Card 0 of 424
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
"Doloris"(line 7) comes from the word meaning __________.
The word "doloris" comes from "dolor," "doloris," which means grief.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
"Nitenti"(line 5) comes from the verb meaning ____________.
The word "nitenti" comes from "niteo," "nitere," which means to shine. The author compares the bird to shining (as in an object of great affection), as opposed to him.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
The word "lubet" (line 6) translates as ___________.
The word "lubet" comes from "lubet," "lubere," "lubuit," which means to be pleasing. It is typically used in an impersonal fashion, which is why only the 3rd person forms are given.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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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. 5
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: 10
nam unguentum dabo, quod meae puellae
donarunt Veneres Cupidinesque,
quod tu cum olfacies, deos rogabis,
totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.
The word "bene" in line 1 translates as __________.
While the word "bene"comes from the word "bonus, a, um,"meaning good, "bene"is the adverbial form of the word. It is describing the verb "cenabis" and should therefore be translated as well.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
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Ni te plus oculis meis amarem,
iucundissime Calve, munere isto
odissem te odio Vatiniano:
nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus,
cur me tot male perderes poetis? 5
isti di mala multa dent clienti,
qui tantum tibi misit impiorum.
quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum
munus dat tibi Sulla litterator,
non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, 10
quod non dispereunt tui labores.
di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum!
quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum
misti, continuo ut die periret,
Saturnalibus, optimo dierum! 15
non non hoc tibi, false, sic abibit.
nam si luxerit ad librariorum
curram scrinia, Caesios, Aquinos,
Suffenum, omnia colligam venena.
ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. 20
vos hinc interea valete abite
illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis,
saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.
How does the word "mi" (line 10) translate?
The word "mi"is a shortened form of "mihi," the dative case "ego_,_ meus." The best translation for this word is "for me."
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 14," ln.1-23)
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Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
"Lepidum" in line 1 translates as __________.
The word "lepidum"comes from "lepidus, lepidi," the word for charming.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
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Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
"Solebas" (line 3) translates as which of the following?
The word "solebas"comes from "soleo, solere"—to be accustomed to. You were accustomed to is therefore the best translation for this word.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
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Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
"Quare"(line 8) translates as which of the following?
The word "quare" translates as why.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
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Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.
"Quot"(line 3) translates as which of the following?
The word "quot"translates as how many.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
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Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
What does the word "passer" (line 1) mean?
The word "passer" comes from the word "passer," "passeris" and is the word for a sparrow.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
"Sicut" (line 9) translates as __________.
The word "sicut"translates as just as.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi 5
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores:
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est, 10
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
The word "sepulcrum" (line 6) means ____________.
The word "sepulcrum" comes from "sepulcrum," "sepulcri" and is the word for a grave.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi 5
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores:
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est, 10
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
The word "harenae" (line 3) means ___________.
The word "harenae" comes from "harena," "harenae" and literally means sands. Given the right context, it could mean arena, but there is no indication that the author is speaking of any sort of arena.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
What is the translation of the word "fas" (line 2)?
The word "fas"is a special word that does not decline. It translates as morally right, just, or allowed. It often appears in this exact phrasing: "si fas est" - if it is right.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
The word "torpet" in line 8 means ______________.
The word "torpet" comes from "torpeo, torpere,"which means to be numb.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
The word "otium" (line 12) means ____________.
The word "otium" comes from "otium," "otii," and means leisure (the Romans did not value leisure very much, partly why the author claims it is annoying here). Do not confuse with "odium," "odii" which means to hate.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
What is the translation of "quondam" (line 1)?
The word "quondam" translates as once/formerly.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
The word "dilexi" (line 3) comes from the word meaning _____________.
The word "dilexi" comes from "diligo," "diligere," "dilexi," "dilectus,"another common word for to love.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
The word "tantum" (line 2) translates as __________.
The word "tantum" translates as so much/to such an extent.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
The word "gnatos" (line 4) means ___________.
The word "gnatos" comes from "gnatus," "gnati," which means children.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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