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Unhappy Catullus, cease your trifling and what you see lost, know to be lost.
Once bright days used to shine on you when you used to go wherever your girl led
you, loved by us as never a girl will ever be loved. There those many joys
occured which you did wish, nor was the girl unwilling. In truth bright days
used once to shine on you. Now she no longer wants you: you too, powerless to
avail, must not want her, do not pursue her retreating, do not live unhappy, but
with firm-set mind endure, harden yourself. Farewell, girl! now Catullus hardens
himself, he will not seek you, will not ask you since you are unwilling. But you
will be pained, when you are not asked. Faithless, go your way! what manner of
life remains to you? who now will visit you? who find you beautiful? whom will
you love now? whose will you be called? whom will you kiss? whose lips will you
bite? But you, Catullus, remain firm in your hardness.
Catullus. The Carmina of Gaius Valerius Catullus. Leonard C. Smithers. London. Smithers. 1894.
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