To me that man seems like a god in heaven,

seems--may I say it?--greater than all gods are,

who sits by you & without interruption

	watches you, listens



to your light laughter, which casts such confusion

onto my senses, Lesbia, that when I 

gaze at you merely, all of my well-chosen

	words are forgotten



as my tongue thickens & a subtle fire

runs through my body while my ears deafened

by their own ringing & at once my eyes are

	covered in darkness!



Leisure, Catullus. More than just a nuisance,

leisure: you riot, overmuch enthusing.

Fabulous cities & their sometime kings have

	died of such leisure.