Flāvī, dēliciās tuās Catullō,
nī sint illepidae atque inēlegantēs,
vellēs dīcere nec tacēre possēs.
Vērum nescio quid febrīculōsī
scortī dīligis: hoc pudet fatērī. 5
Nam tē nōn viduās iacēre noctēs
nēquīquam tacitum cubīle clāmat
sertīs ac Syriō fragrāns olīvō,
pulvīnusque peraequē et hic et ille
attrītus, tremulīque quassa lectī 10
argūtātio inambulātiōque.
Nam nil stupra valet, nīhil tacēre.
Cūr? Nōn tam latera ecfutūta pandās,
nī tū quid faciās ineptiārum.
Quārē, quidquid habēs bonī malīque, 15
dīc nōbīs. Volo tē ac tuōs amōrēs
ad caelum lepidō vocāre versū.
vocabulary
Flāvius –iī m.: a Roman nomen gentile, applicable to a member of the Flavian gens
dēlicia dēliciae f. (often plural) or delici(ōl)um –ī m.: pleasure; pl. pet, darling
Catullus –ī m.: cognomen of Gaius Valerius Catullus
illepidus –a –um: unbecoming, ungraceful, awkward
inēlegans –antis: inelegant, clumsy, infelicitous
vērum: adversative conj., assenting to what has been said but adding a qualification: but in fact, but, actually
nescioquis –qua –quid (also written as two words): indef. pron. or adj., someone, something (N. B.: The personal ending of nescio scans as a short syllable.)
febrīculōsus –a –um: feverish, fever-ridden
scortum scortī n.: skin, hide; prostitute, courtesan, bimbo 5
pudeō –ēre –duī –ditus: to make ashamed, cause embarrassment
viduus –a –um: deprived of a husband or wife, bereft, celibate; (of vines) unsupported by a tree
nēquīquam: to no purpose, in vain
tacitus –a –um: unspeaking; silent
cubīle cubīlis n.: bed, couch
clāmō clāmāre clāmāvī clāmātus: shout, cry out
serta –ōrum n.: chains or festoons of flowers
Sȳrius (Syriācus) –a –um: of or from Syria; Syrian
fragrō fragrāre fragrāvī fragrātus: fragrant, redolent, sweet-smelling
olīvum olīvī n.: olive oil
pulvīnus pulvīnī m.: cushion, pillow
peraequē: uniformly, equally
attrītus –a –um: worn away 10
tremulus –a –um: shaky, trembling; shaking (voluntarily, as one dandling an infant)
quatiō quatere quassī quassum: shake
lectus lectī m.: bed, couch
argūtātiō argūtātionis f.: a creaking, squeaking, chattering noise
inambulātiō –ōnis f.: a walking or similar movement
ecfutuō (effutuō) –uere –uī: wear out with sexual intercourse
pandō pandere pandī passus: spread out, disclose, reveal; open
ineptiae –ārum f.: instances of folly, frivolities 14
lepidus –a –um: charming, witty
versus versūs m.: a line of verse; verse, poetry