Text & Translation
Metre – Hendecasyllables
| Line | Latin Text | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | hesterno, Licini, die otiosi | Yesterday, Licinius, a day of leisure |
| 2 | multum lusimus in meis tabellis, | we played many games in my little notebooks |
| 3 | ut convenerat esse delicatos: | as it had been agreed to be witty |
| 4 | scribens versiculos uterque nostrum | writing little verses each to the other |
| 5 | ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc, | each playing with this and that metre |
| 6 | reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum. | returning favours with joke and wine |
| 7 | Atque illinc abii tuo lepore | and when I left there, because of your wit |
| 8 | incensus, Licini, facetiisque, | I was on fire, Licinius, and because of your charm |
| 9 | ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret | So much so that food did not please my wretched self |
| 10 | nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos, | nor sleep close my little eyes with quiet |
| 11 | sed toto indomitus furore lecto | but ungovernable in my agitation, over the whole bed |
| 12 | versarer, cupiens videre lucem, | I tossed and turned, longing to see the light |
| 13 | ut tecum loquerer simulque ut essem. | So that I could see and talk with you again |
| 14 | At defessa labore membra postquam | And when my limbs, wearied with action |
| 15 | semimortua lectulo iacebant, | were lying half-dead on the bed |
| 16 | hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci, | I composed this poem for you, my friend |
| 17 | ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem. | From which you may understand my misery |
| 18 | Nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras, | Now beware of being rash, and about my prayers |
| 19 | oramus, cave despuas, ocelle, | I beg, beware of rejecting them, my friend |
| 20 | ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te. | lest Nemesis exact a punishment on you |
| 21 | Est vemens dea: laedere hanc caveto. | She is a harsh goddess: Beware of vexing her. |
Connotations of The Text
Line 1
- Licini
This refers to Licinius Calvus, a fellow orator and poet of Catullus.
Line2
- Tabellis
This is the diminutive of tabula. Catullus was very fond of diminutives (see lines 4, 10 and 19) and used them to express smallness, affection, pity, or contempt; in this case, most likely smallness or affection.
Line 4
- versiculos
This is the diminutive of versos.
Line 8
- incensus
Catullus was very fond of using fire or flame as a metaphor for passion.
Line 9
- me miserum
This is a very common phrase of Catullus’s. Latin was quite comfortable with describing a personal pronoun with an adjective, but it can sound awkward in English eg. The miserable I…, the witty you…
Line 19
- ocellos
This is the diminutive of oculus and literally means “little eye”. It was a common term of endearment in Latin, and especially in Catullus. However, here Catullus is actually referring to his eyes.
Line 20
- Nemesis
Nemesis was the goddess of justice and punished men for being vain.
Vocabulary