Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 1, by GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 1, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: My sweetest lesbia, let us live and love
Last Line: And crown with love my ever-during night.
Alternate Author Name(s): Catullus, Caius Valerius
Subject(s): Carpe Diem; Death; Dead, The


MY sweetest Lesbia, let us live and love,
And though the sager sort our deeds reprove,
Let us not weigh them; heaven's great lamps do dive
Into their west, and straight again revive;
But, soon as once is set our little light,
Then must we sleep one ever-during night.

If all would lead their lives in love like me,
Then bloody swords and armour should not be,
No drum nor trumpet peaceful sleeps should move,
Unless alarm came from the camp of love.
But fools do live, and waste their little light,
And seek with pain their ever-during night.

When timely death my life and fortune ends,
Let not my hearse be vexed with mourning friends:
But let all lovers rich in triumph come,
And with sweet pastimes grace my happy tomb;
And, Lesbia, close up thou my little light,
And crown with love my ever-during night.





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