Catullus 45 Flashcards
Acmen Septimius suos amores
tenens in gremio ‘me’’ inquit ‘Acme,
Septimius, holding his love Acme
in his arms, said: ‘My Acme,
ni te perdite amo atque amare porro
omnes sum assidue paratus annos,
quantum qui pote plurimum perire,
unless I love you to distraction and hereafter
am prepared to love you continually throughout the years
as much as he who can love you most,
solus in Libya Indiaque tosta
caesio veniam obvius leoni.’
may I alone in Libya and torrid India
Meet a green-eyed lion.
Hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante
dextra sternuit approbationem
As he said this, Cupid sneezed approval on
The left as before on the right.
At Acme leviter caput reflectens
et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos
illo purpureo ore suaviata,
But Acme, gently bending back her head
and having kissed the little eyes intoxicated
with love, of the sweet boy with those rosy lips,
‘sic’ inquit ‘mea vita Septimille,
huic uni domino usque serviamus,
ut multo mihi maior acriorque
ignis mollibus ardet in medullis.’
said: “In this way, my dear Septimius,
my life, let us serve forever this one master,
as a flame much greater and keener
burns in my tender limbs.”
Hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante
dextra sternuit approbationem.
As she said this, Cupid sneezed approval
on the left as before on the right.
Nunc ab auspicio bono profecti
mutuis animis amant amantur.
Now having set out with good omens they
love and are loved with mutual feelings.
Unam Septimius misellus Acmen
mavult quam Syrias Britanniasque:
Poor little Septimius prefers his one Acme
to all the Syrians and Britains:
uno in Septimio fidelis Acme
facit delicias libidinisque.
the faithful Acme takes delight
and pleasure in her one Septimius.
quis ullos homines beatiores
vidit, quis Venerem auspicatiorem?
Who has seen any more blessed men,
who a more auspicious Cupid?
