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I. ad Cornelium

cui dono lepidum nouum libellum (dono=should be in the subjunctive)

To whom do I give my lovely new book, (l33t)

arida modo pumice expolitum.

polished just now by dry pumice?

Corneli tibi namque tu solebas

Cornelius, to you, for you were (being) accustomed

meas esse aliquid putare nugas

to think that my trifles were something,

iam tum cum ausus es unus Italorum

Even then, when you dared, one of the Italians, ((this was usually left to a Greek))

omne aeuum tribus explicare cartis

To unfold an entire age in three scrolls,

doctis Iuppiter et laboriosis. ((doc.&lab. = desc. cartis, every line has 11 syllables))

learned, by Jupiter, and laborius. ((hendekasyllabic)

quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli

Hence have you this whatever of little book,

qualecumque. Quod, o patrona virgo

and of what sort. Which, o lady patron

plus uno maneat perenne saeclo.

let it remain continually for more than one age.

("I dedicate this to you, for you are the only American to write 8 volumes on... jellyfish." "To you, Danielle Steele, who wrote your trashy airport novels, for you alone... barely literate, steamy..." ~David) (1-2, 3-7, 8-10 division of poem. Is it sarcastic? Sincere? Who knows!)

II. fletus passeris Lesbie (It's been much debated whether the sparrow really is the poet's penis.))

passer. deliciae meae puellae. (Delicacy of my mistress!)

Sparrow, beloved of my girl.

quicum ludere. quem in sinu tenere. (Quicum = archaic form, otherwise quocum)

With whom she (.acc) to play, whom she (.acc) to keep in her bosom. ("You're accustomed to put my penis there." Hmmmmm. Venus had a chariot pulled by sparrows; an erotic bird))

cui primum digitum dare appetenti.

To whom, greedy, (.acc) to give her fingertip.

et acres solet incitare morsus.

And is accustomed to incite sharp bites. (David: "...Is it possible for a penis to do that? ...Penis dentata? ...Incite sharp bites from it? It just, you know...")

cum desiderio meo nitenti

When to play some sweet game ('I don't know what kind of dear thing')

carum nescio quid libet iocare

pleases my glimmering desire ( ................
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