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I'm Melissa; pretend journalist and currently real-life accountant wannabe. I used to be a kid in highschool, but I've since kicked the habit. At 18 years of age I'm just moving through life, enjoying my free-time and earning lots of money whilst still living with my parents. Continued on page 2...

Lament for a Sparrow
August 9, 2005 | Filed under: Latin Fun

“Oh where oh where can my baby be? The Lord took her away from me. She's gone to heaven so I've got to be good, so I can see my baby when I leave this world. Pearl Jam - Last Kiss”

I know, I know. I’ve shown this place no love recently. But in the near future I explain my business to you - mostly to do with school, work, trying to see Kev as much as the former permits. Though today in Latin we translated a really sad poem by Catullus, so I thought I’d write it here along with my translation of it. It’s titled “Lament for a Sparrow.”

Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque,
et quantum est hominum venustiorum;
passer mortuus est meae puellae,
passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quem plus illa oculis suis amabat;
nam mellitus erat suamque norat
ipsam tam bene quam puella matrem,
nec sese e gremio illius movebat,
sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc
ad solam dominam usque pipiabat:
qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum
illud, unde negant redire quemquam.
at vobis male sit, malae tenebrae
Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis.
tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis.
o factum male! o miselle passer!
tua nunc opera meae puellae
flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli.

Mourn, O Venuses and Cupids,
and all men of Venus’ charms (handsome men);
the sparrow of my girl is dead,
the sparrow, pet of my girl,
whom she loved more than her own eyes;
for he was honeysweet and he knew his
mistress better than a girl knows her mother,
and he did not move himself from her lap,
but hopping around this way and that way
he used to chirp continually to his mistress alone:
who now goes on his shadowy journey
to that place, whence they deny all to return.
but curse on you, evil shadows
of Hell, who devours all beautiful things.
For you have taken the beautiful little sparrow from me.
O evil deed! O poor little sparrow!
It is now your fault that my girl’s
little eyes are swollen, reddened from weeping.

Composed by Melissa at 10:26pm ·

8 Comments on "Lament for a Sparrow"

Hello, I just took over Les Anges for S. I’m just letting members know that they should update their link to point to http://lesanges.demoralize.org
Thanks

Comment by Amber — Tuesday, August 16, 2005 @ 3:31pm
That poem is beautifull.. It really is..

Just got around your place through Shannie, I believe..

But back to the poem.. Who is Catullus? Would just like to know that :)

Comment by Dannielle — Saturday, August 20, 2005 @ 9:25pm
Your translation is good. I don’t undestand Latin, so I can’t say for sure, but it seems like you managed to capture the impression and meaning well.

Comment by Kudarania — Monday, August 22, 2005 @ 4:31am
I agree with everyone else, the poem is pretty and sad. I myself hate translating and would never do that…hehehe…good job!

Comment by Xeronia — Thursday, August 25, 2005 @ 2:13am
UPDATES! THE PEOPLE DEMAND UPDATE!! I go to school with you :P. This busy crap is LIES, PEOPLE! ALL LIES!

:P

Comment by Mel — Sunday, August 28, 2005 @ 3:28pm
hmm almost a month since you updated…
oh and Catullus is great (he’s a Roman poet btw… plenty of love poems but other stuff too - lots of silly ones)
he’s a lot easier to translate than Livy or Virgil I find…
I had my Latin exam today so I’m in a very Latin-like mood…

Comment by Kaff — Wednesday, September 7, 2005 @ 5:58pm
Very nice poem! Although, I’m not a huge fan of poetry, I mean, what’s the point of all this waffle, that usually you don’t really get, when you can just say it straight forwardly. But whatever, hope you start updating soon! And where did you learn to customize Wordpress like this? Email me please and tell me. Anyway, hope you update again soon! :)

Comment by Victoria — Monday, September 12, 2005 @ 5:44pm
UPDATE OR DIE!!!!!

Exams are over. You have no excuse :P.

Comment by Mel — Thursday, September 22, 2005 @ 4:46pm

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