TRANSLATIONS AND IMITATIONS. ADRIAN'S ADDRESS TO HIS SOUL, WHEN DYING. ANIMULA! vagula, blandula, Hospes, comesque, corporis, Quæ nunc abibis in loca? Pallidula, rigida, nudula, Nec, ut soles, dabis jocos. TRANSLATION. AH! gentle, fleeting, wavering Sprite, TRANSLATION FROM CATULLUS. 66 AD LESBIAM." EQUAL to Jove, that youth must be, Who, free from Jealousy's alarms, That cheek, which ever dimpling glows, Reserved for him, and him alone. I needs must gaze, but gazing die; My eyes refuse the cheering light, TRANSLATION OF THE EPITAPH ON VIRGIL AND TIBULLUS. BY DOMITIUS MARSUS. HE who, sublime, in Epic numbers roll'd, And he who struck the softer lyre of love, By Death's unequal hand* alike control'd, Fit comrades in Elysian regions move. TRANSLATION FROM CATULLUS. 66 LUCTUS DE MORTE PASSERIS." YE Cupids, droop each little head, Nor let your wings with joy be spread ; My Lesbia's favourite bird is dead, * The hand of Death is said to be unjust, or unequal, as Virgil was considerably older than Tibullus, at his decease. Whom dearer than her eyes For he was gentle, and so true, she loved; But lightly o'er her bosom moved : Tuned to her ear his grateful strain. Who sighs, alas! but sighs in vain. Oh! curst be thou, devouring grave! Whose jaws eternal victims crave, From whom no earthly power can save, For thou hast ta'en the bird away: From thee, my Lesbia's eyes o'erflow, Her swollen cheeks with weeping glow, Thou art the cause of all her woe, Receptacle of life's decay. |