Expert: Maria - 7/14/2008

Question
hello! i was just wondering if you could tell me what "adi et amo quare la faciam, fortasse requiris mescia, sed fieri sentio et exerucior

Answer
Hello,

First of all the correct quotation from Catullus, Poem 85, where the Roman poet (1st century BC ) expresses concisely the contrast in feelings that his love for his mistress Lesbia provokes, is the following:

“Odi et amo. Quare id faciam fortasse requiris.
Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior”.

Here’s its translation:

“I hate and I love. Why I do this, perhaps you ask.
I don't know, but I feel it happens and I am in torment.”

Best regards,
Maria
________________________________________________________
Note that:
ODI  = I hate
ET = and
AMO  = I love
QUARE = why
ID =  this
FACIAM = I do
FORTASSE = perhaps
REQUIRIS = you ask
NESCIO = I do not know
SED = but
FIERI = it happens
SENTIO = I feel
ET = and
EXCRUCIOR = I am in torment/ I am tortured.