2.
So quite sorely with all your humour heated
Gay Lucinius, I that eve departed.
Food my misery could not any lighten,
10 Sleep nor quiet upon my eyes descended.
Still untamable o'er the couch did I then
Turn and tumble, in haste to see the day-light,
Hear your prattle again, again be with you.
3.
Then, when weary with all the worry, numb'd, dead,
15 Sank my body, upon the bed reposing,
This, O humorous heart, did I, a poem
Write, my tedious anguish all revealing.
O beware then of hardihood; a lover's
Plea for charity, dear my friend, reject not:
20 What if Nemesis haply claim repayment?
She is tyrannous. O beware offending.
LI.
He to me like unto the Gods appeareth,
He, if I dare speak it, ascends above them,
Face to face who toward thee attently sitting
Gazes or hears thee
5 Lovely in sweet laughter; alas within me
Every lost sense falleth away for anguish;
When as I look'd on thee, upon my lips no
Whisper abideth,
Straight my tongue froze, Lesbia; soon a subtle
10 Fire thro' each limb streameth adown; with inward
Sound the full ears tinkle, on either eye night's
Canopy darkens.
Ease alone, Catullus, alone afflicts thee;
Ease alone breeds error of heady riot;
15 Ease hath entomb'd princes of old renown and
Cities of honour.