miser Catulle, desinas ineptire
Miserable Catullus, stop being silly
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
And consider what you see as ruined to have perished.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
Once bright Suns shone for you
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
When you repeatedly went to where the girl was leading [you]
amata nobis quantaum amibitur nulla.
Loved by me as much as no other will be loved
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
There when those many pleasant things were happening
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
Which you were wanting nor did the girl not want
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
Truly bright Suns shone for you.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli
Now already she has stopped wanting: you, also, powerless man stop wanting [her]
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
And don’t pursue she who is fleeing, and don’t live miserably
sed obstinate mente perfer, obdura.
But endure with a stubborn mind, stand firm.
vale, puella. iam Catullus obdurat,
Goodbye, girl. Now Catullus is standing firm
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam
Nor will he look for you, nor will he ask for you.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
But you will grieve when no one asks for you.
scelesta, vae tu, quae tibi manet vita?
Wicked girl, alas what life remains for you?
quis nunc te adbit? cui videberis bella?
Who will now approach you? Who will see you as beautiful?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
Whom now will you love? Whose will you be said to be?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
Whom will you kiss? Whose lips will you bite?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
But you Catullus, determined, stand firm!
