I write of youth, of love, and have access by these to sing of cleanly wantonness.
CATULLUSLet us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus
More Catullus Quotes
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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 -
I hate and I love, and who can tell me why?
CATULLUS -
My lady’s sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady’s delight
CATULLUS -
Give up wanting to deserve any thanks from anyone, or thinking anybody can be grateful.
CATULLUS -
I hate and love. And why, perhaps you’ll ask. I don’t know: but I feel, and I’m tormented.
CATULLUS -
Better a sparrow, living or dead, than no birdsong at all.
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 -
So a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long is she dear to her own; when she has lost her chaste flower with sullied body, she remains neither lovely to boys nor dear to girls.
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 -
Oh, this age! How tasteless and ill bred it is!
CATULLUS -
But you shall not escape my iambics.
CATULLUS -
Away with you, water, destruction of wine!
CATULLUS -
We see not our own backs.
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Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus
CATULLUS -
Away with you, water, destruction of wine!
CATULLUS -
There is nothing more silly than a silly laugh.
CATULLUS -
I hate and love. You ask, perhaps, how can that be? I know not, but I feel the agony.
CATULLUS -
There is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh.
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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.
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The vows that woman makes to her fond lover are only fit to be written on air or on the swiftly passing stream.
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Now Spring restores the balmy heat, now Zephyr’s sweet breezes calm the rage of the equinoctial sky.
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To whom do I give my new elegant little book? Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?
CATULLUS -
What a woman says to an eager lover, write it on running water, write it on air.
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It is difficult to lay aside a confirmed passion.
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Stop wishing to merit anyone’s gratitude or thinking that anyone can become grateful.
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I can imagine no greater misfortune for a cultured people than to see in the hands of the rulers not only the civil, but also the religious power.
CATULLUS