nullus, -ius m.f.
no one, nobody.

mulier, -ris f.
woman, female; wife. Note that in this line the poet addresses the mulier as mea; in line 3 his reference to mulier is generic.

nubo, -ere, nupsi, nuptum + dative
be married to; veil herself for (the verb used for a woman who is getting married).

malo, malle, malui
choose rather/instead (followed by quam), prefer. The subject is se, which always refers to the subject of the main verb.

peto, -ere, petivi, petitum
seek, look for; court; subjunctive after si indicates an unreal condition.

dicit: this echoes dicit in line 1. Note the prominent placement of the word and its repetition in this line, preparing the reader for the lover's sober assessment of his girlfriend's vows in the final line.

cupidus, -a, -um
eager, passionate, desirous.

qui, quae, quod (relative pronoun)
who, which, what; [id] quod is the object of scribere.

amans, amantis m.
lover.

ventus, -i m.
wind.

rapidus, -a, -um
swiftly moving, rapid.

oportet, -ere, -uit (impersonal)
one ought, should.

Close this window after each use.