430 



SULPHUR PARRAKEET. 



which he therefore supposes it may be a variety ; 

 though he does not presume absolutely to pro- 

 nounce it such. 



It would be unpardonable to dismiss the history 

 of the Alexandrine or Ring-Parrakeet without ob- 

 serving that it was in commemoration of a bird of 

 this species that Ovid's celebrated elegy on the 

 death of Corinna*s Parrot was composed, and which 

 may justly be considered as one of the most ele- 

 gant trifles that antiquity can boast. In the full 

 confidence that it cannot be unacceptable to the 

 poetical and sentimental reader, I here subjoin it, 

 accompanied by a free translation. 



Psittacus, Eois imitatrix ales ab ori^, 



Occidit. exequias ite frequenter aves. 

 Ite, piae volucres, et plangite pectora pennis ; 



Et rigido teneras ungue notate genas. 

 Horrida pro moestis lanietur pluma capillis : 



Pro longa resouent carmina vestra tuba. 

 Quid scelus IsmariT quereris Philomela tyranni ? - 

 ' " Explela est aunis ista querela suis. 

 Alitis in rarae miserura devertite funus. 



Magna, sed antiqui causa doloris Itys. 

 Omnes quae liquido libratis in aere cursus 



Tu tamen ante alias turtur amice dole. 

 Plena fuit vobis omni concordia vita, 



Et stetit ad iinem longa tenaxque fides. 

 Quod fuit Argolico juvenis Phocaeus Orestae, 



Hoc tibi, dum licuit, Psittace, turtur erat. 

 Quid tarnen ista fides? quid rari forma coloris? 



Quid vox mutandis ingeniosa sonis ? 

 Quid juvat, ut datus es^ nostras placuisse pueilae ? 



Infelix avium gloria, nempe jaces. 

 Tu poteras virides pennis hebetare smaragdos> 



Tincta gerens rubro punica rostra croco. 



