The vows that woman makes to her fond lover are only fit to be written on air or on the swiftly passing stream.
CATULLUSI hate and love. You ask, perhaps, how can that be? I know not, but I feel the agony.
More Catullus Quotes
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Godlike the man who sits at her side, who watches and catches that laughter which (softly) tears me to tatters: nothing is left of me, each time I see her.
CATULLUS -
Stop wishing to merit anyone’s gratitude or thinking that anyone can become grateful.
CATULLUS -
What a woman says to an eager lover, write it on running water, write it on air.
CATULLUS -
Who now travels that dark path from whose bourne they say no one returns. [Lat., Qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum Illue unde negant redire quemquam.]
CATULLUS -
I hate and I love. Perchance you ask why I do that. I know not, but I feel that I do and I am tortured. [Lat., Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.]
CATULLUS -
Now Spring restores the balmy heat, now Zephyr’s sweet breezes calm the rage of the equinoctial sky.
CATULLUS -
Better a sparrow, living or dead, than no birdsong at all.
CATULLUS -
For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.
CATULLUS -
Away with you, water, destruction of wine!
CATULLUS -
To whom do I give my new elegant little book? Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?
CATULLUS -
My mind’s sunk so low, Claudia, because of you, wrecked itself on your account so bad already, that I couldn’t like you if you were the best of women, -or stop loving you, no matter what you do.
CATULLUS -
Away with you, water, destruction of wine!
CATULLUS -
I hate and love. And why, perhaps you’ll ask. I don’t know: but I feel, and I’m tormented.
CATULLUS -
Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then a thousand more.
CATULLUS -
Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus
CATULLUS -
It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love. Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem
CATULLUS -
Oh, this age! How tasteless and ill bred it is!
CATULLUS -
What women say to lovers, you’ll agree, One writes on running water or on air.
CATULLUS -
The confounding of all right and wrong, in wild fury, has averted from us the gracious favor of the gods.
CATULLUS -
Give up wanting to deserve any thanks from anyone, or thinking anybody can be grateful.
CATULLUS -
What woman says to fond lover should be written on air or the swift water. [Lat., Mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.]
CATULLUS -
I hate and I love, and who can tell me why?
CATULLUS -
There is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh.
CATULLUS -
It is difficult to lay aside a confirmed passion.
CATULLUS -
I hate and I love. And if you ask me how, I do not know: I only feel it, and I am torn in two.
CATULLUS -
There is nothing more silly than a silly laugh.
CATULLUS