Catullus Poem 50 Full Translation

hesterno, Licini, die otiosi

Yesterday, Licinius, while at leisure

multum lusimus in meis tabellis,

we played a lot on my little tablets,

ut convenerat esse delicatos;

as it had suited us to be frivolous;

scribens versiculos uterque nostrum

each of the two of us, writing trivial verses,

ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc,

played now in this metre, now in that metre,

reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum.

exchanging them between jokes and wine.

atque illinc abii

And I went away from there

tuo lepore incensus, Licini, facetiisque,

set alight by your charm and witticisms, Licinius,

ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret

so that neither could food relieve me of my wretchedness,

nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos,

nor sleep cover my dear eyes with rest,

sed toto indomitus furore lecto versarer,

but uncontrollable with madness, I tossed about the whole bed,

cupiens videre lucem,

desiring to see the light of day,

ut tecum loquerer simulque ut essem.

so that I might speak with you and be together with you.

at defessa labore membra postquam

But when my limbs, tired from their toil,

semimortua lectulo iacebant,

were lying half-dead on the little bed,

hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci,

I made this poem for you, my dear,

ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem.

from which you might perceive my pain.

nunc audax cave sis,

Now take care that you are not proud,

precesque nostras, oramus, cave despuas, ocelle,

and make sure that you don't spurn our prayers, we beg, apple of my eye,

ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te.

lest Nemesis demand punishment back from you.

est vehemens dea:

She is a violent goddess:

laedere hanc caveto.

take care not to offend her.