Carmen VIII

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.
Ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
Nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
Vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
At tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
Scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita?
Quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
Quem nunc amabis? Cuius esse diceris?
Quem basiabis? Cui labella mordebis?
At tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

Pathetic Catullus, stop this fatuity
And what you see lost thus regard.
Bright suns once shone upon you
When you went where she was leading,
Loved by us as none will be loved;
And days were full of pleasantries
That you wanted and she did not deny.
Truly bright suns once shone upon you!

But now she denies; and you, attempt to do the same:
Neither chase what flees, nor live in misery,
But with a hardened mind, be strong, endure.

Goodbye darling, now Catullus endures.
He will neither seek nor ask of you unwelcome.
But you will suffer, when no one asks about you.
Bitch, what life do you have left?
Who will come to you? Who will find you beautiful?
Whom will you love? Whose girl will you be called?
Whom will you kiss? On whose lips will you nibble…
But you, Catullus, resolved –
Endure.