Catullus Poems

Quantum est hominum venustiorum

And however many learned men there are

Quem plus illa oculis suis amabat

Whom she loved more than life

Nam mellitus erat

For it was sweet like honey

Suamque norat ipsam tam bene quam puella matrem

And knew her just as well as a girl knows her mother

Ad solam dominam usque pipiabat

He would chirp continually to his mistress alone

At vobis male sit

But may wickedness come to you

Tua nunc opera meae puellae flendo turgiduli

Now because of your deeds my girls swollen little eyes are red from weeping

Phaselus ille, quem videtis, hospites

That small ship, which you see, friend

Neque ullius natantis impetum trabis nequisse praeterire, sive palmulis opus foret volare sive linteo

And that not any ship can surpass its speed, whether it made its flight with sails or with oars

Et hoc negat minacis Hadriatici negare litus

The coast of the the threatening Adriatic wont’ deny it

Ubi iste post phaselus antea fuit comata silva

Where the ship was formerly leafy forest

Nam Cytorio in iugo loquente saepe sibilum edidit coma

For on the ridge of Mount Cytoris, it would whistle by its talking leaves