Malest, Cornifici, tuo Catullo
malest, me hercule, et laboriose,
et magis magis in dies et horas.
Quem tu, quod minimum facillimumque est,
qua solatus es allocutione?
Irascor tibi. Sic meos amores?
Paulum quid lubet allocutionis,
maestius lacrimis Simonideis.

Things are bad for your Catullus, Cornificius,
Things are bad, by Hercules, and painfully so,
and more and more so as days and hours pass.
With what word of comfort, which is the least
and the easiest, have you comforted him?
I am angry with you. Is this how you treat my love?
Give me a tiny bit of comfort,
sadder than the tears of Simonideus.