Catullus 3

Question 1

Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque,
et quantum est hominum venustiorum:
passer mortuus est meae puellae,
passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quem plus illa oculis suis amabat.

Answer 1

Mourn, oh Cupids and Venuses,
and whatever there is of rather pleasing men:
the sparrow of my girlfriend has died,
the sparrow, delight of my girl,
Whom she loved more than her own eyes.

Question 2

nam mellitus erat suamque norat
ipsam tam bene quam puella matrem,
nec sese a gremio illius movebat,
sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc
ad solam dominam usque pipiabat.

Answer 2

for it was honey-sweet and it had known its
mistress as well as a girl knew her mother,
nor did it move itself from her lap,
but jumping around now here now there
He used to chirp continually to his mistress alone:

Question 3

qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum

illuc, unde negant redire quemquam.

Answer 3

who now goes through that gloomy journey

From whence they denied anyone returns.

Question 4

at vobis male sit, malae tenebrae
Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis:
tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis
o factum male! o miselle passer!

Answer 4

But may it go badly for you, bad darkness
Of Orcus, you who devour all beautiful things:
and so beautiful a bird you taken away from me
Oh bad deed! Oh miserable sparrow!

Question 5

tua nunc opera meae puellae

flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli.

Answer 5

now on account of your work my girl’s

little eyes, swollen with weeping, are red.