Catullus 1

1. Cui dōnō (hunc?) lepidum novum libellum

2. ādriā modo pūmice expolītum?

To whom do I give this charming new little book just recently polished with a dry pumice stone?

3. Cornēlī, tibi: nacque tū solebās

4. meās esse aliquid putāre nūgās

5. iam tum, cum (tu), ūnus Italōrum, ausus es explicāre

6. omne aevum tribus cartīs

7. doctis, Iuppiter, et labōriōsīs.

To you, Cornelius: for you were accustomed to think that my nonsense was something. Now the, when you, the only one of the Italians, dared to unfold all history, on three learned and painstaking pieces of papyrus. By Jupiter!

8. Quārē habē tibi quidquid quālecumque (est) hoc libellum

9. maneat, ō patrōna virgo, plūs ūnō perenne saeclō

Therefore take for yourself whatever this is of a little book of whatever sort which, oh patron maiden, let it remain for more than one eternal generation.

A perfect passive participle

expolitum —» having been polished

An ablative of means

adria pumice —» with a dry stone

Two nouns in the vocative case

• Corneli

• Virgo

An indirect statement

Meas (subject) esse aliquid (infinitive) putare (verb of the head) nugas (subject of d/o)

An ablative of place where

Cartis —» paper

A command

habe tibi —» have for yourself

A jussitive subjunctive

maneat —» let it remain

A Complimentary infinitive

putare —» to think

An ablative of degree of difference

plus —> many

2 noun adjective agreements

• tribus cartis —» three pieces of paper

• doctis cartis —» learned pieces of paper