Читать книгу The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus - Gaius Valerius Catullus - Страница 7

Table of Contents

LIBER.

I.

Quoi dono lepidum novom libellum

Arida modo pumice expolitum?

Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas

Meas esse aliquid putare nugas,

5

Iam tum cum ausus es unus Italorum

Omne aevum tribus explicare chartis

Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis.

Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli,

Qualecumque, quod o patrona virgo,

10

Plus uno maneat perenne saeclo.

I.

Dedication to Cornelius Nepos.

Now smooth'd to polish due with pumice dry

Whereto this lively booklet new give I?

To thee (Cornelius!); for wast ever fain

To deem my trifles somewhat boon contain;

5

E'en when thou single 'mongst Italians found

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

10

To live down Ages lend thou lasting aid!

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,

5

Cum desiderio meo nitenti

Carum nescioquid libet iocari

Vt solaciolum sui doloris,

Credo ut iam gravis acquiescat ardor:

Tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem

10

Et tristis animi levare curas!

* * * *

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,

5

Were she who my desire withstood

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,

10

That mind might win from misery free!

* * * *

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!