| MISER Catulle, desinas
ineptire, |
1 |
Poor Catullus, it's time
you should cease your folly, |
| et quod uides perisse
perditum ducas. |
2 |
And account as lost what
you see is lost. |
| fulsere quondam candidi
tibi soles, |
3 |
Once the suns shone bright
on you, |
| cum uentitabas quo puella
ducebat |
4 |
when you used to go so
often where my mistress led, |
| amata nobis quantum amabitur
nulla. |
5 |
she who was loved by me
as none will ever be loved. |
| ibi illa multa cum iocosa
fiebant, |
6 |
There and then were given
us those joys, so many, so merry, |
| quae tu uolebas nec puella
nolebat, |
7 |
which you desired nor
did my lady not desire. |
| fulsere uere candidi tibi
soles. |
8 |
Bright to you, truly,
shone the days. |
| nunc iam illa non uult:
tu quoque impotens,noli |
9 |
Now she desires no more-;
neither should you desire, poor madman, |
| nec quae fugit sectare,
nec miser uiue, |
10 |
nor follow her who flies,
nor live in misery, |
| sed obstinata mente perfer,
obdura. |
11 |
but with resolved mind,
endure, be firm. |
| uale puella, iam Catullus
obdurat, |
12 |
Farewell, my mistress;
now Catullus is firm; |
| nec te requiret nec rogabit
inuitam. |
13 |
he will not seek you nor
ask you against your will. |
| at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis
nulla. |
14 |
But you will be sorry,
when you are not asked for. |
| scelesta, uae te, quae
tibi manet uita? |
15 |
Ah, poor wretch! What
life is left for you? |
| quis nunc te adibit? cui
uideberis bella? |
16 |
Who now will visit you?
To whom will you seem fair? |
| quem nunc amabis? cuius
esse diceris? |
17 |
Whom now will you love?
Whose will you be called? |
| quem basiabis? cui labella
mordebis? |
18 |
Whom will you kiss? Whose
lips will you bite ? |
| at tu, Catulle, destinatus
obdura. |
19 |
But you, Catullus, be
resolved and firm. |