Vivamus, mea Lesbia
Catullus, Carmen 5
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(wee-WAH-moos, MEH-ah LES-bee-ah, AHT-kweh ah-MAY-moos)
(roo-MOH-res-kweh SEH-noom seh-way-ree-OH-room OM-nays oo-NEE-oos ai-stih-MAY-moos AS-sis)
(SOH-lays ok-KIH-deh-reh et reh-DEE-reh POS-soont)
(NOH-bees koom SEH-mel OK-kih-dit BREH-wis looks, noks est pehr-PET-oo-ah OO-nah dor-mee-EN-dah)
(dah mee BAH-see-ah MIL-leh, DAYN-deh KEN-toom)
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Salve! Quid legis?
(SAL-weh! kwid LEH-gis)
Hello! What are you reading?
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10 phrases to know in this scene
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1. Vivamus
(wee-WAH-moos)
Let us live
Why know it?
One word, a whole command: the ending -mus means 'we'.
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2. Vivamus atque amemus
(wee-WAH-moos AHT-kweh ah-MAY-moos)
Let us live and love
Why know it?
Catullus's opening rallying cry.
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3. Vivamus mea Lesbia
(wee-WAH-moos MEH-ah LES-bee-ah)
Let us live, my Lesbia
Why know it?
A name used to address someone (vocative).
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4. Lesbiam amo
(LES-bee-ahm AH-moh)
I love Lesbia
Why know it?
The -am ending marks who is loved.
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5. Meam Lesbiam amo
(MEH-ahm LES-bee-ahm AH-moh)
I love my Lesbia
Why know it?
Adjectives copy the noun's ending: meam Lesbiam.
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6. Da mi basia mille
(dah mee BAH-see-ah MIL-leh)
Give me a thousand kisses
Why know it?
Imperative + dative 'to me' + object.
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7. Lesbia me amat
(LES-bee-ah may AH-maht)
Lesbia loves me
Why know it?
Swap the endings and the lover changes.
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8. Te amo
(tay AH-moh)
I love you
Why know it?
The shortest love poem in Latin.
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9. Nox est perpetua
(noks est pehr-PET-oo-ah)
The night is everlasting
Why know it?
Est links the subject to a description.
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10. Te amo quod me amas
(tay AH-moh kwod may AH-mahs)
I love you because you love me
Why know it?
Quod joins a reason clause.
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