1lecto compositus vix prima silentia noctis
Having settled into bed, I was only just enjoying the first silence of the night
2carpebam et somno lumina victa dabam,
and my eyes were overcome with tiredness,
3cum me saevus Amor prensat sursumque capillis
when cruel Love grabs me and pulls me up by the hair
4excitat et lacerum pervigilare iubet.
and orders me in my shattered state to stay awake.
5'tu famulus meus' inquit 'ames cum mille puellas,
'You my slave' he said 'although you are the lover of a thousand girls,
6solus, io, solus dure, iacere potes?'
can you just lie there alone, hey, alone, obstinately?'
7exsilio et pedibus nudis tunicaque soluta
I jump out and with bare feet and loose tunic
8omne iter impedio, nullum iter expedio.
I block every road, but I free no route.
9nunc propero, nunc ire piget, rursumque redire
Now I am hurrying, now it disgusts me to go on, but I regret
10paenitet, et pudor est stare via media.
to turn back, and I am ashamed of standing in the middle of the street.
11ecce tacent voces hominum strepitusque viarum
Look, people's voices are silent, as is the noise of the streets
12et volucrum cantus turbaque fida canum:
and the songs of birds and the loyal mob of dogs:
13solus ego ex cunctis paveo somnumque torumque,
I, alone of all people, am afraid of both sleep and my bed
14et sequor imperium, magne Cupido, tuum.
and I follow your command, great Cupid.