miser catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod uides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum uentitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu uolebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere uere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non uult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser uiue,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
uale puella, iam catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit inuitam.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, uae te, quae tibi manet uita?
quis nunc te adibit? cui uideberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, catulle, destinatus obdura.

love-sick catullus, stop being a fool
and regard as lost what you see has died.
once beautiful suns shone on you
when you kept coming and going wherever the girl led
loved by us as much as no girl will be loved.
when then those many entertaining things happened
which you wanted and the girl did not say no,
then truely beautiful suns shone on you.
now she does say no; say no also, you weakling,
and do not chase after one who flees and do not live love-sick,
but harden your mind, endure, become firm.
goodbye, girl. catullus is now firm
and will not be looking for you nor asking you against your will.
but you will be hurt when you are asked by nobody.
poor fool, alas for you, what life is left you?
who will approach you? to whom will you seem pretty?
whom will you love? whose girl will you be said to be?
whom will you kiss? whose lips will you bite?
but you, catullus, be resolved and firm.