People have been noticing Catullus and Lesbia's closeness. And most of them have been old, stern men who can't keep their mouths shut.
Catullus, however, is undaunted. He assures Lesbia and himself to take the value of these rumors at only an assis - they are as worthless as a penny. Catullus also utilizes the theme of carpe diem in this poem. He tells Lesbia that life is short. Humans are not like suns; they are not reborn everyday. For humans, when "our brief light dies once, we must sleep in one everlasting night." Catullus urges Lesbia to live her life now, before she is erased from the world forever.
This is exactly why Catullus encourages Lesbia to give him thousands, hundreds of kisses. When will she have a chance to do so again, if not now? It's a good argument, and it's safe to assume that Lesbia succumbs to Catullus's demands.
However, Catullus is not rash. He says "Conturbabimus illa!" so that none will know of his and Lesbia's sacred love. He does not want anything to ruin this love, least of all someone who might curse them with their rumors and evil intentions.
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