Catullus 50

Cat. 50.1Hesternō, Licinī, diē ōtiōsī
multum lūsimus in meīs tabellīs,
ut convēnerat esse dēlicātōs.

Yesterday, Licinius, being at leisure, we played a great deal on my writing tablets, as we had agreed to be light-hearted.

Note. Hesternō … diē: 'yesterday'. Licinius Calvus was a fellow poet and orator. in meīs tabellīs: on my writing tablets. ut convēnerat: 'as had been agreed'. dēlicātōs: 'playful, frivolous', agreeing with the understood subject 'us'.

Cat. 50.4Scrībēns versiculōs uterque nostrum
5lūdēbat numerō modo hōc modo illōc,
reddēns mūtua per iocum atque vīnum.

Each of us, writing little verses, played now in this metre, now in that, answering each other over jokes and wine.

Note. uterque nostrum: 'each of us'. numerō modo hōc modo illōc: 'now in this metre, now in that'; illōc is the ablative of an old, emphatic form of ille. reddēns mūtua: 'giving back in turn', answering each other's verses.

Cat. 50.7Atque illinc abiī tuō lepōre
incēnsus, Licinī, facētiīsque,
ut nec mē miserum cibus iuvāret,
10nec somnus tegeret quiēte ocellōs,
sed tōtō indomitus furōre lectō
versārer cupiēns vidēre lūcem,
ut tēcum loquerer simulque ut essem.

And I went away from there so set on fire by your charm, Licinius, and your wit, that food gave me, poor wretch, no pleasure, and sleep would not cover my eyes with rest, but, wild with passion, I tossed about over the whole bed, longing to see the daylight, so that I might talk with you and be with you.

Note. lepōre … facētiīsque: 'by your charm and wit'. ut nec … iuvāret … tegeret: result clauses, 'so that neither food delighted me nor sleep covered my eyes'. versārer: 'I tossed and turned'. The language is that of a lover, used playfully of a literary friendship.

Cat. 50.14At dēfessa labōre membra postquam
15sēmimortua lectulō iacēbant,
hoc, iūcunde, tibi poēma fēcī,
ex quō perspicerēs meum dolōrem.

But after my limbs, worn out with the effort, lay half-dead on my little bed, I made this poem for you, my delightful friend, from which you might see my pain.

Note. dēfessa labōre membra: 'my limbs worn out with the effort'. sēmimortua: 'half-dead'. iūcunde: vocative, 'my delightful friend'. ex quō perspicerēs: a relative purpose clause, 'from which you might see'.

Cat. 50.18Nunc audāx cavē sīs, precēsque nostrās,
ōrāmus, cavē dēspuās, ocelle,
20nē poenās Nemesis reposcat ā tē.

Now take care not to be proud, and take care, I beg, not to reject my prayers, my darling, in case Nemesis demands a penalty from you.

Note. cavē sīs: 'take care not to be', cavē with a bare subjunctive. ōrāmus: a polite parenthesis, 'we beg'. ocelle: 'darling', literally 'little eye'. Nemesis: the goddess who punishes pride.

Cat. 50.21Est vehemēns dea: laedere hanc cavētō.

She is a violent goddess: beware of offending her.

Note. cavētō: the future imperative, used for solemn warnings.