Catullus 8

Question 1

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.

Answer 1

Lovesick Catullus, stop being silly
And regard as lost what you see has died.
Once bright suns shone for you
when you kept coming and going wherever the girl used to lead
Loved by me as much as no girl will be loved.

Question 2

Ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
Nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.

Answer 2

When, then (ibi) those many pleasant things were happening
Which you wanted and the girl did not say no,
Then truly bright suns shone for you.
Now she does say no; say no also, you powerless man
And do not pursue one who flees and do not live lovesick,
But, with a determined mind, endure, become firm!

Question 3

Vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
At tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
Scelesta, uae te, quae tibi manet uita?
Quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
Quem nunc amabis? Cuius esse diceris?
Quem basiabis? Cui labella mordebis?
At tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

Answer 3

Goodbye girl. Catullus is now firm
And will not be looking for you nor asking for you against you will
But you will suffer when you are asked for by nobody
Wicked (woman), alas for you, what life is left for you?
Who will approach you now? To whom will you seem pretty?
Whom will you now love? Whose (girl) will you be said to be?
Whom will you kiss? Whose lips will you bite?
But you, Catullus, be determined and firm!