Hesterno, Licini, die otiosi
multum lusimus in meis tabellis,
ut convenerat esse delicatos:
scribens versiculos uterque nostrum
ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc,
reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum.
atque illinc abii tuo lepore
incensus, Licini, facetiisque,
ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret
nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos,
sed toto indomitus furore lecto
versarer, cupiens videre lucem,
ut tecum loquerer, simulque ut essem.
at defessa labore membra postquam
semimortua lectulo iacebant,
hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci,
ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem.
nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras,
oramus, cave despuas, ocelle,
ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te.
est vehemens dea: laedere hanc caveto.

Bibliography

Fordyce, C.J. (1961). Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.   

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT AND ADULT LANGUAGE

This poem contains obscene language in Latin, and will be translated with obscene language in English. If you are offended, please do not listen. 

Pedicabo ego uos et irrumabo,
Aureli pathice et cinaede Furi,
qui me ex uersiculis meis putastis,
quod sunt molliculi, parum pudicum.
nam castum esse decet pium poetam            5
ipsum, uersiculos nihil necesse est;
qui tum denique habent salem ac leporem,
si sunt molliculi ac parum pudici,
et quod pruriat incitare possunt,
non dico pueris, sed his pilosis                     10
qui duros nequeunt mouere lumbos.
uos, quod milia multa basiorum
legistis, male me marem putatis?
pedicabo ego uos et irrumabo.

Bibliography

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.    

Mugil cephalus

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT

COMMENDO tibi me ac meos amores,
Aureli. ueniam peto pudentem,
ut, si quicquam animo tuo cupisti,
quod castum expeteres et integellum,
conserues puerum mihi pudice,                       5
non dico a populo—nihil ueremur
istos, qui in platea modo huc modo illuc
in re praetereunt sua occupati—
uerum a te metuo tuoque pene
infesto pueris bonis malisque.                         10
quem tu qua lubet, ut lubet, moueto
quantum uis, ubi erit foris paratum:
hunc unum excipio, ut puto, pudenter.
quod si te mala mens furorque uecors
in tantam impulerit, sceleste, culpam,             15
ut nostrum insidiis caput lacessas,
a tum te miserum malique fati!
quem attractis pedibus patente porta
percurrent raphanique mugilesque.

Bibliography

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.    

(Toothpaste advertisement, 1938.)

Egnatius, quod candidos habet dentes,
renidet usquequaque. si ad rei uentum est
subsellium, cum orator excitat fletum,
renidet ille; si ad pii rogum fili
lugetur, orba cum flet unicum mater,           5
renidet ille. quidquid est, ubicumque est,
quodcumque agit, renidet: hunc habet morbum,
neque elegantem, ut arbitror, neque urbanum.
quare monendum est te mihi, bone Egnati.
si urbanus esses aut Sabinus aut Tiburs       10
aut parcus Vmber aut obesus Etruscus
aut Lanuuinus ater atque dentatus
aut Transpadanus, ut meos quoque attingam,
aut quilubet, qui puriter lauit dentes,
tamen renidere usquequaque te nollem:       15
nam risu inepto res ineptior nulla est.
nunc Celtiber es: Celtiberia in terra, 
quod quisque minxit, hoc sibi solet mane
dentem atque russam defricare gingiuam,
ut, quo iste uester expolitior dens est,          20
hoc te amplius bibisse praedicet loti. 

Bibliography

Fordyce, C.J. (1961). Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.   

A brief podcast, featuring some news and announcements, as well as some great Australian music.

The song is 'I was only 19' by The Herd, a cover of a brilliant song about Australians in the Vietnam War, written by Redgum.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.   

DISERTISSIME Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta,        5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

Bibliography

Fordyce, C.J. (1961). Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.   

CHOMMODA dicebat, si quando commoda uellet
    dicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias,
et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum,
    cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias.
credo, sic mater, sic liber auunculus eius,      5
    sic maternus auus dixerat atque auia.
hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures:
    audibant eadem haec leniter et leuiter,
nec sibi postilla metuebant talia uerba,
    cum subito affertur nuntius horribilis,       10
Ionios fluctus, postquam illuc Arrius isset,
    iam non Ionios esse sed Hionios.

Bibliography

Fordyce, C.J. (1961). Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.   

Catullus 85 tattoo (not belonging to me).

ODI et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris?
    nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.

Note: if you enjoyed the beautiful song at the beginning and end of the podcast, in which Love and Hate are personified, you can enjoy the full song here, or here (with lyrics). 

Bibliography

Fordyce, C.J. (1961). Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.  

Catullus 51

ILLE mi par esse deo uidetur,
ille, si fas est, superare diuos,
qui sedens aduersus identidem te
    spectat et audit

dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis    5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
   ***          

lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu supote         10
tintinant aures, gemina teguntur
    lumina nocte.

otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas            15
    perdidit urbes.

Click here to read the Greek text of Sappho's poem, and a translation.

Click here for more translations.

Bibliography

Fordyce, C.J. (1961). Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.  

DICEBAS quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
    Lesbia, nec prae me uelle tenere Iouem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut uulgus amicam,
    sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognoui: quare etsi impensius uror,    5
    multo mi tamen es uilior et leuior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
    cogit amare magis, sed bene uelle minus. 
 

Bibliography

Fordyce, C.J. (1961). Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Garrison, D.H. (2008). The Student’s Catullus (3rd ed.). Norman, USA: University of Oklahoma Press.

Godwin, J. (1999). Catullus: The Shorter Poems. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd.

Listen by using the player below. Remember also that the podcast is available on iTunes here, or by searching for "reading Latin poetry" in the iTunes store.