Vivamus, Mea Lesbia, Atque Amemus

Cover of Catullus et Lesbia

“Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus” is the opening of Catullus 5, the poem in which Catullus asks Lesbia to live and love with him and to value all the gossip of stern old men at a single penny. The poem goes on to ask for kisses: a thousand, then a hundred, then a thousand more.

Vīvāmus, amēmus and aestimēmus are all present subjunctives used as invitations: “let us live”, “let us love”, “let us value”. Assis, “at a penny”, is a genitive of value. The next sentence gives the reason: suns can set and return, but for us, once the brief light has set, there is one everlasting night to be slept. Both sentences are below.

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Catullus · Carmen 5

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Vīvāmuslet us liveamēmuslet us love
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Catullus · Carmen 5

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Read Catullus’s Lesbia poems with every word explained.

Catullus 5 is one of 26 poems in Catullus et Lesbia, from the sparrow poems to the poems of jealousy and parting, with long vowels marked and a definition for every word. A free account keeps your place, your shelf and your vocabulary; paid access opens the full catalog when you want to go further.