| FLAVI, delicias tuas Catullo, |
1 |
Flavius, if it were not
that your mistress |
| ni sint illepidae atque
inelegantes, |
2 |
is rustic and unrefined, |
| uelles dicere nec tacere
posses. |
3 |
you would want to speak
of her to your Catullus; you would not be able to help it. |
| uerum nescio quid febriculosi |
4 |
But (I am sure) you are
in love with some |
| scorti diligis: hoc pudet
fateri. |
5 |
unhealthy-looking wench;
and you are ashamed to it. |
| nam te non uiduas iacere
noctes |
6 |
But though you are silent,
the bed itself |
| nequiquam tacitum cubile
clamat |
7 |
with its garlands and
Syrian perfume, |
| sertis ac Syrio fragrans
oliuo, |
8 |
proclaim that you do not
sleep alone, |
| puluinusque peraeque et
hic et ille |
9 |
as does the pillow, used
equally on this side and that, |
| attritus, tremulique quassa
lecti |
10 |
on both sides equally,
and the shaking of the bed |
| argutatio inambulatioque. |
11 |
as it squeaks and moves
about. |
| nam non stupra ualet nihil
tacere. |
12 |
But it's no good keeping quiet about your sexual exploits. |
| cur? non tam latera ecfututa
pandas, |
13 |
Why? You wouldn't show
such sexually exhausted thighs |
| ni tu quid facias ineptiarum. |
14 |
if you weren't doing something
inelegant. |
| quare, quidquid habes
boni malique, |
15 |
Well then, whatever you
have to tell, good or bad, |
| dic nobis. uolo te ac
tuos amores |
16 |
let me know. I have to
call you and your love |
| ad caelum lepido uocare
uersu. |
17 |
to the skies by the power
of my merry verse. |