Latin, Lesson 9-Poem

A Poem by Catullus

I. ad Cornelium

cui dono lepidum nouum libellum

arida modo pumice expolitum.

Corneli tibi namque tu solebas

meas esse aliquid putare nugas

iam tum cum ausus es unus Italorum

omne aeuum tribus explicare cartis

doctis Iuppiter et laboriosis.

quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli

qualecumque quidem est. patroni et ergo

plus uno maneat perenne saeclo.

1. to Cornelius

To whom do I send this fresh little book

of wit, lately polished dry with pumice stone?

To you, Cornelius: since you were accustomed

to consider my trifles worth something

even then, when you alone of Italians

dared to explain all the ages, in three learned

works, by Jupiter, and with the greatest labour.

Then take this little book for your own: whatever

it is, and is worth: virgin Muse, patroness,

let it last, for more lives than one.

Notes

Title: ad Cornelium

Ad is a Preposition meaning "to" and therefore never changes case. The name Cornelius is a second declension masculine noun. Names are declined the same as any other noun. You need only decline the singular since there is only one Cornelius.

Nom. Cornelius

Voc. Corneli

Acc. Cornelium

Gen. Cornelii

Dat. Cornelio

Abl. Cornelio

The translation is "To Cornelius". The Preposition "ad" is only used with the Accusative Case. The Accusative Case is the same as the English Object Case.

Second declension male names ending ‘ius’ have the double ‘ii’ form in the genitive.

Line One: Cui dono lepidum nouum libellum?

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