Catullus 64 Text (progressive)

Question 1

PELIACO quondam prognatae uertice pinus

Answer 1

Once upon a time, pines sprung from Pelion’s peak

Question 2

dicuntur liquidas Neptuni nasse per undas

Answer 2

are said to have swum through the liquid waves of Neptune

Question 3

Phasidos ad fluctus et fines Aeetaeos,

Answer 3

To the Phasisian waves and the lands of Aeetes,

Question 4

cum lecti iuuenes, Argiuae robora pubis,

Answer 4

When the chosen youths, the strength of Argive manhood

Question 5

auratam optantes Colchis auertere pellem

Answer 5

Choosing to snatch the Golden Fleece from the Colchians,

Question 6

ausi sunt uada salsa cita decurrere puppi,

Answer 6

They dared to traverse with swift ship through the salty waters,

Question 7

caerula uerrentes abiegnis aequora palmis.

Answer 7

Sweeping the azure sea with fir oars,

Question 8

diua quibus retinens in summis urbibus arces

Answer 8

For whom the goddess herself occupying the citadels in the highest cities

Question 9

ipsa leui fecit uolitantem flamine currum,

Answer 9

Made the flying chariot with a light wind,

Question 10

pinea coniungens inflexae texta carinae.

Answer 10

Fitting the pine timbers to the curved keel.

Question 11

illa rudem cursu prima imbuit Amphitriten.

Answer 11

She first stained inexperienced Amphitrite with sailing;

Question 12

Quae simul ac rostro uentosum proscidit aequor,

Answer 12

And when she plowed the windy sea with her beak

Question 13

tortaque remigio spumis incanuit unda,

Answer 13

and the wave, churned by the oars, grew white with foam

Question 14

emersere feri candenti e gurgite uultus

Answer 14

faces emerged from the white eddy

Question 15

aequoreae monstrum Nereides admirantes.

Answer 15

Aquatic Nereides admiring the apparition

Question 16

illa, atque haud alia, uiderunt luce marinas

Answer 16

On that day, and no other, [mortals] saw

Question 17

[mortales] oculi nudato corpore Nymphas

Answer 17

with their own eyes [Marine] nymphs, with naked body,

Question 18

nutricum tenus exstantes e gurgite cano.

Answer 18

as far as their breasts, standing out from the white whirlpool; so I sing.

Question 19

tum Thetidis Peleus incensus fertur amore,

Answer 19

Then Peleus was set aflame with love of Thetis,

Question 20

tum Thetis humanos non despexit hymenaeos,

Answer 20

Then Thetis did not despise human marriages

Question 21

tum Thetidi pater ipse iugandum Pelea sensit.

Answer 21

Then the father himself realized Peleus must be joined to Thetis.

Question 22

o nimis optato saeclorum tempore nati

Answer 22

O ye born in the choicest of ages,

Question 23

heroes, saluete, deum genus! o bona matrum

Answer 23

Heroes, Hail to you, race of gods! Oh mothers’…

Question 24

progenies, saluete iter…

Answer 24

…offspring, hail again!

Question 25

vos ego saepe meo uos carmine compellabo.

Answer 25

Often I will address you in my song,

Question 26

teque adeo eximie taedis felicibus aucte,

Answer 26

And you so increased in importance by fortunate wedding torches

Question 27

Thessaliae columen Peleu, cui Iuppiter ipse,

Answer 27

Oh Peleus height of Thessaly, to whom Jupiter himself,

Question 28

ipse suos diuum genitor concessit amores.

Answer 28

The father of the gods himself concedes the his own love?

Question 29

tene Thetis tenuit pulcerrima Neptunine?

Answer 29

Did Thetis, most beautiful daughter of Neptune hold you?

Question 30

tene suam Tethys concessit ducere neptem,

Answer 30

Did not Tethys, agree to lead you, her own granddaughter

Question 31

Oceanusque, mari totum qui amplectitur orbem?

Answer 31

and Oceanus who surrounds the whole world with the sea?

Question 32

Quis simul optato finitae tempore luces

Answer 32

Now when that longed-for day in time fulfilled…

Question 33

advenere, domum conuentu tota frequentat

Answer 33

…arrived, all [Thessaly] celebrates at the home assembly

Question 34

[Thessalia], oppletur laetanti regia coetu:

Answer 34

The palace is filled with rejoicing crowd:

Question 35

dona ferunt prae se, declarant gaudia uultu.

Answer 35

They bear gifts before them, they show their joy with their face.

Question 36

deseritur Scyros, linquunt Phthiotica Tempe,

Answer 36

Scyros is deserted, they relinquish Phthotic Tempe,

Question 37

Crannonisque domos ac moenia Larisaea,

Answer 37

And the Crannonian homes and Larissian walls;

Question 38

Pharsaliam coeunt, Pharsalia tecta frequentant.

Answer 38

They gather at Pharsalus, they crowd the Pharsalian roofs.

Question 39

rura colit nemo, mollescunt colla iuuencis,

Answer 39

No man tills his field, the necks of cattle grow soft,

Question 40

non humilis curuis purgatur uinea rastris,

Answer 40

The low vine is not cleansed by curved hoe,

Question 41

non glebam prono conuellit uomere taurus,

Answer 41

The bull does not dig up the clods with prone plough,

Question 42

non falx attenuat frondatorum arboris umbram,

Answer 42

The scythe of the pruners does not diminish the shade of the tree,

Question 43

squalida desertis rubigo infertur aratris.

Answer 43

Dirty rust is spread on deserted plows.