Her much-loved sparrow
snatched
away.
Catullus - Lamb - A Comedy in Verse
All this I know nor could I wish for fortune less, v/ere
I a maid.
GRIPUS.
Not so, my lord, Hermia will favor none save v/ith dis-
dain. Her mother pleads that she is much too young to
wed, and sighs and tears now rend our home where once
such happiness prevailed.
CATULLUS.
Hath Hermia no lover?
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? GRIPUS.
I know of none -- i' faith -- she vows that she will never
wed, no matter whom the man may be.
CATULLUS.
A sure proof of her inconstancy -- What says Lucretius
to this?
GRIPUS.
He's sore perplexed, my lord, and comes to seek thy
counsel.
CATULLUS.
Comes Hermia and her lady mother with Lucretius?
GRIPUS.
Aye my lord -- ^they journey leisurely from Rome and
e're the day is gone will seek the shelter of thy roof.
CATULLUS.
Now hast thou brought me news indeed. Take this,
good Gripus, and bid them welcome to fair Sirmio. (He
hands Gripus a ring) and thou, Myrson, prepare the best
within the palace for my friends.
Exeunt Myrson and Gripus right.
CATULLUS.
Ho, minstral, hither, accord thy lyre and sing a joyful
lay. Sing thou of Sirmio, for fortune smiles on me today.
SCENE IV.
Enter Minstral.
(An old man with lyre; he sings. )
No. 5.
SWEET SIRMIO.
Sweet Sirmio, Sweet Sirmio,
Of all peninsulas and isles,
That in our lake of silver lie,
Enwreathed by Neptune's smiles.
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? II.
How gladly back to thee I fly,
Still doubting asking -- Can it be,
That I have left Bithynia's sky,
And gaze in safety upon thee.
III.
Oh what is happier than to find,
Our hearts at ease, our perils past.
When anxious long the lengthening mind,
Lays down its load of care at last.
IV.
When tired with toil, o'er land and deep.
Again we tread the welcome floor
Of our sweet home, and sink to sleep
Upon the welcome bed once more.
V.
'Tis this, 'tis this, that pays alone.
The ills of all life's former track.
Shine out, my beautiful, mine own,
Sweet Sirmio, greet thy master back.
VI.
And thou fair lake whose waters quaff.
The light of heaven, like Lydia's sea,
Rejoice, rejoice, let all that laugh
Abroad, at home, laugh out with me.
(Julian sings off scene. )
O, thou fair lake whose waters quaff.
The light of heaven, like Lydia's sea,
Rejoice, my beautiful, mine own.
Sweet Sirmio greet me back to thee.
r The minstral and Catullus both much surprised, turn 1
j to see from whence the song comes, when Julian,
i who has ascended from the Lake below, scales the i
] balcony of the peristyle singing as he bounds over. |
L "Sweet Sirmio greet me back to thee. " J
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? CATULLUS.
(Speaking to the minstral. ) 'Tis Julian.
SCENE V.
Enter Julian.
r A handsome youth scarcely twenty years of age. He "|
J runs to Catullus, who overjoyed at seeing him, en- '
I folds him in his arms. The minstral seeing this i
1^ exits silently. J
CATULLUS.
Here thou truant boy -- into my arms (he embraces him),
and say what brought thee hence, when thou should'st be
in Rome.
JULIAN.
(Evasively). Give me thine hand again, good friend, and
tell me of my father.
CATULLUS.
He's well, and ere the hour's spent will greet thee here
himself.
JULIAN.
The gods be praised! Then am I come in time. (Im-
ploringly) O, Catullus! lend me now thine aid or I am
lost.
CATULLUS.
Nay, say rather thou art found.
JULIAN.
Jest not, good friend, for I am sore beset.
CATULLUS.
Then speak, my boy -- say what misfortune hath befallen
thee. Hath politics embroiled thee in some grave affair?
JULIAN.
Nay!
CATULLUS.
Art ill? -- Art in debt?
JULIAN.
Nay! . I
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? CATULLUS.
(Knowingly) Art in love?
JULIAN.
(Sadly) Alas!
CATULLUS.
(Laughing) Ha, ha, ha! Why, one would think it were
a dangerous malady to judge by thy sad countenance.
JULIAN.
Ah, taunt me not!
CATULLUS.
And is she fair? Come, now, I'll v/ager she is beauti-
ful.
JULIAN.
(Passionately)
Aye, that she is beyond thy wildest fancy,
No nymph is there more lithesome or more gay,
No flower sweeter or more delicate than she,
A queen is not more regal in her attitude
Nor is there music sweeter than her voice,
Which, when she speaks, discloses all
The beauties of a mind so iilled with pure
And gentle thoughts, that I do marvel that
These attributes should grace a maiden
Of such tender years. (Pause. )
CATULLUS.
In truth, thou art in love. But is thy love requited?
JULIAN.
If eyes are but the windows of the soul.
Then have I read the depth of love
That dwells within her heart.
CATULLUS.
(Aside) He's solely hit? (Aloud) Who is the father of
the maid, and what her name?
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? JULIAN.
She's called Hermia. Her father is a merchant prince
of Rome, Lucretius by name, and friend to thee.
CATULLUS.
Now, by what trick of fortune, hath she blown thy ship
athwart his course?
JULIAN.
Alas! I know not, unless it be the will of Fate.
CATULLUS.
E'en so?
JULIAN.
By chance I met sweet Hermia;
By chance we wooed unknown to all:
By fortune's guiding star I followed her,
Not knowing whence or why I came,
And now before the fleeting day is spent.
Fair Sirmio shall welcome her in sweet content.
CATULLUS.
But now I fear thy goddess Fortune parts thy company.
JULIAN.
(Imploringly) Ah, say not so, good friend; lend me
thine aid and all may yet be well.
CATULLUS.
Thy father and Lucretius have been at enmity these
many years. How can I calm a feud that has endured so
long.
JULIAN.
(In despair) Alas! I know not nor can I comprehend
the reason for this enmity. But this I know: If Hermia
and I be not in love and honor wed. Then will the hope
and aspiration of our lives be crushed for-e'er.
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? CATULLUS.
The case is grave -- (pause) -- But leave me now, and hide
thee in my chamber (pointing to right) there, perchance
I'll think upon some trim devise that shall resolve thy care.
JULIAN.
(With emotion) The gods give thee strength, good
friend. For we have no advocate save thee, and thou alone
canst prosper our design.
CATULLUS.
Be of good cheer -- and now my boy, be gone,
Ho, minstral hither, and regale me with a song.
Exit Julian, Chamber right.
SCENE VL
Enter Minstral.
r The minstral sings the song herewith, whilst Catul- 1
i lus sits upon the couch trying to find a solution to ^
L the difficulty that confronts him. J
No. 6.
LESBIA'S SPARROW. '
I.
Mourn, all ye Loves and Graces, mourn,
Ye wits, ye gallants, and ye gay.
Death from my fair, her bird hath torn.
Her much-loved sparrow snatched away.
IL
Her very eyes she prized not so.
For he was fond and knew my fair,
Well as young girls their mothers know,
And sought her breast and nestled there.
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? III.
Once fluttering round, from place to place.
He gaily chirp'd to her alone;
But now the gloomy path must trace,
Whence Fate permits returned to none.
IV.
Accursed Shades, o'er Hell that lower,
Oh, be my curses on your head,
Ye, that all pretty things devour,
Have torn from me, my pretty bird.
V.
Oh, evil deed. Oh, sparrow dead.
Oh, what a wretch if thou canst see,
My fair one's eyes with weeping red.
And know how much she grieves for thee.
VI.
Mourn all ye Loves and Graces! mourn,
Ye wits, ye gallants, and ye gay.
Death from my fair, her bird hath torn
Her much loved sparrow snatched away.
f At the conclusion of the song, Myrson enters and 1
j announces the arrival of Lucretius and his family -- '^^
the minstral hearing his message to Catullus with- j
draws. Exit Minstral right. J
SCENE VIL
Enter Myrson, right.
MYRSON.
My Lord, thy friend Lucretius and his retinue have
come.
CATULLUS.
'Tis well -- I'll go to meet them. (He arises and is about
to pass up the steps of the peristyle, when the group enter
with much ado and come forward to meet him. During
this episode the minstral exits left with Myrson. )
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? SCENE VIII.
Enter Lucretius, Eunomia and Hermia,
CATULLUS.
(Advances) Welcome, welcome to Sirmio.
Thine hand, Lucretius, and thine Eunomia,
And thou sweet Hermia, a kiss (he kisses her)
And now let hill and dale and mead proclaim,
A hearty welcome to ye all again.
LUCRETIUS.
(Warmly) Art ever kind good friend.
Yet are we come to test thy friendship sorely.
LUCRETIUS.
The times have sadly changed since you and I were young.
Nov/ children dare to brave their parents and thwart their
cherished plans.
HERMIA.
(Sadly) Oh, father, say not so; I brave thee not,
I brave thee not. I do not wish to wed.
EUNOMIA.
She is too young.
LUCRETIUS.
Oh aye -- take thou her part! -- But this remember, that
by our law we may in wedlock give our child to whomso-
e'er we will.
HERMIA.
There is no law for me, save that of love. If e'er I wed,
'twill be for love, for love I'll live and die.
LUCRETIUS.
Thou wayward child, I warn thee taunt me no more, but
ere the season of the full moon come, make thou a choice
that shall please both thy mother and myself.
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? HERMIA.
(Weeping) Alas! Alas!
EUNOMIA.
(To Lucretius) And lest thou too forget, remember this,
that by the law and custom of our land the father pays
the daughter's dower.
LUCRETIUS.
I know it well. Am I not rich?
EUNOMIA.
Aye! but not too generous! The young gallants who
seek thy daughter's hand, think not of love, but of the
dower she'll bring.
LUCRETIUS.
No man shall dictate terms to me.
EUNOMIA.
Art sure? (to Catullus) And now, good friend, give
us thy counsel.
HERMIA.
(Weeping) I do not wish to wed.
CATULLUS.
Leave Hermia with me. I'll reason with her and bring
her to thee presently.
Exeunt Lucretius and Eunomia right.
CATULLUS.
Come hither, child, give me thine hand, and dry away
these bitter tears. (They sit upon the couch. ) Thou dost
not wish to wed?
HERMIA.
Nay! why should we maids be driven from our home
and our parental gods. Alas, alas. My poor heart bleeds
for sympathy.
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? CATULLUS.
(Aside) There's but one remedy for love, and that's
more love. (Aloud) Dost thou believe in omens?
HERMIA.
(Surprised) I know noti
CATULLUS.
Then list to me! Last night as here I lay upon my
couch, a dove flew o'er the lake to me, and round its
neck it bore a ring of gold tied with a skein of silk. I cut
the thread and let the bird go free. When lo -- My eyes fell
on the ring and there I saw deep graven in the band (He
shows her the ring) Hermia and Julian.
HERMIA.
(Grasps the ring and arises in great excitement, re-
peating) Julian and Hermia. The ring is mine; my love,
oh where is he? O, Catullus, good friend, Thou hast de-
vined the secret of my heart. Speak -- say is Julian here?
Ah, taunt me not. No more shall I disemble, but quickly,
quickly, bid him fly to me upon the wings of love.
CATULLUS.
Patience, patience, my child.
HERMIA.
Nay! Nay! . Ah taunt me not -- ah, taunt me not.
No. 7.
HERMIA'S PLEA TO CATULLUS.
(She recites to music)
I.
O, Catullus, O, Catullus,
What are your cares and joys,
To love that swells the longing virgin's breast,
A flame half hid in doubt.
Soon kindled, soon burnt out,
A blaze of momentary heat at best is yours.
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? II.
A privilege if your kind,
If haply you may find,
Some friend to share the secret of your heart.
Of if your inbred grief,
Admit of such relief.
The chase, the dance, the play assuage thy smart.
III.
Whilst we poor hapless maids.
Condemned to pine in Shades,
And to our dearest friends our thoughts deny,
Can only sit and weep.
Whilst others round us sleep,
Unpitied languish, and unheeded die.
CATULLUS.
Nay! Nay! Thou art not unpitied, Hermia, I am thy
friend, and e'er shall be,
And as a token of my right intent,
Thy love shall greet thee e'er the hour is spent.
HERMIA.
Shall greet me here?
CATULLUS.
Aye, and gladly too,
And then ye may your plighted troth renew.
HERMIA.
O, Love, O, Happness, forever our hearts enchain,.
For I shall greet my lover once again.
(To Catullus whom she embraces)
And be thou e'er our counsellor and friend,
For unto thee our cares we must commend,
Then praise to Jove and all the gods above,
That they may harken to our plea of love.
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? CATULLUS.
Now, my child, begone,
Fly unto thy mother's arms and say,
That fortune brings thee joy today.
Exit Hermia right.
SCENE IX.
Enter Caius Memmius.
r As Hermia exits to right, voices are heard off scene H
j left; the clacking of whips and exclamations. I
I Whoa-la, etc. Above all this commotion the voice j
1^ of Caius Memmius is heard. J
CAIUS MEMMIUS.
(Off scene) Make way -- Make way. I'll seek him out
myself.
f Some servants enter hurriedly with baggage from ")
I left and are immediately followed by Caius Mem- |
? { mius, a rugged, red-faced soldier, about fifty years )?
I of age, stout and evidently intemperate. Catullus |
I advances to the steps and greets his friend. J
CATULLUS.
Welcome, my dear old friend, welcome.
CAIUS MEMMIUS.
(Advances and grasps his hand warmly. )
The gods be praised we meet at last! (Pause) and thou
good Catullus, if in truth thou art my friend, in love and
mercy, let me have a cup of wine -- my throat's aparch.
CATULLUS.
(To servant) A tankard of that Cyprian wine, and
quicky, too.
