Love Will Not Let The Poet Sleep Flashcards
lecto compositus vix prima silentia noctis
At rest in bed, I had scarcely begun to enjoy the first silence of night,
carpebam et somno lumina victa dabam,
and to give up my conquered eyes to sleep,
cum me saevus Amor prensat sursumque capillis
when savage Love grasps me and wakes me up by the hair
excitat et lacerum pervigilare iubet.
and orders me shattered to stay awake all night.
‘tu famulus meus’ inquit ‘ames cum mille puellas,
‘Since you my slave’ he said ‘love a thousand girls,
solus, io, solus, dure, iacere potes?’
can you, o harsh one, lie alone here, alone?’
exsilio et pedibus nudis tunicaque soluta
I jump up, and with bare feet and disordered tunic
omne iter impedio, nullum iter expedio.
I hinder every progress, I get ready for no journey.
nunc propero, nunc ire piget, rursumque redire
Now I hurry, now it is displeasing to go, I repent of going back,
paenitet, et pudor est stare via media.
and I am ashamed to stand by the middle of the road.
ecce tacent voces hominum strepitusque viarum
See the voices of men and the noise of the streets,
et volucrum cantus turbaque fida canum:
and the singing of birds and the faithful company of dogs are silent:
solus ego ex cunctis paveo somnumque torumque,
I alone of all dread both sleep and my bed,
et sequor imperium, magne Cupido, tuum.
and follow your command, great Cupid.