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Catullus 13

Cenabis bene, mi Fabulle, apud me
paucis, si tibi di favent, diebus,
si tecum attuleris bonam atque magnam
cenam, non sine candida puella
et vino et sale et omnibus cachinnis.
haec si, inquam, attuleris, venuste noster,
cenabis bene; nam tui Catulli
plenus sacculus est aranearum.
sed contra accipies meros amores
seu quid suavius elegantiusve est:
nam unguentum dabo, quod meae puellae
donarunt Veneres Cupidinesque,
quod tu cum olfacies, deos rogabis,
totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.

You’ll have a good time at my place
Gods willing in a few days, Fabullus
if you bring the food, the wine, the laughs
and all of the delightful guests
then you’ll dine well, Fabullus.
My purse is full of cobwebs
but I will put my love against
all that you’ve brought and spent.
Still you will find I’ve provided the best
because my love’s perfume’s given by Venus
and Cupid, and when you smell its essence
you’ll pray to heaven to make the whole
of you, Fabullus, nose.


VEX.2006.3.27-596x600

One Comment

  1. Michael Lally

    you reinvented it and made it even more fabulous

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