Ōrāmus, sī forte nōn molestum est,
dēmōnstrēs ubi sint tuae tenēbrae.
Tē Campō quaesīvimus minōre,
tē in Circō, tē in omnibus libellīs,
tē in templō summī Jovis sacrātō. 5
In Magnī simul ambulātiōne
fēmellās omnēs, amīce, prēndī,
quās vultū vīdī tamen serēnō.
Aveltē, sīc ipse flāgitābam,
Camerium mihi pessimae puellae. 10
Quaedam inquit, nūdum redūc...
‘Ēn hīc in roseīs latet papillīs.'
Sed tē jam ferre Herculī labōs est;
tantō tē in fastū negās, amīce.
Dīc nōbīs ubi sīs futūrus, ēde 15
audācter, committe, crēde lūcī.
Nunc tē lacteolae tenent puellae?
Sī linguam clausō tenēs in ōre,
frūctūs prōiciēs amōris omnēs.
Verbōsā gaudet Venus loquellā. 20
Vel, sī vīs, licet obserēs palātum,
dum vestrī sim particeps amōris.
vocabulary
molestus –a –um: troublesome, annoying
dēmōnstrō dēmōnstrāre dēmōnstrāvī dēmōnstrātus: show
circus –ī m.: a circle; a circular or oval arena where public games are held, esp. the Circus Maximus in Rome
libellus libellī m.: little book; book-shop (dim. of liber)
Iuppiter Iovis m.: Jupiter or Zeus, chief of the Olympian gods; by metonymy, the weather, wind, sky 5
sacrō sacrāre sacrāvī sacrātus: consecrate; bind with an oath
Magnus –ī m.: cognomen of Pompey the Great, Cn. Pompeius Magnus
ambulātiō –ōnis f.: the act of walking; a place for walking, covered walk, portico
fēmella –ae f.: woman, girl (dim. of femina)
amīcus amīcī m.: friend
pre(he)ndō –ere prendī prēnsum: take hold of; accost
serēnus –a –um: clear, unclouded; calm, untroubled
aveō (haveō) –ēre: desire, yearn
flāgitō flāgitāre flāgitāvī flāgitātum: beset with demands, importune
Camerius –iī m.: nomen gentile of Catullus' friend 10
reclūdō –ere –clūsī –clūsus: open; uncover, lay bare
ēn or em: interjection, see! behold!
roseus –a –um: rosy, red
papilla –ae f.: nipple; breast
Herculēs –is m.: Greek hero who performed the Twelve Labors
fastus –ūs m.: conceit, arrogance
audāciter or audācter: boldly
lacteolus –a –um: milk-white (dim. of lacteus)
prōiciō –icere iēcī –iectum: fling forth, throw forward; renounce
verbōsus –a –um: full of words, long-winded, talkative 20
Venus –eris f.: Venus or Aphrodite, goddess of love and charm
loquēla –ae f.: speech
obserō obserāre obserāvī obserātus: place a bar across (a door), bolt
palātum –ī n.: roof of the mouth, palate; by metonymy, the mouth (as the organ of speech)
particeps participis: participant, sharer