Hi. I'm sorry that the Latin is feeling burdensome. It sounds like they're giving you too much translation work to allow you to enjoy the text and the language properly. It would be a shame if you had to drop Latin, but if it would make life easier, then I think it's the right thing to do. For Latin Language in my first year, I had R. Taylor-Briggs, the author of Via Plana herself; but the style of the textbook didn't suit everyone, and was not consistent in plugging the gaps in people's knowledge.
Catullus: I've read the Lesbia poems and Poem 64 in Latin, which I enjoyed. The style did take some getting used to though.
Sallust: It's difficult to put the 'lust' into 'Sallust'. When I read the Jugurthine War, I thought the Latin was straightforward in places, but not that colourful.
Cicero: I'm not a big fan of Cicero, personally. I find the Latin complex in places, bland in others. When he does get his point across, it's good rhetoric.
Virgil: Much as I like the Aeneid, I can quite imagine that tackling a whole book of the Georgics is harsh. Orpheus and Eurydice is nicely told, but the rest can be perplexing, in its stance and its style. As you say, Perseus translations are hit and miss, sadly. I have a copy of C. Day Lewis' Oxford translation, which is yours if you want it.
Livy: I know of Livy through unseens and translations, and certainly, the more of him you read the more exhausting it can be. All the authors have their selling points - it's just a matter of appreciating them via the right approach, which isn't always possible when work and stress are piling up.
The best of luck with the road ahead - I'm sure you will reap some rewards. I would like to assist, so please keep in touch, over any Latin matters you want to discuss; I'll probably say more in an email soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
