Dīcēbās quondam sōlum tē nōsse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae mē velle tenēre Iovem.
Dīlēxī tum tē nōn tantum ut vulgus amīcam,
sed pater ut gnātōs dīligit et generōs.
Nunc tē cognōvī: quārē etsī impēnsius ūror, 5
multō mī tamen es vīlior et levior.
Quī potis est, inquis? Quod amantem iniūria tālis
cōgit amāre magis, sed bene velle minus.
vocabulary
Lesbia –ae f.: poetic name given the woman loved by Catullus
prae: prep. w/ abl., before, in front of; in comparison with
Iuppiter Iovis m.: Jupiter or Zeus, chief of the Olympian gods; by metonymy, the weather, wind, sky
amīca amīcae f.: any female friend; girlfriend, mistress; (euphemistic) courtesan, prostitute
gener generī m.: Son-in-law
etsī: conj., although 5
impēnsus –a –um: more immoderately, more excessively
ūrō ūrere ussī ustum: burn; pass., birm with anger or desire; keep alight
vīlis vīlis vīle: cheap; worthless, contemptible
quod: because, the fact that
amāns –antis: sweetheart, lover