C. Valerius Catullus, Carmina, ON THE DEATH OF LESBIA'S SPARROW

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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;
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.
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.
(Oh hapless birdie and Oh deed of bane!)
Now by your wanton work my girl appears
With turgid eyelids tinted rose by tears.

Catullus. Carmina. Sir Richard Francis Burton. trans. London. For translator for private use. 1894.

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Commentary references to this page (13):
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 1
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 11
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 13
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 2
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 25
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 3
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 36
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 49
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 5
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 50
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, 51
- Frank Frost Abbott, Commentary on Selected Letters of Cicero, Letter LXVIII: ad Atticum 12.11
- Frank Frost Abbott, Commentary on Selected Letters of Cicero, Letter V: ad Atticum 1.16
Cross-references to this page (6):
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, Lesbia.
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, Journey to Bithynia.
- E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, Poems.
- Anne Mahoney, Overview of Latin Syntax, Nouns, Adjectives, and Pronouns
- Anne Mahoney, Overview of Latin Syntax, Verbs
- Harper's, Linum

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C. Valerius Catullus, Carmina
Sir Richard Francis Burton, Ed.

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ON THE DEATH OF LESBIA'S SPARROW

C. Valerius Catullus, Carmina Sir Richard Francis Burton, Ed.

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ON THE DEATH OF LESBIA'S SPARROW

C. Valerius Catullus, Carmina
Sir Richard Francis Burton, Ed.