Salvē, nec minimō puella nāsō
nec bellō pede nec nigrīs ocellīs
nec longīs digitīs nec ōre siccō
nec sānē nimis ēlegante linguā,
dēcoctōris amīca Formiānī. 5
Tēn prōvincia nārrat esse bellam?
Tēcum Lesbia nostra comparātur?
Ō saeclum īnsapiēns et īnfacētum!
vocabulary
salveō –ēre: greetings! hail!
nāsus nāsī m. or nāsum nāsī n.: nose
bellus –a –um: pretty, nice, fine, charming
ocellus ocellī m.: eye; as term of endearment, darling (dim. of oculus)
digitus digitī m.: finger
siccus –a –um: dry
sānē: surely, decidedly
ēlegāns –ntis: discriminating, refined, elegant
dēcoctor dēcoctōris m.: a bankrupt person, insolvent debtor 5
amīca amīcae f.: any female friend; girlfriend, mistress; (euphemistic) courtesan, prostitute
Formiānus –a um: of Formiae (e.g., Mamurra)
bellus –a –um: pretty, nice, fine, charming
Lesbia –ae f.: poetic name given the woman loved by Catullus
ō: interjection, expressing grief, pleasure, indignation, or adjuration
insapiens –entis: unwise, foolish
īnfacētus –a –um: boorish, gauche