Tibullus 1.1

Question 1

Divitias alius fulvo sibi congerat auro

Et teneat culti iugera multa soli,

Answer 1

May someone else assemble wealth of gleaming gold

And hold vast plots of cultivated land,

Question 2

Quem labor adsiduus vicino terreat hoste,

Martia cui somnos classica pulsa fugent:

Answer 2

One who would fear the constant toil of lurking foes,
(whom the constant toil terrifies with the enemy being nearby)
One whose sleep flees when Mars’ trumpets blare.

Question 3

Me mea paupertas vita traducat inerti,

Dum meus adsiduo luceat igne focus.

Answer 3

May poverty provide me with an idle life

While steady fire burns within my hearth.

Question 4

Ipse seram teneras maturo tempore vites

Rusticus et facili grandia poma manu;

Answer 4

In season may I plant tall fruit-trees and tender vines

Myself- and with a farmhand’s skillful touch.

Question 5

Nec spes destituat, sed frugum semper acervos

Praebeat et pleno pinguia musta lacu.

Answer 5

May Hope not disappoint, but always send stacked crops

And fill my vats with juice from bursting grapes

Question 6

Nam veneror, seu stipes habet desertus in agris

Seu vetus in trivio florida serta lapis,

Answer 6

Because I pray by lonely tree-stumps in the fields

Or weathered stone at crossroads decked with flowers,

Question 7

Et quodcumque mihi pomum novus educat annus,

Libatum agricolae ponitur ante deo.

Answer 7

And whatever fruit the new year produces for me is offered

As a gift before the farmer-god.

Question 8

Flava Ceres, tibi sit nostro de rure corona

Spicea, quae templi pendeat ante fores,

Answer 8

Upon the temple threshold, golden Ceres, may

My farm-grown corn husk crown which may hang,

Question 9

Pomosisque ruber custos ponatur in hortis,

Terreat ut saeva falce Priapus aves.

Answer 9

And red Priapus be on guard in fruitful gardens.

So his vicious scythe may scare off birds.

Question 10

Vos quoque, felicis quondam, nunc pauperis agri

Custodes, fertis munera vestra, Lares.

Answer 10

You, Lares, also take in gifts as guardians

Of threadbare land that once was prosperous.

Question 11

Tunc vitula innumeros lustrabat caesa iuvencos,

Nunc agna exigui est hostia parva soli.

Answer 11

Back then a slaughtered calf would bless vast herds; today’s

Small victim is a lamb from meagre soil

Question 12

Agna cadet vobis, quam circum rustica pubes

Clamet ‘io messes et bona vina date’.

Answer 12

The lamb will die for you; around her country boys

Will cry, ‘O give us crops and vintage wine!’

Question 13

Iam modo iam possim contentus vivere parvo

Nec semper longae deditus esse viae,

Answer 13

If only I could live with little, happy now

At last, and not be given to long trips,

Question 14

Sed Canis aestivos ortus vitare sub umbra

Arboris ad rivos praetereuntis aquae.

Answer 14

But shun the rising Dog Star’s heat in shade beneath

A tree beside the ripples of a brook

Question 15

Nec tamen interdum pudeat tenuisse bidentem

Aut stimulo tardos increpuisse boves,

Answer 15

And never feel ashamed to wield a hoe at times

Or scold reluctant cattle with a prod

Question 16

Non agnamve sinu pigeat fetumve capellae

Desertum oblita matre referre domum.

Answer 16

Or carry home a cradled baby goat or lamb

Abandoned by an inattentive mother.

Question 17

At vos exiguo pecori, furesque lupique,

Parcite: de magno est praeda petenda grege.

Answer 17

But all you wolves and robbers, spare my meagre flock?

Pursue your plunder from some massive herd!

Question 18

Hic ego pastoremque meum lustrare quotannis

Et placidam soleo spargere lacte Palem.

Answer 18

I purify my shepherd in this place each year

And sprinkle gentle Pales with some milk.

Question 19

Adsitis, divi, neu vos e paupere mensa

Dona nec e puris spernite fictilibus.

Answer 19

Gods, be with me, and never scorn whats offered from

A humble table or clean earthenware

Question 20

Fictilia antiquus primum sibi fecit agrestis

Pocula, de facili conposuitque luto.

Answer 20

An old-time countryman first fashioned for himself

Some earthen cups he made from pliant clay

Question 21

Non ego divitias patrum fructusque requiro,

Quos tulit antiquo condita messis avo:

Answer 21

I do not miss my father’s wealth or profits built

From yields that my old grandfather had saved.

Question 22

Parva seges satis est, satis requiescere lecto

Si licet et solito membra levare toro.

Answer 22

A small crop is enough; it is enough to rest

If it is allowed in bed, and loll upon familiar sheets

Question 23

Quam iuvat inmites ventos audire cubantem

Et dominam tenero continuisse sinu

Answer 23

How sweet it is while lying down to hear fierce winds

And hold a mistress with a tender grasp!

Question 24

Aut, gelidas hibernus aquas cum fuderit Auster,

Securum somnos igne iuvante sequi.

Answer 24

Or when cold Austral windsare spreading sleet, what joy

To slumber safely with the fire’s help!

Question 25

Hoc mihi contingat. Sit dives iure, furorem

Qui maris et tristes ferre potest pluvias.

Answer 25

Let this befall me: May wealth be earned by one

Who bears grim rain and seas that froth and foam.

Question 26

O quantum est auri pereat potiusque smaragdi,

Quam fleat ob nostras ulla puella vias.

Answer 26

O how much better that our gold and gems be lost

Than any girl be crying on account of our journeys!

Question 27

Te bellare decet terra, Messalla, marique,

Ut domus hostiles praeferat exuvias;

Answer 27

Mesalla, it is right you fight on land and sea

So spoils of war may decorate your home!

Question 28

Me retinent vinctum formosae vincla puellae,

Et sedeo duras ianitor ante fores.

Answer 28

Chains of a gorgeous girl restrain me, and I linger

Like a doorman at her stubborn door.

Question 29

Non ego laudari curo, mea Delia; tecum

Dum modo sim, quaeso segnis inersque vocer.

Answer 29

I want no praise, my Delia, if I am with you,

I’m asking to be labelled weak and dull.

Question 30

Te spectem, suprema mihi cum venerit hora,

Te teneam moriens deficiente manu.

Answer 30

May I behold you when my final hour comes;

As I die, let me hold you as hands fail.

Question 31

Flebis et arsuro positum me, Delia, lecto,

Tristibus et lacrimis oscula mixta dabis.

Answer 31

Delia, when flames engulf my bier weep for me,

And then you’ll mix your kisses with sad tears.

Question 32

Flebis: non tua sunt duro praecordia ferro

Vincta, neque in tenero stat tibi corde silex.

Answer 32

You’ll weep, for stubborn iron doesn’t wrap your breast,

Nor is there flint inside your tender heart.

Question 33

Illo non iuvenis poterit de funere quisquam

Lumina, non virgo, sicca referre domum.

Answer 33

Nobody, neither man nor maiden, could return

Home from that funeral and be dry-eyed.

Question 34

Tu manes ne laede meos, sed parce solutis

Crinibus et teneris, Delia, parce genis.

Answer 34

Do not do damage to my spirit! Delia, spare

Your unbound hair and spare your tender cheeks.

Question 35

Interea, dum fata sinunt, iungamus amores:

Iam veniet tenebris Mors adoperta caput,

Answer 35

Meanwhile, while fate allows, lets join in love:

Soon death comes with his dark shrouded head,

Question 36

Iam subrepet iners aetas, nec amare decebit,

Dicere nec cano blanditias capite.

Answer 36

Soon weakened age steals on, and love’s not fitting

Nor speaking flatteries when your hair is white.

Question 37

Nunc levis est tractanda Venus, dum frangere postes

Non pudet et rixas inseruisse iuvat.

Answer 37

Now’s the time for sweet love, while there’s no shame

In breaking doors down, while its joy to pick a fight.

Question 38

Hic ego dux milesque bonus: vos, signa tubaeque,
Ite procul, cupidis volnera ferte viris,

Answer 38

Here I’m both a general and a brave soldier: away

Standards and trumpets, bear wounds to greedy men,

Question 39

Ferte et opes: ego conposito securus acervo

Despiciam dites despiciamque famem.

Answer 39

And take them wealth: I safe with my gathered store

Will despise their riches, and despise all hunger too.