Catullus 72

Cat. 72.1Dīcēbās quondam sōlum tē nōsse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae mē velle tenēre Iovem.

You used to say once that you knew only Catullus, Lesbia, and that you would not want to hold Jupiter in preference to me.

Note. Dīcēbās: 'you used to say'. nōsse = nōvisse, 'to know'. prae mē: 'in preference to me'. Iovem: accusative of Iuppiter.

Cat. 72.3Dīlēxī tum tē nōn tantum ut vulgus amīcam,
sed pater ut gnātōs dīligit et generōs.

I loved you then, not just as the common crowd loves a girlfriend, but as a father loves his sons and sons-in-law.

Note. Dīlēxī: 'I loved, I cherished'; dīligō is warmer than respect but different from amō, the passion. vulgus: 'the common crowd', usually neuter. gnātōs = nātōs, 'sons'. generōs: sons-in-law, a striking comparison for a lover's affection.

Cat. 72.5Nunc tē cognōvī: quārē etsī impēnsius ūror,
multō mī tamen es vīlior et levior.

Now I know you: and so, although I burn more fiercely, you are still much cheaper and slighter in my eyes.

Note. impēnsius ūror: 'I burn more fiercely' with desire. vīlior et levior: 'cheaper and lighter', i.e. I value you less.

Cat. 72.7Quī potis est?

How can that be?

Note. Quī potis est: 'how is that possible?'. quī is an old ablative used as 'how?', and potis est means 'it is possible'.

Cat. 72.7Inquis.

you ask.

Note. Inquis: 'you say'; the imagined objection belongs to the line before.

Cat. 72.7Quod amantem iniūria tālis
cōgit amāre magis, sed bene velle minus.

Because an injury like this forces a lover to love more, but to wish well less.

Note. Quod: 'because'. amantem: 'the lover', the present participle used as a noun. amāre magis, sed bene velle minus: the poem's point: passion grows while affection and respect fade.