Catullus Poem 50 - Translation

hesterno, Licini, die otiosi

multum lusimus in meis tabellis,

ut convenerat esse delicatos;

Yesterday, Licinius, being at leisure,

we played a lot on my tablets,

as it had suited us to be frivolous;

scribens versiculos uterque nostrum

ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc,

reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum.

Each of us writing trivial verses

Played now in this metre, now in that,

Exchanging compositions between us amid jokes and wine.

atque illinc abii tuo lepore

incensus, Licini, facetiisque,

ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret

nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos…

And then, I went away from there inflamed

By your charm and witticisms, Licinius,

So that neither did [any] food help me in my wretchedness,

Nor did sleep cover my dear eyes with rest…

sed toto indomitus furore lecto

versarer, cupiens videre lucem,

ut tecum loquerer simulque ut essem.

But, uncontrollable because of my frenzy, I tossed about

Over the whole bed, desiring to see the daylight,

So that I could talk to you and be together with you.

at defessa labore membra postquam

semimortua lectulo iacebant,

hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci,

ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem.

But, when my limbs, tired by suffering

Were lying half-dead on my little bed,

I composed this poem for you, dear fellow,

From which you might perceive my pain.

nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras,

oramus, cave despuas, ocelle,

ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te.

Now beware of being rash, light of my life, we beg,

Beware of spurning our prayers,

Lest Nemesis demands a punishment from you.

est vemens dea. laedere hanc caveto.

She is a violent goddess. Beware of offending her.