Carmina, I, II, III, V & VIII

1. 1Cui dono lepidum novum libellumTo whom do I give this charming new little book,
2. 2arida modo pumice expolitum?just now polished up with dry pumice?
3. 3Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebasTo you, Cornelius: for you used to think
4. 4meas esse aliquid putare nugasthat my trifles amounted to something,
5. 5iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorumeven back when you alone of the Italians dared
6. 6omne aevum tribus explicare cartisto set out the whole of history in three volumes —
7. 7doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis.learned ones, by Jupiter, and painstaking.
8. 8Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelliSo take for yourself this little book, whatever it is,
9. 9qualecumque; quod, <o> patrona virgo,of whatever quality — and may it, o patron maiden,
10. 10plus uno maneat perenne saeclo.last on, enduring, for more than a single lifetime.
11. 11
12. 12Passer, deliciae meae puellae,Sparrow, my girl's darling,
13. 13quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,with whom she likes to play, whom she holds in her lap,
14. 14cui primum digitum dare appetentito whom she gives her fingertip as it snaps at her,
15. 15et acris solet incitare morsus,and likes to provoke its sharp little bites,
16. 16cum desiderio meo nitentiwhen it pleases my shining darling
17. 17carum nescio quid lubet iocarito play at some dear game or other
18. 18et solaciolum sui doloris,and as a small comfort for her own pain —
19. 19credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:so that, I suppose, her heavy passion may settle:
20. 20tecum ludere sicut ipsa possemwould that I could play with you as she herself does

Lines 21–74 continue in the reader. More texts in the library