Gorrión, la delicia especial de mi chica

Sparrow, the Special Delight of My Girl
by Gaius Valerius Catullus
translated by David Mulroy

Sparrow, the special delight of my girl, whom often she teases and holds on her lap and pokes with the tip of her finger, provoking counterattacks with your mordant beak, whenever my luminous love desires something or other, innocuous fun, a bit of escape, I suppose, from her pain, a moment of peace from her turbulent passion, I wish I could play like she does with you and lighten the cares of my sorrowful soul. It thrills me as much as the nimble girl in the story was thrilled by the gilded apple that finally uncinched her virginal gown.

Poem II

Original Latin		Literal English Translation
Passer, deliciae meae puellae, quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere, cui primum digitum dare appetenti et acris solet incitare morsus, cum desiderio meo nitenti carum nescio quid lubet iocari et solaciolum sui doloris, credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor: tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem et tristis animi levare curas! Tam gratum est mihi quam ferunt puellae pernici aureolum fuisse malum, quod zonam soluit diu ligatam.	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2B 2 3	O sparrow, a delight of my girlfriend, with whom she is accustomed to play, whom [she is accustomed] to hold in her lap, to whom she gives her first fingertip to it seeking it and to incite sharp bites, when it is pleasing for her to make some loving joke [I do  5 not know what pleasing thing] for her shining with desire for me and it is a comfort for her own grief, I believe it, so that then your serious passion settles down: I am able to play with you just as she does and to lighten the sad cares of my mind!  10 It is so pleasing to me as they say that a golden apple was given to a swift girl, which untied her girdle having been tied up for a long time.