Catullus 1, 2, 10

Question 1

Cui dono lepidum novum libellum

Answer 1

To whom do I give my new charming little book

Question 2

arida modo pumice expolitum?

Answer 2

having been polished recently with a dry pumice stone?

Question 3

Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas

meas esse aliquid putare nugas.

Answer 3

Cornelius, to you: for you were accustomed to think

that my trifles were something.

Question 4

Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum

Answer 4

Now then, when you alone of the Italians dared

Question 5

omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .

Answer 5

to explain every age by means of three scrolls…

Question 6

Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!

Answer 6

learned, by Jupiter, and laborious!

Question 7

Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—

Answer 7

Therefore have for yourself whatever of a little book,

Question 8

qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,

Answer 8

and whatever you like, oh patron goddess,

Question 9

plus uno maneat perenne saeclo!

Answer 9

let it last a long time, for more than one generation!

Question 10

Passer, deliciae meae puellae,

Answer 10

Sparrow, delight of my girl,

Question 11

quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,

Answer 11

with whom she is accustomed to play, whom she is accustomed to hold in her lap,

Question 12

cui primum digitum dare appetenti

Answer 12

to whom, attacking her, she is accustomed to give her index finger

Question 13

et acris solet incitare morsus,

Answer 13

and to provoke sharp bites,

Question 14

cum desiderio meo nitenti

Answer 14

When it pleases the gleaming object of my desire

Question 15

carum nescio quid lubet iocari

Answer 15

to play some dear joke or other

Question 16

et solaciolum sui doloris,

Answer 16

and a relief for her grief,

Question 17

credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:

Answer 17

I believe, so that then her heavy passion subsides:

Question 18

tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem

Answer 18

would that I were able to play with you just as she herself does

Question 19

et tristis animi levare curas!

Answer 19

and to lighten the sad cares of your mind!

Question 20

Varus me meus ad suos amores

visum duxerat e foro otiosum,

Answer 20

My Varus had led me at leisure to his girlfriend

from the forum

Question 21

scortillum, ut mihi tum repente visum est,

Answer 21

a little tart, as she immediately seemed to me then,

Question 22

non sane illepidum neque invenustum,

Answer 22

certainly not uncharming nor unattractive,

Question 23

huc ut venimus, incidere nobis

sermones varii, in quibus, quid esset

Answer 23

When we came to this place, various conversations happened to us, in which

Question 24

iam Bithynia, quo modo se haberet,

Answer 24

what now Bithynia was; how it was faring,

Question 25

et quonam mihi profuisset aere.

Answer 25

and with what kind of bronze it had profited (for) me.

Question 26

respondi id quod erat, nihil neque ipsis

Answer 26

I responded that which was, there was not at all (any reason) for themselves

Question 27

nec praetoribus esse nec cohorti,

Answer 27

nor for their governors nor for his staff,

Question 28

cur quisquam caput unctius referret,

Answer 28

why anyone brought back a more oilier head,

Question 29

praesertim quibus esset irrumator

praetor, nec faceret pili cohortem.

Answer 29

especially for whom there was a SOB/sleazebag/dickhead

governor, nor was he considering his staff worth a hair.

Question 30

‘at certe tamen,’ inquiunt ‘quod illic

Answer 30

“But certainly however” they said “that which

Question 31

natum dicitur esse, comparasti
ad lecticam homines.’ ego, ut puellae
unum me facerem beatiorem,

Answer 31

is said is to be born there, you bought
men for a litter.” I, in order to make myself alone, to/for the girl,
more prosperous

Question 32

‘non’ inquam ‘mihi tam fuit maligne

Answer 32

“It was not so bad for me,” I said,

Question 33

ut, provincia quod mala incidisset,

Answer 33

“Although a bad province fallen to my lot,

Question 34

non possem octo homines parare rectos.’

Answer 34

I was not able to buy 8 straight men.”

Question 35

at mi nullus erat nec hic neque illic

Answer 35

But there was no one neither here nor there,

Question 36

fractum qui veteris pedem grabati

in collo sibi collocare posset.

Answer 36

who was able to set the broken foot of an old couch

on his neck.

Question 37

hic illa, ut decuit cinaediorem,

Answer 37

Here she, as befitted someone rather slutty,

Question 38

‘quaeso’ inquit ‘mihi, mi Catulle, paulum

Answer 38

“Please,” she said “my Catullus, for a little while

Question 39

istos commoda: nam volo ad Serapim

deferri.’

Answer 39

loan me these guys, for I want to be carried to the temple of Serapis.”

Question 40

‘mane’ inquii puellae,

Answer 40

“Wait” I said to the girl,

Question 41

‘istud quod modo dixeram me habere,

Answer 41

“That thing which I had just said that I had,

Question 42

fugit me ratio: meus sodalis—

Answer 42

reason flees/escapes me: my buddy–

Question 43

Cinna est Gaius—is sibi paravit.

Answer 43

he is Gaius Cinna– he obtained it for himself.

Question 44

verum, utrum illius an mei, quid ad me?

Answer 44

but, whether they are his or mine, what is it to me?

Question 45

utor tam bene quam mihi pararim.

Answer 45

I use them as well as if I bought them for myself

Question 46

sed tu insulsa male et molesta vivis,

Answer 46

but you live very tastelessly and annoyingly,

Question 47

per quam non licet esse neglegentem.’

Answer 47

for whom it is not permitted to be careless.”