour that crowns each am'rous vow?
[tr. Nott (1795), # 59]

What god can give, what proud celestial power,
A richer boon than thy connubial hour?
[tr. Lamb (1821)]

What choicer hour sends heaven our life to cheer?
[tr. T. Martin (1861)]

What by the gods to mortals given can match this blissful hour?
[tr. Cranstoun (1867)]

When shone an happier hour than thy god-speeded arriving?
[tr. Ellis (1871)]

What better boon can the gods bestow than hour so desirèd?
[tr. Burton (1893)]

What more wished for do the gods give than that happy hour?
[tr. Smithers (1894)]

What is given by the gods more desirable than the fortunate hour?
[tr. Warre Cornish (1904)]

What hour happier than this glorious hour is given by the Gods?
[tr. Stuttaford (1912)]

What gift of heaven excels the wishèd hour?
[tr. MacNaghten (1925)]

Can Heaven give a greater boon than this?
[tr. Wright (1926)]

What gift from heaven
greater than this gift from gods to man in a superlative hour of happiness?
[tr. Gregory (1931)]

What gift from heaven surpasses this fortunate hour?
[tr. C. Martin (1979)]

What gift of heaven is more desirable than this happy hour?
[tr. Goold (1983)]

What wished-for hour by the gods is more happily granted?
[tr. Kline (2001)]

What better gift have the gods than this most happy hour?
[tr. Green (2005)]

What is given by the gods more desirable than the fortunate hour?
[tr. Wikisource (2018)]


 
Added on 22-Aug-24 | Last updated 22-Aug-24
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