by Catullus
di magni, facite ut vere promittere possit,
atque id sincere dicat et ex animo,
ut liceat nobis tota perducere vita
aeternum hoc sanctae foedus amicitiae.
CX. ad Aufilenam
Aufilena, bonae semper laudantur amicae:
accipiunt pretium, quae facere instituunt.
tu, quod promisti, mihi quod mentita inimica es,
quod nec das et fers saepe, facis facinus.
aut facere ingenuae est, aut non promisse pudicae,
Aufillena, fuit: sed data corripere
fraudando officiis, plus quam meretricis avarae
quae sese toto corpore prostituit.
CXI. ad Aufilenam
Aufilena, viro contentam vivere solo,
nuptarum laus ex laudibus eximiis:
sed cuivis quamvis potius succumbere par est,
quam matrem fratres efficere ex patruo…
CXII. ad Nasonem
Multus homo es, Naso, neque tecum multus homo
te scindat: Naso, multus es et pathicus.
CXIII. ad Gaium Helvium Cinnam
Consule Pompeio primum duo, Cinna, solebant
Maeciliam: facto consule nunc iterum
manserunt duo, sed creverunt milia in unum
singula. fecundum semen adulterio.
CXIV. ad Mentulam
Firmanus saltu non falso Mentula diues
fertur, qui tot res in se habet egregias,
aucupium omne genus, piscis, prata, arva ferasque.
nequiquam: fructus sumptibus exsuperat.
quare concedo sit diues, dum omnia desint.
saltum laudemus, dum modo ipse egeat.
CXV. ad Mentulam
Mentula habet instar triginta iugera prati,
quadraginta arui: cetera sunt maria.
cur non divitiis Croesum superare potis sit,
uno qui in saltu tot bona possideat,
prata arva ingentes silvas saltusque paludesque
usque ad Hyperboreos et mare ad Oceanum?
omnia magna haec sunt, tamen ipsest maximus ultro,
non homo, sed vero mentula magna minax.
CXVI. ad Gellium
Saepe tibi studioso animo venante requirens
carmina uti possem mittere Battiadae,
qui te lenirem nobis, neu conarere
tela infesta mittere in usque caput,
hunc video mihi nunc frustra sumptum esse laborem,
Gelli, nec nostras hic valuisse preces.
contra nos tela ista tua evitabimus amitha
at fixus nostris tu dabis supplicium.
Fragmenta I.
Hunc lucum tibi dedico consecroque, Priape,
qua domus tua Lampsaci est quaque ... Priape.
nam te praecipve in suis urbibus colit ora
Hellespontia, ceteris ostriosior oris.
Fragmenta II.
de meo ligurrire libido est
Fragmenta III.
at non effugies meos iambos
The Dual Text
Tivoli, Villa d’Este — Catullus owned a villa near the resort of Tibur (Tivoli)
DUAL LATIN AND ENGLISH TEXT
Translated by Francis Warre Cornish
In this section, readers can view a section by section text of Catullus’ poems, alternating between the original Latin and Cornish’s English translation.
CONTENTS
I. ad Cornelium
II. fletus passeris Lesbiae
IIb.
III. fletus passeris Lesbiae
IV. de phasello
V. ad Lesbiam
VI. ad Flavium
VII. ad Lesbiam
VIII. ad se ipsum
IX. ad Veranium
X. ad Varum
XI. ad Furium et Aurelium
XII. ad Matrucinum Asinium
XIII. ad Fabullum
XIV. ad Calvum poetam
XIVb.
XV. ad Aurelium
XVI. ad Aurelium et Furium
XVII.
XXI. ad Aurelium
XXII. ad Varum
XXIII. ad Furium
XXIV. ad Iuventium
XXV. ad Thallum
XXVI. ad Furium
XXVII. ad pincernam suum
XXVIII. ad Verannium et Fabullum
XXIX. in Romulum cathamitum
XXX. ad Alphenum
XXXI. ad Sirmium insulam
XXXII. ad Ipsicillam
XXXIII. ad Vibennios
XXXIV. carmen Dianae
XXXV. ad Caecilium iubet libello loqui
XXXVI. ad Lusi cacatam
XXXVII. ad contubernales et Egnatium
XXXVIII. ad Cornificium
XXXIX. ad Egnatium
XL. ad Ravidum
XLI. ad Ameanam
XLII. ad hendecasyllabos
XLIII. ad Ameanam
XLIV. ad Fundum
XLV. ad Septimium
XLVI.
XLVII. ad Porcium et Socrationem
XLVIII. ad Iuventium
XLIX. ad Marcum Tullium Ciceronem
L. ad Lucinium
LI. ad Lesbiam
LII. in Novium
LIII. ad Gaium Licinium Calvum
LIV. de Octonis capite
LIVb.
LV. ad Camerium
LVI. ad Catonem
LVII. ad Gaium Iulium Caesarem
LVIII. ad Marcum Caelium Rufum
LVIIIb. ad Camerium
LIX. in Rufum
LX.
LXI. epythalamius Iunie et Mallii
LXII. exametrum carmen nuptiale
LXIII. de Berecinthia et Athi
LXIV. Argonautia et epythalamium Thetidis et Pelei
LXV. ad Ortalum
LXVI.
LXVII. de ianua moechae cuiusdam
LXVIII. ad Mallium
LXVIIIb
LXIX. ad Rufum
LXX.
LXXI.
LXXII. ad Lesbiam
LXXIII.
LXXIV. ad Gellium
LXXV. ad Lesbiam
LXXVI. ad deos
LXXVII. ad Rufum
LXXVIII. ad Gallum
LXXVIIIb.
LXXIX. ad Lesbium
LXXX. ad Gellium
LXXXI. ad Iuventium
LXXXII. ad Qvintium
LXXXIII. ad Lesbiam
LXXXIV. ad Arrium
LXXXV.
LXXXVI. ad Lesbiam
LXXXVII. ad Lesbiam
LXXXVIII. ad Gellium
LXXXIX. ad Gellium
XC. ad Gellium
XCI. ad Gellium
XCII. ad Lesbia
XCIII. ad Gaium Iulium Caesarem
XCIV. ad Mentulam
XCV. ad Gaium Helvium Cinnam
XCVI. ad Gaium Licinium Calvum
XCVII. ad Aemilium
XCVIII. ad Victium
XCIX. ad Iuventium
C. ad Marcum Caelium furum
CI. ad inferias
CII. ad Cornelium Nepotem
CIII. ad Silonem
CIV.
CV. ad Mentulam
CVI.
CVII. ad Lesbiam
CVIII. ad Cominium
CIX. ad Lesbiam
CX. ad Aufilenam
CXI. ad Aufilenam
CXII. ad Nasonem
CXIII. ad Gaium Helvium Cinnam
CXIV. ad Mentulam
CXV. ad Mentulam
CXVI. ad Gellium
FRAGMENTS
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
I. ad Cornelium
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli —
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo!
I
To whom am I to present my pretty new book, freshly smoothed off with dry pumice-stone? To you, Cornelius: for you used to think that my trifles were worth something, long ago, when you took courage, you alone of Italians, to set forth the whole history of the world in three volumes, learned volumes, by Jupiter, and laboriously wrought. So take and keep for your own this little book, such as it is, and whatever it is worth; and may it, O Virgin my patroness, live and last for more than one century.
II. fletus passeris Lesbiae
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas!
II
SPARROW, my lady’s pet, with whom she often plays whilst she holds you in her lap, or gives you her finger-tip to peck and provokes you to bite sharply, whenever she, the bright-shining lady of my love, has a mind for some sweet pretty play, in hope, as I think, that when the sharper smart of love abates, she may find some small relief from her pain — ah, might I but play with you as she does, and lighten the gloomy cares of my heart!
IIb.
Tam gratum est mihi quam ferunt puellae
pernici aureolum fuisse malum,
quod zonam soluit diu ligatam.
IIA (a fragment)
THIS is as welcome to me as to the swift maiden was (they say) the golden apple, which loosed her girdle too long tied.
III. fletus passeris Lesbiae
Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque,
et quantum est hominum venustiorum:
passer mortuus est meae puellae,
passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quem plus illa oculis suis amabat.
nam mellitus erat suamque norat
ipsam tam bene quam puella matrem,
nec sese a gremio illius movebat,
sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc
ad solam dominam usque pipiabat.
III
MOURN, ye Graces and Loves, and all you whom the Graces love. My lady’s sparrow is dead, the sparrow my lady’s pet, whom she loved more than her very eyes; for honey-sweet he was, and knew his mistress as well as a girl knows her own mother. Nor would he stir from her lap, but hopping now here, now there, would still chirp to his mistress alone.
qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum
illuc, unde negant redire quemquam.
at vobis male sit, malae tenebrae
Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis:
tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis
o factum male! o miselle passer!
tua nunc opera meae puellae
flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli.
Now he goes along the dark road, thither whence they say no one returns. But curse upon you, cursed shades of Orcus, which devour all pretty things! My pretty sparrow, you have taken him away. Ah, cruel! Ah, poor little bird! All because of you my lady’s darling eyes are heavy and red with weeping.
IV. de phasello
Phaselus ille, quem videtis, hospites,
ait fuisse navium celerrimus,
neque ullius natantis impetum trabis
nequisse praeterire, sive palmulis
opus foret volare sive linteo.
et hoc negat minacis Hadriatici
negare litus insulasve Cycladas
Rhodumque nobilem horridamque Thraciam
Propontida trucemve Ponticum sinum,
ubi iste post phaselus antea fuit
comata silva; nam Cytorio in iugo
loquente saepe sibilum edidit coma.
IV
THE pinnace you see, my friends, says that she was once the fleetest of ships, and that there was never any timber afloat whose speed she was not able to pass, whether she would fly with oar-blades or with canvas. And this (says she) the shore of the blustering Adriatic does not deny, nor the Cyclad isles and famous Rhodes and the wild Thracian Propontis, nor the gloomy gulf of Pontus, where she who was afterwards a pinnace was formerly a leafy forest: for on the height of Cytorus she often rustled with talking leaves.
Amastri Pontica et Cytore buxifer,
tibi haec fuisse et esse cognitissima
ait phaselus: ultima ex origine
tuo stetisse dicit in cacumine,
tuo imbuisse palmulas in aequore,
et inde tot per impotentia freta
erum tulisse, laeva sive dextera
vocaret aura, sive utrumque Iuppiter
simul secundus incidisset in pedem;
neque ulla vota litoralibus deis
sibi esse facta, cum veniret a mari
novissimo hunc ad usque limpidum lacum.
sed haec prius fuere: nunc recondita
senet quiete seque dedicat tibi,
gemelle Castor et gemelle Castoris.
Pontic Amastris and Cytorus green with box, my galley says that all this was and is well known to thee; she says that from her earliest birth time she stood on thy summit, in thy waters first dipped her blades, and thence over so many riotous seas brought her owner, whether the breeze from left or right invited, or Jove came down astern on both sheets at once; and that no vows to the gods of the shore were made by her all the time she was sailing from the furthest sea even to this limpid lake.
But these things are past and gone; now she rests in old age and retired leisure, and dedicates herself to thee, twin Castor, and to thee, Castor’s twin.
V. ad Lesbiam
Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
rumoresque senum severiorum
omnes unius aestimemus assis!
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux,
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus,
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus invidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.
V
LET us live, my Lesbia, and love, and value at one farthing all the talk of crabbed old men. Suns may set and rise again. For us, when the short light has once set, remains to be slept the sleep of one unbroken night. Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then another thousand, then a second hundred, then yet another thousand, then a hundred. Then, when we have made up many thousands, we will confuse our counting, that we may not know the reckoning, nor any malicious person blight them with evil eye, when he knows that our kisses are so many.
VI. ad Flavium
Flavi, delicias tuas Catullo,
ni sint illepidae atque inelegantes,
velles dicere nec tacere posses.
verum nescio quid febriculosi
scorti diligis: hoc pudet fateri.
nam te non viduas iacere noctes
nequiquam tacitum cubile clamat
sertis ac Syrio fragrans olivo,
pulvinusque peraeque et hic et ille
attritus, tremulique quassa lecti
argutatio inambulatioque.
VI
FLAVIUS, if it were not that your mistress is rustic and unrefined, you would want to speak of her to your Catullus; you would not be able to help it. But (I am sure) you are in love with some unhealthy-looking wench; and you are ashamed to confess it.
nam inista prevalet nihil tacere.
cur? non tam latera ecfututa pandas,
ni tu quid facias ineptiarum.
quare, quidquid habes boni malique,
dic nobis. volo te ac tuos amores
ad caelum lepido voc
are versu.
But though you are silent, the garlands and perfumes about the bed, and the bed itself, show that you do not sleep alone. Well then, whatever you have to tell, good or bad, let me know it. I wish to call you and your love to the skies by the power of my merry verse.
VII. ad Lesbiam
Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores:
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est,
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
VII
You ask how many kissings of you, Lesbia, are enough for me and more than enough. As great as is the number of the Libyan sand that lies on silphium-bearing Cyrene, between the oracle of sultry Jove and the sacred tomb of old Battus; or as many as are the stars, when night is silent, that see the stolen loves of men, — to kiss you with so many kisses, Lesbia, is enough and more than enough for your mad Catullus; kisses, which neither curious eyes shall count up nor an evil tongue bewitch.
VIII. ad se ipsum
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
VIII
POOR Catullus, ’tis time you should cease your folly, and account as lost what you see is lost. Once the days shone bright on you, when you used to go so often where my mistress led, she who was loved by me as none will ever be loved. There and then were given us those joys, so many, so merry, which you desired nor did my lady not desire. Bright to you, truly, shone the days. Now she desires no more — no more should you desire, poor madman, nor follow her who flies, nor live in misery, but with resolved mind endure, be firm.
