Latin Catullus Poem 50

hesterno, Licini, die otiosi

Yesterday, Licinius, being at leisure

multum lusimus in meis tabellis,

we played a lot at my tablets

ut convenerat esse delicatos;

as it had suited us to be frivolous;

scribens versiculos uterque nostrum

each of us writing trivial verses,

ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc,

played now in this metre, now in that,

reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum.

exchanging lines between us through jokes and wine.

atque illinc abii tuo lepore

And indeed I went away from there, fired

incensus, Licini, facetiisque,

by your charm and witticisms, Licinius,

ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret,

so that neither did any food help me in my wretchedness,

nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos,

nor sleep cover my dear eyes with rest

sed toto indomitus furore lecto

but, uncontrollable in my frenzy, I tossed about

versarer, cupiens videre lucem,

over the whole bed, desiring to see the daylight,

ut tecum loquerer simulque ut essem.

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

at defessa labore membra postquam

But when my limbs, tired by suffering,

semimortua lectulo iacebant,

were lying half-dead in my little bed,

hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci,

I composed this poem for you, dear man,

ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem.

from which you might perceive my pain.

nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras,

Now beware being proud and, dear friend,

oramus, cave despuas, ocelle,

I beg you, beware spurning my prayers

ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te.

lest Nemesis demand punishment from you.

est vehemens dea: laedere hanc caveto.

She is a violent goddess. Beware of offending her.