Quare hoc est gratum nobisque est carius auro,
Quod te restituis, Lesbia, mi cupido,
Restituis cupido atque insperanti ipsa refers te.
Quod te restituis, Lesbia, mi cupido,
Restituis cupido atque insperanti ipsa refers te.
Catullus - Carmina
I could not, nor if I could, would my love be so
desperate: but thou with Tappo dost frame everything heinous.
CV.
Mentula conatur Pipleum scandere montem:
Musae furcillis praecipitem eiciunt.
CV.
ON MAMURRA.
Mentula fain would ascend Piplean mountain up-mounting:
Pitch him the Muses down headlong wi' forklets a-hurled.
Mentula presumes the Pimplean mount to scale: the Muses with their
pitchforks chuck him headlong down.
CVI.
Cum puero bello praeconem qui videt esse,
Quid credat, nisi se vendere discupere?
CVI.
THE AUCTIONEER AND THE FAIR BOY.
When with a pretty-faced boy we see one playing the Crier,
What can we wot except longs he for selling the same?
When with a comely lad a crier is seen to be, what may be thought save that
he longs to sell himself.
CVII.
Siquoi quid cupido optantique obtigit umquam
Insperanti, hoc est gratum animo proprie.
Quare hoc est gratum nobisque est carius auro,
Quod te restituis, Lesbia, mi cupido,
Restituis cupido atque insperanti ipsa refers te. 5
Nobis o lucem candidiore nota!
Quis me uno vivit felicior, aut magis hac res
Optandas vita dicere quis poterit?
CVII.
TO LESBIA RECONCILED.
An to one ever accrue any boon he lusted and longed for
Any time after despair, grateful it comes to his soul.
Thus 'tis grateful to us nor gold was ever so goodly,
When thou restorest thyself (Lesbia! ) to lovingmost me,
Self thou restorest unhoped, and after despair thou returnest. 5
Oh the fair light of a Day noted with notabler white!
Where lives a happier man than myself or--this being won me--
Who shall e'er boast that his life brought him more coveted lot?
If what one desires and covets is ever obtained unhoped for, this is
specially grateful to the soul. Wherefore is it grateful to us and far
dearer than gold, that thou com'st again, Lesbia, to longing me; com'st yet
again, long-looked for and unhoped, thou restorest thyself. O day of whiter
note for us! who lives more happily than I, sole I, or who can say what
greater thing than this could be hoped for in life?
CVIII.
Si, Comini, populi arbitrio tua cana senectus
Spurcata inpuris moribus intereat,
Non equidem dubito quin primum inimica bonorum
Lingua execta avido sit data volturio,
Effossos oculos voret atro gutture corvos, 5
Intestina canes, cetera membra lupi.
desperate: but thou with Tappo dost frame everything heinous.
CV.
Mentula conatur Pipleum scandere montem:
Musae furcillis praecipitem eiciunt.
CV.
ON MAMURRA.
Mentula fain would ascend Piplean mountain up-mounting:
Pitch him the Muses down headlong wi' forklets a-hurled.
Mentula presumes the Pimplean mount to scale: the Muses with their
pitchforks chuck him headlong down.
CVI.
Cum puero bello praeconem qui videt esse,
Quid credat, nisi se vendere discupere?
CVI.
THE AUCTIONEER AND THE FAIR BOY.
When with a pretty-faced boy we see one playing the Crier,
What can we wot except longs he for selling the same?
When with a comely lad a crier is seen to be, what may be thought save that
he longs to sell himself.
CVII.
Siquoi quid cupido optantique obtigit umquam
Insperanti, hoc est gratum animo proprie.
Quare hoc est gratum nobisque est carius auro,
Quod te restituis, Lesbia, mi cupido,
Restituis cupido atque insperanti ipsa refers te. 5
Nobis o lucem candidiore nota!
Quis me uno vivit felicior, aut magis hac res
Optandas vita dicere quis poterit?
CVII.
TO LESBIA RECONCILED.
An to one ever accrue any boon he lusted and longed for
Any time after despair, grateful it comes to his soul.
Thus 'tis grateful to us nor gold was ever so goodly,
When thou restorest thyself (Lesbia! ) to lovingmost me,
Self thou restorest unhoped, and after despair thou returnest. 5
Oh the fair light of a Day noted with notabler white!
Where lives a happier man than myself or--this being won me--
Who shall e'er boast that his life brought him more coveted lot?
If what one desires and covets is ever obtained unhoped for, this is
specially grateful to the soul. Wherefore is it grateful to us and far
dearer than gold, that thou com'st again, Lesbia, to longing me; com'st yet
again, long-looked for and unhoped, thou restorest thyself. O day of whiter
note for us! who lives more happily than I, sole I, or who can say what
greater thing than this could be hoped for in life?
CVIII.
Si, Comini, populi arbitrio tua cana senectus
Spurcata inpuris moribus intereat,
Non equidem dubito quin primum inimica bonorum
Lingua execta avido sit data volturio,
Effossos oculos voret atro gutture corvos, 5
Intestina canes, cetera membra lupi.
