—­Catullus

Translation

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.

    —­Elton

CICERO

  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.

Translation

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.

   —­Charles Lamb

DE PATIENTIA

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.

    —­Thomas a Kempis

THE FAVORITE PRAYER OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS[6]

O Domine Deus! 
Speravi in te;
O care mi Iesu! 
Nunc libera me: 
In dura catena
In misera poena
Desidero te;
Languendo, gemendo,
Et genuflectendo
Adoro, imploro,
Ut liberes me!

Translation

My Lord and my God!  I have trusted in Thee;
O Jesus, my Savior belov’d, set me free: 
In rigorous chains, in piteous pains,
I am longing for Thee! 
In weakness appealing, in agony kneeling,
I pray, I beseech Thee, O Lord, set me free!

    [Footnote 6:  From the Prayer-book of Queen Mary, and believed to
    be her composition.  Said to have been uttered by the queen just
    before her execution.]