Gaius Valerius Catullus, Carmina (ed. Sir Richard Francis Burton)
Editions and translations: Latin (ed. E. T. Merrill) | English (ed. Sir Richard Francis Burton) | English (ed. Leonard C. Smithers)
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TO HIMSELF RECOUNTING LESBIA'S INCONSTANCYWoe-full Catullus! cease to play the fool
And what thou seest dead as dead regard!
Whilòme the sheeniest suns for thee did shine
When oft-a-tripping whither led the girl
[5] By us beloved, as shall none be loved.
There all so merry doings then were done
After thy liking, nor the girl was loath.
Then certès sheeniest suns for thee did shine.
Now she's unwilling: thou too (hapless!) will
[10] Her flight to follow, and sad life to live:
Endure with stubborn soul and still obdure.
Damsel, adieu! Catullus obdurate grown
Nor seeks thee, neither asks of thine unwill;
Yet shalt thou sorrow when none woos thee more;
Reprobate! Woe to thee! What life remains?
[15] Who now shall love thee? Who'll think thee fair?
Whom now shalt ever love? Whose wilt be called?
To whom shalt kisses give? whose liplets nip?
But thou (Catullus!) destiny-doomed obdure.
There are a total of 47 comments on and cross references to this page.
Further comments from E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus:
poem 8 (general note)
poem 8, line 1: Catulle
poem 8, line 1: ineptire
poem 8, line 10: nec quae fugit sectare
poem 8, line 11: perfer, obdura
poem 8, line 14: rogaberis
poem 8, line 14: nulla
poem 8, line 15: scelesta
poem 8, line 15: vae te
poem 8, line 15: tibi manet
poem 8, line 17: cuius esse diceris
poem 8, line 18: cui labella mordebis
poem 8, line 19 (general note)
poem 8, line 19: destinatus
poem 8, line 2: perisse perditum
poem 8, line 3: candidi soles
poem 8, line 4: cum ventitabas
poem 8, line 5: amata nobis
poem 8, line 6: ibi tum
poem 8, line 6: iocosa
poem 8, line 9: impotens
Cross references from E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus:
* [Lesbia.]
* [Metres.]
*
*
*
*
*
*
*: desinas ineptire
*
*: nec miser vive
*: nec miser vive
*
* [Lesbia.]
*
*
*
*
*
*: tu quoque noli
Cross references from Anne Mahoney, Overview of Latin Syntax:
subj [Subjunctive]: Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire
imperat [Imperative]: Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,et quod vides perisse perditum ducas
voc [Vocative and locative]: Vale, puella
infin_tense [Tenses of infinitives and participles]: Quod vides perisse perditum ducas
noun_agree [Agreement]: Fulsere quondam candidi tibi [= Catullo] soles
verb_agree [Agreement]: Tu volebas nec puella nolebat
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This text is based on the following book(s): Catullus. Carmina. Sir Richard Francis Burton. trans. London. For translator for private use. 1894. OCLC: 878062
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