Gaius Valerius Catullus
84-54 BCE (over 2,000 years ago)
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Golden Age/Republican Era)
ALFENE immemor atque unanimis false sodalibus,
[Alfenus, you ingrate and faker to all your friends,]
iam te nil miseret, dure, tui dulcis amiculi?
[already, you heartless man, you could not pity your dear little friend just a bit?]
iam me prodere, iam non dubitas fallere, perfide?
[already you don't doubt that you can pull the wool over my eyes, and deceive me, you traitor?]
nec facta impia fallacum hominum caelicolis placent.
[The wicked deeds of lying men do not please the gods who dwell in heaven.]
quae tu neglegis ac me miserum deseris in malis.
[these are things you fail to consider, and you've let me miserable, in a state of woes.]
eheu quid faciant, dic, homines cuiue habeant fidem?
[O indeed, tell me, what can men do, or better, in whom can they hold their trust?]
certe tute iubebas animam tradere, inique, me
[You used to tell me open my heart, with certainty and assurance, you base man,]
inducens in amorem, quasi tuta omnia mi forent.
[so that I could lead myself to your love, as though everything were secure for my sake.]
idem nunc retrahis te ac tua dicta omnia factaque
[and now, just like that, you draw yourself back, and your promises, and your actions]
uentos irrita ferre ac nebulas aereas sinis.
[and you allow the wind and airy mists to carry them off, as though they were useless.]
si tu oblitus es,
[Perhaps for your part, you've forgotten,]
at di meminerunt,
[but the gods remember,]
meminit Fides,
[and Loyalty remembers,]
quae te ut paeniteat postmodo facti faciet tui.
[and she will make you pay for your past action.]
