Catullus 101 Catullus 101

Multas per gentes et multa per aequora vectus Through many nations and many seas

advenio has miseras, frater, ad inferias, I come to these wretches, brother, to the underworld

ut te postremo donarem munere mortis that I might give you the gift of death at last

et mutam nequiquam alloquerer cinerem, and I would address the mute ash to no one,

quandoquidem fortuna mihi tete abstulit ipsum. since fortune took him away from me.

heu miser indigne frater adempte mihi, alas, poor unworthy brother, take it from me

nunc tamen interea haec, prisco quae more parentum but now, in the meantime, this is the old fashioned thing of the parents

tradita sunt tristi munere ad inferias, they were handed over to the underworld with a sad message

accipe fraterno multum manantia fletu, receive brotherly with many flowing tears,

atque in perpetuum, frater, ave atque vale. and for ever, brother, farewell and good-bye.