Catullus 7 · ad Lesbiam
Status · Complete
- Text
- Catullus, Carmina 7 (ad Lesbiam), lines 1–12
- Latin text
- Catullus, Catulli Veronensis Liber, edited by Elmer Truesdell Merrill (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1893), via Perseus Digital Library
- Translation
- Alexandros Kalogrianitis
- First drafted
- September 2026
- Last revised
- September 2026
Quaeris quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
laserpiciferis iacet Cyrenis,
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi
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,
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
You ask how many of your kisses, Lesbia,
are enough, and more than enough for me.
As great as the sum of Libyan sands that lie
on the silphiophorous Cyrene
between the temple of sweltering Jupiter
and the ancient tomb of Battus;
Or as many stars that look upon
people’s clandestine love-affairs, when the night is silent:
Kissing you with so many kisses
is enough and more than enough for frenzied Catullus,
kisses which nosy men would not be able to count out
nor could a bad tongue jinx.
Quaeris quot mihi basiationes
You ask how many of your kisses, Lesbia,
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
are enough, and more than enough for me.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
As great as the sum of Libyan sands that lie
laserpiciferis iacet Cyrenis,
on the silphiophorous Cyrene
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi
between the temple of sweltering Jupiter
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum,
and the ancient tomb of Battus;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
Or as many stars that look upon
furtivos hominum vident amores,
people’s clandestine love-affairs, when the night is silent:
tam te basia multa basiare
Kissing you with so many kisses
vesano satis et super Catullo est,
is enough and more than enough for frenzied Catullus,
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
kisses which nosy men would not be able to count out
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
nor could a bad tongue jinx.