The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus | Page 5

(Cornelius!); for wast ever fain?To deem my trifles somewhat boon contain;?E'en when thou single 'mongst Italians found 5 Daredst all periods in three Scripts expound?Learned (by Jupiter!) elaborately.?Then take thee whatso in this booklet be,?Such as it is, whereto O Patron Maid?To live down Ages lend thou lasting aid! 10
To whom inscribe my dainty tome--just out and with ashen pumice polished? Cornelius, to thee! for thou wert wont to deem my triflings of account, and at a time when thou alone of Italians didst dare unfold the ages' abstract in three chronicles--learned, by Jupiter!--and most laboriously writ. Wherefore take thou this booklet, such as 'tis, and O Virgin Patroness, may it outlive generations more than one.
II.
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,?Quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,?Quoi primum digitum dare adpetenti?Et acris solet incitare morsus,?Cum desiderio meo nitenti 5 Carum nescioquid libet iocari?Vt solaciolum sui doloris,?Credo ut iam gravis acquiescat ardor:?Tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem?Et tristis animi levare curas! 10

Tam gratumst mihi quam ferunt puellae
Pernici aureolum fuisse malum,
Quod zonam soluit diu ligatam.
II.
LESBIA'S SPARROW.
Sparrow! my pet's delicious joy,?Wherewith in bosom nurst to toy?She loves, and gives her finger-tip?For sharp-nib'd greeding neb to nip,?Were she who my desire withstood 5 To seek some pet of merry mood,?As crumb o' comfort for her grief,?Methinks her burning lowe's relief:?Could I, as plays she, play with thee,?That mind might win from misery free! 10

To me t'were grateful (as they say),
Gold codling was to fleet-foot May,
Whose long-bound zone it loosed for aye.
Sparrow, petling of my girl, with which she wantons, which she presses to her bosom, and whose eager peckings is accustomed to incite by stretching forth her forefinger, when my bright-hued beautiful one is pleased to jest in manner light as (perchance) a solace for her heart ache, thus methinks she allays love's pressing heats! Would that in manner like, I were able with thee to sport and sad cares of mind to lighten!

This were gracious to me as in story old to the maiden fleet of foot was the apple golden-fashioned which unloosed her girdle long-time girt.
III.
Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque,?Et quantumst hominum venustiorum.?Passer mortuus est meae puellae,?Passer, deliciae meae puellae,?Quem plus illa oculis suis amabat: 5 Nam mellitus erat suamque norat?Ipsa tam bene quam puella matrem?Nec sese a gremio illius movebat,?Sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc?Ad solam dominam usque pipiabat. 10 Qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum?Illuc, unde negant redire quemquam.?At vobis male sit, malae tenebrae?Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis:?Tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis. 15 O factum male! io miselle passer!?Tua nunc opera meae puellae?Flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli.
III.
ON THE DEATH OF LESBIA'S SPARROW.
Weep every Venus, and all Cupids wail,?And men whose gentler spirits still prevail.?Dead is the Sparrow of my girl, the joy,?Sparrow, my sweeting's most delicious toy,?Whom loved she dearer than her very eyes; 5 For he was honeyed-pet and anywise?Knew her, as even she her mother knew;?Ne'er from her bosom's harbourage he flew?But 'round her hopping here, there, everywhere,?Piped he to none but her his lady fair. 10 Now must he wander o'er the darkling way?Thither, whence life-return the Fates denay.?But ah! beshrew you, evil Shadows low'ring?In Orcus ever loveliest things devouring:?Who bore so pretty a Sparrow fro' her ta'en. 15 (Oh hapless birdie and Oh deed of bane!)?Now by your wanton work my girl appears?With turgid eyelids tinted rose by tears.
Mourn ye, O ye Loves and Cupids and all men of gracious mind. Dead is the sparrow of my girl, sparrow, sweetling of my girl. Which more than her eyes she loved; for sweet as honey was it and its mistress knew, as well as damsel knoweth her own mother nor from her bosom did it rove, but hopping round first one side then the other, to its mistress alone it evermore did chirp. Now does it fare along that path of shadows whence naught may e'er return. Ill be to ye, savage glooms of Orcus, which swallow up all things of fairness: which have snatched away from me the comely sparrow. O deed of bale! O sparrow sad of plight! Now on thy account my girl's sweet eyes, swollen, do redden with tear-drops.
IIII.
Phaselus ille, quem videtis, hospites,?Ait fuisse navium celerrimus,?Neque ullius natantis impetum trabis?Nequisse praeter ire, sive palmulis?Opus foret volare sive linteo. 5 Et hoc negat minacis Adriatici?Negare litus insulasve Cycladas?Rhodumque nobilem horridamque Thraciam?Propontida trucemve Ponticum sinum,?Vbi iste post phaselus antea fuit 10 Comata silva: nam Cytorio in iugo?Loquente saepe sibilum edidit coma.?Amastri Pontica et Cytore buxifer,?Tibi haec fuisse et esse cognitissima?Ait phaselus: ultima ex origine 15 Tuo stetisse dicit in cacumine,?Tuo imbuisse palmulas in aequore,?Et inde tot per inpotentia freta?Erum tulisse, laeva sive dextera?Vocaret aura, sive utrumque Iuppiter 20 Simul secundus incidisset in pedem;?Neque ulla vota litoralibus deis?Sibi esse facta, cum veniret a marei?Novissime hunc ad usque limpidum lacum.?Sed haec prius fuere: nunc recondita 25 Senet quiete seque dedicat tibi,?Gemelle Castor et