C. Valerius Catullus, Carmen 99: To Iuventius: Stolen Kisses

Catullus speaks to Iuventius, the young man he loves, about a kiss.

 

Tier 1

dum lūdis, dulcis Iuventī, cēpī bāsium dulcius dulcī ambrosiā.

 

sed id nōn sine poenā ēgī: amplius hōram cēnsuī mē esse in summā cruce, dum explicō mē tibi nec possum lacrimīs ūllīs dīminuere tuam saevitiam.

 

simul id factum est, tū tersistī labra tua digitīs et multā aquā, nē quicquam ex ōre nostrō manēret, tamquam ego essem meretrīx.

 

deinde ego miser datus sum īnsānō amōrī sine fīne excruciārī omnī modō, ut mihi bāsium mūtātum [esset] iam ex ambrosiā trīstī elleborō.

 

quoniam prōpōnis poenam miserō amōrī, nunc numquam posthāc bāsium capiam.

Original draft written by Robert Amstutz

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