Complete Works of Catullus

by Catullus

  quare iam te cur amplius excrucies?

  quin tu animo offirmas atque istinc teque reducis,

  et dis invitis desinis esse miser?

  difficile est longum subito deponere amorem,

  difficile est, verum hoc qua lubet efficias:

  una salus haec est. hoc est tibi pervincendum,

  hoc facias, sive id non pote sive pote.

  All this was entrusted to an ungrateful heart, and is lost: why then should you torment yourself now any more? Why do you not settle your mind firmly, and draw back, and cease to be miserable, in despite of the gods? It is difficult suddenly to lay aside a long-cherished love. It is difficult; but you should accomplish it, one way or another. This is the only safety, this you must carry through, this you are to do, whether it is possible or impossible.

  o di, si vestrum est misereri, aut si quibus umquam

  extremam iam ipsa in morte tulistis opem,

  me miserum aspicite et, si vitam puriter egi,

  eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi,

  quae mihi subrepens imos ut torpor in artus

  expulit ex omni pectore laetitias.

  Ye gods, if mercy is your attribute, or if ye ever brought aid to any at the very moment of death, look upon me in my trouble, and if I have led a pure life, take away this plague and ruin from me. Ah me! what a lethargy creeps into my inmost joints, and has cast out all joys from my heart!

  non iam illud quaero, contra me ut diligat illa,

  aut, quod non potis est, esse pudica velit:

  ipse valere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum.

  o di, reddite mi hoc pro pietate mea.

  No longer is this my prayer, that she should love me in return, or, for that is impossible, that she should consent to be chaste. I would myself be well again and put away this baleful sickness. O ye gods, grant me this in return for my piety.

  LXXVII. ad Rufum

  Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amice

  (frustra? immo magno cum pretio atque malo),

  sicine subrepsti mi, atque intestina perurens

  ei misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona?

  eripuisti, heu heu nostrae crudele venenum

  vitae, heu heu nostrae pestis amicitiae.

  LXXVII

  RUFUS, whom I, your friend, trusted in vain, and to no purpose — in vain? nay, rather at a great and ruinous price — have you stolen into my heart and burning into my vitals torn away, alas, all my blessings? Torn away, alas, alas! you the cruel poison of my life, alas, alas! you the deadly bane of my friendship.

  LXXVIII. ad Gallum

  Gallus habet fratres, quorum est lepidissima coniunx

  alterius, lepidus filius alterius.

  Gallus homo est bellus: nam dulces iungit amores,

  cum puero ut bello bella puella cubet.

  Gallus homo est stultus, nec se videt esse maritum,

  qui patruus patrui monstret adulterium.

  LXXVIII

  GALLUS has two brothers; one has a most charming wife, the other a charming boy. Gallus is a gallant: he helps love’s course, and brings the gallant lad to the arms of the gallant lass. Gallus is a fool, and does not see that he has a wife of his own, when he teaches a nephew how to seduce an uncle’s wife. But now what annoys me is that your nasty spittle has touched the pure lips of a pure girl. But you shall not have it gratis; all generations shall know you, and beldame Rumour shall tell what you are.

  LXXVIIIb.

  * * * * * * *

  sed nunc id doleo, quod purae pura puellae

  suavia comminxit spurca saliva tua.

  verum id non impune feres: nam te omnia saecla

  noscent et, qui sis, fama loquetur anus.

  LXXVIIIB.

  ... But now I grieve that the pure kisses of a pure girl have mingled with your filthy spit. But in truth you will not come off with impunity; for every age will know you, and Old Lady Fame will tell who you are.

  LXXIX. ad Lesbium

  Lesbius est pulcer. quid ni? quem Lesbia malit

  quam te cum tota gente, Catulle, tua.

  sed tamen hic pulcer vendat cum gente Catullum,

  si tria natorum suavia reppererit.

  LXXIX

  LESBIUS is a pretty boy; why not? since Lesbia likes him better than you, Catullus, with all your kin. But this pretty boy would sell Catullus and all his kin if he could find three acquaintances to vouch for him.

  LXXX. ad Gellium

  Quid dicam, Gelli, quare rosea ista labella

  hiberna fiant candidiora nive,

  mane domo cum exis et cum te octava quiete

  e molli longo suscitat hora die?

  LXXX

  WHAT reason can I give, Gellius, why those ruddy lips become whiter than snow when you rise in the morning or the eighth hour awakes you from your soft siesta in the long hours of the day?

  nescio quid certe est: an vere fama susurrat

  grandia te medii tenta vorare viri?

  sic certe est: clamant Victoris rupta miselli

  ilia, et emulso labra notata sero.

  Something there is assuredly: is the gossip true that you are given to vice? So it is assuredly: the signs attest it.

  LXXXI. ad Iuventium

  Nemone in tanto potuit populo esse, Iuventi,

  bellus homo, quem tu diligere inciperes.

  praeterquam iste tuus moribunda ab sede Pisauri

  hospes inaurata palladior statua,

  qui tibi nunc cordi est, quem tu praeponere nobis

  audes, et nescis quod facinus facias?

  LXXXI

  COULD there not, Juventius, be found in all this people a pretty fellow whom you might begin to like, besides that friend of yours from the sickly region of Pisaurum, paler than a gilded statue, who now is dear to you, whom you presume to prefer to me, and know not what a deed you do?

  LXXXII. ad Qvintium

  Quinti, si tibi vis oculos debere Catullum

  aut aliud si quid carius est oculis,

  eripere ei noli, multo quod carius illi

  est oculis seu quid carius est oculis.

  LXXXII

  QUINTIUS, if you wish Catullus to owe his eyes to you, or aught else that is dearer than eyes, if dearer aught there be, do not take from him what is much dearer to him than his eyes, or aught besides that dearer is than eyes.

  LXXXIII. ad Lesbiam

  Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:

  haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.

  mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,

  sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,

  non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res,

  irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.

  LXXXIII

  LESBIA says many hard things to me in the presence of her husband, a great joy to the fool. Dull mule, you understand nothing. If she forgot me and were silent, she would be heart-whole. But as it is, her snarling and railing means this: she not only remembers, but — a much more serious thing — she is angry; that is, she burns, and so she talks.

  LXXXIV. ad Arrium

  Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda vellet

  dicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias,

  et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum,

  cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias.

  credo, sic mater, sic liber avunculus eius.

  sic maternus auus dixerat atque avia.

  LXXXIV

  ARRIUS if he wanted to say “honours” used to say “honours,” and for “intrigue.” “hintrigue”; and thought he had spoken marvellous well, whenever he said “hambush” with as much emphasis as possible. So, no doubt, his mother had said, so Liber his uncle, so his grandfather and grandmother on the mother’s side.

  hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures

  audibant eadem haec leniter et leviter,

  nec sibi postilla metuebant talia verba,

  cum subito affertur nuntius horribilis,

  Ionios fluctus, postquam il
luc Arrius isset,

  iam non Ionios esse sed Hionios.

  When he was sent into Syria, all our ears had a holiday; they heard the same syllables pronounced quietly and lightly, and had no fear of such words for the future: when on a sudden a dreadful message arrives, that the Ionian waves, ever since Arrius went there, are henceforth not “Ionian,” but “Hionian.”

  LXXXV.

  Odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris.

  nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.

  LXXXV

  I HATE and love. Why I do so, perhaps you ask. I know not, but I feel it, and I am in torment.

  LXXXVI. ad Lesbiam

  Quintia formosa est multis. mihi candida, longa,

  recta est: haec ego sic singula confiteor.

  totum illud formosa nego: nam nulla venustas,

  nulla in tam magno est corpore mica salis.

  Lesbia formosa est, quae cum pulcerrima tota est,

  tum omnibus una omnis surripuit Veneres.

  LXXXVI

  QUINTIA is thought beautiful by many; I think her fair, tall, and straight. I so far allow each of these points, but I demur to “beautiful,” for she has no grace; there is not in the whole compass of her tall person one grain of salt. Lesbia is beautiful: for she possesses all the beauties, and has stolen all the graces from all the women alone for herself.

  LXXXVII. ad Lesbiam

  Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatam

  vere, quantum a me Lesbia amata mea est.

  nulla fides ullo fuit umquam foedere tanta,

  quanta in amore tuo ex parte reperta mea est.

  LXXXVII

  No woman can say truly that she has been loved as much as you, Lesbia mine, were loved by me. No faithfulness in any bond was ever such as has been found on my part in my love for you.

  LXXXVIII. ad Gellium

  Quid facit is, Gelli, qui cum matre atque sorore

  prurit, et abiectis pervigilat tunicis?

  quid facit is, patruum qui non sinit esse maritum?

  ecquid scis quantum suscipiat sceleris?

  LXXXVIII

  WHAT is he doing, Gellius, who keeps vigil with mother and sister, tunics all thrown off? What is he doing, who will not let his uncle be a husband? Do you know how much guilt he incurs?

  suscipit, o Gelli, quantum non ultima Tethys

  nec genitor Nympharum abluit Oceanus:

  nam nihil est quicquam sceleris, quo prodeat ultra,

  non si demisso se ipse voret capite.

  More he incurs than furthest Tethys can wash away, or Ocean-father of the nymphs: for there is no guilt what, ever beyond for him to attain to.

  LXXXIX. ad Gellium

  Gellius est tenuis: quid ni? cui tam bona mater

  tamque valens vivat tamque venusta soror

  tamque bonus patruus tamque omnia plena puellis

  cognatis, quare is desinat esse macer?

  qui ut nihil attingat, nisi quod fas tangere non est,

  quantumvis quare sit macer invenies.

  LXXXIX

  GELLIUS is thin, and well he may be; with a mother so kind and so lusty and lively, and a sister so charming, and so kind an uncle, and so many girls of his acquaintance all over the place, why should he cease to be lean? Even if he touch nothing but what none may touch, you will find any number of reasons why he should be lean.

  XC. ad Gellium

  Nascatur magus ex Gelli matrisque nefando

  coniugio et discat Persicum aruspicium:

  nam magus ex matre et gnato gignatur oportet,

  si vera est Persarum impia religio,

  gratus ut accepto veneretur carmine divos

  omentum in flamma pingue liquefaciens.

  XC

  FROM the unholy commerce of Gellius and his mother let a Magian be born, and learn the Persian art of soothsaying; for a Magian must be the offspring of mother and son, if the unnatural religion of the Persians is true, so that their child may worship the gods with acceptable hymns, whilst melting the fat caul in the altar flame.

  XCI. ad Gellium

  Non ideo, Gelli, sperabam te mihi fidum

  in misero hoc nostro, hoc perdito amore fore,

  quod te cognossem bene constantemve putarem

  aut posse a turpi mentem inhibere probro;

  sed neque quod matrem nec germanam esse videbam

  hanc tibi, cuius me magnus edebat amor.

  XCI

  I HOPED, Gellius, that you would be true to me in this miserable, this ruinous love of mine, not on the ground that I knew you, or thought that you were truly honourable or could restrain your mind from baseness or villainy, but because I saw that she, whose mighty love was consuming me, was neither mother nor sister of yours.

  et quamvis tecum multo coniungerer usu,

  non satis id causae credideram esse tibi.

  tu satis id duxti: tantum tibi gaudium in omni

  culpa est, in quacumque est aliquid sceleris.

  And although I was connected with you by much familiar friendship, I had not thought that that was reason enough for you. You thought it enough: so much delight do you take in any vice in which there is something of dishonour.

  XCII. ad Lesbia

  Lesbia mi dicit semper male nec tacet umquam

  de me: Lesbia me dispeream nisi amat.

  XCII

  LESBIA always speaks ill of me, and is always talking about me. May I perish if Lesbia does not love me. quo signo?

  quia sunt totidem mea: deprecor illam

  assidue, verum dispeream nisi amo.

  By what token? because it is just the same with me. I am perpetually crying out upon her, but may I perish if I do not love her.

  XCIII. ad Gaium Iulium Caesarem

  Nil nimium studeo, Caesar, tibi velle placere,

  nec scire utrum sis albus an ater homo.

  XCIII

  I HAVE no very great desire to make myself agreeable to you, Caesar, nor to know whether your complexion is light or dark.

  XCIV. ad Mentulam

  Mentula moechatur. Moechatur mentula? Certe.

  Hoc est quod dicunt: ipsa olera olla legit.

  XCIV

  ROGER plays the gallant: say you so in truth? Sure enough this is the proverb, the pot finds its own herbs.

  XCV. ad Gaium Helvium Cinnam

  Zmyrna mei Cinnae nonam post denique messem

  quam coepta est nonamque edita post hiemem,

  milia cum interea quingenta Hortensius uno

  * * * * * * * *

  XCV

  MY friend Cinna’s Smyrna, published at last nine harvest-tides and nine winters after it was begun, whilst Hortensius [has brought out] five hundred thousand [verses] in one [year].

  Zmyrna cavas Satrachi penitus mittetur ad undas,

  Zmyrnam cana diu saecula pervoluent.

  at Volusi annales Paduam morientur ad ipsam

  et laxas scombris saepe dabunt tunicas.

  Smyrna will travel as far away as the deep-channelled streams of Satrachus. But the Annals of Volusius will die by the river Padua where they were born, and will often furnish a loose wrapper for mackerels.

  Parva mei mihi sint cordi monimenta ...,

  at populus tumido gaudeat Antimacho.

  Let the modest memorials of my friend be dear to me, and let the vulgar rejoice in their windy Antimachus.

  XCVI. ad Gaium Licinium Calvum

  Si quicquam mutis gratum acceptumque sepulcris

  accidere a nostro, Calve, dolore potest,

  quo desiderio veteres renovamus amores

  atque olim missas flemus amicitias,

  certe non tanto mors immatura dolori est

  Qvintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo.

  XCVI

  IF the silent grave can receive any pleasure, or sweetness at all from our grief, Calvus, the grief and regret with which we make our old loves live again, and weep for long-lost friendships, surely Quintilia feels less sorrow for her too early death, than pleasure from your love.


  XCVII. ad Aemilium

  Non (ita me di ament) quicquam referre putavi,

  utrumne os an culum olfacerem Aemilio.

  nilo mundius hoc, nihiloque immundius illud,

  verum etiam culus mundior et melior:

  nam sine dentibus est. hic dentis sesquipedalis,

  gingivas vero ploxeni habet veteris,

  praeterea rictum qualem diffissus in aestu

  meientis mulae cunnus habere solet.

  XCVII

  I SWEAR I didn’t think it mattered one straw whether I sniffed Aemilius’s head or his tail: neither was better or worse than t’other; or rather his tail was the better and smarter of the two, for it has no teeth. His mouth has teeth half a yard long, gums, moreover, like an old cart-frame, gaping like a mule in summer.

  hic futuit multas et se facit esse venustum,

  et non pistrino traditur atque asino?

  quem siqua attingit, non illam posse putemus

  aegroti culum lingere carnificis?

  He courts many a woman and makes himself out a charmer, and yet he is not passed over to the grinding-mill and its ass. If any woman touches him, don’t we think that she is capable of fondling a sick hangman?

  XCVIII. ad Victium

  In te, si in quemquam, dici pote, putide Victi,

  id quod verbosis dicitur et fatuis.

  ista cum lingua, si usus veniat tibi, possis

  culos et crepidas lingere carpatinas.

  XCVIII

  You if any man, disgusting Victius, deserve what is said about chatterboxes and idiots. With a tongue like that, given the chance you might lick a rustic’s clogs.

  si nos omnino vis omnes perdere, Victi,

  hiscas: omnino quod cupis efficies.

  If you wish to destroy us all utterly, Victius, just utter a syllable: you’ll utterly do what you wish.

  XCIX. ad Iuventium

  Surripui tibi, dum ludis, mellite Iuventi,