Carmina

Catullus

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. Burton, Sir Richard Francis, translator. London, Printed for the Translators, 1894.

  1. And men whose gentler spirits still prevail.
  2. Dead is the Sparrow of my girl, the joy,
  3. Sparrow, my sweeting's most delicious toy,
  4. Whom loved she dearer than her very eyes;
  5. For he was honeyed-pet and anywise
  6. Knew her, as even she her mother knew;
  7. Ne'er from her bosom's harbourage he flew
  8. But 'round her hopping here, there, everywhere,
  9. Piped he to none but her his lady fair.
  10. Now must he wander o'er the darkling way
  11. Thither, whence life-return the Fates denay.
  12. But ah! beshrew you, evil Shadows low'ring
  13. In Orcus ever loveliest things devouring:
  14. Who bore so pretty a Sparrow fro' her ta'en.
  15. (Oh hapless birdie and Oh deed of bane!)
  16. Now by your wanton work my girl appears
  17. With turgid eyelids tinted rose by tears.
  1. Yonder Pinnace ye (my guests!) behold
  2. Saith she was erstwhile fleetest-fleet of crafts,
  3. Nor could by swiftness of aught plank that swims,