Carmina

Catullus

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

  1. As crumb o' comfort for her grief,
  2. Methinks her burning lowe's relief:
  3. Could I, as plays she, play with thee,
  4. That mind might win from misery free!
  5. ---
  6. To me t'were grateful (as they say),
  7. Gold codling was to fleet-foot May,
  8. Whose long-bound zone it loosed for aye.
  1. Weep every Venus, and all Cupids wail,
  2. And men whose gentler spirits still prevail.
  3. Dead is the Sparrow of my girl, the joy,
  4. Sparrow, my sweeting's most delicious toy,
  5. Whom loved she dearer than her very eyes;
  6. For he was honeyed-pet and anywise
  7. Knew her, as even she her mother knew;
  8. Ne'er from her bosom's harbourage he flew
  9. But 'round her hopping here, there, everywhere,
  10. Piped he to none but her his lady fair.
  11. Now must he wander o'er the darkling way