| PASSER, DELICIAE MEAE PUELLAE ... |
SPARROW, LITTLE DARLING OF MY LOVE ... |
| Catullus (Gaius Valerius Catullus) | tr. Brian Cole |
|
Passer, deliciae meae puellae, quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere, cui primum digitum dare appetenti et acris solet incitare morsus, cum desiderio meo nitenti carum nescio quid lubet iocari, et solaciolum sui doloris credo, ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor: tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem et tristis animi levare curas! |
Sparrow, little darling of my girl, how she plays with you, hides you in her bosom and when you come she offers her fingertips and teasing tempts your little beak to peck. When my glowing much-desired belovéd is pleased to play a little joke on me and look for some small comfort in her trouble, then I think the urgent heat is allayed! If only I, like our mistress, could play with you and thus relieve the sadness in my heart! |
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Trans. Copyright © Brian Cole 2007