Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque, Et quantumst hominum venustiorum. Passer mortuus est meae puellae, Passer, deliciae meae puellae, Quem plus illa oculis suis amabat: Nam mellitus erat suamque norat Ipsa tam bene quam puella matrem, Nec sese a gremio illius movebat, Sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc Ad solam dominam usque pipiabat. Qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum Illuc unde negant redire quemquam. At vobis male sit, malae tenebrae Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis: Tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis. O factum male! io miselle passer! Tua nunc opera meae puellae Flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli.
Each Love, each Venus, mourn with me! Mourn, every son of gallantry! The sparrow, my own nymph's delight, The joy and apple of her sight; The honey-bird, the darling dies, To Lesbia dearer than her eyes, As the fair one knew her mother, So he knew her from another. With his gentle lady wrestling, In her snowy bosom nestling; With a flutter and a bound, Quiv'ring round her and around; Chirping, twitt'ring, ever near, Notes meant only for her ear. Now he skims the shadowy way, Whence none return to cheerful day. Beshrew the shades! that thus devour All that's pretty in an hour. The pretty sparrow thus is dead; The tiny fugitive is fled. Deed of spite! poor bird!--ah! see, For thy dear sake, alas! for me!-- My nymph with brimful eyes appears, Red from the flushing of her tears.
The following tribute to Cicero was written by Catullus, the Roman lyric poet (87-54 B.C.)
Disertissime Romuli nepotum, Quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli, Quot que post aliis erunt in annis, Gratius tibi maximas Catullus Agit, pessimus omnium poeta, Tanto pessimus omnium poeta Quanto tu optimus omnium patronum.
Tully, most eloquent, most sage Of all the Roman race, That deck the past or present age, Or future days may grace.
Oh! may Catullus thus declare An overflowing heart; And, though the worst of poets, dare A grateful lay impart!
'Twill teach thee how thou hast surpast All others in thy line; For, far as he in his is last, Art thou the first in thine.
Patiendo fit homo melior, Auro pulchrior, Vitro clarior, Laude dignior, Gradu altior, A vitiis purgatior, Virtutibus perfectior, Iesu Christo acceptior, Sanctis quoque similior, Hostibus suis fortior, Amicis amabilior.