sum, esse, fui, futurum
be, exist. The subjunctive sit, which follows velim, has the force of an optative: translate with mihi as a dative of possession.
volo, velle, volui
wish; want; deliberative subjunctive, followed by sit.
iurgium, -i n.
quarrel, strife; dispute, altercation, contention; object of incipiat. Ovid and Tibullus both describe such quarrels between lovers as a stimulus to lovemaking.
quae: refering back to talis amica, quae introduces a series of relative clauses of characteristic in the subjunctive mood: incipiat, studeat, ferat, regerat, confugiat.
temere adverb
at random, casually, heedlessly.
incipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum
begin; undertake.
studeo, -ere, studui + infinitive
be eager; strive after; desire.
quasi adverb
as if; as it were.
casta, -us, -um
chaste; morally pure; unpolluted; guiltless; understand femina. The adjective is repeated in the beginning of line 8 below.
procax, -acis
forward, pert; bold; insolent. Note the effect of the alliteration of the plosive p and the asyndeton which unites the defining characteristics of the amica.
petulans, -ntis
saucy, impudent, wanton; ablative of description.
verber, -eris n.
blow; lash, whip, scourge; the verbal battles escalate to rough horseplay, in which the amica gives as good as she gets.
regero, -gerere, -gessi, -gestum
bear back, throw back. Note the assonance and end rhyme that support the metrical ictus.
caedo, caedere, cecidi, caesum
strike, beat, cudgel; modifies talis amica.
osculum, -i n.
kiss; pretty mouth.
confugio, -ere, fugi
take refuge in; have recourse to.
mos, moris m.
habit; manners; practice; character; behavior; ablative of description.
pudenter adverb
bashfully, shyly; honorably; modifies agens, serving as the third descriptor with casta modesta.
ago, -ere. egi, actum
act, behave; conduct oneself; note the similar use of asyndeton for characteristics in contrast to those in line 4.
abominor (1 deponent)
abhor; detest; deprecate as an ill omen; followed by the infinitive dicere.
uxor, -oris f.
wife. The sting in the last line is effected by the central placement together of abominor and uxor, which rhyme.
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