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DICEBAS quondam solum te nosse Catullum, |
1 |
You used once to say that Catullus was your only friend, |
Lesbia, nec prae me uelle tenere Iouem. |
2 |
Lesbia, and that you would not prefer Jupiter himself to me. |
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dilexi tum te non tantum ut uulgus amicam, |
3 |
I loved you then, not only as the common sort love a mistress, |
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos. |
4 |
but as a father loves his sons and sons-in-law. |
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nunc te cognoui: quare etsi impensius uror, |
5 |
Now I know you; and therefore, though I burn more ardently, |
multo mi tamen es uilior et leuior. |
6 |
yet you are in my sight much less worthy and lighter. |
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qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis |
7 |
How can that be? you say. Because such an injury as this drives a lover |
cogit amare magis, sed bene uelle minus. |
8 |
to be more of a lover, but less of a friend. |