Catullus 64

Peliaco quondam prognatae vertice pinus/dicuntur liquidas Neptuni nasse per undas/ Phasidos ad fluctus et fines Aeetaeos/ cum

Once pine trees born on the top of Pelion are said to have swum through the clear waters of Neptune to the waves of Phasis and the regions of Aeetes

Colchis avertere

To take away from the Colchians

Abiegnis

Fir

Diva quibus retinens in summis urbibus arces/ipsa Levi fecit volitantem flamine currum

For whom the godess holding the fortress of high citadels made herself a car which flutters in the breeze

Pinea coniungens inflexae texta carinae

And bound the woven pine of the bowed keel

Illa rudem cursu prima imbuit Amphitriten;/ quae simul ac rostro ventosum proscidit aequor/ tortaque remigio spumis incanuit unda

That ship as soon as she set out across the windy sea with her beak and the waves turned by he oars grew white with foam

Illa, atque haud alia

On that day and not another

Nutricum

Breasts

E gurgite cano

From the silver sea

Thetidis

Thetis

Despexit

Look down on

Thetidi Iugandum Pelea

Peleus needed to be joined to Thetis

O Nimis optato saeclorum tempore nati

O born in the happiest age of all

Teque adeo exime taedis felicibus aucte/ Thessaliae columen Peleu,

And you so very greatly blessed with happy nuptial torches/ support of Thessaly, Peleus

Concessit suos amores

Granted his own love

Ducere neptem

To wed his grandaughter

Nereine?

Daughter of Neptune

Optatae finito tempore luces

The wishes for day had arrived in due time

Conventu

In assembly

Oppletur laetanti regia coetu

The palace is filled with rejoicing gathering

Prae se

Before them

Desertitur Cieros

Cieros is deserted

Pthiotica

Phthiotic

Pharsalia

Pharsalus

Of Larissa

Larisaea

Non humilis curvis purgatur vinea rastris

The ground of the vineyard is not cleared with the curved rake

Glebam prono convellit vomere

Earth, bent, ploughshare

Non falx attenuat frondatorum arboris umbram

The hook of the pruner thin out the shade of the tree

Squalida rubigo

Squalid rust

Quamcumque opulenta recessit regia

Wherever the wealthy palace stretches out

Splendent

It shines

Soliis

On the thrones

Pulvinar vero divae geniale locatur/sedibus in mediis, Indo quod dente politum/ tincta tegit roseo conchyli purpura fuco.

Indeed the godess’ marriage takes place in the middle of the palace, which polished with Indian tusk, purple covers adorned died with the rosy stain of the shell

Haec vestis priscis hominum variata figuris heroum mira virtutes indicat arte

This coverlet embroided with the ancient figures of men shows the braveries of heros

Fluentisono

Wave sounding

Thesea cedentem celeri cum classe tuetur

Ariadne watches Theseus travelling away on swift ship

Necdum

Not yet

Utpote fallaci quae tum primum excita somno

Since now first woken from tricksy sleep

Procellae

Storms

Quem procul ex alga

At whom far from the seaweed covered shore

Saxea ut effigies bacchantis

Like a stone figure of a bacchant

Mitram

Headband

Levi velatum pectus amictu

Veiled by the covering of her light cloak

Non tereti stophio lactentis vincta papillas

Nor her milk white chest bound with polished girdle

Fluctus salis alludebant

The salt waves played with

Neque tum mitrae neque tum fluitantis amictus

Cared not for her headress, for her floating cloak

Vicem

In turn

Externavit

Sent mad

Spinosas

Prickly

Serens

Maddened

Illa tempestate

At that time

Piraei

Piraeus

Crudeli peste coactam

Driven by a cruel plague

Androgeoneae poenas exsolvere caedis

To pay the price for the slaughter of Androgeos

Decus innuptarum

The beauty of unwedded girls

Cecropiam solitam esse

Cecropia was accustomed

Quis angusta malis cum moenia vexarentur

When his narrow walls were troubled by these wicked things

Talia Cretam funera Cecropiae nec funera portarentur atque ita

Living corpses of Cecropia should be taken to Crete

Line 85: magnanimum ad Minoa venit sedesque superbas

What agrees with what and translate

Cupido…lumine

With desirous eye

Castus…lectulus

Chaste little couch

Aurave…verna

Spring breeze

Quales Eurotae praecingunt flumina myrtus

Like myrtles which surround the rivers of Eurotae

Non prius ex illo flagrantia declinavit lumina

Sshe did not avert her burning eyes from him

Quam cuncto concepit corpore flammam

Till her whole body had caught fire

Funditus

Completely

Tota

All flame

Quaeque regis Golgos quaeque Idalium frondosum,/qualibus incensam iactastis mente puellam/ fluctibus

And she who reins over Golgos and she who reins over…on what waves did you throw about the girl in her burning mind

Suspirantem

Sighing

Languenti

Fainting

Quanto saepe magis fulgore expalluit auri/ cum

How often did she grow more pale than the gleam of gold/ when Theseus

Aut mortem appeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis!

Either sort death or the rewards of praise

Non ingrata tamen frustra munuscula divis promittens tacito succepit vota labello

But nevertheless not unwanted were the gifts promised in vain to the gods she made prayers with silent lip

Nam velut in summo quatientem brachia Tauro quercum aut conigeram sudanti cortice pinum indomitus turbo contorquens flamine robur eruit

An oak which shakes its branches on Taurus’ height or a cone bearing pine with sweating bark or an unconquerable oak storm twisting with its gust pulls up

Radicitus

From the root

Quaevis cumque

Everything

Iactantem cornua ventis

Throwing their horns to the winds

Sospes

Unharmed

Ne labyrintheis e flexibus egredientem tecti frustraretur inobservabilis error

Coming from the winding of the labyrinths the untraceable wandering of the structure should overwhelm him

Commemorem

Tell more

Ut consanguineae complexum

The embrace of her sister

Quae misera in gnata deperdita laetabatur

Who lamented destroyed in grief for her daughter

Praeiptarit amorem

She chose before all these things

Vecta rati

Having travelled in a ship

Devinctam lumina somno

Eyes bound in sleep

Illam Perhibent

They say that

Clarisonas

Piercing

Conscendere montes

Climb the Rocky Mountains

Aciem

Eyes

Tremuli

Rippling

Procurrere

Run to meet

Tegmina

Clothes

Surae

Leg

Extremis

Final

Frigidulos udo singultus ore cientem

Cold sobs stirring up

Patriis…ab aris

From my father’s altars

Neglecto numine divuum

Unmindful of the gods power

Immemor a!

Unmindful!

Devota periuria

The curses of treachery

Vellet miserescere

Inclined to pity