O qui flosculus Dei, mi Catulle

O qui flosculus Dei, mi Catulle

               

Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque                    (Grieve, O Venuses and Loves)

tam gratum est mihi quam ferunt pullae     (It’s welcome to me as they say)

nam mellitus erat, Catulli mei                        (For honey-sweet he was, my Catullus

                             Who blew away my soul like dust.

O qui flosculus Dei                                        (O flower of God)

lumina nocte                                                   (The light of my eyes)

puella defututa sum                                      (I am the female fuck-up)

                                    In thy glow I’m numb.

Quid est, Catulle?                                           (What next, Catullus?)

nunc audaz caue sis, precesque nostras    (Now don’t be rash, please – don’t reject)

Oro, si forte non molestum est                    (I beg you, meaning no offence)

                                    Do not leave me desolate hence.

Incensus, facetiisque                                     (Your charm, and wit)

misero quod omnis                                        (Which dispossesses poor me)

lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus             (But my tongue’s paralysed, invisible flame)

                                    Eternal confusion is now my purpose.

Ni te perdite amo atque amare porro              (If I’m not desperately in love)

omnes sum assidue paratus annos                   (And set to go on loving you)

quantum qui pote plurimum perire                 (Forever in utter desperation)

                                    I shall exist in eternal damnation.

Amatus nobis quantum amabitur nulla        (Loved by us as we shall love no other)

ride quidquid amas Catullum                          (Laugh as you love Catullus)

dum uestri sim particeps amoris                    (Provided I can share your love)

                                    And spend aeons in your iris.

Miser Catulle, desiderio meo nitenti     (Lovesick Catullus, my own bright-eyed desire)

vivamus, atque amemus                                  (We should live, and love)

nobis, cum semel occidit breuis lux              (For us, once our brief light has set)

                                    Shall eternity together be met.

Da mi basia mille, deinde centum        (Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred)

dein mille altera, dein secunda centum (Then another thousand kisses, then a second                                                                                                 hundred)

deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum (Then still another thousand, then a                                                                                                                   hundred)

                                    Kiss me until I can’t but blossom.

Siquis me sinat usque basiare                          (If someone let me go on kissing)

usque ad milia basiem trecenta                       (I’d kiss three hundred thousand times)

nec numquam uidear satur futurus                (Nor never think I’d had enough)

                                    My leman, my love, do not me rebuff.

Iucundum os oculosque suauiabor                 (I’ll kiss your merry face and eyes)

o quantum est hominum beatiorum               (O of all the happier people)

quid me laetius est beatiusue?                         (Who’s happier or more glad than I?)

                                    My very own soul I’ve outgrew.

Warrior Princess