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Friday, April 29, 2011

Catullus, Poem 40

 Gaius Valerius Catullus
84-54 BCE (over 2,000 years ago)
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Golden Age/Republican Era)


 QVAENAM te mala mens, miselle Rauide,
agit praecipitem in meos iambos?
[Whatever pathetic mind, you snivelling little Ravidus, drove you to meet my iambic attacks?]

quis deus tibi non bene aduocatus
uecordem parat excitare rixam?
[What god fails you in his advice and now sets you to cackle up that disgusting laugh of yours?]

an ut peruenias in ora uulgi?
[or better yet, makes you even go out into the public eye?]

quid uis?
[What do you want?]

 qualubet esse notus optas?
[Do you want to become famous by any means necessary?]

eris, quandoquidem meos amores
cum longa uoluisti amare poena.
[You will be, no doubt ever since you wanted to jack it to my "affairs" with a long wanker.]