Catullus: Poem 8

miser Catulle,

Poor Catullus,

desinas ineptire,

stop being a fool,

et ... ducas

and accept

quod vides perisse perditum

[that] what you see has finished is over.

fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,

Once, suns shone brightly for you,

cum ventitabas

when you always used to go

quo puella ducebat

wherever [your] girl led,

amata nobis

loved by me

quantum amabitur nulla

more than anyone will be loved

ibi, illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,

Then, when [so] many enjoyable things were happening

quae tu volebas

which you wanted

nec puella nolebat,

[and] the girl didn't refuse,

fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.

truly the suns shone brightly for you.

nunc iam illa non vult:

Now she doesn't want it any more:

tu quoque impotens noli,

you too, impotent, [must] stop wanting.

nec quae fugit sectare,

Don't chase [a girl] who runs away,

nec miser vive,

nor live a sad [life],

sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.

but keep going with a strong mind; be firm.

vale puella,

Goodbye girl,

iam Catullus obdurat;

Catullus is now firm;

nec te requiret

he's not going to request from you

nec rogabit invitam.

or ask [you] against your will.

at tu dolebis,

But it's you who will suffer,

cum rogaberis nulla.

when you're no longer asked.

scelesta, vae te,

Alas for you, wicked woman,

quae tibi manet vita?

what [kind of] life is left for you?

quis nunc te adibit?

Who's going to approach you now?

cui videberis bella?

Who's going to find you attractive?

quem nunc amabis?

Who will you love now?

cuius esse diceris?

Whose [girlfriend] will you be called?

quem basiabis?

Who are you going to kiss?

cui labella mordebis?

Whose lips are you going to bite?

at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

But you, Catullus, be strong and firm.