Catullus 51

First Stanza:

1. Ille (vir) mihi pār deō esse vidētur

2. ille, sī fās est, superāre deōs (vidētur)

3. (is) quī sedēns adversus tē

4. identidem spectat et audit

That man seems, to me, to be equal to a God. That man, if it is morally right, seems to overcome the Gods. He who is sitting opposite you, sees and hears you again and again…

Second Stanza:

5. (tē) dulciter rīdentem quod omnēs sēnsūs

6. ā mē miserō ēripit: nam simul atque Lesbia

7. tē aspexī, mihi superest nihil

8. vōcis on ōre

…laughing sweetly, a thing which snatches away all the senses from love sick me. As soon as I caught sight of you Lesbia, nothing remains in my mouth of voice.

Third Stanza:

9. Sed ligua (mea) torpet, tenuis flamma

10. sub artūs (meōs) dēmānat, sonitū suō

11. tintinant aurēs (meae), geminā nocte

12. oculī (meī) teguntur

But my tongue is numb, a thin flam throws down under my limbs, my ears ring with their own sound. My eyes are covered with a twin night.

Fourth Stanza:

13. Ōtium, Catulle, tibi molestum est;

14. ōtiō exsultās nimiumque gestīs:

15. ōtium prius est rēgēs et beātās urbēs

16. perdidit

Leisure, Catullus, is troublesome for you. In leisure, you leap about, and you delight too much. Leisure has destroyed kings and beautiful cities.

2 nouns in the Vocative

1. Catulle

2. Lesbia

2 present active participles (“nt” + ending)

1. sedens —» sitting

2. ridentem —» laughing

2 complementary infinitives

1. videtur superare —» seems to overcome

2. videtur esse —» seems to be

2 passive verbs

1. videtur

2. teguntur

An ablative of manner

gemina nocte —» with a twin night

2 adverbs (modifies verbs)

1. identidem —» again and again

2. dulciter —» sweetly

Examples of noun adjective agreement

1. omnes sensus —» all senses

2. tenuis flamma —» a thin flame

3. artus meos —» my lands

4. sonito suo —» their own sound

5. gemina nocte —» a twin night

6. beatas urbes —» beautiful cites

7. me misero —» miserable me