Catullus 76

Cat. 76.1Sī qua recordantī benefacta priōra voluptās
est hominī, cum sē cōgitat esse pium,
nec sānctam violāsse fidem, nec foedere in ūllō
dīvum ad fallendōs nūmine abūsum hominēs,
5multa parāta manent in longā aetāte, Catulle,
ex hōc ingrātō gaudia amōre tibi.

If a man finds any pleasure in remembering his past kindnesses, when he reflects that he has been loyal, and has not broken a sacred trust, nor in any agreement abused the power of the gods to deceive men, then many joys await you, Catullus, laid up for a long life from this thankless love.

Note. Sī qua … voluptās est: 'if there is any pleasure'; qua is the indefinite after sī. recordantī … hominī: 'for a man remembering'. benefacta priōra: 'past kindnesses'. cum sē cōgitat esse pium: 'when he reflects that he has been dutiful'. dīvum: genitive plural of dīvus, 'of the gods'. abūsum: perfect participle of the deponent abūtor, governing nūmine. multa parāta manent … gaudia: 'many joys await you, laid up'.

Cat. 76.7Nam quaecumque hominēs bene cuiquam aut dīcere possunt
aut facere, haec ā tē dictaque factaque sunt:
omnia quae ingrātae periērunt crēdita mentī.

For whatever kindness men can say or do to anyone, has been said and done by you: and all of it has been wasted, entrusted to a thankless heart.

Note. quaecumque … bene … dīcere … aut facere: 'whatever good men can say or do to anyone'. haec … dictaque factaque sunt: 'these have been both said and done'. ingrātae … mentī: dative, 'to a thankless heart'.

Cat. 76.10Quārē cūr tū tē iam amplius excruciēs?

So why should you torture yourself any longer?

Note. cūr … excruciēs: 'why should you torture yourself?', a deliberative subjunctive.

Cat. 76.11Quīn tū animō offirmās atque istinc tēque redūcis
et dīs invītīs dēsinis esse miser?

Why do you not make your mind firm, and draw yourself back from there, and stop being miserable when the gods are against it?

Note. Quīn … offirmās: 'why don't you strengthen yourself?', quīn with the indicative in an impatient question. istinc: 'from there', i.e. from this love. dīs invītīs: ablative absolute, 'when the gods are unwilling', against the will of the gods.

Cat. 76.13Difficile est longum subitō dēpōnere amōrem;

It is hard to lay aside a long love suddenly;

Note. subitō: 'suddenly'. The next line repeats the opening words, as if Catullus is arguing with himself.

Cat. 76.14difficile est, vērum hoc quā libet efficiās.

it is hard, but you must do this by whatever means you can.

Note. vērum: 'but'. quā libet: 'by whatever way it pleases', i.e. by any means. efficiās: jussive subjunctive.

Cat. 76.15Ūna salūs haec est, hoc est tibi pervincendum;

This is your one salvation, this you must win through;

Note. pervincendum: gerundive, 'this must be won through by you'.

Cat. 76.16hoc faciās, sīve id nōn pote sīve pote.

you must do it, whether it is possible or not.

Note. sīve id nōn pote sīve pote: 'whether it is impossible or possible'; pote is the neuter of potis.

Cat. 76.17Ō dī, sī vestrum est miserērī, aut sī quibus unquam
extrēmam iam ipsā in morte tulistis opem,
mē miserum adspicite et, sī vītam pūriter ēgī,
20ēripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi!

O gods, if it is in your nature to pity, or if you have ever brought help to any at the very last, at death's door, look upon me in my misery and, if I have lived a clean life, tear this plague and ruin from me!

Note. vestrum est: 'it is your nature (part)', with the infinitive. extrēmam … opem: 'last-minute help'. puriter: 'cleanly', an old adverb. pestem perniciemque: 'this plague and ruin', his love.

Cat. 76.21Hei mihi subrēpēns īmōs ut torpor in artus
expulit ex omnī pectore laetitiās.

Ah me, how, creeping like a numbness into my inmost limbs, it has driven all joy from my heart.

Note. Ei mihi: 'ah me' (spelled Hei here). ut torpor: 'like a numbness'. imōs … in artūs: 'into my inmost limbs'. laetitiās: 'joys', the plural.

Cat. 76.23Nōn iam illud quaerō, contrā ut mē dīligat illa,
aut, quod nōn potis est, esse pudīca velit:
25ipse valēre optō et taetrum hunc dēpōnere morbum.

I no longer ask this, that she should love me in return, or, what is impossible, that she should be willing to be faithful: I want to be well myself and to lay aside this foul sickness.

Note. contrā: 'in return'. quod nōn potis est: 'which is impossible'. pudīca: 'chaste, faithful'. The prayer at the end is not to win her back but to be cured: valēre, 'to be well'.

Cat. 76.26Ō dī, reddite mī hoc prō pietāte meā.

O gods, grant me this in return for my loyalty.

Note. prō pietāte meā: 'in return for my loyalty'. pietās is dutiful loyalty to gods, family and friends.