Writing Passion: A Catullus Reader

Writing Passion Writing Passion A Catullus Reader RONNIE ANCONA Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. Wauconda, Illino...

Author: Ronnie Ancona | Gaius Valerius Catullus

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Writing Passion

Writing Passion

A Catullus Reader RONNIE ANCONA

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. Wauconda, Illinois USA

In-House Editor Laurie Haight Keenan Typography, Page and Cover Design Adam Phillip Velez Cartography Margaret W. Pearce Latin Text D. F. S. Thomson Catullus: Edited with a Textual and Interpretative Commentary University of Toronto Press 1997 Reprinted with permission of University of Toronto Press Cover illustration Pablo Picasso, Girl Reading at a Table, 1934. © 2004 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Florene M. Schoenborn, in honor of William S. Lieberman, 1995 (1996.403.1) Photograph © 1996 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Writing Passion A Catullus Reader by Ronnie Ancona © 2004 Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. 1000 Brown Street Wauconda, IL 60084 USA www.bolchazy.com Printed in the United States of America

2006 by United Graphics

ISBN-13: 978-0-86516-482-6 ISBN-10: 0-86516-482-7 ———————————————————————————————————————————

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Catullus, Gaius Valerius. Writing passion : a Catullus reader / Ronnie Ancona. p. cm. “Intended for use by students at the intermediate college level or the advanced high school level. The selections from Catullus are the required readings in Catullus for the Advanced Placement Latin Literature Examination given by the Educational Testing Service”--Pref. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-86516-482-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Latin language--Readers. 2. Elegiac poetry, Latin. 3. Love poetry, Latin. 4. Epigrams, Latin. 5. Rome--Poetry. I. Ancona, Ronnie, 1951- II. Title. PA6274.A25 2004 874’.01--dc22 2004008331

This book is dedicated to three of my foreign language mentors: Helena Percas de Ponseti, Spanish professor at Grinnell College, who, when she shared a copy of an article she had just published on Cervantes, first revealed to me that teachers do scholarship Roslyn Grant, friend, colleague, and Department Head at The Bush School, Seattle, Washington, who probably taught me in my very first Latin teaching job more about foreign language teaching, despite the fact that she taught Spanish and French, not Latin, than I have learned from anyone else since Charles Babcock, professor and dissertation adviser at Ohio State University, now friend, who consistently encouraged my interest in becoming both a Latin scholar and a Latin teacher

Contents Preface ................................................................................................................................... ix Introduction ...................................................................................................................... xv Bibliography ..................................................................................................................... xix Latin Text with Notes and Vocabulary .................................................................. 3 Meters of the Poems .................................................................................................... 163 Metrical Terms, Tropes or Figures of Thought, and Rhetorical Figures or Figures of Speech ......................................... 169 Latin Text without Notes or Vocabulary .......................................................... 173 Vocabulary ....................................................................................................................... 221

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Maps and Illustrations General Reference Map .................................................................................................. 2 Girl with Pigeons ............................................................................................................... 6 Map for Poem 4 ................................................................................................................ 14 Silver Coin of Cyrene .................................................................................................... 23 Map for Poem 11 ..............................................................................................................34 Map for Poem 36 .............................................................................................................. 71

Preface I would like to thank Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers for inviting me to write a text on an author I have been reading and thinking about since I first encountered him in an undergraduate Latin Lyric Poetry class at the University of Washington taught by Professor William Grummel. Shortly thereafter I taught some Catullus at The Bush School in Seattle, Washington. In graduate school at Ohio State University I spent many hours talking about Catullus with my fellow graduate student and friend, Caroline Perkins, and studied him with Professor John Davis. I quickly found in my extensive teaching experience there how approachable Catullus could be for Latin students even at the elementary and intermediate levels of Latin. Since that time I have had the pleasure of teaching Catullus numerous times at the advanced undergraduate level at Hunter College, in the PhD program at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and, as a College Board consultant, at Advanced Placement* Workshops for Latin Teachers. I would like to thank my students for their many good and challenging questions over the years. The opportunity to write this commentary was a welcome one to me. I had just completed a similar commentary on Horace and liked writing it, while I had recently moved towards scholarly work on Catullus, having all along been interested in his influence on Horace. I had been teaching and thinking about the poems for many years and the chance to explore them in the detailed manner of a commentator has allowed me to become even more familiar with both the poems and the recent work written about them. Since the approach I have taken in this text is modeled on that of my Horace: Selected Odes and Satire 1.9 (Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers 1999), I would like to thank those who have given me feedback on that text for comments that have proved useful in writing its successor.

* AP is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

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This book is intended for use by students at the intermediate college level or the advanced high school level. The selections from Catullus are the required readings in Catullus for the Advanced Placement* Latin Literature Examination given by the Educational Testing Service. I have limited the scope of the book to the poems on the AP* syllabus in order to create a sense of coherence out of that particular curriculum. Of course, teachers at either the college or secondary level are encouraged to bring more poems into their courses, if appropriate. The book includes an introduction to Catullus’ life and writings, a select bibliography, the Latin text of the poems, a short introduction to each poem (meant to be suggestive rather than constricting), and a line-by-line commentary located on the same page with the Latin text, including vocabulary and notes of a grammatical, historical, metrical, or literary nature. In addition, there are maps, discussion of all the meters of the poems, definitions of metrical terms, and explanations of particular tropes or figures of thought and rhetorical figures or figures of speech with examples from the poems of the book. Although it does not include every single Latin word in the poems, the line-by-line vocabulary given with the text of each poem is quite extensive. I have provided such extensive vocabulary help in order to give the student extra time for his or her thinking about the material that otherwise might be spent looking up too many words. Words that appear more than once in a poem are not repeated in the line-by-line commentary in order to avoid unnecessary repetition. However, the vocabulary at the end of the book includes all Latin words used by Catullus in the poems, so that the student who forgets even a basic Latin word may quickly look it up in the back of the book and all students can use it for necessary vocabulary review. Both in the general vocabulary and in the line-byline vocabulary I typically give the major meanings of a Latin word rather than one particular meaning that might work best for purposes of translation in a particular context. The reason for this is to preserve for the student the multiplicity of meanings many Latin words have in

* AP is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

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Catullus and to allow him or her to see how Catullus repeats vocabulary from poem to poem with the result that individual words resonate with their multiple meanings in diﬀerent contexts. The approach followed here helps students to increase their real Latin vocabulary, rather than merely to memorize a particular meaning of a word for translation of a particular poem. I also avoid translating diﬃcult passages in the notes. I prefer to give help and then to let the student figure things out independently. When giving grammatical explanations I use standard grammatical terminology, rather than terminology geared to a specific Latin grammar. Standard abbreviations are used throughout and should not cause diﬃculty. The best Latin text available for Catullus at the present time is D. F. S. Thomson, Catullus: Edited with a Textual and Interpretative Commentary (1997). The Latin text used here is that of Thomson and it is reprinted with the permission of University of Toronto Press. I would like to thank Walter Brooker, Permissions Manager of University of Toronto Press, for his assistance. The only place I have deviated from Thomson is in Poem 116, line 4 where I have used a comma instead of a period. AP Latin teachers (and students) who would like a list of the few places the text I have used here diﬀers from Mynors’ Oxford Classical Text, used on the AP Exam, should consult the chart available at: http://www.bolchazy.com/pdf/catullus.chart.pdf. I would also like to acknowledge permission to reprint my translation of Sappho Poem 31 that appeared in my article “The Untouched Self: Sapphic and Catullan Muses in Horace Odes 1.22,” in Efrossini Spentzou and Don Fowler, eds., Cultivating the Muse: Struggles for Power and Inspiration in Classical Literature (Oxford University Press 2002) 161–86. Since many students using this book will be taking the Advanced Placement* Examination, which does not supply long marks or macrons over vowels, I, too, have not included them in the text of the poems. However, since many students at this stage will not know all of the long marks, I have marked the length of vowels in the line-by-line commentary as well as

* AP is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

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in the Vocabulary at the back of the book. Therefore, the student will be able to find all necessary long marks within the book, except those contained in inflectional endings (e.g., the long a of the first declension ablative singular). These, of course, may be found in a Latin grammar or in the student’s elementary Latin text. It is my hope that the student who looks at the text without long marks will start trying to scan the poem to determine, for example, whether a final a is ablative singular or nominative singular of the first declension. In this way he or she will learn quickly that knowledge of the meter can be a source of necessary grammatical information. In writing this text I have consulted a wide range of material on Catullus. The bibliography on Catullus is vast and there is no way I could have consulted everything relevant. However, I have tried to create a text for students that is informed by some of the latest research in Catullan scholarship. I think it is important for students to know that classics scholars are still discussing and arguing about Catullus’ poems. Therefore, I have included a bibliography that is quite extensive for a student text in order to familiarize the student with some of the sources for this scholarship. Just browsing through the titles of articles can be interesting, for it shows what kinds of issues scholars have chosen to address. The student using the bibliography may find it most helpful to consult recent sources first, for these will include references to relevant earlier works that are still being cited. The student should not feel that it is necessary to use the bibliography, unless required to do so by his or her teacher. However, regardless of particular class requirements, I think I owe students embarking upon serious study of Catullus at any level access to information about the research that has been done. I would like to mention here, by author, the commentaries that I consulted most frequently as I wrote the line-by-line notes for each of the poems: Arnold, Aronson, and Lawall, Forsyth, Fordyce, Garrison, Quinn, and Thomson (full citations available in the Bibliography). These gave me a continuing sense of what others thought or did not think worthy of comment as well as a scholarly context in which to situate my own remarks.

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Finally, there are several people I want to acknowledge for special assistance. Lou Bolchazy, Publisher, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, gave me the opportunity to write the book, while Laurie Haight Keenan, my editor, once again provided sustained support and encouragement throughout. Julie Zeftel, of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Photograph and Slide Library, and Caitlin Miller, of the Artists Rights Society, helped me with the process of gaining permissions for the image on the cover of this book, while Margaret Pearce produced the book’s maps. Georgia Tsouvala did research for me, as did Timothy Hanford right at the end, while Steven Cole helped with computers. Finally, Steven Cole and David Ancona-Cole (yet again!) were most generous to this project which “lived with us” for several years. A special note of thanks is owed to Ruth Ancona for encouraging my final push to completion.

Narberth, Pennsylvania October, 2003

Introduction Catullus’ Life Despite the fact that Catullus’ poems have often been interpreted as autobiography, there is, in fact, very little known about his life. Gaius Valerius Catullus lived from c. 82 bce–c. 52 bce. This is based on interpretation of material from Jerome (4th–5th c. ce), whose source was the section on poets in Suetonius’ De Viris Illustribus (1st–2nd c. ce). He was born in the city of Verona, in Cisalpine Gaul (Ovid, Amores 3.15.7 and Martial 14.195, as well as Jerome). Catullus wrote verses oﬀensive to Julius Caesar (cf. Poems 29, 54, 57, and 93), who was a family friend, but he later reconciled with him (Suetonius, Julius 73). From his poems it is concluded that he served in Bithynia under Gaius Memmius, to whom Lucretius dedicated his poem, De Rerum Natura. This service would have been in 57–56 bce when Memmius was propraetor. To have held a position on the staﬀ of a provincial governor, Catullus would have had to have been a Roman citizen and of equestrian rank. The poems also give evidence that for a time Catullus lived at Rome. Finally, according to Apuleius (2nd c. ce), Catullus used the pseudonym “Lesbia” in his poems for the “real-life” beloved, Clodia (Apologia 10).

Historical and Social Background Catullus wrote in the period of Roman history when the viability of the Roman Republic was starting to be challenged by individual leaders who eventually would bring about its end and the beginning of Imperial Rome. Catullus would have been about twenty years old during the consulship of Cicero (63 bce) when the Catilinarian conspiracy was suppressed. The First Triumvirate, through which Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus shared power, was formed in 60 bce and remained in power until the end or close to the end of Catullus’ life, depending on the date given for his death. Crassus was killed in 53 and Caesar defeated Pompey in 48. Caesar’s elevation to the position of dictator for life and subsequent

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assassination occurred about a decade after Catullus’ death, which occurred when he was about thirty years old. For a Roman male citizen of Catullus’ high economic and social status a life of public service, that is, a political career, would have been the ideal and perhaps that is why he came to Rome. But a career in politics likely had little appeal for him and the Rome he became involved with was the Rome of a social circle that was interested in writing, Hellenistic Greek culture, and a challenging of sexual and social mores. In Catullus’ poems the language of treaties and alliances becomes intertwined with love. And faithfulness and disloyalty mingle the religious with the erotic. What it means to be a “man” is called into question as the “leisure” activities of writing and love seem to be valued over the manly activities of war, conquest, and politics. While the Roman matron was still the ideal, real women, becoming more independent, might be conducting aﬀairs. For the Romans, the gender of one’s sexual partner was less significant than the “role” one played in a relationship. For a Roman male, an “active” role in sexual activity was positive (regardless of the sex of the partner) and a “passive” role was stigmatized as feminine and negative. As social mores were called into question in the last century of the Republic, relationships of various types could reflect a certain cultural tension. The “Lesbia” that Apuleius says was Catullus’ pseudonym for “Clodia” is on some level a literary construct. The name “Lesbia” calls to mind Sappho, the poet from the island of Lesbos, who wrote poems in Greek at the end of the seventh century bce. That Catullus chose to use this name for the love figure who appears in many of his poems shows his tribute to Sappho. But if part of that construct was emerging from “real life,” as Apuleius would have it, then it becomes tempting to track down the identity of Clodia. Scholars agree that she is one of the three sisters of Publius Clodius Pulcher, all known as Clodia (or Claudia). Most (although not all) think she is Clodia Metelli, wife of Q. Caecilius Metellus Celer, governor of Cisalpine Gaul, and consul in 60. This Clodia was widowed in 59 and is the Clodia who figures prominently in Cicero’s

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speech, Pro Caelio, where she is vilified as an upper class woman who acts like a whore. Thus through the act of “naming,” literary issues, like recalling one’s poetic predecessor, become entwined in contemporary politics and social and sexual practice.

Literary Background and the Catullan Corpus Catullus was part of a literary group, including Cinna, Calvus, and Valerius Cato, that was called by Cicero the neoterics (Epistulae ad Atticum 7.2.1), Greek for “the rather new ones,” or poetae novi “new poets” (Orator ad M. Brutum 161). The word novum appears prominently in the first line of Catullus’ first poem: Cui dono lepidum novum libellum. These “modern” poets were heavily influenced by a Hellenistic Greek aesthetic dating to the third century bce, identified closely with the work of the Greek poet, Callimachus, who wrote in that century. This literary aesthetic valued learning, novelty, wit, elegance, metrical experiments, and artistic finish. Many see Catullus’ poetic style as an attempt to join Hellenistic Greek literary values with personal passion. The ancient Greek lyric poetry of Sappho, mentioned above, influenced Catullus as well. It is not known to what extent Catullus is responsible for the current order in which the poems have survived, however it is clear that there are continuing echoes of themes, vocabulary etc. throughout the collection. The Poems (1–116) as we have them basically fall into three groups, the polymetrics (1–60) in which Catullus uses a variety of meters, the long poems (61–68), and the epigrams (69–116), written in elegiac couplets. Some would make the division between the second and third groups diﬀerently, grouping 61–64 together, since they all relate to marriage or unions of some kind, and putting the long elegiac poems (65–68) with the poems that follow in the same meter. Catullus wrote over a hundred poems in a style that ranges from elevated to colloquial. This text includes a poem as short as two lines and an approximately two hundred-line selection from an even longer poem. There is a simplicity to some of the poems that belies their careful construction. Care of composition is present not only when the poems appear carefully constructed but also when they appear to be outbursts

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of spontaneous passion. There is an intimate and emotionally charged feeling to Catullus’ poetry and this is likely part of what has created its lasting appeal. The themes of the poems vary widely from love, writing, friendship, and travel, to politics, insults, gift-giving, death, myth and more. Often characterized as a love poet, Catullus is far more than that. Seen in their larger cultural and historical context, his poems are an exciting window into the world of first century bce Rome, while that world, in turn, helped to make his poems what they are. The jockeying for position, between female and male, male and male, governor and underlings, poet and audience makes for very lively reading. It is my hope that this text will help to make Catullus more readily approachable for the student of Latin and that he or she will enjoy exploring Catullus in all his simplicity and complexity.

Bibliography The scholarship on Catullus is vast. I have tried to emphasize in this select bibliography scholarship written in English that will be useful for readers of the AP* syllabus. The emphasis in the selections is on recent articles and books that will allow the reader to become aware of current critical thought on Catullus.

Commentaries Arnold, Bruce, Andrew Aronson, and Gilbert Lawall. Love and Betrayal: A Catullus Reader. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2000. ———. Love and Betrayal: A Catullus Reader—Teacher’s Guide. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2000. Aronson, A., and Robert Boughner. Catullus and Horace: Selections from Their Lyric Poetry. White Plains, N.Y.: Longman, 1988. Aronson, Andrew. Catullus and Horace: A Selection with Facing Vocabularies and Notes. Amherst, Mass.: New England Classical Newsletter Publications, 1989–90. Bender, Henry V., and Phyllis Young Forsyth. Catullus—Student Text. Wauconda, Ill.: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, 1997. Fordyce, C. J. Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1961. Forsyth, Phyllis Young. The Poems of Catullus—A Teaching Text. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1986. Garrison, Daniel H. The Student’s Catullus. Second Edition. Norman, Okla. and London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.

* AP is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

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Goold, G. P. Catullus. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1983. (includes a translation) Merrill, Elmer T. Catullus. Boston: Ginn, 1893. Quinn, Kenneth. Catullus—The Poems. Second Edition. London: Macmillan, 1973. Thomson, D. F. S. Catullus: Edited with a Textual and Interpretative Commentary. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1997.

Translations Gaisser, Julia Haig. Catullus in English: London: Penguin, 2001. Lee, Guy. The Complete Poems of Catullus. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. Martin, Charles. The Poems of Catullus. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1990. Michie, J. The Poems of Catullus. London: Duckworth, 1990. Rabinowitz, Jacob. Gaius Valerius Catullus’ Complete Poetic Works. Woodstock, Conn.: Spring Publications, 1991. Whigham, Peter. The Poems of Catullus. London: Penguin, 1966.

Listening Materials Novák, Jan. Schola Cantans. Cassette, libretto, and musical score. Wauconda, Ill.: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, 1998. (includes poems of Catullus set to music) Orﬀ, Carl. Catulli Carmina. (musical piece incorporating selections from Catullus, available under various music labels) Sonkowsky, Robert P. The Living Voice of Latin Literature: Selections from Catullus and Horace. Booklet and two cassettes. Guilford, Conn.: Jeﬀrey Norton, 1984. Distributed by Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Wauconda, Ill. St. Louis Chamber Chorus. Rome’s Golden Poets. Limited edition CD. Wauconda, Ill.: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, 1999. (includes poems of Catullus set to music)

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Books on Catullus and Background to Catullus Adler, Eve. Catullan Self-Revelation. New York: Arno Press, 1981. Arkins, Brian. Sexuality in Catullus. Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1982. Dettmer, Helena. Love by the Numbers: Form and Meaning in the Poetry of Catullus. New York: Peter Lang, 1997. Dixon, Suzanne. Reading Roman Women. London: Duckworth, 2001. Edwards, Catharine. The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Ferguson, John. Catullus (Greek and Roman Surveys in the Classics 20). Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988. ———. Catullus. Lawrence, Kans.: Coronado Press, 1985. Fitzgerald, William. Catullan Provocations: Lyric Poetry and the Drama of Position. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995. Gaisser, Julia. Catullus and His Renaissance Readers. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993. Greene, Ellen. The Erotics of Domination: Male Desire and the Mistress in Latin Love Poetry. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. Habinek, Thomas. The Politics of Latin Literature: Writing, Identity and Empire in Ancient Rome. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1998. Havelock, Eric. The Lyric Genius of Catullus. Oxford: Blackwell, 1939. Janan, Micaela. When The Lamp Is Shattered: Desire and Narrative in Catullus. Carbondale, Ill.: Southern Illinois University Press, 1994. Jenkyns, Richard. Three Classical Poets: Sappho, Catullus and Juvenal. London: Duckworth, 1982. Johnson, W. Ralph. The Idea of Lyric. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1982. Kresic, Stephanus, ed. Contemporary Literary Hermeneutics and Interpretation of Classical Texts. Ottawa: Ottawa University Press, 1981. (contains articles on Catullus 8 by S. Kresic, P. J. McCormick and H.-G. Gadamer)

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Lyne, R. O. A. M. The Latin Love Poets. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980. Martin, Charles. Catullus. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1992. McCarren, Vincent P. A Critical Concordance to Catullus. Leiden: Brill, 1977. Miller, Paul Allen. Lyric Texts and Lyric Consciousness: The Birth of a Genre From Archaic Greece to Augustan Rome. London and New York: Routledge, 1994. Newman, J. K. Roman Catullus and the Modification of the Alexandrian Sensibility. Hildesheim: Weidmann, 1990. Putnam, Michael C. J. Essays on Latin Lyric, Elegy, and Epic. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1982. Quinn, Kenneth. The Catullan Revolution. Second Edition. London: Bristol Classical Press, 1999. Ross, David O. Style and Tradition in Catullus. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1969. Skinner, Marilyn B. Catullus’ Passer: The Arrangement of the Book of Polymetric Poems. New York: Arno Press, 1981. Small, Stuart. Catullus: A Reader’s Guide to the Poems. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1983. Sullivan, J. P., ed. Critical Essays on Roman Literature: Elegy and Lyric. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1962. Treggiari, Susan. Roman Marriage. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1991. Wheeler, A. L. Catullus and the Traditions of Ancient Poetry (1934). Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. Williams, Gordon. The Nature of Roman Poetry. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983. Wiseman, T. P. Catullus and His World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985. ———. Catullan Questions. Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1969. Witke, Charles. Enarratio Catulliana. Leiden: Brill, 1968. Wray, David. Catullus and the Poetics of Manhood. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.

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Selected Articles on Catullus Arkins, Brian. “Caelius and Rufus in Catullus.” Philologus 127 (1983): 306–11. Clausen, Wendell. “Cicero and the New Poetry.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 90 (1986): 159–70. ———. “Catullus and Callimachus.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 74 (1970): 86–94. ———. “Callimachus and Latin Poetry.” Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 5 (1964): 181–96. Commager, Steele. “Notes on Some Poems of Catullus.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 70 (1965): 83–110. Crowther, N. B. “Parthenius and Roman Poetry.” Mnemosyne 29 (1976): 66–71. ———. “Catullus and the Traditions of Latin Poetry.” Classical Philology 66 (1971): 246–49. ———. “οἱ νεώτεροι, poetae novi, and cantores Euphorionis.” Classical Quarterly 20 (1970): 322–27. Duclos, G. S. “Catullus 11: Atque in perpetuum, Lesbia, ave atque vale.” Arethusa 9 (1976): 76–89. Elder, J. P. “Notes on Some Conscious and Unconscious Elements in Catullus’ Poetry.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 60 (1951): 101–36. Forsyth, Phyllis Young. “Catullus: The Mythic Persona.” Latomus 35 (1976): 556–66. Fowler, Don. “Postmodernism, Romantic Irony and Classical Closure.” In Modern Critical Theory and Classical Literature, edited by I. De Jong and J. P. Sullivan. Leiden: Brill, 1994: 231–56. Fredricksmeyer, Ernst. “The Beginning and the End of Catullus’ Longus Amor.” Symbolae Osloenses 58 (1983): 63–88. Gaﬀney, G. Edward. “Severitati Respondere: Character Drawing in the Pro Caelio and Catullus’ Carmina.” Classical Journal 90 (1995): 423–31. Greene, Ellen. “The Catullan Ego: Fragmentation and the Erotic Self.” American Journal of Philology 116 (1995): 77–93.

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Grimaldi, W. M. A. “The Lesbia Love Lyrics.” Classical Philology 60 (1965): 87–95. Hubbard, Thomas K. “The Catullan Libellus.” Philologus 127 (1983): 218–37. Konstan, David. “Two Kinds of Love in Catullus.” Classical Journal 68 (1972): 102–06. Lateiner, D. “Obscenity in Catullus.” Ramus 6 (1977): 16–32. Lyne, R. O. A. M. “The Neoteric Poets.” Classical Quarterly 28 (1978): 167–87. Minyard, J. D. “The Source of the Catulli Veronensis Liber.” Classical World 81 (1988): 343–53. Putnam, M. C. J. “The Future of Catullus.” The Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 113 (1983): 243–62. Rankin, H. D. “The Progress of Pessimism in Catullus, Poems 2–11.” Latomus 31 (1972): 744–51. ———. “Clodia II.” L’Antiquité Classique 38 (1969) 501–06. Rubino, Carl. “The Erotic World of Catullus.” Classical World 68 (1975): 289–97. Seager, R. “Venustus, Lepidus, Bellus, Salsus: Notes on the Language of Catullus.” Latomus 33 (1974): 891–94. Segal, Charles. “The Order of Catullus, Poems 2–11.” Latomus 27 (1968): 306–21. Selden, D. “Ceveat lector: Catullus and the rhetoric of performance.” In Innovations of Antiquity, edited by R. Hexter and D. Selden. New York: Routledge (1992): 461–512. Skinner, Marilyn B. “Ego mulier: The Construction of Male Sexuality in Catullus.” Helios 20 (1993) 107–30. ———. “Clodia Metelli.” Transactions and Proceedings on the American Philological Association 113 (1983): 273–82. ———. “Pretty Lesbius.” Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 112 (1982): 197–208. ———. “Parasites and Strange Bedfellows: A Study in Catullus’ Political Imagery.” Ramus 8 (1980): 137–52.

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Tatum, W. Jeﬀrey. “Friendship, Politics, and Literature in Catullus: Poems 1, 65 and 66, 116.” Classical Quarterly 47 (1997) 482–500. Vinson, Martha. “Party Politics and the Language of Love in the Lesbia Poems of Catullus.” In Collection Latomus: Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History 6, edited by C. Deroux. Brussels: Latomus, 1992: 163–80. ———. “And Baby Makes Three? Parental Imagery in the Lesbia poems of Catullus.” Classical Journal 85 (1989–90): 47–53. Wiltshire, Susan F. “Catullus Venustus.” Classical World 70 (1977): 319–26.

References Works Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Seventh Edition. Fort Worth, Tex.: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1998. (useful glossary of important literary terms) Adams, J. N. The Latin Sexual Vocabulary. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1982. (essential resource for sexual words in Latin) Halporn, James W., Martin Ostwald, and Thomas G. Rosenmeyer. The Meters of Greek and Latin Poetry. Revised Edition. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1994. Holoka, J. P. Gaius Valerius Catullus: A Systematic Bibliography. New York and London: Garland, 1985. Preminger, Alex. The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics. Third Edition. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993. (useful for discussions of general poetic terms and issues)

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Material Relevant to Specific Poems in the AP* Syllabus (See also “Selected Articles on Catullus” [above] as well as relevant sections of the books on Catullus [above]).

Poem 1 Batstone, William. “Dry Pumice and the Programmatic Language of Catullus 1.” Classical Philology 93 (1998): 126–35. Rauk, John. “Time and History in Catullus 1.” Classical World 90 (1997): 319–32.

Poem 2 Brotherton, B. “Catullus’ Carmen II.” Classical Philology 21 (1926): 361–63. Genovese, E. N. “Symbolism in the Passer Poems.” Maia 26 (1974): 121–25. Giangrande, G. “Catullus’ Lyrics on the Passer.” Museum Philologum Londiniense 1 (1975): 137–46. Hooper, R. W. “In Defence of Catullus’ Dirty Sparrow.” Greece and Rome 32 (1985): 162–78. Jocelyn, H. D. “On Some Unnecessarily Indecent Interpretations of Catullus 2 and 3.” American Journal of Philology 101 (1980): 421–41. Jones, Julian Ward, Jr. “Catullus’ Passer as Passer.” Greece and Rome 45 (1998): 188–94. Nadeau, Yvan. “Catullus’ Sparrow, Martial, Juvenal and Ovid.” Latomus 43 (1984): 861–68. Thomas, Richard F. “Sparrows, Hares, and Doves: a Catullan Metaphor.” Helios 20 (1993): 131–42.

* AP is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Bibliography

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Poem 3 Akbar Khan, H.. “A Note on the Expression solum...nosse in Catullus.” Classical Philology 62 (1967): 34–36. Elerick, Charles. “On Translating Catullus 3.” Scholia 2 (1993): 90–96.

Poem 4 Coleman, K. M. “The Persona of Catullus’ Phaselus.” Greece and Rome 28 (1981): 68–72. Copley, F. O. “Catullus 4: The World of the Poem.” Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 89 (1958): 9–13. Griﬃth, J. G. “Catullus Poem 4: A Neglected Interpretation Revived.” Phoenix 37 (1983): 123–28. Putnam, Michael C. J. “Catullus’ Journey (Carm. 4).” Classical Philology 57 (1962): 10–19. (Reprinted in Putnam, Essays. Cf. book section of this bibliography.)

Poem 5 Commager, Steele. “The Structure of Catullus 5.” Classical Journal 59 (1964): 361–64. Fredricksmeyer, Ernst. A. “Observations on Catullus 5.” American Journal of Philology 91 (1970): 431–45. Grimm, R. E. “Catullus 5 Again.” Classical Journal 59 (1963): 16–21. Grummel, W. C. “Vivamus, mea Lesbia.” Classical Bulletin 31 (1954): 19–21. Pratt, N. T. “The Numerical Catullus 5.” Classical Philology 51 (1956): 99–100. Segal, Charles. “Catullus 5 and 7: A Study in Complementaries.” American Journal of Philology 89 (1968): 284–301.

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Poem 7 Arkins, Brian. “Catullus 7.” L’Antiquité Classique 48 (1979): 630–35. Johnston, Patricia A. “Love and Laserpicium in Catullus 7.” Classical Philology 88 (1993): 328–29. Moorhouse, A. C. “Two Adjectives in Catullus 7.” American Journal of Philology 84 (1963): 417–18. Segal (see Poem 5). Segal, Charles. “More Alexandrianism in Catullus VII?” Mnemosyne 27 (1974): 139–43.

Poem 8 Akbar Khan, H. “Style and Meaning in Catullus’ Eighth Poem.” Latomus 27 (1968): 556–74. Connor, P. J. “Catullus 8: The Lover’s Conflict.” Antichthon 8 (1974): 93–96. Dyson, M., “Catullus 8 and 76.” Classical Quarterly 23 (1973): 127–43. Moritz, L. A. “Miser Catulle: A Postscript.” Greece and Rome 13 (1966): 156–57. Rowland, R. L. “Miser Catulle: An Interpretation of the Eighth Poem of Catullus.” Greece and Rome 13 (1966): 16–21. Schmiel, R. “The Structure of Catullus 8: A History of Interpretation.” Classical Journal 86 (1990–91): 158–66. Skinner, Marilyn B. “Catullus 8: The Comic Amator as Eiron.” Classical Journal 66 (1971): 298–305. Swanson, R. A. “The Humor of Catullus 8.” Classical Journal 58 (1963): 193–96.

Poem 10 Braund, David C. “The Politics of Catullus 10: Memmius, Caesar, and the Bithynians.” Hermathena 160 (1996): 46–57. Nielsen, Rosemary M. “Catullus and Sal (Poem 10).” L’Antiquité Classique 56 (1987): 148–61.

Bibliography

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Sedgwick, W. B. “Catullus X: A Rambling Commentary.” Greece and Rome 16 (1947): 108–14. Skinner, Marilyn B. “Ut decuit cinaediorem: Power, Gender and Urbanity in Catullus 10.” Helios 16 (1989): 7–23.

Poem 11 Ancona (see Poem 51). Blodgett, E. D., and R. M. Nielsen. “Mask and Figure in Catullus, Carmen 11.” Revue Belge de Philologie et Histoire 54 (1986): 22–31. Bright, D. F. “Non Bona Dicta: Catullus’ Poetry of Separation.” Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 21 (1976): 106–19. Forsyth, Phyllis Y. “The Thematic Unity of Catullus 11.” Classical World 84 (1990–91): 457–64. Fredricksmeyer, Ernst A. “Method and Interpretation: Catullus 11.” Helios 20 (1993): 89–105. Heath, John R. “Catullus 11: Along for the Ride.” In Collection Latomus: Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History 5, edited by C. Deroux. Brussells: Latomus, 1989: 98–116. Mayer, R. “Catullus’ Divorce.” Classical Quarterly 33 (1983): 297–98. Putnam, Michael C. J. “Catullus 11: The Ironies of Integrity.” Ramus 3 (1974): 70–86. (Reprinted in Putnam, Essays. Cf. book section of this bibliography.) Sweet, David. “Catullus 11: A Study in Perspective.” Latomus 46 (1987): 510–26.

Poem 12 Forsyth, Phyllis Y. “Gifts and Giving: Catullus 12–14.” Classical World 79 (1985): 571–74. Nappa, Christopher. “Place Settings: Convivium, Contrast, and Persona in Catullus 12 and 13.” American Journal of Philology 119 (1998): 386–97.

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Poem 13 Arkins, Brian. “Poem 13 of Catullus.” Symbolae Osloenses 54 (1979): 71–80. Bernstein, W. H. “A Sense of Taste: Catullus 13.” Classical Journal 80 (1985): 127–30. Case, Beau David. “‘Guess who’s coming to dinner?’: a note on Catullus 13.” Latomus 54 (1995): 876–76. Dettmer, Helena. “Catullus 13: A Nose is a Nose.” Syllecta Classica 1 (1989): 76–85. ———. “Meros Amores: a Note on Catullus 13,9.” Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 52 (1986): 87–91. Fitts, R. L. “Reflections on Catullus 13.” Classical World 76 (1982): 41–42. Forsyth (see Poem 12). Hallett, J. P. “Divine Unction: Some Further Thoughts on Catullus 13.” Latomus 37 (1978): 747–48. Helm, J. J. “Poetic Structure and Humor: Catullus 13.” Classical World 74 (1980–81): 213–17. Littman, R. J. “The Unguent of Venus: Catullus 13.” Latomus 36 (1977): 123–28. Marcovich, Miroslav. “Catullus 13 and Philodemus 23.” Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 40 (1982): 131–38. Nappa (see Poem 12). Nielsen, R. M., and E. D. Blodgett. “Catullus’ Cena: “I’ll Tell You of More, and Lie, So You Will Come.” Revue Belge de Philologie et Histoire 69 (1991): 87–100. Richlin, Amy. “Systems of Food Imagery in Catullus.” Classical World 81 (1988): 356–63. Vessey, D. W. T. C. “Thoughts on Two Poems of Catullus: 13 and 30.” Latomus 30 (1971): 46–55. Witke, Charles. “Catullus 13.” Classical Philology 75 (1980): 326–31.

Bibliography

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Poem 14 Bower, E. W. “Some Technical Terms in Roman Education.” Hermes 89 (1961): 462–77.

Poem 22 Watson, Lindsay. “Rustic Suﬀenus (Catullus 22) and Literary Rusticity.” In Papers of the Leeds International Latin Seminar: Volume 6, edited by F. Cairns and M. Heath. Leeds: Leeds University Press, 1990: 13–33.

Poem 30 Thom, Sjarlene. “Crime and punishment in Catullus 30.” Akroterion 38 (1993): 51–60.

Poem 31 Baker, R. J. “Catullus and Sirmio.” Mnemosyne 36 (1983): 316–23. Cairns, F. “Venusta Sirmio: Catullus 31.” In Quality and Pleasure in Latin Poetry, edited by T. Woodman and D. West. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974: 1–17. McCaughey, J. “The Mind Lays By Its Trouble: Catullus 31.” Arion 9 (1970): 362–65. Nielsen (see Poem 9). Witke, Charles. “Verbal Art in Catullus 31.” American Journal of Philology 93 (1972): 239–51.

Poem 35 Akbar Khan, H. “Catullus 35 and the Things Poetry Can Do to You.” Hermes 102 (1974): 476–90. Copley, Frank. “Catullus 35.” American Journal of Philology 74 (1953): 149–60. Fisher, J. M. “Catullus 35.” Classical Philology 66 (1971): 1–5.

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Foster, Jonathan. “Poetry and Friendship: Catullus 35.” Liverpool Classical Monthly 19 (1994): 114–21. Fredricksmeyer, Ernst A. “Catullus to Caecilius on Good Poetry.” American Journal of Philology 106 (1985): 213–21. Solodow, J. P. “Forms of Literary Criticism in Catullus: Polymetric vs. Epigram.” Classical Philology 84 (1989): 312–19.

Poem 36 Clarke, G. W. “The Burning of Books and Catullus 36.” Latomus 27 (1968): 576–80. Comfort, H. “An Interpretation of Catullus XXXVI.” Classical Philology 24 (1929): 176–82. Morgan, M. Gwyn. “Catullus and the Annales Volusi.” Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica 4 (1980): 59–67. Østerud, S. “Sacrifice and Bookburning in Catullus’ Poem 36.” Hermes 106 (1978): 138–55. Solodow, (see Poem 35).

Poem 40 Forsyth, P. Y. “The Lady and the Poem: Catullus 36–42.” Classical Journal 80 (1984): 24–26. Hendrickson, G. L. “Archilochus and Catullus.” Classical Philology 20 (1925): 156–57.

Poem 43 Rankin, H. D. “Catullus and the Beauty of Lesbia (Poems 43, 86, and 51).” Latomus 35 (1976): 3–11. Skinner, Marilyn B. “Ameana, Puella Defututa.” Classical Journal 74 (1978–79): 110–14.

Bibliography

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Poem 44 de Angeli, E. S. “A Literary Chill: Catullus 44.” Classical World 62 (1969): 354–56. George, David. “Catullus 44: The Vulnerability of Wanting to be Included.” American Journal of Philology 112 (1991): 247–50. Jones, C. P. “Parody in Catullus 44.” Hermes 92 (1968): 379–83.

Poem 45 Akbar Khan, H. “Catullus 45: What Sort of Irony?” Latomus 27 (1968): 3–12. Frueh, Edward. “Sinistra ut ante dextra: Reading Catullus 45.” Classical World 84 (1990–91): 16–21. Gratwick, Adrian S. “Those Sneezes: Catullus 45.8–9, 17–18.” Classical Philology 87 (1992): 234–40. Kitzinger, Rachel. “Reading Catullus 45.” Classical Journal 87 (1991–92): 209–17. Newton, Rick. “Acme and Septimius Recounted: Catullus 45.” Syllecta Classica 7 (1996): 99–105. Nielsen, R. “Catullus 45 and Horace Odes 3.9: The Glass House.” Ramus 6 (1977): 132–38. Ross, D. O. “Style and Content in Catullus 45.” Classical Philology 60 (1965): 256–59. Singleton, D. “Form and Irony in Catullus 45.” Greece and Rome 18 (1971): 181–87. Williams, M. F. “Amor’s Head-Cold (frigus in Catullus 45).” Classical Journal 83 (1988): 128–32.

Poem 46 Simpson, C. J., and Barbara G. Simpson. “Catullus 46.” Latomus 48 (1989): 76–85.

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Poem 49 Basson, W. P. “The Riddle of Catullus 49: Some Notes on its Interpretation.” Acta Classica 23 (1980): 46–52. Batstone, William. “Logic, Rhetoric and Poesis.” Helios 20 (1993): 143–72. Fredricksmeyer, Ernst. “Catullus 49, Cicero, and Caesar.” Classical Philology 68 (1973): 268–78. Laughton, E. “Disertissime Romuli nepotum.” Classical Philology 65 (1970): 1–7. McDermott, W. C. “Cicero and Catullus.” Wiener Studien 14 (1980): 76–82. Svavarsson, Svavar Hrafn. “On Catullus 49.” Classical Journal 95 (1999): 131–38. Tatum, W. Jeﬀrey. “Catullus’ Criticism of Cicero in Poem 49.” Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 118 (1988): 179–84. Thomson, D. F. S. “Catullus and Cicero: Poetry and the Criticism of Poetry.” Classical World 60 (1967): 226–30. Wormell, D. E. W. “Catullus 49.” Phoenix 17 (1963): 59–60.

Poem 50 Burgess, D. L. “Catullus c. 50: the Exchange of Poetry.” American Journal of Philology 107 (1986): 576–86. Finamore, John F. “Catullus 50 and 51: Friendship, Love, and Otium.” Classical World 78 (1984): 11–19. Scott, W. C. “Catullus and Calvus (Cat. 50).” Classical Philology 64 (1969): 169–73. Segal, Charles. “Catullan otiosi—The Lover and the Poet.” Greece and Rome 17 (1970): 26–31. Williams, Mark F. “Catullus 50 and the Language of Friendship.” Latomus 47 (1988): 69–73.

Bibliography

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Poem 51 Ancona, Ronnie. “The Untouched Self: Sapphic and Catullan Muses in Horace Odes 1.22.” In Cultivating the Muse: Struggles for Power and Inspiration in Classical Literature, edited by Efrossini Spentzou and Don Fowler. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002: 161–86. Finamore (see Poem 50). Frank, R. I. “Catullus 51: Otium versus Virtus.” Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 99 (1968): 233–39. Fredricksmeyer, Ernst. “On the Unity of Catullus 51.” Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 96 (1965): 153–63. Greene, Ellen. “Re-Figuring the Feminine Voice: Catullus Translating Sappho.” Arethusa 32 (1996): 1–18. Kidd, D. A. “The Unity of Catullus 51.” Journal of the Australasian Universities Language and Literature Association 20 (1963): 298–308. Kinsey, T. E. “Catullus 51.” Latomus 33 (1974): 372–78. Miller, P. A. “Sappho 31 and Catullus 51: The Dialogism of Lyric.” Arethusa 21 (1993): 183–99. Newman, J. K. “Comic Elements in Catullus 51.” Illinois Classical Studies 8 (1983): 33–36. O’Higgins, D. “Sappho’s Splintered Tongue: Silence in Sappho 31 and Catullus 51.” American Journal of Philology 111 (1990): 156–67. Rankin (see Poem 43). Thom, Sjarlene. “Confrontation with Reality in Catullus 51.” Akroterion 40 (1995): 80–86. Vine, Brent. “On the ‘Missing’ Fourth Stanza of Catullus 51.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 94 (1992): 251–61. Wills, G. “Sappho 31 and Catullus 51.” Greek Roman and Byzantine Studies 8 (1967): 167–97.

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Poem 60 Weinreich, O. “Catullus c. 60.” Hermes 87 (1959): 76–90. (in German)

Poem 64 DeBrohun, Jeri. “Ariadne and the whirlwind of fate: figures of confusion in Catullus 64.149–57.” Classical Philology 94 (1999): 419–30. Faber, Riemer. “Vestis...variata” (Catullus 64, 50–51) and the Language of Poetic Description.” Mnemosyne 51 (1998): 210–15. Konstan, David. Catullus’ Indictment of Rome: The Meaning of C.64. Amsterdam: Hakkert, 1977. Putnam, M. C. J. “The Art of C. 64.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 65 (1961): 166–205. (Reprinted in Putnam, Essays. Cf. book section of this bibliography.) Tathan, Gail. “Ariadne’s mitra: a note on Catullus 64.1–4.” Classical Quarterly 40 (1990): 560–61. Thomas, Richard. “Callimachus, the Victoria Berenices, and Roman Poetry.” Classical Quarterly 33: 92–113.

Poem 65 Block, E. “Carmen 65 and the arrangement of Catullus’ poetry.” Ramus 13 (1984): 48–59. Lausen, S. “The Apple of C. 65: A Love Pledge of Callimachus.” Classica et Mediaevalia 40 (1989): 161–69. Van Sickle, John. “About Form and Feeling in C. 65.” Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 99 (1968): 487–508.

Poem 68 Fear, T. “Veronae Turpe, Catulle, Esse.” Illinois Classical Studies 17 (1992): 246–63. Forsyth, P. “Muneraque et Musarum hinc petis et Veneris. Catullus 68A.10.” Classical World 80 (1987): 177–80.

Bibliography

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Hubbard, T. “C. 68. The Text as Self-Demystification.” Arethusa 17 (1984): 29–49. Sarkissian, John. Catullus 68: An Interpretation. Leiden: Brill, 1983. Simpson, Christopher. “Unnecessary homosexuality: the correspondent’s request in Catullus 68A.” Latomus 53 (1994): 564–69.

Poem 69 Noonan, J. D. “Mala Bestia in Catullus 69.7–8.” Classical World 73 (1979): 156–64. Pedrick, Victoria. “The abusive address and the audience in Catullan poems.” Helios 20 (1993): 173–96.

Poem 70 Miller, Paul Allen. “Catullus c. 70: a Poem and its Hypothesis.” Helios 15 (1988): 127–32.

Poem 72 Akbar Khan, H. “A Note on the Expression solum...nosse in Catullus.” Classical Philology 62 (1967): 34–37. Davis, J. T. “Poetic Counterpoint: Catullus 72.” American Journal of Philology 92 (1971): 196–201. Kubiak, D. P. “Time and Traditional Diction in Catullus 72.” In Collection Latomus: Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History 4, ed., C. Deroux. Brussels: Latomus, 1986: 259–64.

Poem 76 Dyson (see Poem 8). Moritz, L. A. “Diﬃcile est longum subito deponere amorem.” Greece and Rome 15 (1968): 53–58. Powell, J. G. F. “Two Notes on Catullus.” Classical Quarterly 40 (1990): 199–206.

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Skinner, Marilyn B. “Disease Imagery in Catullus 76.17–26.” Classical Philology 82 (1987): 230–33.

Poem 77 Arkins, Brian. “Caelius and Rufus in Catullus.” Philologus 127 (1983): 306–11. Pedrick (see Poem 69).

Poem 84 Baker, R. J., and B. A. Marshall. “The Aspirations of Q. Arrius.” Historia 24 (1975): 220–31. Levin, D. N. “Arrius and His Uncle.” Latomus 32 (1973): 587–94. Ramage, E. S. “Note on Catullus’ Arrius.” Classical Philology 54 (1959): 44–45. Vandiver, Elizabeth. “Sound Patterns in Catullus 84.” Classical Journal 85 (1989–90): 337–40.

Poem 85 Bishop, J. D. “Catullus 85: Structure, Hellenistic Parallels, and the Topos.” Latomus 30 (1971): 633–42.

Poem 86 Papanghelis, T. D. “Catullus and Callimachus on Large Women: a Reconsideration of c. 86.” Mnemosyne 44 (1991): 372–86. Rankin (see Poem 34).

Poem 87 Copley, F. O. “Emotional Conflict and Its Significance in the Lesbia Poems.” American Journal of Philology 70 (1949): 22–40.

Poem 96 Davis, J. T. “Quo desiderio: The Structure of Catullus 96.” Hermes 99 (1971): 297–302.

Bibliography

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Poem 101 Bright (see Poem 11). Cederstrom, E. “Catullus’ Last Gift to his Brother (c. 101).” Classical World 75 (1981): 117–18. Howe, N. P. “The ‘Terce Muse’ of Catullus 101.” Classical Philology 69 (1974): 274–76. Robinson, C. E. “Multas per gentes.” Greece and Rome 12 (1965): 62–63.

Poem 109 Thomson, D. F. S. “Catullus 107.3–4 and 109.1–2.” Liverpool Classical Monthly 9 (1984): 119–20.

Poem 116 Forsyth, P. “Comments on C. 116.” Classical Quarterly 27 (1977): 352–53. Macleod, C. W. “C. 116.” Classical Quarterly 23 (1973): 304–09. Németh, B. “To the Evaluation of C. 116.” Acta Classica (Debrecen) 13 (1977): 23–31.

Latin Text with

Notes and Vocabulary

General Reference Map

© 2004 Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc.

Catullus 1 Catullus’ first poem is programmatic, that is, it “announces” what we are to expect from his poetry collection. But what is that “something” that we are led to expect? The enigmatic quality of this first poem avoids giving us an obvious answer or perhaps that is the answer. The poem leaves us with material to ponder: books, gifts, charm, newness, literary undertakings, giving, polishing, literary support, patron/client, size, number, virginity, attractiveness, questions/answers, time, history, Italy, self/other, modesty, pride, divinity, learning, work. Its seeming simplicity—a two-line question, a five-line answer, a three-line conclusion—teases us with a multivalent program. It is an oﬀering/gift to Cornelius, but heralds a readership and posterity beyond his specificity.

Cui dono lepidum novum libellum arida modo pumice expolitum? Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

quis, quid, interr. pron., who, what; indef. pron., anyone, anything dōnō, dōnāre, dōnāvī, dōnātum, present, endow dōnō: The present indicative here may focus attention on the present time of giving or may have the deliberative potential more often found with the present subjunctive. lepidus, -a, -um, adj., charming, delightful, witt y, amusing libellus, -ī, m., a small work written for publication, volume, little book

2

āridus, -a, -um, adj., dry, lacking embellishment modo, adv., only, just now pūmex, pūmicis, m., f., pumice or any similar volcanic rock or piece of it pūmice: Note the feminine gender here. Pumice was used for smoothing the ends of a book roll as well as for erasure and correction of writing. It also served as a depilatory, i.e., an object for removing body hair. Depilation was associated with youth, eﬀeminacy, femininity, passivity. expoliō, expolīre, expolīvī/expoliī, expolītum, smooth down, polish āridā...pūmice expolītum: These words should be taken both literally and metaphorically, i.e. as describing both the physical object being presented, the book, as well as the style of its writing. In addition, the “feminizing” of the book is to be noted in the context of Catullus’ interest in issues of gender. See, e.g., the conclusion of Poem 11 where the speaker’s love falls to the touch of the passing plough in a reversal of traditional male (ploughing) female (ploughed) imagery.

4

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas meas esse aliquid putare nugas iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum omne aevum tribus explicare cartis 3

5

Cornēlius, Cornēlī, m., Cornelius Nepos (c. 110–24 bce), Latin biographer, historian, writer of light verse. Like Catullus, he came from Cisalpine Gaul. By 65 bce he lived in Rome and moved in literary circles. He was a friend of Cicero and of Titus Pomponius Atticus. Some of his work is extant, including a biography of Atticus, but not the threeroll history, Chronica, referred to in this poem. tibi: Note the succinct answer to the two-line question in lines 1–2. With namque...labōriōsīs (2–7) the speaker gives the reason for his answer. Then quārē (8) recapitulates the dedication and leads to the speaker’s address to his protector and his wishes for his work’s future. namque, conj., for, because soleō, solēre, solitus sum, be accustomed

4

meās...nūgās: Note the framing of the line by these two words that agree. Reading in the sequential order of the words and noting the elision, meās ess(e)aliquid is quite emphatic and makes “something” of the speaker’s work before its status as “trifles” (nūgās) is revealed at the line’s end. This play between literary pride and selfdeprecation is seen again as “quidquid hoc libellī, quālecumque” (8–9) competes with wishes for literary immortality (line 10). The “distance” in the line between meās and nūgās in a sense “expands” the “nothings” into “something” while still giving the “nothings” the “last word” (in the line). putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum, think, consider, discuss putāre: This verb can have a financial sense of adding up and balancing accounts. Cf. the interest in quantity and counting in Poem 1 (ūnus...omne...tribus...ūnō) and in Poems 5 and 7 (the counting of kisses). The Callimachaean aesthetic is interested in the small, refined, work. nūgae, nūgārum, f. pl., things not serious, nonsense, worthless stuﬀ

5

audeō, audēre, ausus sum, dare, wish Italus, -a, -um, adj., Italian Ītalōrum: adjective used substantively. The i is lengthened here. Most take this word with ūnus and not with omne aevum.

6–7 Catullus’ characterization of Nepos’ work has provoked much critical comment. Most argument hinges on whether Catullus is poking fun at Nepos or praising him. How long is his history, three sheets long or three volumes long? Is trying to cover all of time a good thing or a bad thing? Is something “full of work” good or bad? And how does Catullus’ view of his own work fit in with this hard-to-pin-down view of Nepos’? Is Catullus being serious? ironic? One way to encompass these paradoxes is to see Nepos functioning here as a kind of mirror for Catullus’ anxiety about the nature of his own production. 6

aevum, -ī, n., time, age, course of history explicō, explicāre, explicāvī/explicuī, explicātum/explicitum, unfold, unroll, give an account of c(h)arta, -ae, f., sheet of papyrus, writings, roll (with one sheet standing for plural) cartīs: For further discussion of writing materials, see the notes to Poem 22.

C at u l l u s 1

doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis. quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli, qualecumque quod, patrona virgo, plus uno maneat perenne saeclo. 7

5

10

doctus, -a, -um, adj., learned, taught Iuppiter, Iovis, m., Jupiter, supreme god of the Romans, god of sky and weather labōriōsus, -a, -um, involving much work, toilsome, industrious

8 9

libellī: partitive genitive with hoc quāliscumque, quālecumque, rel. adj., of whatever sort quod: note the hyberbaton here. Cf. Poem 44. 9, and Poem 51.5 for other examples of this figure. ō, interj., O (with voc.) ō: The symbol < > encloses material modern editors have added to lines inadequately transmitted from antiquity. patrōna, -ae, f., protector, patron; feminine alternative to patrōnus virgō, virginis, f., girl of marriageable age, young woman, virgin, maiden

10

perennis, -e, adj., lasting throughout the year, lasting for many years, enduring saec(u)lum, -ī, n., generation, age, lifetime, century

Marble grave relief, Greek (ca. 450–440 bce). Girl with pigeons, from the island of Paros. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fletcher Fund, 1927. (27.45) There is a timelessness to this intimate and poignant image of a young girl with her pet birds.

Catullus 2 Longing, desire, and their relief—provocative behavior and play—participation and separation—initiation and response—possession—of a bird—of a girl—lack of fulfillment—these are several of the issues at stake in this poem. A dizzying eight lines, introduced by the word “passer,” is followed by two simpler final lines, which through their first word, “tecum,” reveal the passer of the first line to be both the poem’s addressee and an object of the speaker’s desire.

Passer, deliciae meae puellae, quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere, cui primum digitum dare appetenti Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

passer, passeris m., a small bird, usually taken to be a sparrow, but sometimes a blue thrush passer: Some scholars have seen the bird as phallic. Regardless of whether one interprets it in this way or not, it is clear that the bird provides Lesbia with relief, whereas the speaker wishes for relief. The use of parallel infinitives “ludere” and “levare” in the final lines, rather than the subordination of “levare” in a purpose clause, leaves ambiguous whether the speaker’s inability is in playing with the passer at all or only in finding relief in that play. dēlicia, -ae, f., (usually in pl.) pleasure, delight, sweetheart, pet, pet animal, toys, erotic verse dēliciae: in apposition to passer dēliciae meae puellae: This phrase also appears at Poem 3.4. puella, -ae, f., girl, young woman, girlfriend

2

Note the tricolon crescendo in lines 2–4. Each relative clause (quīcum... quem...cui...) is longer than the previous one. The infinitives in lines 2–4 are dependent on solet in line 4. quī: old form of ablative, quō lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum, play, amuse oneself, play sexually, write light poetry sinus, sinūs, m., fold in a garment, curve, breast, embrace, gulf sinū: Cf. the similar idea in Poem 3, line 8. Note how elision between quem (the bird) and in contributes to the image of the bird being enveloped by the girl’s embrace.

3

digitus, -ī, m., finger prīmum digitum: fingertip appetō, appetere, appetīvī/appetiī, appetītum, seek, desire, attack Note the word order of line 3, with the words cui...appetentī, which refer to the bird, framing the line and the fingertip of the girl in between. This images the act of biting, with the finger within the surrounding beak.

8

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

et acris solet incitare morsus, cum desiderio meo nitenti carum nescioquid lubet iocari, ut solaciolum sui doloris, credo, ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor;

4

5

ācer, ācris, ācre, adj., sharp, fierce, eager, dangerous ācrīs: acc. pl. of an i-stem adj. soleō, solēre, solitus sum, be accustomed incitō, incitāre, incitāvī, incitātum, incite, urge on, arouse morsus, morsūs m., bite Cf. the biting in. Poem 8, line 18.

5

cum: “when,” not “with” here dēsīderium, dēsīderī, n., desire, longing, object of desire, darling dēsīderiō meō nitentī: All three words can be taken as dative with lubet, “to my shining object of desire” or nitentī can be taken as dative and dēsīderiō meō as ablative of cause, “to her shining with/because of longing for me.” niteō, nitēre, nituī, shine, be radiant with beauty

6

cārus, -a, -um, adj., dear, beloved nesciō, nescīre, nescīvī, nescītum, not know, be ignorant of, not to know how to, not to be able to nescioquid: something or other, literally, “I do not know what” nescio: the o is regularly short in poetry cārum nescioquid: This and sōlāciolum (line 7) are internal or cognate accusatives with iocārī. lubet (libet), lubēre, libuit/libitum est, impersonal verb, it is pleasing or agreeable iocor, iocārī, iocātus sum, joke

7

sōlāciolum, -ī, n., a little comfort, a little solace, a little consolation dolor, dolōris, m., pain, anguish, grief

8

crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum, trust, believe, entrust ut: introducing a purpose or result clause here gravis, -e, adj., heavy, weighty, serious acquiescō, acquiescere, acquiē(v)ī, rest, relax, subside, find relief ardor, ardōris, m., burning, fierce heat, passion

C at u l l u s 2

tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem et tristis animi levare curas!

9

10

tēcum: This word first reveals that the passer is the poem’s addressee and that the poem’s first word is vocative. sīcut, adv., just as, as ipsa: Note that this word sometimes has the sense of “mistress/owner.” possem: imperfect subjunctive, unfulfilled wish in present time

10

9

tristis, -e, adj., sad tristīs: see note on ācrīs, line 4 animus, -ī, m., mind, inclination, desire, enthusiasm levō, levāre, levāvī, levātum, lift, remove, relieve cūra, -ae, f., care, concern, worry, a person or thing constituting an object of care

Catullus 3 This dirge for a pet sparrow is mournful, tender, and funny. Its melodramatic mockelegiac tone is oﬀset by strongly aﬀectionate language. To see the poem as solely romantic or solely comic is to miss the careful way in which it manages to be both. The subject of the passer of course recalls Poem 2.

Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque et quantum est hominum venustiorum: passer mortuus est meae puellae, passer, deliciae meae puellae, quem plus illa oculis suis amabat.

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

lūgeō, lūgēre, luxī, luctum, mourn, lament venus, veneris, f., Venus, Roman goddess of love; love, charm, sexual activity; best throw at dice Venerēs: Cf. the other appearances of words containing this root (e.g. venustus, -a, -um) found in this book: Poem 3.2 (see below), Poem 10.4, Poem 12.5, Poem 13.6, 12, Poem 22.2, Poem 31.12, Poem 35,17, Poem 36.3, 17, Poem 45.26, Poem 86.3, 6. cupīdō, cupīdinis, f., m., passionate desire, carnal desire, greed, personification of carnal desire; m., often regarded as a god, the son of Venus, Cupid

2

quantum, quantī, n., neuter sing. of interr. or rel. pron. (from quantus, -a, -um), which amount, how much hominum: partitive genitive with quantum venustus, -a, -um, adj., attractive, charming venustiōrum: See note on Venerēs above, line 1.

3

passer, passeris, m., a small bird, usually taken to be a sparrow, but sometimes a blue thrush Line 3 is the same as Poem 2, line 1, except for the substitution of mortuus est for dēliciae. Line 4 is a verbatim repetition of Poem 2, line 1. Clearly Poems 2 and 3 echo each other. puella, -ae, f., girl, young woman, girlfriend

3–4 Note the repetition in lines 3 and 4 of passer and meae puellae in the same metrical positions in the lines. This produces an almost incantatory eﬀect. 4 5

dēlicia, -ae, f., (usually in pl.) pleasure, delight, sweetheart, pet, pet animal, toys, erotic verse plūs, adv., more oculus, -ī, m., eye amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum, love

12

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

nam mellitus erat suamque norat ipsam tam bene quam puella matrem, nec sese a gremio illius movebat, sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc ad solam dominam usque pipiabat; qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum illuc, unde negant redire quemquam. at vobis male sit, malae tenebrae 6

10

mellītus, -a, -um, adj., honeyed, delightful as honey, honey-sweet noscō, noscere, nōvī, nōtum, get to know learn; know (in perfect tense) nōrat: syncopated form of nōverat

7 8

ipsam: Note that this word sometimes has the sense of “mistress/owner.” gremium, gremī, n., lap, breast, female genital parts gremiō: Cf. the similar idea in Poem 2, line 2. illius = illīus

9

circumsiliō, circumsilīre, leap or jump around circumsiliens: The verb saliō, of which this is a compound, can mean “mount” when used of a male animal. modo, adv., only, just now; modo...modo, now...now hūc, adv., to here, here, to this place illūc, adv., to that place, there hūc...illūc: this way and that, to and fro

10

domina, -ae, f., female head of a household, mistress, owner dominam: Cf. the use of ipsa, line 7 above, and in Poem 2, line 8. usque, adv., continuously, continually, all the way pīpiō, pīpiāre, chirp

11

iter, itineris, n., journey tenebricōsus, -a, -um, adj., dark

12

negō, negāre, negāvī, negātum, say no, deny, refuse redeō, redīre, rediī, reditum, go back, come back, return quisquam, quicquam, pron., anyone, anything

13

male, adv., badly, insuﬃciently, wickedly, scarcely male + esse (with dative), “suﬀer” tenebrae, -ārum, f. pl., darkness

C at u l l u s 3

Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis: tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis (o factum male! o miselle passer!); vestra nunc opera meae puellae flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli.

14

13

15

Orcus, Orcī, m., Orcus, the god of the lower world, the lower world, death quae: antecedent is tenebrae bellus, -a, -um, adj., charming, handsome, prett y, fine bella: n. pl. acc. of the adj. dēvorō, dēvorāre, dēvorāvī, dēvorātum, swallow, engulf, absorb

15

mihi: dative of separation with abstulistis auferō, auferre, abstulī, ablātum, take away, carry oﬀ, kill

16

factum, -ī, n., deed, action factum male: vocative of the noun and adjective (“o evil deed”) or vocative of the perfect passive participle neuter singular with the adverb (“o thing done badly”) Note the hiatus between male and ō. misellus, -a, -um, adj., wretched, pitiable, unfortunate Note that miselle, turgidulī (18), and ocellī are all diminutives. They perhaps heighten the sense of intimacy and emotion.

17

opera, -ae, f., eﬀort operā: used in the ablative with a possessive adjective; here, “thanks to you, through your doing”

18

fleō, flēre, flēvī, flētum, weep, weep for, lament turgidulus, -a, -um, adj., swollen rubeō, rubēre, to become red ocellus, -ī, m., a little eye; as term of endearment, darling

© 2004 Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc.

Map for Poem 4

Catullus 4 In this poem Catullus evokes the “life” and “retirement” of a little ship by playing oﬀ funerary and dedicatory literary genres. Through extensive personification, the boat “flies and speaks,” beams of wood “swim,” oars are “little palms,” foliage is “hair,” the ship “ages.” The poem’s meter, pure iambic trimeter, is eﬀective for creating a sense of speed. The language of the poem is highly elaborate, with epic diction, litotes, and repeated alternatives (whether...or). While many would like to connect this poem with Catullus’ return from Bithynia following military service, there is nothing in the poem, itself, that necessitates this. Poems 10, 31, and 46, often seen in this same context, unlike this poem, all specify place and speaker. Thomson and Glasgow (cf. Thomson’s Catullus [1997] pp. 213–214) raise the interesting possibility that this poem may be a translation or adaptation by Catullus of a lost “Phaselus of Berenice” (cf. vocabulary, line 1) by Callimachus along the lines of Poem 66, Catullus’ translation of Callimachus’ “Lock of Berenice.” Berenice II was queen of Egypt in the 3rd century bce and Callimachus wrote a number of poems in her honor.

Phaselus ille, quem videtis, hospites, ait fuisse navium celerrimus, neque ullius natantis impetum trabis Meter: Iambic Trimeter 1

phasēlus, -ī, m., f., kind of bean, light ship hospes, hospitis, m., guest, visitor, host, stranger

2

āiō, defective verb, say yes, say ait: third person singular has a short a. Introduces indirect statement with infinitives, fuisse (2) and nequisse (4). fuisse nāvis, nāvis, f., ship celer, celeris, celere, adj., swift, quick celerrimus: Nominative case is Greek construction. Greek uses a nominative, not an accusative, in indirect statement when the subject of the infinitive is the same as the subject of the verb introducing the indirect statement. Greek also does not express the noun subject of the indirect statement as Latin does. The word, phasēlus, comes from Greek, so it is appropriate that the ship speaks with a Greek construction!

3

natō, natāre, natāvī, natātum, swim, float, hover impetus, -ūs, m., attack, onset, rapid motion, violent onward motion or force trabs, trabis, f., beam of wood, trunk of tree, ship; also, by metonymy, phallus

16

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

nequisse praeterire, sive palmulis opus foret volare sive linteo. et hoc negat minacis Hadriatici negare litus insulasve Cycladas Rhodumque nobilem horridamque Thracia Propontida trucemve Ponticum sinum, 4

5

nequeō, nequīre, nequīvī/nequiī, be unable praetereō, praeterīre, praeteriī, praeteritum, go by, go past, pass by, go beyond, omit neque...nequisse (3–4): litotes palmula, -ae, f., front of the hand, palm, oar

5

opus, operis, n., work, business, task, genre; with esse, be necessary, be needed, often, with abl. of thing needed and dat. of person with the need; here, with infinitive foret = esset; subjunctive in dependent clause in indirect statement volō, volāre, volāvī, volātum, fly, speed volāre: infinitive with opus foret linteum, -ī, n., piece of linen cloth, sail, towel, napkin, curtain

6

hoc: direct object of negare (7) negō, negāre, negāvī, negātum, say no, deny, refuse negat...negāre (6–7): litotes minax, minācis, adj., threatening, projecting Hadriāticum, -ī, n., the Adriatic Sea

7

lītus, lītoris, n., shore, coast, beach lītus: accusative subject in indirect statement, as are insulās (7), Rhodum (8), Propontida (9), sinum (9) insula, -ae, f., island, apartment building Cyclas, Cycladis/Cyclados, f., one of the Cyclades, the islands in the Aegean Sea surrounding Delos Cycladas: Greek accusative plural

8

Rhodus, -ī, f., Rhodes, island oﬀ the coast of Lycia nōbilis, -e, adj., noble horridus, -a, -um, adj., rough, harsh, dreadful Thrācias, Thrāciae f., wind from west of north

9

Propontis, Propontidis/Propontidos, f., the Propontis or Sea of Marmora, between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea Propontida: Greek accusative singular trux, trucis, adj., harsh, savage Ponticus, -a, -um, adj., Pontic, of the Black Sea or the region adjoining it sinus, sinūs m., fold in a garment, curve, breast, embrace, gulf

C at u l l u s 4

ubi iste post phaselus antea fuit comata silva; nam Cytorio in iugo loquente saepe sibilum edidit coma. Amastri Pontica et Cytore buxifer, tibi haec fuisse et esse cognitissima ait phaselus: ultima ex origine tuo stetisse dicit in cacumine, tuo imbuisse palmulas in aequore, et inde tot per impotentia freta 10

17

10

15

post, adv., behind, at a later time, afterwards anteā, adv., previously

11

comātus, -a, -um, adj., having long hair, leafy Cytōrius, -a, -um, adj., of Mount Cytorus in Paphlagonia, a country in Asia Minor between Bithynia and Pontus iugum, -ī, n., yoke, bond, ridge, chariot

12

loquor, loquī, locūtus sum, speak sībilus, -ī, m., a sibilant sound, hissing or whistling sound saepe sībulum: Note the alliteration of the letter s and the onomatopoeia. ēdō, ēdere, ēdidī, ēditum, put forth, give out, give birth to, publish coma, -ae, f., hair, fleece, foliage

13

Amastris, Amastridis, f., town in Paphlagonia, a country in Asia Minor between Bithynia and Pontus Cytōrus, -ī, m., a mountain of Paphlagonia buxifer, buxifera, buxiferum, adj., producing box trees; the compound word (-fer “bearing”) has an elevated tone

14 15

cognitus, -a, -um, adj., known, noted ultimus, -a, -um, adj., last, farthest, extreme, earliest orīgō, orīginis, f., beginning, birth, starting point, source

16

stō, stāre, stetī, statum, stand dīcō, dīcere, dixī, dictum, say, tell, call, sing, recite cacūmen, cacūminis, n., peak, top

17

imbuō, imbuere, imbuī, imbūtum, wet, fill, inspire aequor, aequoris, n., a flat level surface, the flat surface of the sea, sea (often used in pl.)

18

inde, adv., from that point, from there, from that time, from then, then tot, indecl. adj., so many per: postposition impotens, impotentis, adj., powerless, weak, wild, violent fretum, -ī, n., strait, sea

18

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

erum tulisse, laeva sive dextera vocaret aura, sive utrumque Iuppiter simul secundus incidisset in pedem; neque ulla vota litoralibus deis sibi esse facta, cum veniret a mari novissime hunc ad usque limpidum lacum. sed haec prius fuere: nunc recondita senet quiete seque dedicat tibi, gemelle Castor et gemelle Castoris. 19

20

25

erus, -ī, m., master laevus, -a, -um, adj., left, unfavorable, coming from the left laeva: nominative with aura (20), as is dextera

20

vocāret: subjunctive in dependent clause in indirect statement; cf. foret (5) aura, -ae, f., breeze uterque, utraque, utrumque, adj., pron., each of two Iuppiter: by metonymy, “wind” or “sky”

21

simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together secundus, -a, -um, adj., following, second, favorable incidō, incidere, incidī, incāsum, fall on, rush on, happen on in pēs, pedis, m., foot, metrical foot, a leg or foot of an article of furniture; nautical term, sheet, the rope by which the lower two corners of a sail are attached to a ship

22

vōtum, -ī, n., vow, prayer, votive oﬀering lītorālis, lītorāle, adj., of the seashore, of the shore

23

mare, maris, n., sea

24

novissimē, adv., very recently usque, adv., continuously, continually, all the way limpidus, -a, -um, adj., clear, transparent lacus, lacūs, m., lake, pond, pool limpidum lacum: Note the alliteration of the letter l and the perhaps onomatopoetic eﬀect of the liquid sounds

25

prius, adv., previously, before fuēre: -ēre, alternate third person plural ending, perfect active indicative reconditus, -a, -um, adj., concealed, secret, secluded

26

seneō, senēre, be old quiēs, quiētis, f., rest, repose, calm, rest of sleep or death dēdicō, dēdicāre, dēdicāvī, dēdicātum, dedicate

27

gemellus, -a, -um, adj., twin Castor, Castoris, m., Castor, son of Tyndareus (or Zeus) and Leda, and brother of Pollux; Castor and Pollux, also called the Dioscuri, are a help at sea

Catullus 5 Living/dying, human time/nature’s time, calculating/ losing track, knowing/not knowing, light/night, kisses and more kisses. Central to this poem is the notion of what has value. (Recall this same issue from Poem 1 where Nepos’ valuing of Catullus’ “worthless stuﬀ” makes him worthy of being a dedicatee.) Here, the strict moral code of the gossiping old men is to be “counted” as worthless, while the kisses of the oppositional life of making love are to be “counted” repeatedly (and then confused). It is interesting that the “oppositional” life incorporates the language of what it claims to oppose. Must the erotic be quantified?

Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus, rumoresque senum severiorum omnes unius aestimemus assis! soles occidere et redire possunt; nobis, cum semel occidit brevis lux,

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

vīvō, vīvere, vixī, victum, live amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum, love, make love vīvāmus...amēmus: Note the word order of line 1. The first person plural verbs of exhortation act as a frame, surround Lesbia, and occupy the emphatic initial and final positions in the line. Notice the assonance of the m sound, perhaps anticipating through its labial formation the kissing to follow.

2

rūmor, rūmōris, m., clamor, gossip, rumor, unfavorable report, favorable report senex, senis, m., old man sevērus, -a, -um, adj., strict, severe, serious

3

aestimō, aestimāre, aestimāvī, aestimātum, value, assess at as, assis, m., coin of small value, penny ūnius...assis: genitive of value rūmorēs...assis: Note the assonance of the s sound in lines 2–3 possibly imitating the sound of people gossipping and/or a hissing at them on the part of the speaker.

4

sōl, sōlis, m., sun, a day (as determined by the rising of the sun) occidō, occidere, occidī, occāsum, fall, die redeō, redīre, rediī, reditum, go back, come back, return

5

nōbīs: functions as dative of reference or dative of agent with passive periphrastic semel, adv., once, once and for all brevis, -e, adj., short, brief lux, lūcis, f., light, daylight, day, life

20

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

nox est perpetua una dormienda. da mi basia mille, deinde centum, dein mille altera, dein secunda centum, deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum; dein, cum milia multa fecerimus, conturbabimus, illa ne sciamus, aut ne quis malus invidere possit cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.

6

10

nōbīs...lux: Note the lack of elision in line 5 as well as the abrupt rhythm coming to a halt with the unusual monosyllabic conclusion. The brevity of our “light/life” is imaged in the sound of the line. perpetuus, -a, -um, adj., continuing, permanent, connected nox...dormienda: lux,”light/life,” which ends line 5 immediately becomes nox “night” at the beginning of line 6. The similarity of the two words, both monosyllables, both ending in the letter x underlines their identification and distinction. An almost epigrammatic nox est suggests a definition: night “is” the following, but we must allow the est to serve another function as well, as part of the passive periphrastic with dormienda. In seeing this, we shift from possible definition to a vision of necessity. The elision between perpetua and ūna has a lulling, almost soporific eﬀect, yet the sensual sound makes nicely ambiguous night as erotic opportunity or death.

7

bāsium, bāsī, n., kiss bāsia: this word first attested in Catullus The succinct imperative, dā mī bāsia, is a “wake-up call” for immediate action. What follows is a lingering elaboration upon that idea. Note the careful use of anaphora in lines 7–9. Mille and centum alternate three times while they repeat, while the adverb deinde/dein repeats each time in the initial position of its phrase. The mix of erotic exuberance and exquisite linguistic control is a hallmark of Catullus’ style.

8

dein=deinde

9

usque, adv., continuously, continually, all the way

10

fēcerīmus: the verb can mean “count up”; note the long i

11

conturbō, conturbāre, conturbāvī, conturbātum, mix up, go bankrupt sciō, scīre, scīvī, scītum, know

12

quis, quid, interr. pron., who, what; indef. pron., anyone, anything malus, -a, -um, adj., bad, nasty, hostile, unfavorable invideō, invidēre, invīdī, invīsum, envy, begrudge, refuse

13

tantum, -ī, n., so much bāsiōrum: partitive genitive

Catullus 7 While the centrality of kissing directly connects this poem with Poem 5, its learned language and form of question and reply produce a very diﬀerent, more cerebral, eﬀect. Yet the seemingly cerebral response, in turn, contains “hot” sand and voyeuristic (?) stars. The intellectual control of the speaker is called into question by his characterization of himself as “crazy” and the comfort of his answer is threatened by the feared intrusion of others who would deny him his pleasure.

Quaeris quot mihi basiationes tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque. quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī, quaesītum, look for, seek, ask, acquire, earn quaeris: The poem has the form of question and answer. quot, indecl. adj., how many, as many as bāsiātiō, bāsiātiōnis, f., a kissing or kiss bāsiātiōnēs: the abstract noun-forming suﬃx -tio gives this word an elevated, intellectual tone. This word is coined by Catullus as is the learned sounding lāsarpīcifer (4).

2

satis, adv., enough, suﬃciently; indecl. noun, enough super, adv., above, beyond, more than enough

3

quam(3)...quam (7)...tam (9): as...as...so numerus, -ī, m., number, poetic meter Libyssa, -ae, f. adj., Libyan, of north Africa, African harēna, -ae, f., sand, beach, desert, arena

4

lāsarpīcifer, lāsarpīcifera, lāsarpīciferum, adj., silphium-bearing lāsarpīciferīs: The silphium plant was the major export and emblem for Cyrene. It was used in cooking and medicine and was valued as an aphrodisiac. This compound word (-fer “bearing”) has a learned sound. Cf. buxifer, Poem 4.13. iaceō, iacēre, iacuī, lie, be in ruins Cӯrēnae, -ārum, f. pl., Cyrene, town of northwest Libya; birthplace of Callimachus and Berenice II Cyrēnīs: note the short y here

22

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum, aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox, furtivos hominum vident amores; tam te basia multa basiare vesano satis et super Catullo est,

5

5

10

ōrāclum, -ī, n., oracle ōrāclum = ōrāculum, syncope; this refers to the oracle of Zeus Ammon (Jupiter) in Cyrene’s territory. Zeus Ammon and silphium appear on coins from Cyrene. aestuōsus, -a, -um, adj., very hot, agitated aestuōsī: transferred epithet; grammatically agrees with Jupiter, refers to the location of the oracle in the very hot desert. The adjective may have the sense of “passionate” as well, a meaning not unsuited to Jupiter in his frequent role as lover and to the erotic context of the poem.

6

Batt us, -ī, m., Batt us, legendary founder of Cyrene; cf. the identification of Callimachus through his name in Poems 65 and 116. vetus, veteris, adj., old, ancient sacer, sacra, sacrum, adj., sacred, holy, detestable (as term of abuse, from the idea of “oﬀensive to divine law”) sepulcrum, -ī, n., tomb, grave

7

sīdus, sīderis, n., star; sky (pl.) taceō, tacēre, tacuī, tacitum, be silent

8

furtīvus, -a, -um, adj., stolen, secret amor, amōris, m., love, sexual passion, object of one’s love (usually in pl.), love aﬀair, act of sex; love personified as the god of love

9

tē bāsia...bāsiāre: tē, accusative subject with infinitive; bāsia, internal or cognate accusative with bāsiāre bāsium, bāsī, n., kiss bāsiō, bāsiāre, bāsiāvī, bāsiātum, kiss

10

vēsānus, -a, -um, adj., acting without reason, mad vēsānō: notice the contrast between the “intellectual” exchange about numbers of kisses and the speaker’s characterization of himself as “without sanity.” Catullō: Catullus several times speaks about himself in the third person. Cf. Poem 8.

C at u l l u s 7

23

quae nec pernumerare curiosi possint nec mala fascinare lingua.

11

quae...possint (11–12): subjunctive in relative clause of purpose; antecedent of the relative pronoun is bāsia. pernumerō, pernumerāre, pernumerāvī, pernumerātum, count up cūriōsus, -a, -um, adj., careful, diligent, curious, interfering

12

mala...lingua: nominative nec...lingua (11–12): Cf. the anxiety about gossip of old men and about envy in Poem 5. fascinō, fascināre, fascināvī, fascinātum, cast a spell on, bewitch lingua, -ae, f., tongue, language

Silver Coin of Cyrene (435–375 bce): Head of Zeus Ammon (obverse) and silphium plant (reverse). The American Numismatic Society, New York. The silphium plant (Latin lasarpicium) was the major export and emblem for the town of Cyrene in northwest Libya. It had many uses and was valued as an aphrodisiac. The oracle of Zeus Ammon (Jupiter) was located in the region of Cyrene. Cyrene was the birthplace of Callimachus.

Catullus 8 The speaker begins and ends by telling himself to persist in detaching himself from his love aﬀair, but along the way oﬀers dreamy recollection, uncontrolled anger and jealousy, and emotional swings. The obsessive questions to the girl in the future tense are a counterpoint to the almost hypnotic evocation of the past.

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire, et quod vides perisse perditum ducas. fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles, cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.

5

Meter: Choliambic 1

miser, misera, miserum, adj., unhappy, pitiful Catulle: vocative; the speaker addresses himself in the second person singular. Note the use of the first person singular/plural in line 5. In line 12 the girl is addressed in the second person singular and the speaker refers to himself in the third person singular. In the poem’s final line he addresses himself again in the second person singular. dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī, dēsitum, stop, cease dēsinās: jussive subjunctive ineptiō, ineptīre, play the fool, be silly

2

quod vidēs perīsse: relative clause is subject of indirect statement pereō, perīre, periī, peritum, perish, die perdō, perdere, perdidī, perditum, destroy, lose perditum: perditum [esse] dūcō, dūcere, duxī, ductum, lead, take, consider dūcās: jussive subjunctive; verb that introduces indirect statement

3

fulgeō, fulgēre, fulsī, shine brightly, gleam, be bright fulsēre: -ēre, alternate third person plural ending, perfect active indicative quondam, adv., once, formerly, sometimes, in the future candidus, -a, -um, adj., bright, radiant, white sōl, sōlis, m., sun, a day (as determined by the rising of the sun)

4

ventitō, ventitāre, ventitāvī, ventitātum, come frequently quō, adv., where, for what purpose

5

nōbīs: first person plural pronoun often used for first person singular quantum, rel. adv., to what degree, to what extent

26

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant, quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat, fulsere vere candidi tibi soles. nunc iam illa non vult; tu quoque inpote<ns noli>, nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive, sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura. vale, puella. iam Catullus obdurat, nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.

6

10

ibī, (second i can be short or long) adv., there, then cum: hyperbaton; delayed several words after the clause it “begins” iocōsus, -a, -um, adj., full of fun, full of joking fīō, fīerī, factus sum, be made, be done, become, happen, occur

7

volō, velle, voluī, wish, want, be willing nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, not want, be unwilling, refuse nec...nōlēbat: litotes. The litotes here opens up the possibility of a diﬀerent, lower level of interest on the girl’s part.

8

fulsēre...sōlēs: Note the exact repetition from line 3 except for the substitution of vērē for quondam. The “echoing” continues with the echoing sound of -ērē in two successive words, which has a dreamy, almost lulling eﬀect. vērē, adv., really, truly

9

nunc...vult: Notice the abrupt sound here, achieved largely through the use of monosyllabic words, which puts to an end the dreamy recollections of the previous line. nunc iam: “now at last” inpotens, inpotentis, adj., powerless, weak, wild, violent inpote<ns nolī>: The symbol < > encloses material modern editors have added to lines transmitted inadequately from antiquity.

10

quae: nominative singular feminine; “the girl” understood as antecedent and as direct object of sectāre. fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitum, flee, flee from, avoid sector, sectārī, sectātus sum, pursue, chase sectāre: singular imperative

11

obstinātus, -a, -um, adj., resolute, stubborn, obstinate mens, mentis, f., mind perferō, perferre, pertulī, perlātum, endure, carry through to the end obdūrō, obdūrāre, obdūrāvī, obdūrātum, be persistent, hold out, endure

13

requīrō, requīrere, requīsīvī/requīsiī, requīsītum, look for, ask about, try to bring back, need, miss rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum, ask, ask for, ask a person to do something, make erotic overtures to, beg invītus, -a, -um, adj., unwilling, reluctant, not wishing

C at u l l u s 8

at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla. scelesta, vae te! quae tibi manet vita? quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella? quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris? quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis? at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

14

27

15

doleō, dolēre, doluī, dolitum, suﬀer mental or physical pain, be in pain, grieve rogāberis: second person singular, passive nulla: adverbial, “not at all”

15

scelestus, -a, -um, adj., wicked, guilty of evil or criminal actions; used colloquially as term of abuse scelesta...mordēbis: Note the increasingly agitated address to the girl and the climax reached with the specificity of the last question asked. What follows is a return to an attempt at disengagement. vae, interj., alas, alas for, woe to, bad luck to tē: accusative because of vae

16

adeō, adīre, ad(i)ī, aditum, go to, approach vidēberis: passive of videō, seem bellus, -a, -um, adj., charming, handsome, prett y, fine

17

dīcēris: note the long e of the future tense, passive voice

18

bāsiō, bāsiāre, bāsiāvī, bāsiātum, kiss cui: dative of interest or advantage, “for whom/whose” labellum, -ī, n., lip mordeō, mordēre, momordī, morsum, bite, nibble, gnaw mordēbis: Cf. the sparrow biting the fingertip of the girl in Poem 2, lines 3–4.

19

dēstinātus, -a, -um, adj., stubborn, obstinate

Catullus 10 Central to this poem is a humorous portrayal of social anxiety. After depicting himself as part of the military that got “screwed over” by a shameless governor, the speaker in turn feels “screwed over” when Varus’ lover questions his financial success and forces him to lie to cover up his inadequacy. He retaliates by removing her from “membership in his club” of “charming” people. (The narrative structure, the colloquial tone, the dialogue, the social anxiety, the wit are all elements seen later in Horace’s Satire 1.9.) The notion of what is charming and attractive operates for Catullus simultaneously on the erotic, aesthetic, and social levels.

Varus me meus ad suos amores visum duxerat e foro otiosum, scortillum, ut mihi tum repente visum est, non sane illepidum neque invenustum. Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

Vārus, -ī, m., Varus, possibly the same Varus addressed in Poem 22, Alfenus Varus (likely the Alfenus of Poem 30), jurist who became consul suﬀect in 39 bce or Quintilius Varus, friend of Vergil and Horace, mourned by Horace in Odes 1.24. Both men were from Cremona, near Catullus’ home. amor, amōris, m., love, sexual passion, object of one’s love (usually in pl.), love aﬀair, act of sex; love personified as the god of love

2

vīsō, vīsere, vīsī, look at, go and see vīsum: supine in -um expressing purpose forum, -ī, n., forum, public square in center of a town, Roman Forum ōtiōsus, -a, -um, adj., not occupied by business, at leisure, idle ōtiōsum: Cf. the notion of ōtium in Poems 44, 50, and 51.

3

scortillum, -ī, n., little prostitute, young prostitute, little/young tart scortillum: hapax legomenon (term comes from Greek ”said once”), i.e., only attested appearance in Latin. repente, adv., suddenly, in an instant

4

sānē, adv., soundly, sensibly; qualifying adjective or adverb, very, quite illepidus, -a, -um, adj., lacking grace or refinement nōn sānē illepidum neque invenustum: litotes invenustus, -a, -um, adj., lacking in charm or beauty, unlovely, unattractive illepidum...invenustum: Cf. lepidum, Poem 1.1, where the word is used positively of Catullus’ new literary product. as well as Poem 36.17, sī nōn illepidum neque invenustum est, where both adjectives appear in a line very similar to this one, and where style, once again, is the concern. The speaker’s description of the scortillum brings her into his aesthetic and social circle. This judgment changes in the last two lines of the poem.

30

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

huc ut venimus, incidere nobis sermones varii: in quibus, quid esset iam Bithynia; quo modo se haberet; ecquonam mihi profuisset aere. respondi, id quod erat, nihil neque ipsis nec praetoribus esse nec cohorti, cur quisquam caput unctius referret,

5

5

10

hūc, adv., to here, here, to this place ut: when followed by perfect indicative, “as soon as” or “when” incidō, incidere, incidī, incāsum, fall on, rush on, happen on, present itself in conversation incidēre: alternate third person plural ending, perfect active indicative. Note the long e which distinguishes this particular form from the infinitive.

6

sermō, sermōnis, m., speech, talk, conversation, dialogue, topic of conversation varius, -a, -um, adj., varied, of many diﬀerent kinds

7

Bīthӯnia, -ae, Bithynia; Roman province on the northwest coast of Asia Minor; Catullus served there on the staﬀ of Gaius Memmius, governor in 57–56 bce. modus, -ī, m., limit, way, rhythmic pattern; in pl., poetry sē habēret: habeō plus the reflexive, be in such and such a way, be so situated; “it held itself,” “how it was doing”

8

ecquīnam, ecquaenam/ecquanam, ecquodnam, interr. adj. and pron., is there any that, whether any prōsum, prōdesse, prōfuī (with dative), to be of use, to be beneficial prōfuisset: subject is Bithynia aes, aeris, n., copper, bronze, money ecquōnam...aere: ablative of means

9

respondeō, respondēre, respondī, responsum, answer, reply; technical sense, appear in court id quod erat: “that which was (the case),” i.e. the truth nihil...esse...cūr: nihil est cūr (with subjunctive), “there is no reason why” ipsīs: the inhabitants themselves

10

praetor, praetōris, m., praetor; here, more specifically, propraetor or governor in charge of running the province; cf. note on Bithynia above, line 7. cohors, cohortis, f., cohort, staﬀ of a governor or other oﬃcial

11

quisquam, quicquam, pron., anyone, anything caput, capitis, n., head, top, source, person, person’s life unctus, -a, -um, adj., oiled, enriched referō, referre, retulī, relātum, bring back, render, carry home

C at u l l u s 1 0

praesertim quibus esset irrumator praetor, nec faceret pili cohortem. “at certe tamen,” inquiunt “quod illic natum dicitur esse, comparasti ad lecticam homines.” ego, ut puellae unum me facerem beatiorem, “non” inquam “mihi tam fuit maligne, ut, provincia quod mala incidisset, non possem octo homines parare rectos.” at mi nullus erat nec hic neque illic,

12

31

15

20

praesertim, adv., especially quibus: dative of possession irrumātor, irrumātōris, m., a man who forces someone to give him oral sex; metaphorically, one who treats another with contempt. Cf. Poem 16, line 1 and Poem 28, lines 9–10.

13

faceret: faciō (with genitive), value at pilus, -ī, m., a hair, something of minimal size or value pilī: genitive of value

14

certē, adv., certainly tamen, adv., nevertheless inquam, inquit, defective verb (only a few forms occur, most often used parenthetically or before or after a quotation), say illīc, adv., there

15

nascor, nascī, nātus sum, be born comparō, comparāre, comparāvī, comparātum, prepare, make, buy comparasti: syncopated form of comparāvistī

16

lectīca, -ae, f., litter

17

beātus, -a, -um, adj., happy, fortunate

18

malignē, adv., poorly, insuﬃciently nōn...mihi tam fuit malignē: “it was not so bad for me”

19

prōvincia, -ae, f., province, territory outside Italy under the administration of a Roman governor quod: quod plus subjunctive (concessive), granted that, although

20

octo hominēs: litter, particularly associated with Bithynia, carried by eight people parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum, prepare, buy, get rectus, -a, -um, adj., straight, right, correct, proper, erect in bearing

21

hīc, adv., here, at this point

32

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

fractum qui veteris pedem grabati in collo sibi collocare posset. hic illa, ut decuit cinaediorem, “quaeso” inquit mihi, “mi Catulle, paulum istos commoda; nam volo ad Serapim deferri.” “mane,” inquii puellae, “istud quod modo dixeram me habere, fugit me ratio: meus sodalis—

22

25

frangō, frangere, frēgī, fractum, break, crush quī: postposition vetus, veteris, adj., old, ancient pēs, pedis, m., foot, metrical foot, a leg or foot of an article of furniture; nautical term, sheet, the rope by which the lower two corners of a sail are attached to a ship grabātus, -ī, m., a low, usually cheap, bed or couch

23

collum, -ī, n., neck collocō, collocāre, collocāvī, collocātum, put, place posset: subjunctive in relative clause of characteristic or generic clause with nullus...quī

24

hīc: “at this point.” Cf. Horace, Satire 1.9, line 7 for the same temporal use of this abverb to introduce a new speaker. decet, decēre, decuit, impersonal verb, be right or fitting for, become cinaedus, -a, -um, adj., resembling or typical of a cinaedus or gender transgressive man, i.e., one who plays a “passive” sexual role; here used of a female, shameless, sluttish

25

quaesō, (quaesere), seek, ask for; first person parenthetically, please mī: masculine singular vocative of meus, -a, -um paulum, adv., for a short while

26

commodō, commodāre, commodāvī, commodātum, lend, provide commoda: short a perhaps because of colloquial tone; cf. mane, line 27 Serāpis, Serāpis/Serāpidis, m., Serapis, Egyptian god. The cult of Serapis had reached Italy by 105 bce. It was linked with that of Aesculapius. Worshippers would seek medical cures from the god. Serāpim: a few third declension nouns end in -im in the accusative singular.

27

dēferō, dēferre, dētulī, dēlātum, carry, convey, confer, grant mane: note short e by iambic shortening; hiatus after this word

28

modo, adv., only, just now

29

fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitum, flee, flee from, avoid fūgit: note the long u of the perfect tense ratiō, ratiōnis, f., calculation, reason, method fūgit mē ratiō: “reason escaped me,” “I made a mistake” sodālis, sodālis, m., companion, comrade

C at u l l u s 1 0

Cinna est Gaius—is sibi paravit. verum, utrum illius an mei, quid ad me? utor tam bene quam mihi pararim. sed tu insulsa male et molesta vivis, per quam non licet esse neglegentem.”

30

33

30

Cinna, -ae, m., Gaius Helvius Cinna, poet contemporary with Catullus who likely served with him in Bithynia; killed by a mob at Caesar’s funeral when mistaken for the antiCaesarian, Lucius Cornelius Cinna. Cf. Poem 95 for Cinna’s epyllion, Zmyrna. Gāius, Gāī, m., Gaius (Helvius Cinna) Gāius: trisyllabic here meus sodālis—Cinna est Gāius—is: The broken, stumbling syntax, including the inversion of the normal order for parts of a name, nomen and cognomen, shows the speaker’s confused embarrassment. He seems to be stammering. Cf. Horace, Satire 1.9, line 61 for another example of an inverted name. parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum, prepare, buy, get

31

vērum, adv., but utrum, particle, whether an, particle, (after utrum), or quid ad mē: understand est; “what is it to me”

32

ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum (with abl.), use, enjoy mihī: note the long final i parārim: sycopated form of parāverim, perfect subjunctive in conditional clause of comparison (regular sequence of tenses)

33

insulsus, -a, -um, adj., unsalted, unattractive, boring, dull, stupid male, adv., badly, insuﬃciently, wickedly, scarcely, awfully male: “awfully” here molestus, -a, -um, adj., troublesome, annoying, tiresome vīvis: in colloquial speech this verb functions as an emphatic form of “to be”

34

licet, licēre, licuit/licitum est, impersonal verb, it is permitted neglegens, neglegentis, adj., careless, untidy, neglectful

Map for Poem 11

© 2004 Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc.

Catullus 11 Poems 11 and 51 are linked in the Catullan corpus by their Sapphic meter (which only appears in these two poems) and their recollection of Sappho’s poetry. (See Poem 51 for more extensive comments on Catullus’ use of Sappho.) Poem 11 can be seen to fall into two seemingly disparate yet closely entwined parts, lines 1–16 and lines 17–24. The wide-ranging political/military landscape of the first part of the poem—land to be potentially crossed/assaulted by the speaker and his male comrades—is narrowed, in the second part, to the farthest part of a meadow where love has fallen like a flower grazed by the aggressive/female/castrating plough. The “male bonding” of Catullus and his comrades is replaced by that of three hundred male lovers and the feminized land to be conquered is turned into the fragile flower/love belonging to a man. How are gender, power, and love situated in the poem? Is writing brilliantly about one’s castration a sign of victory or defeat?

Furi et Aureli, comites Catulli, sive in extremos penetrabit Indos, litus ut longe resonante Eoa Meter: Sapphic 1

Fūrius, Fūrī, m., Furius; may be the poet Furius Bibaculus. Furius and Aurelius are also paired in Poem 16. Both appear as successful rivals in the Poems for the love of a male object of Catullus’ desire. Fūrī...Aurēlī: both vocative Aurēlius, Aurēlī, m., Aurelius; see note on Furius, line 1; not identified outside of Catullus’ poems comes, comitis, m., f., one who goes with or accompanies another, companion, friend, comrade comitēs: vocative, in apposition to Fūrī...Aurēlī

2

extrēmus, -a, -um, adj., situated at the end, edge, or tip; situated at the end of the world, last, final penetrō, penetrāre, penetrāvī, penetrātum, penetrate, make one’s way into or as far as penetrābit: Both this word and tunditur (4) can have sexually aggressive senses. Indus, -ī, m., an inhabitant of India

3

lītus, lītoris, n., shore, coast, beach ut: “where”; cf. Oxford Latin Dictionary 24b longē, adv., far, far oﬀ, far away in time, by far resonō, resonāre, resonāvī, resound, echo Eōus, -a, -um, adj., connected with the dawn, eastern, oriental Eōā: ablative with undā, line 4

36

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

tunditur unda, sive in Hyrcanos Arabasve molles, seu Sagas sagittiferosve Parthos, sive quae septemgeminus colorat aequora Nilus, sive trans altas gradietur Alpes, Caesaris visens monimenta magni, Gallicum Rhenum horribile aequor ulti-

4

5

10

tundō, tundere, tutudī, tunsum, strike with repeated blows, beat unda, -ae, f., wave, water tunditur undā: assonance of -und sound

5

Hyrcānī, Hyrcānōrum, m., pl. the Hyrcanians, Hyrcani; lived on south shore of the Caspian Sea Arabēs, Arabum, m. pl., Arabs Arabas: Greek accusative plural mollis, -e, adj., soft, gentle, flexible, voluptuous

6

Sagae, Sagārum, m. pl., a Scythian people living on the northern borders of Persia. sagitt ifer, sagitt ifera, sagitt iferum, adj., carrying arrows Parthī, Parthōrum, m., pl. Parthians; eastern people hostile to Rome whose kingdom extended from the Euphrates to the Indus rivers; Marcus Licinius Crassus set out to conquer them in 55 bce but was defeated.

7

septemgeminus, -a, -um, adj., sevenfold colōrō, colōrāre, colōrāvī, colōrātum, give color to, dye, make darker in color

8

aequor, aequoris, n., a flat level surface, the flat surface of the sea, sea, (often used in pl.) Nīlus, -ī, m., the river Nile

9

gradior, gradī, gressus sum, step, walk, proceed Alpēs, Alpium, f. pl., the Alps, high mountains bordering Italy on the north

10

Caesar, Caesaris, m., Julius Caesar, the famous Roman general and politician, 100–44 bce; friend of Catullus’ family; attacked by Catullus in several poems. vīsō, vīsere, vīsī, look at, go and see monimentum, -ī, n., monument, memorial monimenta: refers to Caesar’s exploits in 55 bce, crossing the Rhine River, crossing the English Channel.

11

Gallicus, -a, -um, adj., of Gaul or the Gauls Rhēnus, -ī, m., the river Rhine, considered the boundary between Gaul and Germany horribilis, -e, adj., terrifying, rough, monstrous ultimus, -a, -um, adj., last, farthest, extreme, earliest

C at u l l u s 1 1

37

mosque Britannos, omnia haec, quaecumque feret voluntas caelitum, temptare simul parati, pauca nuntiate meae puellae non bona dicta.

15

cum suis vivat valeatque moechis, quos simul complexa tenet trecentos,

12

Britannī, Britannōrum, m. pl., inhabitants of Britain, Britons

13

omnia haec: accusative plural neuter, direct object of temptāre (14) omnia: note the echo in omnium (line 19) quīcumque, quaecumque, quodcumque, indef. pron., whoever, whichever, whatever quaecumque: accusative plural neuter, direct object of feret (13) voluntās, voluntātis, f., will, wish, intention

14

caeles, caelitis, adj., celestial; as noun, usually plural, a god temptō, temptāre, temptāvī, temptātum, try, attempt simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together simul: note the echo of this word in line 18. parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum, prepare, buy, get

15

pauca: note the contrast with omnia (13). This word and the litotes in the next line signal a shift from the grand beginning of this poem with its vast geographic scenario to some very specific and pointed images and words. Contrasts and echoes diﬀerentiate and link the two parts of the poem, lines 1–16 and 17–24. nuntiō, nuntiāre, nuntiāvī, nuntiātum, bring word of, announce nuntiāte: “delayed” imperative; main verb for independent clause of sentence covering sixteen lines (1–16).

16

nōn bona dicta: litotes dictum, -ī, n., that which is said, words

17

cum...: note the sudden shift in tone and focus; cum “with” vīvat and valeat: jussive subjunctives valeō, valēre, valuī, valitum, be powerful, be strong enough to, be well, prevail; valē etc., goodbye, farewell moechus, -ī, m., adulterer, man who pursues inappropriate women

18

simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together complector, complectī, complexus sum, embrace, hug trecentī, -ae, -a, pl. adj., three hundred, used to denote a large number

38

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

nullum amans vere, sed identidem omnium ilia rumpens;

20

nec meum respectet, ut ante, amorem, qui illius culpa cecidit velut prati ultimi flos, praetereunte postquam tactus aratro est. 19

vērē: Cf. Poem 8, line 8, where this word is part of ideal times recalled. identidem, adv., repeatedly, again and again, continually identidem: cf. Poem 51, line 3. omnium/īlia: line 19 is hypermetric; extension of line 19 into line 20 heightens the climax of line 20.

20

omnium/īlia: n. pl., side of the body extending from hips to the groin, sometimes used especially to refer to the groin or private parts; “balls” rumpō, rumpere, rūpī, ruptum, break, shatter, destroy

21

respectō, respectāre, wait for, keep on looking around or back at respectet: jussive subjunctive ante, adv., before, previously, in front amor, amōris, m., love, sexual passion, object of one’s love (usually in pl.), love aﬀair, act of sex; love personified as the god of love

22

quī: antecedent is amōrem illius: refers to the girl culpa, -ae, f., blame, fault, wrongdoing culpā: ablative cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum, fall, die, set (of heavenly bodies) velut, adv., as, just as velut: introduces the simile of the speaker’s love as fallen flower, victim of the passing plough. This recalls the simile in Sappho fragment 105c, in which a hyacinth in the mountains is trampled underfoot by shepherds and lies on the ground. In addition, Catullus’ ultimī (23) may recall the unreachable apple “on the top of the topmost bough” in Sappho fragment 105a. prātum, -ī, n., meadow prātī/ultimī: line 22 is hypermetric; the elision into the next line emphasizes the idea of remoteness

23

flōs, flōris, m., flower praetereō, praeterīre, praeteriī, praeteritum, go by, go past, pass by, go beyond, omit postquam, conj., after

24

tangō, tangere, tetigī, tactum, touch arātrum, -ī, n., plough arātrō: Ploughing of a field is a metaphor in Greek and Latin for sexual intercourse, with the “plough” being “male.” On castration and possible feminizing, cf. the notes to Poem 35 below on the worship of Cybele, and the castration and feminization of Attis in Poem 63.

Catullus 12 Through an attack on the poor manners of a napkin “thief,” this poem articulates what isn’t considered funny at a dinner party of Catullus’ set. The light humor which begins the poem segues into an aﬀectionate tribute to Catullus’ friends, Fabullus and Veranius, who sent the napkin to him as a gift while away serving in Spain. Presence, absence, sending, stealing—these dichotomies hover over this “article of remembrance” which functions as substitute “object of love.”

Marrucine Asini, manu sinistra non belle uteris: in ioco atque vino tollis lintea neglegentiorum. hoc salsum esse putas? fugit te, inepte; Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

Marrūcīnus, -a, -um, adj., of or belonging to the Marrucini, a people living on the east coast of central Italy Asinius, -a, -um, adj., the name of a Roman gens Marrūcīne Asinī: Asinius Marrucinus; note the reversal in the order of the names manū sinistrā: ablative with ūtor; the left hand was associated with the act of stealing manus, -ūs, f., hand, band sinister, sinistra, sinistrum, adj., left, adverse

2

bellē, adv., nicely, well nōn bellē: litotes ūteris: note the short e of the present tense. iocus, -ī, m., joke, jest, joking vīnum, -ī, n., wine

3

tollō, tollere, sustulī, sublātum, lift, raise, extol, take away, destroy linteum, -ī, n., piece of linen cloth, sail, towel, napkin, curtain lintea: The Romans ate with their hands rather than with utensils and brought their own napkins to dinner parties. neglegens, neglegentis, adj., careless, untidy, neglectful neglegentiōrum: substantival use of adjective; cf. Poem 10.34 for another example of the one who is neglegens being portrayed as slighted.

4

salsus, -a, -um, adj., salted, witt y, funny putāre, putāvī, putātum, think, consider, discuss fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitum, flee, flee from, avoid fugit tē: cf. Poem 10, line 29. ineptus, -a, -um, adj., having no sense of what is fitting, foolish, silly

40

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

quamvis sordida res et invenusta est. non credis mihi? crede Pollioni fratri, qui tua furta vel talento mutari velit: est enim leporum diﬀertus puer ac facetiarum. quare aut hendecasyllabos trecentos exspecta, aut mihi linteum remitte, quod me non movet aestimatione, 5

5

10

quamvīs, rel. adv., to any degree you like, ever so, however, although sordidus, -a, -um, adj., dirty, degrading, vulgar rēs, reī, f., wealth, thing, circumstance, aﬀair, legal matter invenustus, -a, -um, adj., lacking in charm or beauty, unlovely, unattractive

6

crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum, trust, believe, entrust Polliō, Polliōnis, m., Gaius Asinius Pollio (76 bce–4 ce), politician and writer, historian of the civil wars; friend of Catullus, Horace, Vergil; established first public library in Rome

7

furtum, -ī, n., theft, secret action, stolen article talentum, -ī, n., a weight of silver used as a Greek unit of currency, talent talentō: ablative of price or ablative of means

8

mūtō, mūtāre, mūtāvī, mūtātum, change, exchange; (here) “undo” volō, velle, voluī, wish, want, be willing velit: potential subjunctive or subjunctive in relative clause of characteristic or generic clause lepos, lepōris, m., charm, grace, attractiveness, wit lepōrum: plural perhaps by attraction to plural, facētiārum (9).

9

diﬀertus, -a, -um, adj., stuﬀed full puer, puerī, m., boy, non-adult male, male beloved, (young) male slave facētiae, -ārum, f. pl., cleverness, wit

10

hendecasyllabus, -a, -um, adj., of a line of poetry consisting of eleven syllables; m. pl., poetry composed in the hendecasyllabic meter trecentī, -ae, -a, pl. adj., three hundred, used to denote a large number

11

exspectō, exspectāre, exspectāvī, exspectātum, wait for, expect, look forward to remittō, remittere, remīsī, remissum, send back, return, let go, abandon

12

aestimātiō, aestimātiōnis, f., valuation, estimation, monetary worth aestimātiōne: cf. the issue of “value” in Poems 1 and 5. The issue of “value” operates in Catullus’ poems at literary, social, and erotic levels.

C at u l l u s 1 2

verum est mnemosynum mei sodalis. nam sudaria Saetaba ex Hiberis miserunt mihi muneri Fabullus et Veranius; haec amem necesse est ut Veraniolum meum et Fabullum.

13

41

15

vērum, adv., but mnēmosynum, -ī, n., souvenir, keepsake mnēmosynum: hapax legomenon (term comes from Greek ”said once”), i.e., only attested appearance in Latin; Greek loan word for “memorial, remembrance.” sodālis, sodālis, m., companion, comrade sodālis: singular for plural

14

sūdārium, sūdārī, n., piece of cloth carried around and used for wiping the face or as a napkin Saetabus, -a, -um, adj., Saetaban, of or made in Saetabis, a town in Hispania Tarraconensis known for its linen Hibērī, -ōrum, m. pl., the Iberians or Spaniards ex Hibēris: from the (country of) the Spaniards; Fabullus and Veranius were serving in Spain on provincial duty

15

mūnus, mūneris, n., service, duty, gift, entertainment, oﬀering mūnerī: dative of purpose Fabullus, -ī, m., Fabullus, friend of Catullus; also appears in Poems 13, 28, 47. In Poems 28 and 47, invective is used to attack the abuse of Piso, most likely Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesonius, father-in-law of Caesar, the Roman governor of Macedonia, who, like Memmius in Bithynia (cf. Poem 10), has the power to impoverish men under his command.

16

Vērānius, Vērānī, m., Veranius, friend of Catullus; also appears in Poems 9, 28, 47. haec: refers to the sūdāria haec amem: substantive clause in subjunctive with necesse est necesse, adv., necessary

17

ut: “as” Vērāniolus, -ī, m., diminutive of Veranius

Catullus 13 A charming, “anti-invitation” poem that celebrates friendship and love through delicate play on the guest/host relationship. Fabullus must bring almost everything, despite his status as guest, while the “impoverished” host, who seems to have nothing, will make a gift of a gift that will more than meet his guest’s desires. Fullness/emptiness, guest/host, giving/receiving, human/divine all blend in an elegant and humorous social romp.

Cenabis bene, mi Fabulle, apud me paucis, si tibi di favent, diebus, si tecum attuleris bonam atque magnam cenam, non sine candida puella et vino et sale et omnibus cachinnis.

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

cēnō, cēnāre, cēnāvī, cēnātum, dine, have dinner mī: masculine singular vocative of meus, -a, -um Fabullus, -ī, m., Fabullus, friend of Catullus; also appears in Poems 12, 28, 47. In Poems 28 and 47, invective is used to attack the abuse of Piso, most likely Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesonius, father-in-law of Caesar, the Roman governor of Macedonia, who, like Memmius in Bithynia (cf. Poem 10), has the power to impoverish men under his command. apud, prep. with acc., at, near, at the house of, with (a person)

2

3

paucīs...diēbus: Notice how these words frame the line. The last line of the poem employs the same device with tōtum...nāsum (if these two words are taken together); cf. on tōtum (14). deus, -ī, m., god; dī, alternate form of deī faveō, favēre, fāvī, fautum, favor diēs, diēī, m., f., day adferō, adferre, att ulī, allātum, bring, add

4

cēna, -ae, f., dinner cēnam: This words begins the list of surprising items the guest must bring (dinner, girl, wine, salt, laughter). nōn sine: This use of litotes emphasizes the unusual requirements placed upon the guest. candidus, -a, -um, adj., bright, radiant, white

5

vīnum, -ī, n., wine sāl, salis, m., salt, wit cachinnus, -ī, m., laugh

44

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

haec si, inquam, attuleris, venuste noster, cenabis bene—nam tui Catulli plenus sacculus est aranearum. sed contra accipies meros amores seu quid suavius elegantiusve est: nam unguentum dabo quod meae puellae donarunt Veneres Cupidinesque, 6

10

inquam, inquit, defective verb (only a few forms occur, most often used parenthetically or before or after a quotation), say venustus, -a, -um, adj., attractive, charming venuste: this word connects Fabullus with the gods (cf. line 2), and specifically, Venus, whose gift Fabullus will indirectly and appropriately receive noster: first person plural possessive adjective often used for first person singular

7

8

cēnābis bene: note the repetition of this phrase from line 1. It prepares for and highlights the surprise explanation that follows in the rest of line 7 and 8. This surprise, in turn, looks forward to the final surprise that caps the poem. plēnus, -a, -um, adj., full sacculus, -ī, m., small bag; small bag used for holding money arānea, -ae, f., spider’s web, cobweb, spider

9

contrā, adv., in return; prep. with acc., against accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum, receive, take, hear, understand merus, -a, -um, adj., pure, unmixed amor, amōris, m., love, sexual passion, object of one’s love (usually in pl.), love aﬀair, act of sex; love personified as the god of love

10

seu: sīve; after sī, quid for aliquid suāvis, -e, pleasant, pleasing to the senses ēlegans, ēlegantis, refined, tastefully attractive, elegant

11

unguentum, -ī, n., ointment, perfume unguentum: The host will provide the “perfume” and his guest everything else. The nature of the perfume is made somewhat mysterious—real perfume to be used? her perfume? her own aura? As gift of the “love gods” to his girlfriend it takes on an erotic quality. dabo: note short o by iambic shortening quod: refers to unguentum as does quod in line 13

12

dōnārunt: syncopated form of dōnāvērunt Venerēs Cupīdinēsque: cf. Poem 3, line 1.

C at u l l u s 1 3

45

quod tu cum olfacies, deos rogabis totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.

13

quod: connecting relative pronoun; translate with a third person personal pronoun, “it” cum: postposition olfaciō, olfacere, olfēcī, olfactum, smell rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum, ask, ask for, beg

14

tōtus, -a, -um, adj., the whole of, all tōtum: can be taken to modify tē and/or nāsum nāsus, -ī, m., nose nāsum: a surprise ending to a surprising invitation

Catullus 14a (numbered as 14 in Thomson) In the context of warm teasing about a gift of bad poetry he has received from his friend, Calvus, Catullus plays again with ideas about gifts, aesthetic sensibilities, patrons and clients, teasing, wit, and exchange. Compare Poem 1 where Catullus presents his own book as well as Poem 13 with its surprise gift. In this poem, Calvus’ gift giving calls for gift giving in response. This poem evokes the world of the comraderie of the neoteric poets at Rome.

Ni te plus oculis meis amarem, iucundissime Calve, munere isto odissem te odio Vatiniano: nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus, cur me tot male perderes poetis? isti di mala multa dent clienti,

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

plūs oculīs meīs amārem: cf. Poem 3, line 5. This sets up an aﬀectionate context for the teasing of Calvus that follows. oculus, -ī, m., eye

2

iūcundus, -a, -um, adj., delightful, agreeable Calvus, -ī m., Gaius Licinius Calvus (82–47 bce), intimate friend of Catullus, poet, orator. Only a few fragments of his work survive. On Calvus, cf. Poems 50, 53 and 96 as well. mūnus, mūneris, n., service, duty, gift, entertainment, oﬀering

3

odium, odī, n., hatred, dislike Vatīniānus, -a, -um, of Vatinius; Publius Vatinius was an ally of Julius Caesar. He was prosecuted in 54 bce by Calvus for illegal electioneering in his successful campaign for the praetorship. Cicero defended him and won.

4

loquor, loquī, locūtus sum, speak

5

tot, indecl. adj., so many male, adv., badly, insuﬃciently, wickedly, scarcely, awfully perdō, perdere, perdidī, perditum, destroy, lose perderēs: subjunctive in substantive clause with quid...cūr poēta, -ae, m., poet

6

deus, -ī, m., god; dī, alternate form of deī cliens, clientis, m., client; one who attaches himself to a person of greater influence or political power (patrōnus) for protection

48

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

qui tantum tibi misit impiorum. quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum munus dat tibi Sulla litterator, non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, quod non dispereunt tui labores. di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum! quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum misti continuo, ut die periret Saturnalibus optimo dierum! non non hoc tibi, salse, sic abibit. nam, si luxerit, ad librariorum 7

10

15

impius, -a, -um, adj., impious, undutiful, disloyal tantum...impiōrum: partitive genitive; the genitive can be neuter plural or masculine plural

8

suspicor, suspicārī suspicātus sum, guess, imagine, suspect reperiō, reperīre, repperī, repertum, discover, get, find to be, devise novum ac repertum: can be taken as hendiadys; ironic tone

9

Sulla, -ae, m., Sulla; otherwise unknown litterātor, litterātōris, m., elementary school teacher

11

dispereō, disperīre, disperiī, perish, be destroyed labor, labōris, m., work, eﬀort, task

12

horribilis, -e, adj., terrifying, rough, monstrous horribilem et sacrum libellum: accusative of exclamation sacer, sacra, sacrum, adj., sacred, holy, detestable (as term of abuse, from the idea of “oﬀensive to divine law”) libellus, -ī, m., a small work written for publication, volume, little book

13

quem: connecting relative pronoun; antecedent is libellum scīlicet, adv., evidently, of course, surely

14

misti: syncopated form of mīsistī continuō, adv., immediately, continuously pereō, perīre, periī, peritum, perish, die

15

Sāturnālia, -ium, n. pl., December 17 and following days of holiday, festival of Saturn, a time of merriment and freedom from restraint

16

nōn nōn: anaphora salsus, -a, -um, adj., salted, witt y, funny abeō, abīre, abiī, abitum, go away, depart, get oﬀ, be allowed to pass

17

lūceō, lūcēre, luxī, shine, dawn, become light librārius, librārī, m., scribe, bookseller, secretary

C at u l l u s 1 4 a

curram scrinia; Caesios, Aquinos, Suﬀenum, omnia colligam venena, ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. vos hinc interea valete abite illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis, saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.

18

49

20

currō, currere, cucurrī, cursum, run scrīnium, scrīnī, n., case or shelf for holding letters or papyrus rolls in a bookstore or library; holder for other things Caesius, -a, -um, adj., name of a Roman gens Aquīnus, -a, -um, adj., name of a Roman gens

19

Suﬀēnus, -ī, m., Suﬀenus; see Poem 22; otherwise unknown colligō, colligere, collēgī, collectum, to gather or bring together, collect venēnum, -ī, n., poison, magical or medicinal potion

20

supplicium, supplicī, n., entreaty, punishment, atonement, thing oﬀered to propitiate someone remūneror, remūnerārī, remūnerātus sum, repay, reward, pay back remūnerābor: cf. mūnus, line 2; give a “gift” back/pay back

21

intereā, adv., meanwhile

22

illūc, adv., to that place, there unde, interr. and rel. adv., from where, from whom, from which pēs, pedis, m., foot, metrical foot, a leg or foot of an article of furniture; nautical term, sheet, the rope by which the lower two corners of a sail are attached to a ship pedem: pun on metrical foot and physical foot (bring one’s foot/come) aﬀerō, aﬀerre, att ulī, allātum, bring, deliver

23

saec(u)lum, -ī, n., generation, age, lifetime, century incommodum, -ī, n., detriment, unfavorable circumstance, aﬄiction incommoda: neuter plural, vocative, in apposition to vōs as is pessimī poētae

Catullus 22 What one is like as a person and what one is like as a writer may not match. The personal stylishness of Suﬀenus does not carry over to his poems. Though the “package” is polished, the substance is not. Suﬀenus’ self-delusion is declared to be part of the self-delusion in which all human beings engage in some regard. This poem may be compared with Poem 1 for issues of poetic production and value.

Suﬀenus iste, Vare, quem probe nosti, homo est venustus et dicax et urbanus, idemque longe plurimos facit versus. puto esse ego illi milia aut decem aut plura perscripta, nec sic ut fit in palimpsesto

5

Meter: Choliambic 1

Suﬀēnus, -ī, m., Suﬀenus; also mentioned in passing in Poem 14, line 19; otherwise unknown Vārus, -ī, m., Varus; possibly the same Varus addressed in Poem 10, Alfenus Varus, jurist who became consul suﬀect in 39 bce or Quintilius Varus, friend of Vergil and Horace, mourned by Horace in Odes 1.24. Both men were from Cremona, near Catullus’ home. probē, adv., correctly, well noscō, noscere, nōvī, nōtum, get to know learn; know (in perfect tense)

2

venustus, -a, -um, adj., attractive, charming dicax, dicācis, adj., having a ready tongue, verbally witt y urbānus, -a, -um, adj., of the city, urbane, sophisticated

3

īdem, eadem, idem, pron. and adj., the same, too, likewise longē, adv., far, far oﬀ, far away in time, by far versus, -ūs, m., line of verse

4

esse: with perscripta (5), perfect passive infinitive illī: dative of agent (construction sometimes used with passive verbs as alternative to ablative of personal agent)

5

perscrībō, perscrībere, perscripsī, perscriptum, write out fully sīc ut fit: “just as (usually) happens” fīō, fīerī, factus sum, be made, be done, become, happen, occur palimpsestum, -ī, n., a palimpsest; Greek loan word, literally “scraped again.” A palimpsest is papyrus or parchment writing material that is scraped or washed and reused for more writing. Writing material was expensive, and so it was “recyled” when possible. The word occurs in Latin only here and in one of Cicero’s letters. It occurs only twice in Greek, both times in Plutarch and used figuratively. The papyrus plant grew in the Nile delta of Egypt. It was the major book writing material in Greco-Roman antiquity. Parchment, or vellum, made from sheep or goat skin, was used to a lesser extent.

52

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

relata: cartae regiae novae libri, novi umbilici, lora rubra, membranae, derecta plumbo et pumice omnia aequata. haec cum legas tu, bellus ille et urbanus Suﬀenus unus caprimulgus aut fossor 6

10

referō, referre, rett ulī, relātum, bring back or again, carry home, render c(h)arta, -ae, f., sheet of papyrus, writings cartae: here, refers to the writing material itself rēgius, -a, -um, adj., royal, splendid; technical term used of high quality writing material liber, librī, m., inner bark of a tree, book, volume, roll librī: here, roll into which the material was made

7

umbilīcus, -ī, m., navel, umbilical cord, cylinder or roller or stick on which papyrus roll was wound; in plural, when referring to one book, the ornamental knobs or bosses at the ends of roller projecting from the roll. lōrum, -ī, n., leather strap; pl., horse’s reins. lōra: Here the term refers either to straps used for tying up the roll or straps bearing the title of the work attached to the end of the roll. The term does not occur elsewhere as a term in book production. ruber, rubra, rubrum, adj., red rubra: Book covers were often stained the color red. This may account for the color of the straps, which might be colored to match the covers. membrāna, -ae, f., membrane, covering, parchment, parchment used as a cover for manuscripts

8

dīrigō, dīrigere, dīrexī, dīrectum, make straight, direct, mark plumbum, -ī, n., lead; lead (used for drawing lines) plumbō: small circular lead plate used, along with a ruler, for drawing lines to guide the writer pūmex, pūmicis, m., f., pumice pūmice: Pumice was used for smoothing the ends of a book roll as well as for erasure and corection of writing. Cf. Poem 1, line 2. aequō, aequāre, aequāvī, aequātum, make level, even, smooth

9

cum: postposition legō, legere, lēgī, lectum, gather, collect, read, recite cum legās tū: generalizing second person singular subjunctive bellus, -a, -um, adj., charming, handsome, prett y, fine

10

ūnus: “an ordinary” caprimulgus, -ī, m., country bumpkin (from capra, -ae, f., she-goat and mulgeō, milk) fossor, fossōris, m., ditchdigger, uncouth individual

C at u l l u s 2 2

53

rursus videtur: tantum abhorret ac mutat. hoc quid putemus esse? qui modo scurra aut siquid hac re scitius videbatur, idem inficeto est inficetior rure, simul poemata attigit, neque idem umquam 15 aeque est beatus ac poema cum scribit: tam gaudet in se tamque se ipse miratur. nimirum idem omnes fallimur, neque est quisquam quem non in aliqua re videre Suﬀenum 11

rursus, adv., back, again, once again, on the other hand vidētur: understand esse abhorreō, abhorrēre, abhorruī, shrink back from, be averse to, be diﬀerent from mūtō, mūtāre, mūtāvī, mūtātum, change, exchange

12

putēmus: deliberative subjunctive quī: antecedent is īdem (14). “(The one) who...the same one” or “The same one who...” modo, adv., only, just now scurra, -ae, m., fashionable idler, witt y person

13

sīquis, sīqua/sīquae, sīquid, indef. pron. and adj., if anybody, if anything, if any scītus, -a, -um, adj., expert, clever

14

īdem: masculine, nominative, singular; long i inficētus, -a, -um, adj., boorish, not witt y or smart rūs, rūris, n., the country (as opposed to the town), farm, estate

15

simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together poēma, poēmatis, n., poem att ingō, att ingere, att igī, att actum, touch, reach, take up (a task)

16

aequē, adv., equally ac: “as”

17

gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsus sum, rejoice, delight in (with abl.) mīror, mīrārī, mīrātus sum, be surprised, wonder at, admire

18

nīmīrum, particle, without doubt, of course idem: short i, accusative, singular, neuter, internal or cognate accusative. fallō, fallere, fefellī, falsum, deceive, trick, escape the notice of; in passive, be mistaken quisquam, quicquam, pron., anyone, anything

54

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

possis. suus cuique attributus est error; sed non videmus manticae quod in tergo est. 20

20

possīs: deliberative subjunctive or subjunctive in relative clause of characteristic or generic clause att ribuō, att ribuere, att ribuī, att ribūtum, assign, count as belonging to, ascribe as an attribute error, errōris, m., wandering about, doubt, mistake, error, delusion

21

mantica, -ae, f., knapsack, pack manticae quod: partitive genitive; “that part of the pack.” This is a reference to a fable of Aesop in which a man carries two packs over his shoulder. The one in front, which he can see, contains his neighbor’s faults; the one in back, which he can’t see, his own. tergum, -ī, n., back

Catullus 30 This poem, addressed to a man, deals with love and trust. These issues are treated again in very similar fashion in Poem 76, addressed to a woman. Forgetting and remembering, the gods, deception and trustworthiness, words and deeds, all appear in both poems. Cf. Poem 70, line 4, for the idea of a lover’s speech that should be written in wind and water. Seeing these issues in the context of a male lover and beloved should remind the reader that Catullus wrote poems about men desiring men as well as men desiring women. The meter is used only here in the poems of Catullus.

Alfene immemor atque unanimis false sodalibus, iam te nil miseret, dure, tui dulcis amiculi? iam me prodere, iam non dubitas fallere, perfide? nec facta impia fallacum hominum caelicolis placent. Meter: Greater Asclepiadean 1

Alfēnus, -a, -um, adj., name of a Roman gens; possibly the Varus of Poems 10 and 22. immemor, immemoris, adj., forgetful, unmindful ūnanimus, -a, -um, adj., sharing a single attitude, acting in accord ūnanimīs: cf. animam, line 7 falsus, -a, -um, adj., false, faithless, deceitful sodālis, sodālis, m., companion, comrade

2

iam...iam...iam anaphora nīl = nihil. Here, accusative of respect used adverbially. misereor, miserērī, miseritum, pity, feel or show miseret: impersonal verb; takes accusative of person feeling pity and genitive of one pitied. dūrus, -a, -um, adj., hard, harsh dulcis, -e, adj., sweet, (of persons) dear, beloved amīculus, -ī, m., dear friend, dear lover

3

prōdō, prōdere, prōdidī, prōditum, project, assert, transmit, betray dubitō, dubitāre, dubitāvī, dubitātum, be in doubt, hesitate fallō, fallere, fefellī, falsum, deceive, trick, escape the notice of perfidus, -a, -um, adj., treacherous, false, deceitful

4

factum, -ī, n., deed, action impius, -a, -um, adj., impious, undutiful, disloyal fallax, fallācis, adj., deceitful, deceptive caelicola, -ae, m., or f., inhabitant of heaven, a god or goddess placeō, placēre, placuī, placitum, please

56

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

quae tu neglegis ac me miserum deseris in malis. 5 eheu quid faciant, dic, homines cuive habeant fidem? certe tute iubebas animam tradere, inique, <me> inducens in amorem, quasi tuta omnia mi forent. idem nunc retrahis te ac tua dicta omnia factaque ventos irrita ferre ac nebulas aerias sinis. 10 5

quae: connecting relative pronoun neglegō, neglegere, neglexī, neglectum, be indiﬀerent to, neglect miser, misera, miserum, adj., unhappy, pitiful dēserō, dēserere, dēseruī, dēsertum, leave, abandon

6

ēheu, interj. (expressing grief or pain), alas dīc: singular imperative of dīcō fidēs, fidēī, f., trust, belief, faith, honesty, honor

7

certē, adv., certainly tūte: emphatic form of tū iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussum, order, command, bid anima, -ae, f., breath, life, darling trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum, hand over, deliver, introduce inīquus, -a, -um, adj., uneven, unfavorable, treacherous, discontented

8

indūcō, indūcere, indūxī, inductum, bring in, entice, lead into a false situation quasi, conj., as if quasi: with subjunctive introducing an ironic comment tūtus, -a, -um, adj., safe, secure forent: alternate form of essent

9

īdem, eadem, idem, pron. and adj., the same, too, likewise īdem: the same person previously mentioned; here, “you” with an adversative sense retrahō, retrahere, retraxī, retractum, withdraw, draw back dictum, -ī, n., that which is said, words

10

ventus, -ī, m., wind irritus, -a, -um, made null and void, empty nebula, -ae, f., mist, fog āerius, -a, -um, adj., of the air, loft y āeriās: Note that ae is not a diphthong here. The word has four syllables. sinō, sinere, sīvī, situm, leave alone, allow

C at u l l u s 3 0

57

si tu oblitus es, at di meminerunt, meminit Fides, quae te ut paeniteat postmodo facti faciet tui.

11

oblīviscor, oblīviscī, oblītus sum, forget deus, -ī, m., god; dī, alternate form of deī, nom. pl. meminī, meminisse, perf. with pres. meaning; remember, recollect meminērunt, meminit: asyndeton Fidēs: personified here

12

quae: antecedent is Fidēs paeniteō, paenitēre, paenituī, regret; takes accusative of person feeling regret and genitive of thing regretted paeniteat: faciō ut takes a substantive clause in the subjunctive postmodo, adv., later, presently

Catullus 31 A joyful return home after military service abroad in Bithynia is the occasion for this poem. The happy sight of home and its attendant rest and pleasure are the only balance for the overseas burdens of the returning soldier. The personification of Sirmio enhances the sense that “place” has the power to move the speaker profoundly.

Paene insularum, Sirmio, insularumque ocelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnis marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus, quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso, vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bithynos

5

Meter: Choliambic 1 2

Sirmiō, Sirmiōnis, f., promontory in Lacus Benacus (Lago di Garda) ocellus, -ī, m., a little eye; as term of endearment, darling liqueō, liquēre, licuī/liquī, be liquid, be clear, appear clear stāgnum, -ī, n., expanse of standing water, pool

3

mare, maris, n., sea vastus, -a, -um, adj., desolate, huge ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum, bear, bring, carry, tell, claim, play (a part, role) Neptūnus, -ī, m., Neptune, Roman god of the sea. uterque Neptūnus: refers to Neptune as god of the sea and god of fresh water lakes etc.

4

quam...quamque: “how...and how”; the -que is joining the two phrases with quam libenter, adv., with pleasure, gladly laetus, -a, -um, adj., happy, glad, fertile invīsō, invīsere, invīsī, invīsum, go to see, visit, have visual experience of, see

5

vix, adv., hardly, scarcely, just mī: dative with crēdens, which in turn introduces an indirect statement for which mē should be understood. The infinitives in the indirect statement are līquisse and vidēre. Thӯnia, -ae, f., Bithynia; an area, later a Roman province, on the northwest coast of Asia Minor. Catullus served there on the staﬀ of Gaius Memmius, governor in 57–56 bce. (Cf. Poem 10.) Bīthӯnius, -a, -um, adj., Bithynian

60

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

liquisse campos et videre te in tuto. o quid solutis est beatius curis, cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, desideratoque acquiescimus lecto? hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis. salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude 6

10

linquō, linquere, līquī, go away from, abandon, leave behind campus, -ī, m., plain, level surface; field; often refers specifically to the Campus Martius in Rome in tūtō: safely

7

solvō, solvere, solvī, solūtum, loosen, break up, set free cūra, -ae, f., care, concern, worry, a person or thing constituting an object of care

8

onus, oneris, n., burden repōnō, repōnere, reposuī, repositum, put back, put down peregrīnus, -a, -um, adj., foreign, alien, situated abroad

9

labor, labōris, m., work, eﬀort, task fessus, -a, -um, adj., tired, weary vēnimus: note the long e of the perfect tense lar, laris, m., one of a class of Roman gods associated with protection of places; tutelary god of hearth or home; home larem: synecdoche for “home” noster, nostra, nostrum, adj., our nostrum: first person plural often used for first person singular

10

dēsīderō, dēsīderāre, dēsīderāvī, dēsīderātum, desire, want, long for acquiescō, acquiescere, acquiē(v)ī, rest, relax, subside, find relief lectus, -i, m., bed, couch (also used for reclining at meals or studying)

11

prō, prep. with abl., for, on behalf of, in front of, in return for, in payment for

12

salvē, singular imperative; hello, hail venustus, -a, -um, adj., attractive, charming Sirmiō: Sirmio is personified as it is asked to rejoice. erus, -ī, m., master

C at u l l u s 3 1

61

gaudente, vosque lucidae lacus undae ridete quidquid est domi cachinnorum.

13

gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsus sum, rejoice, delight in (with abl.) lūcidus, -a, -um, adj., bright, shining, clear lacus, lacūs, m., lake, pond, pool unda, -ae, f., wave, water

14

rīdeō, rīdēre, rīdī, rīsum, laugh, laugh at quidquid est domī cachinnōrum: this clause functions as an internal or cognate accusative with rīdēte domus, -ūs/-ī, f., house, home domī: locative; “in store, at your command” cachinnus, -ī, m., laugh cachinnōrum: partitive genitive; cf. Poem 3, line 2 and Poem 9, line 10.

Catullus 35 Reading, writing, love, friendship, worship, and travel all come together in this poem of literary and erotic journeys—begun and delayed. The triangle (quadrangle? pentagon?) of the speaker, Caecilius, the girl, the unspecified mutual friend (?), and the papyrus (?), is the image within which this poem of request and of forgiveness for its possible lack of fulfillment takes shape. The “thoughts” that the speaker wants Caecilius to receive are never identified and they give way to a sympathetic and gently humorous understanding on the speaker’s part of the power of his friend Caecilius’ words. Perhaps the possible literary advice for completion to be oﬀered in Verona yields to mutual admiration by the speaker and the girl for the intellectual and erotic power of the poem begun.

Poetae tenero, meo sodali, velim Caecilio, papyre, dicas Veronam veniat, Novi relinquens Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

tener, tenera, tenerum, adj., tender, delicate, soft, young tener poēta: virtually a technical term for “love poet” sodālis, sodālis, m., companion, comrade

2

velim: potential subjunctive Caecilius, Caecilī, m., Caecilius; otherwise unknown papӯrus, -ī, f., papyrus; plant found in Egypt or writing material made from the plant papӯre: By metonymy the word can stand for the writing material made from the papyrus plant. The papyrus is personified as the one who will “speak” to Caecilius, bringing him a message. This is the first occurrence in Roman poetry of a request to a poetic letter to deliver a message. This later becomes conventional. dīcās: subjunctive in substantive clause developed from the optative. These subjunctives often occur without ut.

3

Vērōna, -ae, f., town in Transpadane Gaul, birthplace of Catullus. Vērōnam: accusative without preposition for name of city in expression of motion towards. veniat: subjunctive in indirect command; can occur without ut. Novum Comum, Novī Comī, n., New Comum, modern Como. This town, north of Milan and located about 100 miles west of Verona, on Lake Como, acquired this new name when Caesar resettled some 5,000 colonists there in 59 bce. relinquō, relinquere, relīquī, relictum, leave, leave behind, abandon

64

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

Comi moenia Lariumque litus: nam quasdam volo cogitationes amici accipiat sui meique. quare, si sapiet, viam vorabit, quamvis candida milies puella euntem revocet, manusque collo ambas iniciens roget morari. quae nunc, si mihi vera nuntiantur, 4

5

10

moenia, -ium, n. pl., defensive walls of a town or city, town or city enclosed by walls Lārius, -a, -um, adj., of Lake Larius in Cisalpine Gaul, Lago di Como (Lake Como) lītus, lītoris, n., shore, coast, beach

5

quīdam, quaedam, quiddam, pron., a certain person, a certain thing volo: note short final o through iambic shortening cōgitātiō, cōgitātiōnis, f., thought, deliberation

6

accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum, receive, take, hear, understand accipiat: subjunctive in substantive clause developed from the optative; depends on volo; cf. dīcās (2).

7

sapiō, sapere, sapīvī, have taste, be wise vorō, vorāre, vorāvī, vorātum, devour viam vorābit: “devour” the road, i.e., travel quickly

8

quamvīs, rel. adv., to any degree you like, ever so, however, although candidus, -a, -um, adj., bright, radiant, white mīliēs, adv., a thousand times (often hyperbolic)

9

revocō, revocāre, revocāvī, revocātum, recall, call back, restrain revocet: subjunctive because of quamvīs collum, -ī, n., neck

10

ambō, ambae, ambō, pl. adj. and pron., both, two of a pair iniciō, inicere, iniēcī, iniectum, throw in or on, put one’s hands on rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum, ask, ask for, ask a person to do something, make erotic overtures to, beg moror, morārī, morātus sum, delay, linger, be late in appearing morārī: The subjunctive is more common after rogō than the infinitive.

11

quae: connecting relative pronoun; can be translated with a personal pronoun. sī...nuntiantur: the notion of getting reported information recalls the “messenger” task set for this “papyrus” or “poem.” nuntiō, nuntiāre, nuntiāvī, nuntiātum, bring word of, announce

C at u l l u s 3 5

illum deperit impotente amore: nam quo tempore legit incohatam Dindymi dominam, ex eo misellae ignes interiorem edunt medullam. 12

65

15

dēpereō, deperīre, deperiī, die, perish, be desperately in love with impotens, impotentis, adj., powerless, weak, wild, violent amor, amōris, m., love, sexual passion, object of one’s love (usually in pl.), love aﬀair, act of sex; love personified as the god of love

13

quō tempore...ex eō: “from the time when” legō, legere, lēgī, lectum, gather, collect, read, recite lēgit: note the long e of the perfect tense incohō, incohāre, incohāvī, incohātum, start working on, begin, establish

14

Dindymon, -ī, n., Mt. Dindymus, mountain in Phrygia sacred to the goddess Cybele, the Magna Mater, or Great Mother. Worship of Cybele was oﬃcially introduced into Rome in 204 bce at the time when the Romans were discouraged by their inability to defeat the Carthaginians during the Second Punic War. Associated with this event is the story of Claudia Quinta whose help bringing in the black stone that represented the goddess when it got stuck in the Tiber reaﬃrmed her respectability which had been called into question. This Claudia Quinta is mentioned by Cicero, Pro Caelio 34 as an ancestor of Clodia’s (Lesbia’s?) who should inspire her to the womanly glory of domestic praise. Poem 63 of Catullus is about Attis, a young man who, in his devotion to the goddess Cybele, castrates himself and then regrets what he has done. He ends up having to spend the rest of his life as Cybele’s slave. In fact, the priests of Cybele were castrated. The subject matter of the poem begun by Caecilius is directly connected with Poem 63 of Catullus. In addition, the alliteration of the letter d in line 14 of this poem (Dindymī dominam) is echoed in the same alliteration found in Poem 63, especially, e.g., at the end of line 91: dea domina Dindymī. Dindymī dominam may stand for the first two words of the poem, and hence, its title. Attis, in Poem 63, refers to himself grammatically with feminine words after his castration. Compare the castration imagery and possible feminizing of the speaker in Poem 11. domina, -ae, f., female head of a household, mistress, owner dominam: a noteworthy word for its possible extension beyond Cybele to the erotic realm. Can Caecilius resist the “aggressive” demand of his girlfriend that he stay? misellus, -a, -um, adj., wretched, pitiable, unfortunate

15

ignis, ignis, m., fire ignēs: The language of fire is a common metaphor in Latin for being in love and experiencing desire. Cf. Poem 51, line 10 for flamma as a symptom of the one desiring. interior, interius, adj., inner, interior, private edō, esse, ēdī, ēsum, eat, consume edunt: English would use a present perfect here: “have been eating.” medulla, -ae, f., bone marrow, one’s interior, heart or mind (as seat of deep thought and emotion) medullam: Cf. the language of Poem 45, line 16 and Poem 64, line 93.

66

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

ignosco tibi, Sapphica puella musa doctior: est enim venuste Magna Caecilio incohata Mater. 16

ignoscō, ignoscere, ignōvī, ignōtum, forgive, pardon Sapphicus, -a, -um, adj., Sapphic, of Sappho. Sappho was a famous Greek poet who wrote and lived on the island of Lesbos towards the end of the 7th century bce. Cf. references to Sappho in notes to Poems 11 and 51.

17

mūsa, -ae, f., muse; one of the nine Muses, goddesses who were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne and presided over the arts doctus, -a, -um, adj., learned, taught doctior: Cf. the description of Cornelius Nepos’ work as learned in Poem 1, line 7. venustē, adv., in a charming or attractive manner venustē: Here, the word helps to cross the putative divide between Caecilius as love poet and Caecilius as lover, for his poetic activity, begun “with Venus,” has had an erotic eﬀect.

18

Magna...Māter: Note how these words frame the line and “embrace” Caecilius. In addition, these words may stand for a new or diﬀerent title for the poem. Cf. note on line 14. This possible suggesting of diﬀerent titles on Catullus’ part may be seen as part of his demonstration that the work is still incomplete. Caeciliō: dative of agent (construction sometimes used with passive verbs as alternative to ablative of personal agent) incohāta: repetition of this word, already used in line 13, underscores the incomplete nature of the work.

Catullus 36 In this poem the speaker playfully “reinterprets” the vow of his girlfriend in order to delicately tease her and win her back. The method is the substitution (and simultaneous trashing) of the writings of Volusius for his own wicked verses. The deity who is to receive the literary burnt oﬀering is, appropriately, Venus, the goddess of love.

Annales Volusi, cacata carta, votum solvite pro mea puella. nam sanctae Veneri Cupidinique vovit, si sibi restitutus essem Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

annālis, annālis, m. (short for annālis liber), book of annals, chronicles; pl., chronicle or similar history written in several books, records, history Volusius, Volusī, m., Volusius, otherwise unknown; his works are mentioned unfavorably in Poem 95 as well. cacō, cacāre, cacāvī, cacātum, defecate, emit as excrement c(h)arta, -ae, f., sheet of papyrus, writings cacāta carta: “defecated sheet of papyrus”; the probable sense here is that Volusius suﬀers from verbal diarrhea and “poops out” his writings.

2

vōtum, -ī, n., vow, prayer, votive oﬀering solvō, solvere, solvī, solūtum, loosen, break up, perform duly, fulfill (as in a vow or promise)

3

sanctus, -a, -um, adj., sacred, holy venus, veneris, f., Venus, Roman goddess of love; love, charm, sexual activity; best throw at dice cupīdō, cupīdinis, f., m., passionate desire, carnal desire, greed, personification of carnal desire; m., often regarded as a god, the son of Venus, Cupid

4

voveō, vovēre, vōvī, vōtum, promise (to a god) in return for a favor, vow, pray or long for sī...: conditional sentence in an indirect statement introduced by vōvit (4). The verbs in the protasis (if-clause) of the condition are in the subjunctive because subordinate clauses in indirect statement take the subjunctive. They are pluperfect subjunctive to reflect the future perfect indicatives they would have been in direct statement in a future more vivid condition. The future infinitive in the indrect statement reflects the future indicative of the direct statement. sibi: refers to the puella. restituō, restituere, restituī, restitūtum, restore, revive

68

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

desissemque truces vibrare iambos, electissima pessimi poetae scripta tardipedi deo daturam infelicibus ustulanda lignis, et hoc pessima se puella vidit 5

5

dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī, dēsitum, stop, cease dēsissem: syncopated form with contraction of two i’s trux, trucis, adj., harsh, savage vibrō, vibrāre, vibrāvī, vibrātum, wave, brandish, propel (a weapon) suddenly iambus, -ī, m., iambus, metrical foot of one short syllable followed by one long; (pl.), invective written in iambic meter trucēs...iambōs: The nature of these is not specified within the poem. They may refer to Poem 37, which follows this poem in the collection and is a savage depiction of the puella as prostitute.

6

ēlectus, -a, -um, adj., selected for excellence, choice ēlectissima: “most choice” i.e. worst; Cf. the play on “worst” and “best” in Poem 49. pessimus, -a, -um, adj., worst, very bad poēta, -ae, m., poet pessimī poētae: The girl means the speaker of the poem who has written some really bad things (about her?). The joke here is that the speaker wants to substitute the really bad writing of Volusius for his own in the girl’s vow. He playfully attacks Volusius’ work and wins back his girlfriend at the same time.

7

tardipēs, tardipedis, adj., slow-footed, lame tardipedī deō: Vulcan; a possible pun on the metrical “foot” of the poet’s verse and the god’s lame “foot.” Vulcan, son of Jupiter and Juno, is lame, controls fire, and is married to Venus, addressed below in the poem. datūram: understand sē and esse, accusative subject (the girl) with future active infinitive in indirect statement.

8

infēlix, infēlīcis, adj., unproductive, unlucky, unhappy infēlīcibus...lignīs: this adjective modifying words for tree or wood signifies material used in ritual burning of monstrous creatures or criminals. ustulō, ustulāre, ustulāvī, ustulātum, burn partially, scorch lignum, -ī, n., wood; (especially pl.) firewood

9

pessima: This word links the girl verbally with the “worst” poet, whose work is to be burned. She, now, is playfully described as “very bad” or “very naughty” the way he was earlier.

C at u l l u s 3 6

iocose lepide vovere divis. nunc, o caeruleo creata ponto, quae sanctum Idalium Uriosque apertos quaeque Ancona Cnidumque harundinosam colis quaeque Amathunta quaeque Golgos 10

69

10

iocōsē, adv., humorously, playfully lepidē, adv., charmingly, delightfully, wittily, amusingly iocōsē lepidē: note the asyndeton. These words underscore the lovingly joking subtext of the poem. The girl is teasing him and he returns the favor. dīvus, -ī, m., god

11

caeruleus, -a, -um, adj., blue caeruleō...pontō: ablative of origin. Venus, in one version of her birth, emerges from the sea as product of the severed genitals of the castrated Uranus. creō, creāre, creāvī, creātum, create, bring into being pontus, -ī, m., sea

12

quae: note the anaphora typical of hymnic addresses to deities. Cf. Poem 34. In the present poem it is used for mock-hymnic purposes. Īdalium, Īdalī, n., Idalium, town in Cyprus sacred to Venus Ūriī, -ōrum, m. pl., name of some place associated with the cult of Venus, perhaps the same as Urium, a town on the Apulian coast of Italy apertus, -a, -um, adj., open, exposed to the elements

13

Ancōna, -ae, f., Ancona, seaport on the Adriatic coast of Italy in Picenum settled by Greeks; there was a temple to Venus there. Venus appeared on the city’s coins. Ancōna: Greek accusative singular. Note that the syllable containing the short final a in this word is short, which means the cn of Cnidusque does not make the previous syllable long. The reason for this is that in Greek (and the Latin version of the city name comes from Greek) m or n can also function with a stop or mute the way a liquid l and r does in Latin. Cf. Gildersleeve and Lodge, Latin Grammar, # 704.2. Cnidus, -ī, f., Cnidus, town in southwest Asia Minor with three temples to Venus. The famous statue of the goddess by Praxiteles was located in one of them. harundinōsus, -a, -um, adj., full of reeds, reedy harundinōsam: Cnidus was known for reeds, which were used in antiquity for, among other things, making pens. This adjective used of a city connected with Venus may be the speaker’s way of emphasizing the link between love and writing in this poem.

14

colō, colere, coluī, cultum, cultivate, cherish

70

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

quaeque Dyrrachium Hadriae tabernam, acceptum face redditumque votum, si non illepidum neque invenustum est. at vos interea venite in ignem, pleni ruris et inficetiarum annales Volusi, cacata carta. 15

15

20

Amathūs, Amathuntis, f., town in Cyprus connected with worship of Venus Amathunta: Greek accusative singular Golgī, -ōrum, m. pl., town in Cyprus connected with worship of Venus Dyrrachium, Dyrrachī, n., Dyrrachium, town on coast of Illyria Hadria, -ae, m., the Adriatic Sea taberna, -ae, f., wooden hut, inn, shop tabernam: referred to by ancient authors as a frequent place for prostitution. Poem 37 (see note on trucēs...iambōs above) begins as an address to a salax taberna “lascivious inn.”

16

accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum, receive, take face: singular imperative; usually written without the e reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum, give back, deliver

17

nōn illepidum...invenustum: litotes illepidus, -a, -um, adj., lacking grace or refinement invenustus, -a, -um, adj., lacking in charm or beauty, unlovely, unattractive invenustum: this word choice is especially fitting in the immediately preceding context of worship of Venus.

18

intereā, adv., meanwhile ignis, ignis, m., fire

19

plēnus, -a, -um, adj., full rūs, rūris, n., the country (as opposed to the town), farm, estate inficētiae, -ārum, f. pl., instances of clumsiness

20

Annālēs...: Notice that the final line exactly repeats the first line of the poem. The writings of Volusius are now summoned to the fire.

© 2004 Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc.

Map for Poem 36

Catullus 40 In this poem the speaker counters the perceived oﬀense done to him by a man who wanted to love his beloved with his own power to attack that man with words. The poem builds up suspense by leaving until the last line the explanation of the oﬀense (you wanted to love...). Compare Poem 11 where the image of the speaker’s castrated love is in some sense countered by his ability to memorialize his castrator, Lesbia, in words.

Quaenam te mala mens, miselle Raude, agit praecipitem in meos iambos? quis deus tibi non bene advocatus vecordem parat excitare rixam? an ut pervenias in ora vulgi?

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

quīnam, quaenam, quodnam, interr. adj., plus nam, what (which) __, tell me? mala mens: derangement or sickness of the mind mens, mentis, f., mind misellus, -a, -um, adj., wretched, pitiable, unfortunate miselle: the diminutive shows contempt rather than aﬀection Raudus, -ī, m., a man’s name; otherwise unknown

2

praeceps, praecipitis, adj., headlong, rushing forward iambus, -ī, m., iambus, metrical foot of one short syllable followed by one long; (pl.), invective written in iambic meter

3

quis: interrogative adjective with deus nōn bene advocātus: not properly invoked, i.e., with the wrong formula advocō, advocāre, advocāvī, advocātum, call upon, summon, invoke the aid of the gods, employ as legal counsel

4

vēcors, vēcordis, adj., mad, demented parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum, prepare, buy, get excitō, excitāre, excitāvī, excitātum, rouse, set in motion, excite rixa, -ae, f., fight

5

an, conj., whether, or perveniō, pervenīre, pervēnī, perventum, arrive at, reach perveniās: elliptical purpose clause ōs, ōris, n., mouth, words, face vulgus, -ī, n., the common people, the general public, crowd

74

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

quid vis? qualubet esse notus optas? eris, quandoquidem meos amores cum longa voluisti amare poena. 6

volō, velle, voluī, wish, want, be willing quālubet, adv., by any road that pleases, no matter how nōtus, -a, -um, adj., known, familiar optō, optāre, optāvī, optātum, desire, choose

7

quandōquidem, rel. adv., since, seeing that

8

longā...poenā: Many critics link the present poem with Poem 15 where the speaker’s male beloved, Juventius, is entrusted to a man who is threatened with sexual violence if he doesn’t leave Juventius alone sexually. Some would therefore see the threat of punishment here as physical, not just verbal. poena, -ae, f., penalty paid for an oﬀense, punishment

Catullus 43 While enumerating the defects of the girlfriend of Mamurra, the speaker simultaneously sets up an ideal of female attractiveness, condemns both Mamurra and his girlfriend, and indirectly compliments Lesbia, his own girlfriend.

Salve, nec minimo puella naso nec bello pede nec nigris ocellis nec longis digitis nec ore sicco nec sane nimis elegante lingua. decoctoris amica Formiani,

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

salvē, hello, hail nec: the first of six appearances of this word in the poem. nec minimō...nāsō: beginning of the extended use of litotes which dominates the first four lines of this poem. This device allows for simultaneous condemnation of the girl’s attributes and definition (through negation of the negation) of what would constitute attractiveness. minimus, -a, -um, adj., smallest, least nāsus, -ī, m., nose

2

bellus, -a, -um, adj., charming, handsome, prett y, fine pēs, pedis, m., foot, metrical foot, a leg or foot of an article of furniture; nautical term, sheet, the rope by which the lower two corners of a sail are attached to a ship niger, nigra, nigrum, adj., black, dark, gloomy, black as a color of ill omen, evil ocellus, -ī, m., a little eye; as term of endearment, darling

3

digitus, -ī, m., finger nec ōre siccō: possibly a reference to her practicing oral sex or her drinking (of alcohol) ōs, ōris, n., mouth, face siccus, -a, -um, adj., dry, sober

4

sānē, adv., soundly, really, truly, very nimis, adv., very, too much, too ēlegans, ēlegantis, refined, tastefully attractive, elegant lingua, -ae, f., tongue, language nec sānē ēlegante linguā: may be a reference to her speech

5

dēcoctor, dēcoctōris, m., bankrupt person amīca, -ae, f., female friend, girlfriend Formiānus, -a, -um, adj., of or belonging to Formiae, city on coast of Latium dēcoctōris Formiānī: Mamurra, from Formiae, oﬃcer of engineers under Caesar in Spain and Gaul where he became very wealthy and spent a lot. He and his girlfriend are attacked by Catullus in other poems as well.

76

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

ten provincia narrat esse bellam? tecum Lesbia nostra comparatur? o saeclum insipiens et inficetum! 6

tēn: = tēne prōvincia, -ae, f., province, territory outside Italy under the administration of a Roman governor narrō, narrāre, narrāvī, narrātum, tell, say

7 8

comparō, comparāre, comparāvī, comparātum, compare, treat as equal to another saec(u)lum, -ī, n., generation, age, lifetime, century insipiens, insipientis, adj., unwise, foolish inficētus, -a, -um, adj., boorish, not witt y or smart inficētum: Cf. Poem 12.9, 22.14, and 36.19 for this or related words.

Catullus 44 A compliment to the curative powers of his country home involves a humorous attack on the bad writings of Sestius, who requires his dinner guests to read his writing as a condition for their invitation. Reading such “cold” writing as Sestius’ induces a “cold” in the speaker, who would prefer to shift the ill eﬀect of the reading onto the writer.

O funde noster seu Sabine seu Tiburs (nam te esse Tiburtem autumant, quibus non est cordi Catullum laedere; at quibus cordi est, quovis Sabinum pignore esse contendunt), sed seu Sabine sive verius Tiburs, fui libenter in tua suburbana

5

Meter: Choliambic 1

fundus, -ī, m., bottom, farm, estate noster: first person plural possessive adjective often used for first person singular seu Sabīne seu Tīburs: The issue here is one of fashionability. The Tiburtine location or address was more fashionable than the Sabine one. Sabīnus, -a, -um, adj., Sabine; the Sabines were a people of central Italy Tīburs, Tīburtis, adj., of or belonging to Tibur, modern Tivoli, a town not far from Rome.

2

autumō, autumāre, autumāvī, autumātum, allege, aﬃrm, say, call, think quibus nōn est cordī: idiom meaning “to be pleasing to”; double dative construction with dative of reference and dative of purpose. Catullus’ friends call the estate Tiburtine, while others call it Sabine.

3

cor, cordis, n., heart laedō, laedere, laesī, laesum, harm, strike

4

quīvīs, quaevīs, quidvīs, adj. and pron., whatever person or thing you please, anyone, anything quōvīs...pignore: at/for any stake, i.e., betting anything pignus, pigneris/pignoris, n., pledge, token, symbol, stake contendō, contendere, contendī, contentum, stretch, hasten, compete, contend

6

libenter, adv., with pleasure, willingly, gladly suburbānus, -a, -um, adj., situated close to the city (usually Rome), characteristic of those living near the city

78

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

villa, malamque pectore expuli tussim, non inmerenti quam mihi meus venter, dum sumptuosas appeto, dedit, cenas: nam, Sestianus dum volo esse conviva, orationem in Antium petitorem plenam veneni et pestilentiae legi. 7

10

villa, -ae, f., country-house, estate, farm pectus, pectoris, n., breast, chest expellō, expellere, expulī, expulsum, drive out, expel, banish tussis, tussis, f., cough

8

nōn inmerentī: litotes; “not undeserving” in the sense that his stomach led him, not his reason. inmerens, inmerentis, adj., undeserving, blameless quam: postposition mihī: second i sometimes long as here venter, ventris, m., belly, abdomen, stomach

9

sumptuōsus, -a, -um, adj., expensive, costly, extravagant appetō, appetere, appetīvī/appetiī, appetītum, seek, desire, attack appetō: present tense with dum; translate into English as past dedit: hyperbaton; for other examples, cf. Poem 51.5–6 and Horace Odes 1.9.21–22. cēna, -ae, f., dinner

10

Sestiānus, -a, -um, adj., Sestian, related to Sestius; Publius Sestius was quaestor in 63 bce and helped Cicero against Catiline. He was defended by Cicero in 56 bce on a charge of vīs, or violence. He worked for Cicero’s recall from exile. Cicero was aware of the faults of Sestius’ writing style. volō: present tense with dum; cf. appetō above, line 9 convīva, -ae, m., f., table companion, guest

11

ōrātiō, ōrātiōnis, f., act of speaking, language, speech, oration ōrātiōnem: written by Sestius in Antium: in with the accusative meaning “against” is very common in “titles” of speeches; cf. Cicero’s In Catilīnam. Antius, Antī, m., possibly the Gaius Antius who was responsible for a sumptuary law aimed at electoral corruption. Such laws typically restricted the number of guests a candidate could invite for dinner and required that the dinner consist largely of vegetables. petītor, petītōris, m., seeker, candidate

12

plēnus, -a, -um, adj., full venēnum, -ī, n., poison, magical or medicinal potion pestilentia, -ae, f., plague, pestilence legō, legere, lēgī, lectum, gather, collect, read, recite

C at u l l u s 4 4

hic me gravedo frigida et frequens tussis quassavit usque, dum in tuum sinum fugi, et me recuravi otioque et urtica. quare refectus maximas tibi grates ago, meum quod non es ulta peccatum. nec deprecor iam, si nefaria scripta Sesti recepso, quin gravedinem et tussim 13

79

15

hīc: the adverb has a temporal sense here, “at this point”; cf. Poem 10, line 24. gravēdō, gravēdinis, f., head cold, heavy oppressive feeling gravēdō frīgida et frequens tussis: chiasmus frīgidus, -a, -um, cold, lacking energy, feeble frequens, frequentis, adj., crowded, assiduous, constant, regular

14

quassō, quassāre, quassāvī, quassātum, shake repeatedly, cause to tremble violently usque, adv., continuously, continually, all the way dum: “until”; with indicative (fūgī), not subjunctive because of actual, not anticipated event sinus, sinūs m., fold in a garment, curve, breast, embrace, gulf fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitum, flee, flee from, avoid

15

recūrō, recūrāre, recūrāvī, recūrātum, cure, restore a thing to its former condition ōtium, ōtī, n., free time, leisure, peace ōtiōque: on ōtium, cf. Poems 10, 50, and 51. urtīca, -ae, f., stinging nettle (coarse herb with stinging hairs)

16

reficiō, reficere, refēcī, refectum, make again, repair, renew grātēs, grātium, f. pl., thanks

16–17 grātēs agere: give thanks 17

ulciscor, ulciscī, ultus sum, take revenge on, avenge peccātum, -ī, n., error, mistake, moral oﬀense

18

dēprecor, dēprecārī, dēprecātus sum, try to avert by prayer, beg nec dēprecor...quīn: the subjunctive (ferat) follows this negative clause of prevention nefārius, -a, -um, adj., oﬀending against moral law, evil, horrible scriptum, -ī, n., writing, literary work (usually in pl.)

19

Sestius, Sestī, m., Sestius; cf. Sestiānus above line 10. recipiō, recipere, recēpī, receptum, take back, accept, regain recepsō: archaic future form quīn, adv., why not, indeed, but; conj., so that...not

80

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

non mi, sed ipsi Sestio ferat frigus, qui tunc vocat me, cum malum librum legi. 20

20

frīgus, frīgoris, n., cold, coldness, lukewarm or unfavorable reception, flatness or frigidity of writing style frīgus: Catullus is playing here on the double meaning of this word. “Coldness of style” has the potential to create “cold sickness.” Bad writing style can make the reader ill!

21

tunc, adv., then tunc...cum: “(only) then...when”; reading Sestius’ work, and presumably being prepared to praise it, is a prerequisite for a dinner invitation. vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum, call, summon, invite liber, librī, m., inner bark of a tree, book, volume, roll legō, legere, lēgī, lectum, gather, collect, read, recite

Catullus 45 The exquisite balance of these extravagant declarations of love contains competitive amatory rhetoric. The statement of mutual love leads to two questions about the lovers and their love: who has seen more fortunate people, who a more auspicious love? Much of how one interprets the poem hinges on whether one takes these as rhetorical questions or not. Do they confirm the uniqueness of this love or do they, by utilizing comparative language, extend the “intramural” competition between the lovers to an “extramural” game of love?

Acmen Septimius suos amores tenens in gremio “mea” inquit “Acme, ni te perdite amo atque amare porro omnes sum assidue paratus annos, Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

Acmē, Acmēs, f., Acme, a woman’s name. Greek word for “culminating point, prime, critical moment.” The name, suggestive of a Greek freedwoman, contrasting with Septimius, a Roman name, implies a possible diﬀerence of class between the two lovers. Acmēn: Greek accusative singular ending Acmēn...Acmē: Note the word order in lines 1–2. The names of the two lovers are side by side in line 1, while Septimius is surrounded by his lover’s name and the words in apposition to it. Further, two forms of Acme’s name frame the two lines as a whole. Septimius, Septimī, m., Septimius, man’s name suōs amōrēs: in apposition to Acmēn. amor, amōris, m., love, sexual passion, object of one’s love (usually in pl.), love aﬀair, act of sex; love personified as the god of love

2

gremium, gremī, n., lap, breast, female genital parts gremiō: cf. Poem 3, line 8. inquam, inquit, defective verb (only a few forms occur, most often used parenthetically or before or after a quotation), say

3

perditē, adv., to desperation porrō, adv., forward, further

4

omnēs...annōs: these words are in agreement and frame the line assiduē, adv., continually, constantly parātus, -a, -um, adj., prepared

82

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

quantum qui pote plurimum perire, solus in Libya Indiaque tosta caesio veniam obvius leoni.” hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante dextra sternuit approbationem. at Acme leviter caput reflectens et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos illo purpureo ore saviata, 5

5

10

potis, pote, indecl. adj., able pote: supply est; pote + est = potest plūrimum, adv., to the greatest extent pereō, perīre, periī, peritum, perish, die

6

Libya, -ae, f., Libya, general term for whole of North Africa India, -ae, f., India, poorly defined region of Asia covering from modern-day India to the borders of China torreō, torrēre, toruī, tostum, scorch, parch, burn

7

caesius, -a, -um, adj., gray or gray-blue, having gray or gray-blue eyes veniam: jussive subjunctive obvius, -a, -um, adj. (with dat.), in the way, placed so as to meet, situated so as to confront leō, leōnis, m., lion leōnī: cf. the violent image of the Gaetulian lion in Horace Odes 1.23, line 10.

8

sinistrā, adv., on the left ante, adv., before, previously, in front

9

dextrā, adv., on the right sternuō, sternuere, sternuī, sneeze sternuit approbātiōnem: Sneezing as an omen. This act signals Love’s approval. approbātiō, approbātiōnis, f., approbation, giving of one’s approval

10

leviter, adv., lightly, gently, quietly caput, capitis, n., head, top, source, person, person’s life reflectō, reflectere, reflexī, reflexum, bend back, turn back

11

dulcis, -e, adj., sweet, (of persons) dear, beloved dulcis: genitive singular with puerī. puer, puerī, m., boy, non-adult male, male beloved, (young) male slave ēbrius, -a, -um, adj., drunk ocellus, -ī, m., a little eye; as term of endearment, darling

12

purpureus, -a, -um, adj., purple, radiant, glowing ōs, ōris, n., mouth, face sāvior, sāviārī, sāviātum, kiss

C at u l l u s 4 5

“sic,” inquit “mea vita Septimille, huic uni domino usque serviamus, ut multo mihi maior acriorque ignis mollibus ardet in medullis.” hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante dextra sternuit approbationem. nunc ab auspicio bono profecti mutuis animis amant amantur. unam Septimius misellus Acmen 13

83

15

20

vīta, -ae, f., life; hyperbolically, of a person as a term of aﬀection Septimillus, -ī, m., diminutive of Septimius

14

dominus, -ī, m., master, lord, ruler usque, adv., continuously, continually, all the way serviō, servīre, servīvī, servītum, serve as a slave, wait on, be politically subject, devote oneself to serviāmus: jussive subjunctive

15

ācer, ācris, ācre, adj., sharp, fierce, eager, dangerous

16

ignis, ignis, m., fire mollis, -e, adj., soft, gentle, flexible, voluptuous ardeō, ardēre, arsī, be on fire, burn, be in love medulla, -ae, f., bone marrow, one’s interior, heart or mind (as seat of deep thought and emotion) medullīs: Cf. the language of Poem 35, line 15 and Poem 64, line 93.

17–18 hoc...approbātiōnem: exact repetition of lines 8–9 19

auspicium, auspicī, n., auspices, observing of omens from birds, omen, fortune, luck proficiscor, proficiscī, profectus sum, start on a journey, set out

20

mūtuus, -a, -um, adj., mutual, reciprocal animus, -ī, m., mind, inclination, desire, enthusiasm amant amantur: asyndeton, which perhaps helps to “unite” the lovers verbally through the lack of need for a “conjunction.”

21

ūnam...Acmēn: Acme and her modifier frame the line while surrounding Septimius. misellus, -a, -um, adj., wretched, pitiable, unfortunate Acmēn: Greek accusative

84

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

mavult quam Syrias Britanniasque: uno in Septimio fidelis Acme facit delicias libidinesque. quis ullos homines beatiores vidit, quis venerem auspicatiorem? 22

25

mālō, mālle, māluī, prefer māvult quam: “wants more than” (English would translate this as “prefers to”). Syria, -ae, f., Syria, area between Asia Minor and Egypt, usually including Phoenicia and Palestine Britannia, -ae, f., Britain Syriās Britanniāsque: use of the language of empire to indicate preference for its opposite

23

fidēlis, -e, adj., faithful

24

dēlicia, -ae, f., (usually in pl.) pleasure, delight, sweetheart, pet, pet animal, toys, erotic verse facit dēliciās: idiom meaning “find pleasure, enjoy oneself” libīdō, libīdinis, f., desire, longing, sexual desire; in pl., instance of desire

25 26

beātus, -a, -um, adj., happy, fortunate quis: understand vīdit again. venus, veneris, f., Venus, Roman goddess of love; love, charm, sexual activity; best throw at dice auspicātus, -a, -um, adj., approved by augury, auspicious, fortunate, lucky

Catullus 46 There is a joyous momentum to this poem which includes an almost wistful recognition of the abandonment of a common purpose. Eager departure from the land of military service occasions saying farewell to sweet friends. The almost complete absence of elision in the poem and the repetition of the word iam at the beginning of lines 1 and 2, and then at the beginning of lines 7 and 8, creates an almost staccato marching eﬀect.

Iam ver egelidos refert tepores, iam caeli furor aequinoctialis iucundis Zephyri silescit auris. linquantur Phrygii, Catulle, campi Nicaeaeque ager uber aestuosae:

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

vēr, vēris, n., spring ēgelidus, -a, -um, adj., having the chill taken oﬀ, tepid ēgelidōs: This word spans the seasons by recalling the chill that has been undone for spring. tepor, tepōris, m., mild heat, warmth

2

caelī furor aequinoctiālis: the vernal equinox was known for its stormy weather furor, furōris, m., madness, frenzy, fury aequinoctiālis, aequinoctiāle, adj., connected with the equinox, equinoctial

3

iūcundus, -a, -um, adj., delightful, agreeable zephyrus, -ī, m., west wind, Zephyr silescō, silescere, become silent, grow quiet aura, -ae, f., breeze

4

linquō, linquere, līquī, go away from, abandon, leave behind Phrygius, -a, -um, adj., Phrygian; The name Phrygia was sometimes used to include the western part of Bithynia, where Catullus served in the military. Cf. Poem 31. campus, -ī, m., plain, level surface; field; often refers specifically to the Campus Martius in Rome

5

Nīcaea, -ae, f., Nicaea, city in Bithynia ager, agrī, m., field, territory ūber, ūberis, adj., rich, abundant aestuōsus, -a, -um, adj., very hot, agitated

86

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

ad claras Asiae volemus urbes. iam mens praetrepidans avet vagari, iam laeti studio pedes vigescunt. o dulces comitum valete coetus, longe quos simul a domo profectos diversae varie viae reportant. 6

10

clārus, -a, -um, adj., clear, bright, famous clārās...urbēs: suggestive of sightseeing Asia, -ae, f., Asia, Asia Minor, the East, Roman province of Asia volō, volāre, volāvī, volātum, fly, speed volēmus: not from volō “want”; jussive subjunctive; present subjunctive, not future indicative urbs, urbis, f., city; the city of Rome

7

praetrepidō, praetrepidāre, tremble in anticipation aveō, avēre, be eager, desire, long vagor, vagārī, vagātus sum, wander

8

studium, studī, n., enthusiasm, eagerness, pastime, study pēs, pedis, m., foot, metrical foot, a leg or foot of an article of furniture; nautical term, sheet, the rope by which the lower two corners of a sail are attached to a ship vigescō, vigescere, grow lively, gain strength

9

dulcis, -e, adj., sweet, (of persons) dear, beloved comes, comitis, m., f., one who goes with or accompanies another, companion, friend, comrade coetus, coetūs, m., meeting, crowd, band, company, gang

10

longē, adv., far, far oﬀ, far away in time, by far simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together ā domō: preposition with domus, standard after longē proficiscor, proficiscī, profectus sum, start on a journey, set out

11

dīversus, -a, -um, adj., diﬀerent, from diﬀerent directions variē, adv., in diﬀerent ways, variously reportō, reportāre, reportāvī, reportātum, bring back, carry back

Catullus 49 Seven lines of great simplicity and complexity link Catullus with the famous Marcus Tullius Cicero. The elaborate use of anaphora, superlatives, repetition of phrases, and formal language show Catullus carefully crafting a poem out of few and fairly simple words. The poem adopts a tone of self-deprecation and homage to a great speaker, but that may belie an ironic subtext.

Disertissime Romuli nepotum, quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli, quotque post aliis erunt in annis, gratias tibi maximas Catullus agit pessimus omnium poeta,

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

disertus, -a, -um, adj., skilled in speaking or writing disertissime: the first of five superlatives in this seven-line poem. Rōmulus, -ī, m., Romulus, legendary founder of Rome nepōs, nepōtis, m., f., grandchild, descendant

2

quot, indecl. adj., how many, as many as quot: anaphora sunt: the time expands from present, to past, to future becoming all inclusive

3

fuēre: -ēre, third person plural ending, perfect active indicative alternate Marcus Tullius Cicerō, Marcī Tullī Cicerōnis, Roman orator, writer, statesman; 106–43 bce. While Cicero and Catullus traveled in the same circles, their personal relationship is not known. Cicero, in the speech Prō Caeliō, In Defense of Caelius, successfully defends Caelius Rufus, former lover of Clodia, like Catullus (if one identifies his Lesbia with the same Clodia), and part of his strategy is vilification of Clodia. Cornelius Nepos, the addressee of Poem 1, was a friend of both Catullus and Cicero. Marce Tullī: the use of the praenomen and nomen is part of a formal style of address. It was the style of address used in the Senate.

4

grātia, -ae, f., kindness, favor, thanks grātiās agere: give thanks

5

pessimus omnium poēta: notice the repetition of this whole phrase in the same position in the next line pessimus: Some interpret this self-deprecation as genuine, others as ironic. Cf. Poem 36, line 6 where there is a double meaning for “worst poet.” Catullus’ programmatic Poem 1, of course, negotiates the boundaries of self-deprecation and literary pride. See Poem 1, note 4.

88

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

tanto pessimus omnium poeta quanto tu optimus omnium patronus. 6

tantō...quantō: correlatives

7

optimus omnium patrōnus: Commentators have diﬀered as to whether this should be taken as a serious compliment or an ironic remark. The phrase can have a double meaning: “best advocate of all (advocates),” like worst poet of all (poets), or “best advocate of all (people),” suggesting indiscriminate behavior on Cicero’s part, i.e., he would defend anybody and everybody. patrōnus, -ī, m., patron, former master of a freed slave, one who pleads for a client in court, advocate patrōnus: cf. patrōna in Poem 1, line 9. Clearly the notion of advocacy or patronage, from the literary to the political, was an important and complicated one.

Catullus 50 Leisure, writing, pleasure, and desire are all intertwined in this poem. Memories of “play” between Catullus and his intimate friend, Calvus, lead to future desires. The idea of otium or “leisure” and what it allows time for in this poem should be recalled when reading Poem 51, which follows.

Hesterno, Licini, die otiosi multum lusimus in meis tabellis, ut convenerat esse delicatos: scribens versiculos uterque nostrum ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc,

5

Meter: Hendecasyllabic 1

hesternus, -a, -um, adj., of yesterday, with diēs, yesterday Licinius, Licinī, m., Gaius Licinius Calvus (82–47 bce), intimate friend of Catullus, poet, orator. Only a few fragments of his work survive. In Poem 14 Calvus sends Catullus jokingly an anthology of bad poems. On Calvus, cf. Poems 53 and 96 as well. ōtiōsus, -a, -um, adj., not occupied by business, at leisure, idle ōtiōsī: On the notion of ōtium, cf. Poems 10, 44, and 51.

2

lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum, play, amuse oneself, play sexually, write light poetry lūsimus: This verb is used in reference to writing love poems, in particular, as well as other light verse. tabella, -ae, f., flat piece of wood, tablet, picture, wooden writing tablet usually coated with wax

3

conveniō, convenīre, convēnī, conventum, meet, agree, be suitable; impers., it is agreed dēlicātus, -a, -um, adj., interested in pleasure, self-indulgent, elegant, eﬀeminate

4

versiculus, -ī, m., brief line of verse; (pl.) light poetry nostrum: partitive genitive with uterque

5

numerus, -ī, m., number, poetic meter modo, adv., only, just now; modo...modo, now...now modo...illōc: cf. the similar language used in relation to the pet bird in Poem 3, line 9. illic, illaec, illuc, pron., adj., that illōc: ablative, singular, masculine

90

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum. atque illinc abii tuo lepore incensus, Licini, facetiisque, ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos, sed toto indomitus furore lecto versarer, cupiens videre lucem, ut tecum loquerer simulque ut essem. 6

10

reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum, give back, deliver mūtuus, -a, -um, adj., mutual, reciprocal; n. pl. with adverbial force, reciprocally, mutually iocus, -ī, m., joke, jest, joking per iocum atque vīnum: cf. the similar language of Poem 12, line 2.

7

illinc, adv., from there, from that time lepos, lepōris, m., charm, grace, attractiveness, wit

8

incendō, incendere, incendī, incensum, burn, make hot, inflame, excite facētiae, -ārum, f. pl., cleverness, wit

9

cibus, -ī, m., food, meal, sustenance iuvō, iuvāre, iūvī, iūtum, please, delight, help iūvāret: subjunctive in result clause

10

somnus, -ī, m., sleep tegō, tegere, texī, tectum, cover, guard, close the eyes (in sleep) tegeret: subjunctive in result clause quiēs, quiētis, f., rest, repose, calm, rest of sleep or death ocellus, -ī, m., a little eye; as term of endearment, darling ocellōs: cf. the use of the word as a term of endearment in line 19 below.

11

indomitus, -a, -um, adj., unconquered, unconquerable, wild furor, furōris, m., madness, frenzy, fury lectus, -i, m., bed, couch (also used for reclining at meals or studying)

12

versō, versāre, versāvī, versātum, keep turning around; pass. or reflex., keep going around, toss, writhe versārer: subjunctive in result clause cupiō, cupere, cupīvī, cupītum, wish, desire, long for lux, lūcis, f., light, daylight, day, life

13

loquerer: subjunctive in purpose clause; a kind of hysteron proteron, perhaps serving to foreground speech and thus by extension, language, a central feature of the poem simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together

C at u l l u s 5 0

at defessa labore membra postquam semimortua lectulo iacebant, hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci, ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem. nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras, oramus, cave despuas, ocelle, ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te. est vemens dea; laedere hanc caveto. 14

91

15

20

dēfessus, -a, -um, adj., tired out, exhausted membrum, -ī, n., limb or member of the body, limb, member, part of anything

15

sēmimortuus, -a, -um, adj., half dead lectulus, -ī, m., couch, bed (also used for reclining at meals or studying) iaceō, iacēre, iacuī, lie, be in ruins

16

iūcundus, -a, -um, adj., delightful, agreeable poēma, poēmatis, n., poem poēma: Greek accusative singular

17

ex quō perspicerēs: relative clause of purpose with subjunctive perspiciō, perspicere, perspexī, perspectum, look over thoroughly, survey, study, recognize, become aware of dolor, dolōris, m., pain, anguish, grief

18

audax, audācis, adj., daring, bold, rash audax: predicate adjective caveō, cavēre, cāvī, cautum, beware, refrain from, watch out for cave: note short e through iambic shortening here and in line 19 sīs: cave with the subjunctive functions as a circumlocution for the negative imperative. prex, precis, f., prayer

19

ōrō, ōrāre, ōrāvī, ōrātum, plead, beg, beseech ōrāmus: first person plural for first person singular cave: see line 18 despuō, despuere, spit down on the ground, spurn, reject despuās: see note on sīs above, line 18

20

poena, -ae, f., penalty paid for an oﬀense, punishment, revenge Nemesis, Nemeseōs, f., Nemesis, Greek goddess of retribution reposcō, reposcere, demand back, demand

21

vēmens, vēmentis, adj., violent, powerful laedō, laedere, laesī, laesum, harm, strike laedere: infinitive with cavētō cavētō: future imperative lends mock serious tone

Catullus 51 This poem is a translation/adaptation/interpretation of Sappho Poem 31. (It is linked to Poem 11 by its Sapphic meter, which only appears in these two poems, as well as its recollection of Sappho.) Cf. the English translation of Sappho Poem 31 included here. Some of the similarities between Sappho’s poem and Catullus’ poem will be apparent: both deal with the eﬀects of desire, issues of the self, and a third figure beyond speaker and object of desire. There are several significant changes Catullus has made from his “original,” including the fact that his speaker is male, not female, and his addressee is named. We are dealing here with heterosexual not homoerotic desire and the object of that desire has a name, “Lesbia.” The specificity of “naming,” though, is countered by the multivalence of the particular name, for “Lesbia” (as P. Allen Miller has captured it [cf. Lyric Texts and Lyric Consciousness pp. 101ﬀ.]) is in fact a “triple-faceted” object of desire. For who is Lesbia? She is poetic construct/pseudonym, Clodia, and Sappho (the famous poet from Lesbos) herself. This poem is about passionate engagement—with a woman, with a poet, with one’s own literary/erotic self. Sappho, Poem 31 (English translation from the Greek) That man seems to me to be equal to the gods, who sits opposite you and nearby hears you sweetly speaking and charmingly laughing, a thing which truly excites my heart in my breast; for whenever I see you for a moment, then for me to say anything is no longer possible, but my tongue is broken in silence and immediately a thin flame has stolen under my skin, and I see nothing with my eyes, and my ears make a buzzing sound, and cold sweat possesses me, and trembling seizes me completely, and I am greener than grass, and I seem to myself to be lacking little to be dead. But everything must be ventured, since...even a needy person... English translation by Ronnie Ancona, in Ancona, “The Untouched Self: Sapphic and Catullan Muses in Horace Odes 1.22,” in Efrossini Spentzou and Don Fowler, eds., Cultivating the Muse: Struggles for Power and Inspiration in Classical Literature (Oxford University Press 2002) 161–86. Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press.

94

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

Ille mi par esse deo videtur, ille, si fas est, superare divos, qui sedens adversus identidem te spectat et audit dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te, Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi

5

Meter: Sapphic 1

Ille: note the anaphora with ille beginning line 2 as well. pār, paris, adj., equal, well-matched, fitting (with dative)

2

fās, indecl. n., what is right or allowed by divine law, what is right or proper superō, superāre, superāvī, superātum, get beyond, surpass, overcome, be superior to dīvus, -ī, m., god

3

adversus, -a, -um, adj., turned toward, opposite, hostile identidem, adv., repeatedly, again and again, continually identidem: Cf. Poem 11, line 19.

5

dulce, adv., sweetly rīdeō, rīdēre, rīsī, rīsum, laugh miserō: goes with mihi (line 6); dative of separation quod: Note the postposition. This word refers to what precedes in the poem and is the subject of ēripit (line 6). omnīs: accusative plural of i-stem adjective; modifies sensūs

6

ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum, snatch away, rescue sensus, sensūs, m., any of the five physical senses, ability to perceive or make judgments, consciousness, feeling, sense simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together

7

aspiciō, aspicere, aspexī, aspectum, catch sight of, look at, gaze upon, see, behold supersum, superesse, superfuī, remain, survive est super: inversion of superest

8

vōcis: partitive genitive with nihil (line 7) vōcis in ōre: This line is missing in the manuscripts. What is printed here is what most scholars currently think is a likely possibility. ōs, ōris, n., mouth, face

C at u l l u s 5 1

lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus flamma demanat, sonitu suopte tintinant aures, gemina teguntur lumina nocte. otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est; otio exsultas nimiumque gestis; otium et reges prius et beatas perdidit urbes. 9

95

10

15

torpeō, torpēre, be physically numb, lack sensation tenuis, tenue, adj., slender, thin, slight, subtle artus, artūs, m., joint, limb, arm or leg, member or part of body

10

dēmānō, dēmānāre, dēmānāvī, run down sonitus, -ūs, m., sound -pte, particle, emphatic particle

11

tintinō, tintināre, make a ringing sound auris, auris, f., ear geminus, -a, -um, adj., twin, double geminā: Note the long a from the meter. It modifies nocte (line 12) and is a transferred epithet. tegō, tegere, texī, tectum, cover, guard, close the eyes (in sleep)

12

lūmen, lūminis, n., light, day, eye, glory

13

ōtium, ōtī, n., free time, leisure, peace. Cf. the notion of ōtium in Poems 10, 44, and 50. Note the anaphora. ōtium...urbēs: What is printed here is either the fourth stanza of this poem or a metrically similar fragment joined to the poem at a time after Catullus. If one takes these lines as part of Poem 51, one can see a kind of negative commentary on the eﬀect of leisure and desire. Considering the Roman male context in which Catullus is interpreting and adapting Sappho’s poem, it is not surprising that Catullus introduces some traditional upper-class values that make activity other than negōtium suspect. The end of Sappho’s poem is lost, but what we do have does not suggest the rejection of or distancing from desire contained in these lines. molestus, -a, -um, adj., troublesome, annoying, tiresome

14

exsultō, exsultāre, exsultāvī, spring up, behave in an unrestrained manner, run riot, exult nimium, adv., too, too much, very gestiō, gestīre, gestīvī, desire eagerly, be impatient, act without restraint, exult

15

prius, adv., previously, before beātus, -a, -um, adj., happy, fortunate

16

perdō, perdere, perdidī, perditum, destroy, lose

Catullus 60 This poem is one long sentence, a five-line outraged question. Its power comes from the wildness of its language and imagery and the lack of specificity given to a particular situation. What emerges is a carefully constructed emotional outburst that utilizes material as old as Homer’s Odyssey (cf. Book 12. 86–100 on Scylla). For Scylla and the word leaena, see Ariadne’s impassioned questions to Theseus in Poem 64, lines 154–57. Dido, in Vergil’s Aeneid Book 4. 366–67, uses the same idea of “wild animal parentage” to express her belief in Aeneas’ hardheartedness.

Num te leaena montibus Libystinis aut Scylla latrans infima inguinum parte tam mente dura procreavit ac taetra ut supplicis vocem in novissimo casu contemptam haberes, a nimis fero corde?

5

Meter: Choliambic 1

num, interr. particle, certainly not num: the interrogative particle may express disbelief leana, -ae, f., lioness Libystīnus, -a, -um, adj., African

2

Scylla, -ae, f., Scylla, half-human sea monster, located at the Straits of Messina, who grabbed and ate men from passing ships lātrō, lātrāre, lātrāvī, lātrātum, bark, roar infi mus, -a, -um, adj., lowest, most humble inguen, inguinis, n., swelling on groin, groin, sexual organs

3

mente dūrā...ac taetrā: ablative of description dūrus, -a, -um, adj., hard, harsh prōcreō, prōcreāre, prōcreāvī, prōcreātum, create, produce taeter, taetra, taetrum, adj., foul, horrible, vile, monstrous

4

supplex, supplicis, adj., suppliant cāsus, -ūs, m., fall, event, misfortune, chance

5

contemnō, contemnere, contempsī, contemptum, look down on, despise, insult ā, interj., ah; interjection expressing a variety of feelings nimis, adv., very, too much, too ferus, -a, -um, adj., wild, uncivilized, cruel ferō corde: ablative of description cor, cordis, n., heart

Catullus 64 (lines 50–253) Poem 64, by far Catullus’ longest, at over 400 lines, belongs to the genre called in modern times the “epyllion” or mini-epic. Written in dactylic hexameter, the meter of epic, an epyllion deals with epic material but in a smaller and diﬀerent way. It often gives a new focus to familiar material, shows interest in description and psychological matters, and uses allusions for identification rather than obvious names. Poem 64 is the only surviving example of the genre in Latin, although there is evidence of others, including the Io of Calvus and the Zmyrna of Cinna (cf. Poem 95, which is not in this text). Poem 64 is an account of the wedding of the mortal, Peleus, and the goddess, Thetis, who produce the child, Achilles. Lines 50–253 of the poem, the selection given in this text, is the story of Ariadne and Theseus and her abandonment by him, which is depicted on the bedspread of Peleus and Thetis. Some would argue that Catullus’ Poem 64 is heavily influenced by Callimachus, who wrote a similar “ecphrastic” epyllion, that is, one including a literary description of an object. It should be noted that this “story within a story” is longer than its “frame.” The happy theme of marriage has contained within it the sobering tale of an unhappy love. Whether heavily influenced by Callimachus or not, Poem 64—and the specific selection here—recalls at the level of theme and language much that is found elsewhere in Catullus’ poems. The themes of love, abandonment, memory/forgetting, death, vengeance, family, divinity, the male hero/imperialist, gifts or oﬀerings, all have echoes throughout the collection. (Words that appear more than once in this selection are given only at their first occurrence. The end vocabulary may always be consulted.)

haec vestis priscis hominum variata figuris heroum mira virtutes indicat arte.

50

Meter: Dactylic Hexameter 50

vestis, vestis, f., clothes, dress, cloth in form of covering or hanging vestis: here, covering for a bed, bedspread priscus, -a, -um, adj., ancient, former priscīs: transferred epithet; grammatically agrees with figūrīs but in sense goes with hominum variō, variāre, variāvī, variātum, adorn with contrasting colors, variegate figūra, -ae, f., form, shape, figure, image

51

hērōs, hērōos, m., hero mīrus, -a, -um, adj., amazing, extraordinary virtūs, virtūtis, f., manhood, courage, valor, virtue indicō, indicāre, indicāvī, indicātum, point out, show, declare

100

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

namque fluentisono prospectans litore Diae Thesea cedentem celeri cum classe tuetur indomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores, necdum etiam sese quae visit visere credit, utpote fallaci quae tunc primum excita somno desertam in sola miseram se cernat harena. 52

55

fluentisonus, -a, -um, adj., resounding with noise of waves prospectō, prospectāre, prospectāvī, prospectātum, gaze out at, look intently at, watch lītus, lītoris, n., shore, coast, beach Dīa, -ae, f., island in the Aegean Sea, may refer to Naxos; Ariadne was left by Theseus on Dia or Naxos

53

Thēseus, Thēseī/Thēseos, m., Theseus, son of Aegeus, king of Athens, (or of Poseidon in another version) and Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, king of Troezen. He returns to Athens after he has grown up. Thēseus (disyllabic in nominative) Thēsea, accusative singular, Thēseu (disyllabic in vocative) cēdō, cēdere, cessī, cessum, go, yield, withdraw classis, classis, f., fleet, political class tueor, tuērī, tuitus sum, look at, watch over, protect

54

indomitus, -a, -um, adj., unconquered, unconquerable, wild cor, cordis, n., heart gerō, gerere, gessī, gestum, bear, carry, do Ariadna, -ae, f., Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete and his wife, Pasiphae. When Minos refuses to sacrifice a beautiful bull to Poseidon, Poseidon makes Pasiphae fall in love with the bull. Their union produces the part-man, part-bull monster, the Minotaur. Daedalus, an exile from Athens, built a maze or labyrinth in which the bull was kept. Minos exacted a tribute from Athens in the form of human sacrifice to the Minotaur as revenge for the killing of his son, Androgeos, by the Athenians. Theseus, with Ariadne’s help, kills the Minotaur and leaves with her. Abandoned by him on Naxos or Dia, Ariadne is rescued by Bacchus. Her crown becomes a constellation. furor, furōris, m., madness, frenzy, fury

55

vīsō, vīsere, vīsī, look at, go and see vīsere: Notice the importance of perception in this selection. crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum, trust, believe, entrust

56

utpote, particle reinforcing explanatary clause, naturally utpote...quae: “naturally...who...” (naturally, since she...) fallax, fallācis, adj., deceitful, deceptive prīmum, adv., first excitō, excitāre, excitāvī, excitātum, rouse, set in motion, excite somnus, -ī, m., sleep

57

dēsertus, -a, -um, adj., deserted, uninhabited, left alone cernō, cernere, crēvī, crētum, distinguish, see, perceive, decide harēna, -ae, f., sand, beach, desert, arena

C at u l l u s 6 4

immemor at iuvenis fugiens pellit vada remis, irrita ventosae linquens promissa procellae; quem procul ex alga maestis Minois ocellis saxea ut eﬃgies bacchantis, prospicit, eheu, prospicit et magnis curarum fluctuat undis, 58

101

60

immemor, immemoris, adj., forgetful, unmindful immemor: Notice the importance of the theme of remembering and forgetting. iuvenis, iuvenis, m., f., young man, young woman pellō, pellere, pepulī, pulsum, push, drive, strike vadum -ī, n., shallow water, bottom of sea, waters of sea (usually in pl.) rēmus, -ī, m., oar

59

irritus, -a, -um, adj., made null and void, empty irrita: Cf. Poem 30, line 10 and this poem, line 142. irrita...procellae: golden line; cf. too, lines 129, 163, 172, 235. ventōsus, -a, -um, adj., windy, volatile linquō, linquere, līquī, go away from, abandon, leave behind prōmittō, prōmittere, prōmīsī, prōmissum, send forth, let loose, undertake, promise procella, -ae, f., storm, trouble

60

quem: the iuvenis of line 58 procul, adv., apart, far away alga, -ae, f., seaweed maestus, -a, -um, adj., sad, sorrowful, dejected, gloomy Mīnōis, Mīnōidis, f., female descendant of Minos; allusive reference to Ariadne ocellus, -ī, m., a little eye; as term of endearment, darling

61

saxeus, -a, -um, adj., made of stone, rocky, stony, unfeeling ut eﬃgiēs: Notice how the simile creates an “artistic image” within the larger “image” of the bedspread. eﬃgiēs, eﬃgiēī, f., artistic representation, statue, copy bacchor, bacchārī, bacchātus sum, celebrate the festival of Bacchus, rave, rage bacchantis: here, present participle as noun; a Bacchant or Maenad, female follower of Bacchus bacchantis: This word, here associated with Ariadne through the simile, anticipates the arrival of Bacchus at the end of the selection. Thus the simile images her grief and anticipates her rescuer.

62

prospiciō, prospicere, prospexī, prospectum, see in front, watch, anticipate ēheu, interj. (expressing grief or pain), alas prospicit: anaphora cūra, -ae, f., care, concern, worry, a person or thing constituting an object of care fluctuō, fluctuāre, fluctuāvī, fluctuātum, undulate, be in turmoil, hesitate unda, -ae, f., wave, water undīs: Notice the language of waves and movement within the image of the static stone statue.

102

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

non flavo retinens subtilem vertice mitram, non contecta levi velatum pectus amictu, non tereti strophio lactentis vincta papillas, 65 omnia quae toto delapsa e corpore passim ipsius ante pedes fluctus salis alludebant. sed neque tum mitrae neque tum fluitantis amictus 63

nōn...nōn...nōn...(63–65): note the anaphora and the placement at the beginning of each line fl āvus, -a, -um, adj., yellow, golden, blonde, auburn retineō, retinēre, retinuī, retentum, retain, keep, stop subtīlis, -e, adj., fine in texture, delicate vertex, verticis, m., head, summit mitra, -ae, f., Oriental headdress tied with ribbons under chin

64

contegō, contegere, contexī, contectum, clothe, cover, hide contecta...vēlātum pectus: This construction contains a perfect passive participle with accusative of respect or perfect passive participle used in a middle sense, taking an accusative direct object. levis, -e, adj., light, swift, gentle, unimportant, fickle vēlō, vēlāre, vēlāvī, vēlātum, cover, clothe pectus, pectoris, n., breast, chest, heart amictus, -ūs, m., cloak, clothing

65

teres, teretis, adj., rounded, smooth, polished strophium, strophī, n., breastband lactens, lactentis, adj., full of milk, milk-white lactentīs vincta papillās: same construction as in line 64 vinciō, vincīre, vinxī, vinctum, bind, encircle papilla, -ae, f., nipple; here, more generally, breast

66

tōtō: This word is echoed three times in lines 69–70. dēlābor, dēlābī, dēlapsus sum, drop, slip down passim, adv., here and there

67

ante, prep. with acc., before, in front of fluctus, -ūs, m., a flowing, wave, disturbance sāl, salis, m., salt, wit salis: by metonymy, the sea allūdō, allūdere, allūsī, allūsum, play against, play with allūdēbant: This word contains a spondaic fifth foot. Spondaic fifth feet also occur in the following lines in this selection: 71, 79, 80, 83, 91, 96, 98, 108, 119, 252. The slowing down of the meter here calls attention to the “playing” of the waves against her clothes. Notice the way in which the waves take on an almost erotic activity here. Recall the use of this verb elsewhere in Catullus, e.g., in Poems 2 and 50.

68

neque tum: note the repetition in this line fluitō, fluitāre, fluitāvī, flow, hang loose, float

C at u l l u s 6 4

illa vicem curans toto ex te pectore, Theseu, toto animo, tota pendebat perdita mente. a misera, assiduis quam luctibus externavit spinosas Erycina serens in pectore curas, illa tempestate, ferox qua robore Theseus egressus curvis e litoribus Piraei attigit iniusti regis Gortynia templa. 69

103

70

75

vicis (gen.) f., turn, situation, lot cūrō, cūrāre, cūrāvī, cūrātum, care about, take care of, attend to tē: ablative with pendeō Thēseu: apostrophe

70

animus, -ī, m., mind, inclination, desire, enthusiasm, feelings pendeō, pendēre, pependī, hang, hang down, be suspended perdō, perdere, perdidī, perditum, destroy, lose

71

ā, interj., ah; interjection expressing a variety of feelings ā: The repetion of the a sound in assiduīs and the spondaic end to the line underscore the image of lamentation. assiduus, -a, -um, adj., persistent, constant luctus, -ūs, m., expression of grief, mourning externō, externāre, externāvī, externātum, drive out of one’s mind, provoke to panic; ex(s)ternō...(as well)

72

spīnōsus, -a, -um, adj., thorny, spiny, diﬃcult Erycīna, -ae, f., Venus; a temple of Venus was located on Mt. Eryx in Sicily Erycīna: learned allusion to Venus serō, serere, sēvī, satum, sow, plant

73

tempestās, tempestātis, f., period, season, time, weather, storm ferox, ferōcis, adj., bold quā: ablative of time when rōbur, rōboris, n., oak tree, hard timber, strength

74

ēgredior, ēgredī, ēgressus sum, go or come out, leave curvus, -a, -um, adj., bent, curved, winding Pīraeus, Pīraeī, m., Piraeus, port of Athens

75

att ingō, att ingere, att igī, att actum, touch, reach, take up (a task) iniustus, -a, -um, adj., unjust, unfair, lawless Gortӯnius, -a, -um, of Gortyn, city on Crete templum, -ī, n., sacred precinct, temple

104

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

nam perhibent olim crudeli peste coactam Androgeoneae poenas exsolvere caedis electos iuvenes simul et decus innuptarum Cecropiam solitam esse dapem dare Minotauro. quis angusta malis cum moenia vexarentur, ipse suum Theseus pro caris corpus Athenis proicere optavit potius quam talia Cretam 76

80

perhibeō, perhibēre, perhibuī, perhibitum, present, tell crūdēlis, -e, adj., cruel, savage, painful pestis, pestis, f., physical destruction or death, plague cōgō, cōgere, coēgī, coactum, drive together, force coactam: modifies Cecropiam in line 79, which is the accusative subject of the infinitive solitam esse

77

Androgeōnēus, -a, -um, adj., of Androgeos, son of Minos and Pasiphae. Minos avenged his death on the Athenians. poena, -ae, f., penalty paid for an oﬀense, punishment exsolvō, exsolvere, exsoluī, exsolūtum, set free, release, perform or discharge (a vow or penalty) caedēs, caedis, f., killing, slaughter

78

ēlectus, -a, -um, adj., chosen for excellence, choice simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together decus, decoris, n., that which adorns or beautifies, honor, glory innuptus, -a, -um, adj., (of women) unmarried

79

Cecropia, -ae, f., Athens; from Cecrops, legendary king of Athens soleō, solēre, solitus sum, be accustomed daps, dapis, f., feast, banquet Mīnōtaurus, -ī, m., the Minotaur; half-man, half-bull born from the union of Pasiphae and a bull, housed in the Labyrinth and killed by Theseus. Mīnōtaurō: The spondaic fifth foot calls attention ominously to the monster. The next line’s fifth foot spondee highlights the diﬃculties of the human tribute, while line 83’s creates a ponderous quality for the actual journey of the victims.

80

quīs: ablative plural, alternate form of quibus; here, connecting relative pronoun angustus, -a, -um, adj., narrow, limited, diﬃcult (of circumstances) moenia, -ium, n. pl., defensive walls of a town or city, town or city enclosed by walls vexō, vexāre, vexāvī, vexātum, disturb, trouble, agitate, ravage

81

cārus, -a, -um, adj., dear, beloved Athēnae, -ārum, f. pl., Athens

82

prōiciō, prōicere, prōiēcī, prōiectum, throw forward, give up, abandon optō, optāre, optāvī, optātum, desire, choose potius, adv., rather, more (than) Crēta, -ae, f., island of Crete

C at u l l u s 6 4

funera Cecropiae nec funera portarentur. atque ita nave levi nitens ac lenibus auris magnanimum ad Minoa venit sedesque superbas. hunc simul ac cupido conspexit lumine virgo regia, quam suavis exspirans castus odores lectulus in molli complexu matris alebat, quales Eurotae progignunt flumina myrtus 83

105

85

fūnus, fūneris, n., funeral, death, destruction nec fūnera: oxymoron; not dead before voyage, but doomed to die portō, portāre, portāvī, portātum, carry portārentur: subjunctive in a comparative result clause without ut (Bennett, New Latin Grammar # 284.4)

84

nītor, nītī, nixus sum, lean, struggle, strive, rely on nītens: takes ablative here lēnis, -e, adj., smooth, gentle, mild, soft aura, -ae, f., breeze

85

magnanimus, -a, -um, adj., brave, bold Mīnōs, Mīnōis/Minōnis, m., Minos, king of Crete, and later a judge in the underworld Mīnōa: accusative singular; note the vowel quantities for scansion venit: short e from meter; present tense sēdēs, sēdis, f., seat, site, home, dwelling sēdēs: plural in same sense as singular superbus, -a, -um, adj., proud, arrogant

86

cupidus, -a, -um, adj., having strong desire, longing conspiciō, conspicere, conspexī, conspectum, catch sight of lūmen, lūminis, n., light, day, eye, glory

87

rēgius, -a, -um, adj., royal, splendid suāvis, -e, pleasant, pleasing to the senses exspīrō, exspīrāre, exspīrāvī, exspīrātum, breathe out, emit (odors) castus, -a, -um, adj., pure, virgin, sexually faithful odor, odōris, m., smell, odor, perfume

88

lectulus, -ī, m., couch, bed (also used for reclining at meals or studying) mollis, -e, adj., soft, gentle, flexible, voluptuous complexus, -ūs, m., embrace alō, alere, aluī, altum, nourish

89

quālēs... myrtūs: accusative plural; metonymy for “the odors” of the myrtles Eurōtās, -ae, m., river on which Sparta is located prōgignō, prōgignere, prōgenuī, prōgenitum, produce oﬀspring, give rise to flūmen, flūminis, n., river, waters of a river myrtus, -ī/ūs, f., myrtle

106

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

aurave distinctos educit verna colores, 90 non prius ex illo flagrantia declinavit lumina, quam cuncto concepit corpore flammam funditus atque imis exarsit tota medullis. heu misere exagitans immiti corde furores sancte puer, curis hominum qui gaudia misces, 95 quaeque regis Golgos quaeque Idalium frondosum, 90

distinctus, -a, -um, adj., diﬀerent ēdūcō, ēdūcere, ēduxī, ēductum, lead or bring out, produce vernus, -a, -um, occurring in spring, vernal colōrēs: metonymy for “ odors of flowers”

91

prior, prius, adj., earlier prius...quam: tmesis flagrans, flagrantis, adj., hot, blazing, passionate dēclīnō, dēclīnāre, dēclīnāvī, dēclīnātum, turn away dēclīnāvīt: The spondaic fifth foot draws out the “looking” and thus the “falling in love” before the “turning away.”

92

cunctus, -a, -um, adj., the whole of, all concipiō, concipere, concēpī, conceptum, take in, conceive

93

funditus, adv., from the bottom, completely īmus, -a, -um, adj., lowest, bottom of exardescō, exardescere, exarsī, catch fire, blaze up medulla, -ae, f., bone marrow, one’s interior, heart or mind (as seat of deep thought and emotion) medullīs: Cf. the language of Poem 35, line 15 and Poem 45, line 16.

94

heu, interj. expressing grief or pain, oh, alas miserē, adv., wretchedly, desperately exagitō, exagitāre, exagitāvī, exagitātum, rouse, stir up immītis, -e, adj., harsh, bitter

95

sanctus, -a, -um, adj., sacred, holy puer: Cupid quī: postposition gaudium, gaudī, n., joy, delight misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mixtum, mix, mingle

96

regō, regere, rexī, rectum, guide, direct, rule Golgī, -ōrum, m. pl., town in Cyprus connected with worship of Venus Golgōs...Īdalium: Cf. these same place names in Poem 36. Īdalium, Īdalī, n., Idalium, town in Cyprus sacred to Venus frondōsus, -a, -um, adj., leafy

C at u l l u s 6 4

qualibus incensam iactastis mente puellam fluctibus, in flavo saepe hospite suspirantem! quantos illa tulit languenti corde timores! quam tum saepe magis fulgore expalluit auri, cum saevum cupiens contra contendere monstrum aut mortem appeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis! non ingrata tamen frustra munuscula divis promittens tacito succepit vota labello: 97

incendō, incendere, incendī, incensum, burn, make hot, inflame, excite iactō, iactāre, iactāvī, iactātum, throw, toss, shake up, brag iactāstis: syncopated perfect active indicative form

98

hospes, hospitis, m., guest, visitor, host, stranger suspīrō, suspīrāre, suspīrāvī, suspīrātum, sigh, breathe out suspīrantem: spondaic fifth foot mimics her breathing

99

langueō, languēre, be sluggish, languid, weak timor, timōris, m., fear

100 fulgor, fulgōris, m., brightness, radiance expallescō, expallescere, expalluī, turn pale aurum -ī, n., gold 101 saevus, -a, -um, adj., cruel, savage cupiō, cupere, cupīvī, cupītum, wish, desire, long for contrā, adv., in return; prep. with acc., against contendō, contendere, contendī, contentum, stretch, hasten, compete, contend monstrum, -ī, n., portent, marvel, monster 102 appetō, appetere, appetīvī/appetiī, appetītum, seek, desire, attack praemium, praemī, n., prize, reward laus, laudis, f., praise 103 nōn: understand with both ingrāta and frustrā ingrātus, -a, -um, adj., marked by ingratitude, ungrateful, unwelcome, unattractive frustrā, adv., in vain, to no purpose mūnusculum, -ī, n., little gift 104 tacitus, -a, -um, adj., silent succipiō, succipere, succēpī, succeptum, take, receive, undertake vōtum, -ī, n., vow, prayer, votive oﬀering labellum, -ī, n., lip

107

100

108

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

nam velut in summo quatientem brachia Tauro quercum aut conigeram sudanti cortice pinum indomitus turbo contorquens flamine robur eruit (illa procul radicitus exturbata prona cadit, late quaeviscumque obvia frangens), sic domito saevum prostravit corpore Theseus nequiquam vanis iactantem cornua ventis. inde pedem sospes multa cum laude reflexit

105

110

105 velut...sīc: just as...so; simile quatiō, quatere, quassum, shake, beat upon Taurus, -ī, m., Taurus, mountain range in south of Asia Minor 106 quercus, -ūs, f., oak tree quercum...pīnum: direct objects of ēruit cōniger, cōnigera, cōnigerum, coniferous, cone-bearing sūdō, sūdāre, sūdāvī, sūdātum, sweat, be damp cortex, corticis, m., bark, rind, cork pīnus, -ūs, f., pine 107 turbō, turbinis, m., object that spins, whirlwind contorqueō, contorquēre, contorsī, contortum, twist, whirl, turn about fl āmen, fl āminis, n., blast, wind, breeze 108 ēruō, ēruere, ēruī, ērutum, uproot, stir up illa: nominative singular; refers to each of the trees rādīcitus, adv., by the roots, completely exturbō, exturbāre, exturbāvī, exturbātum, drive out, banish, disturb 109 prōnus, -a, -um, adj., leaning forward, prone, sloping cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum, fall, die, set (of heavenly bodies) lātē, adv., widely, over a large area quīvīscumque, quaevīscumque, quodvīscumque, adj., every conceivable, no matter what obvius, -a, -um, adj. (with dat.), in the way, placed so as to meet, situated so as to confront frangō, frangere, frēgī, fractum, break, crush 110 domō, domāre, domuī, subdue, overcome saevum: used as a substantive here prosternō, prosternere, prostrāvī, prostrātum, lay low, overthrow 111 nēquīquam, adv., to no eﬀect, in vain vānus, -a, -um, adj., empty, groundless, imaginary cornū, -ūs, n., horn, anything horn-shaped 112 inde, adv., from that point, from there, from that time, from then, then sospes, sospitis, adj., safe and sound, unhurt reflectō, reflectere, reflexī, reflexum, bend back, turn back

C at u l l u s 6 4

errabunda regens tenui vestigia filo, ne labyrintheis e flexibus egredientem tecti frustraretur inobservabilis error. sed quid ego a primo digressus carmine plura commemorem, ut linquens genitoris filia vultum, ut consanguineae complexum, ut denique matris, quae misera in gnata deperdita laeta, omnibus his Thesei dulcem praeoptarit amorem;

109

115

120

113 errābundus, -a, -um, adj., wandering tenuis, tenue, adj., slender, thin, slight, subtle vestigium, vestigī, n., footprint, sole, track, vestige fīlum, fīlī, n., thread 114 labyrinthēus, -a, -um, adj., labyrinthine flexus, -ūs, m., bending, curve 115 tectum, -ī, n., roof, house, dwelling frustror, frustrārī, frustrātus sum, delude, escape, elude, evade inobservābilis, -e, adj., diﬃcult to trace or observe error, errōris, m., wandering about, doubt, mistake, error 116 quid, adv., why dīgredior, dīgredī, dīgressus sum, depart, digress dīgressus: note the overlap of language of the storytelling and story’s events (stepping, departing, digressing, wandering) carmen, carminis, n., solemn or ritual utterance, song, poem, lyric poetry 117 commemorō, commemorāre, commemorāvī, commemorātum, recall, relate, tell commemorem: deliberative subjunctive ut...ut...ut: introduces three subjunctive verbs in indirect questions (praeoptārit, vēnerit, līquerit). The two repetitions of ut in line 118 emphasize for pathetic eﬀect the ut in line 117 and are part of the first indirect question. Lines 121–123 contain the other two indirect questions. genitor, genitōris, m., father, originator vultus, -ūs, m., look, face 118 consanguinea, -ae, f., sister 119 miserā: best taken as ablative gnāta, -ae, f., daughter dēperditus, -a, -um, adj., abandoned, utterly lost laetor, laetārī, laetātus sum, rejoice, delight in 120 Thēseī: disyllabic; -eī is one syllable by synizesis dulcis, -e, adj., sweet, (of persons) dear, beloved praeoptārit: trisyllabic; syncopated form further contracted by synizesis of -aeo

110

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

aut ut vecta rati spumosa ad litora Diae aut ut eam devinctam lumina somno liquerit immemori discedens pectore coniunx? saepe illam perhibent ardenti corde furentem clarisonas imo fudisse e pectore voces, ac tum praeruptos tristem conscendere montes, unde aciem pelagi vastos protenderet aestus, tum tremuli salis adversas procurrere in undas mollia nudatae tollentem tegmina surae, 121 vehō, vehere, vexī, vectum, carry; passive in middle sense ratis, ratis, f., raft, boat, ship spūmōsus, -a, -um, adj., foaming, frothy 122 dēvinciō, dēvincīre, dēvinxī, dēvinctum, bind 123 linquō, linquere, līquī, leave, abandon discēdō, discēdere, discessī, discessum, go away, depart coniunx, coniugis, m., f., spouse, wife, husband 124 perhibent: introduces four infinitives in indirect statement ardeō, ardēre, arsī, be on fire, burn, be in love (with abl.) furens, furentis, adj., mad, wild 125 clārisonus, -a, -um, adj., loud or clear sounding fundō, fundere, fūdī, fūsum, pour, spread, scatter, defeat 126 praeruptus, -a, -um, adj., abrupt, broken oﬀ, precipitous, very steep tristis, -e, adj., sad conscendō, conscendere, conscendī, conscensum, climb, go up to 127 unde, interr. and rel. adv., from where, from whom, from which unde...prōtenderet: relative clause of purpose aciēs, aciēī, f., sharp edge, eye, battle line pelagus, -ī, n., sea vastus, -a, -um, adj., desolate, huge prōtendō, prōtendere, prōtendī, prōtentum, stretch out, extend aestus, -ūs, m., heat, passion, tide 128 tremulus, -a, -um, adj., trembling, shaky, quivering adversus, -a, -um, adj., turned toward, opposite, hostile prōcurrō, prōcurrere, prōcurrī, prōcursum, run forward 129 nūdō, nūdāre, nūdāvī, nūdātum, make naked, strip, uncover tollō, tollere, sustulī, sublātum, lift, raise, extol, take away, destroy tegmen, tegminis, n., cover sūra, -ae, f., calf of the leg

125

C at u l l u s 6 4

atque haec extremis maestam dixisse querellis, frigidulos udo singultus ore cientem: “sicine me patriis avectam, perfide, ab aris, perfide, deserto liquisti in litore, Theseu? sicine discedens neglecto numine divum, immemor a! devota domum periuria portas? nullane res potuit crudelis flectere mentis consilium? tibi nulla fuit clementia praesto, immite ut nostri vellet miserescere pectus? at non haec quondam blanda promissa dedisti

111

130

135

130 querella, -ae, f., complaint, expression of grievance 131 frīgidulus, -a, -um, adj., chilly, cold ūdus, -a, -um, adj., wet, pliant singultus, -ūs, m., sob frīgidulōs ūdō singultūs ōre cientem: synchysis or interlocked word order ōs, ōris, n., mouth, words, face cieō, ciēre, cīvī, citum, stir up, rouse, produce 132 sīcine = sīc + -ne patrius, -a, -um, adj., of a father, ancestral, native, inherited, belonging to one’s country āvehō, āvehere, āvehī, āvectum, carry oﬀ, depart perfidus, -a, -um, adj., treacherous, false, deceitful āra, -ae, f., altar, refuge arīs: home, by synecdoche 133

pefide: anaphora

134 sīcine: anaphora neglectus, -a, -um, adj., not cared for, neglected nūmen, nūminis, n., nod, divine power, divinity, god dīvum: genitive plural 135 dēvōtus, -a, -um, adj., accursed, devoted periūrium, periūrī, n., false oath, perjury 136 flectō, flectere, flexī, flexum, bend, curve, turn, change, influence 137 consilium, consilī, n., deliberation, decision, purpose clēmentia, -ae, f., clemency, disposition to pardon, mildness praestō, adv., ready, available 138 miserescō, miserescere, have compassion for, (with gen.) 139 nōn...nōn...sed...sed: anaphora blandus, -a, -um, adj., charming, persuasive, seductive

112

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

voce mihi, non haec miseram sperare iubebas, 140 sed conubia laeta, sed optatos hymenaeos, quae cuncta aerii discerpunt irrita venti. nunc iam nulla viro iuranti femina credat, nulla viri speret sermones esse fideles, quis dum aliquid cupiens animus praegestit apisci, 145 nil metuunt iurare, nihil promittere parcunt; sed simul ac cupidae mentis satiata libido est, dicta nihil meminere, nihil periuria curant. certe ego te in medio versantem turbine leti eripui, et potius germanum amittere crevi 150 140 iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussum, order, command, bid 141 cōnūbium, cōnūbī, n., marriage hymenaeus, -ī, m., wedding, marriage (usually in pl.) 142 āerius, -a, -um, adj., of the air, loft y āeriī: quadrisyllabic because ae is not a diphthong here discerpō, discerpere, discerpsī, discerptum, tear to pieces 143 nunc iam...: While elsewhere in Catullus (e.g., in Poem 70) his girlfriend is the one who speaks in an untrustworthy fashion, here it is a man. 144 sermō, sermōnis, m., speech, talk, conversation, dialogue, topic of conversation fidēlis, -e, adj., faithful 145 quīs: alternate form of quibus, dative of reference praegestiō, praegestīre, be very eager apiscor, apiscī, aptus sum, grasp, get 146 metuō, metuere, metuī, metūtum, fear, be afraid of, be afraid parcō, parcere, pepercī, parsum, spare (with dat.) 147 satiō, satiāre, satiāvī, satiātum, satisfy, sate, gratify libīdō, libīdinis, f., desire, lust 148 nihil...nihil: accusatives of respect or adverbial use meminī, meminisse, perf. with pres. meaning; remember, recollect meminēre: alternate ending, third person plural perfect active indicative 149 versō, versāre, versāvī, versātum, spin, turn 150 ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum, snatch away, rescue potius...quam: tmesis germānus, -ī, m., brother germānum: the Minotaur āmittō, āmittere, āmīsī, āmissum, send away, release, lose

C at u l l u s 6 4

113

quam tibi fallaci supremo in tempore dessem. pro quo dilaceranda feris dabor alitibusque praeda, neque iniecta tumulabor mortua terra. quaenam te genuit sola sub rupe leaena, quod mare conceptum spumantibus exspuit undis, 155 quae Syrtis, quae Scylla rapax, quae vasta Charybdis, talia qui reddis pro dulci praemia vita? si tibi non cordi fuerant conubia nostra, 151 suprēmus, -a, -um, adj., final, last tempus, temporis, n., time, occasion, proper time, an age or particular period in history, danger dēsum, dēesse, dēfuī, be missing, fail (with dat. of person) dēssem: syncopated (two e’s contract); subjunctive in a comparative result clause without ut (Bennett, New Latin Grammar # 284.4) 152 dīlacerō, dīlacerāre, dīlacerāvī, dīlacerātum, tear to pieces fera, -ae, f., wild animal āles, ālitis, m., f., large bird; omen 153 praeda, -ae, f., booty, prey, prize iniciō, inicere, iniēcī, iniectum, throw in or on tumulō, tumulāre, tumulāvī, tumulātum, cover with a burial mound 154 quīnam, quaenam, quodnam, interr. adj. + nam, what (which) __, tell me? gignō, gignere, genuī, genitum, give birth to, produce rūpēs, rūpis, f., steep rocky cliﬀ, crag leana, -ae, f., lioness leana: Cf. Poem 60, line 1. 155 mare, maris, n., sea concipiō, concipere, concēpī, conceptum, take in, conceive, produce spūmō, spūmāre, spūmāvī, spūmātum, foam, froth exspuō, exspuere, exspuī, exspūtum, spit out, emit spūmantibus exspuit: alliteration and onomatopoeia 156 Syrtis, Syrtis, f., Syrtis (esp. pl.), name of two areas of sandy flats on the coast between Carthage and Cyrene; whole desert region next to this coast. Scylla, -ae, f., Scylla, half-human sea monster, located at the Straits of Messina, who grabbed and ate men from passing ships rapax, rapācis, adj., rapacious, very greedy Charybdis, Charybdis, f., whirlpool, seen as female monster, on Sicilian side of strait between Sicily and Italy 157 reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum, give back, deliver 158 tibi...cordī fuerant: idiom, had been dear/pleasing to you

114

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

saeva quod horrebas prisci praecepta parentis, attamen in vestras potuisti ducere sedes, quae tibi iucundo famularer serva labore, candida permulcens liquidis vestigia lymphis, purpureave tuum consternens veste cubile. sed quid ego ignaris nequiquam conqueror auris, exsternata malo, quae nullis sensibus auctae nec missas audire queunt nec reddere voces? ille autem prope iam mediis versatur in undis, nec quisquam apparet vacua mortalis in alga.

160

165

159 horreō, horrēre, horruī, bristle, shudder at praeceptum, -ī, n., precept, rule parens, parentis, m., f., parent, father or mother; (pl.) parents; (usually in pl.) ancestor, originator 160 att amen = at tamen 161 quae...famulārer: relative clause of purpose iūcundus, -a, -um, adj., delightful, agreeable famulor, famulārī, famulātus sum, be subject to, be a slave serva, -ae, f., slave (female) 162 candidus, -a, -um, adj., bright, radiant, white permulceō, permulcēre, permulsī, permulsum, stroke, soothe, charm lympha, -ae, f., water 163 purpureus, -a, -um, adj., purple, radiant, glowing consternō, consternere, constrāvī, constrātum, spread, cover veste: Notice how the language of the bedspread recalls the beginning of this selection (line 50). Ariadne is “in” the first bedspread and now from “within” it comments on her willingness to have been a slave laying out the “further inside” bedspread of Theseus. cubīle, cubīlis, n., bed, couch 164 ignārus, -a, -um, ignorant, unaware conqueror, conquerī, conquestus sum, complain, lament 165 sensus, sensūs, m., any of the five physical senses, ability to perceive or make judgments, consciousness, feeling, sense augeō, augēre, auxī, auctum, increase, furnish 166 queō, quīre, quīvī, be able 168 appāreō, appārēre, appāruī, appāritum, appear vacuus, -a, -um, adj., empty, free, available

C at u l l u s 6 4

sic nimis insultans extremo tempore saeva fors etiam nostris invidit questibus auris. Iuppiter omnipotens, utinam ne tempore primo Gnosia Cecropiae tetigissent litora puppes, indomito nec dira ferens stipendia tauro perfidus in Creta religasset navita funem, nec malus haec celans dulci crudelia forma consilia in nostris requiesset sedibus hospes! nam quo me referam? quali spe perdita nitor?

115

170

175

169 nimis, adv., very, too much, too insultō, insultāre, insultāvī, insultātum, leap or trample on, mock 170 fors, fortis, f., chance, luck invideō, invidēre, invīdī, invīsum, envy, begrudge, refuse questus, -ūs, m., complaint, lament questibus: dative of recipient with invideō auris, auris, f., ear aurīs: accusative plural 171 omnipotens, omnipotentis, adj., all powerful utinam: introduces three pluperfect subjunctives. Both the wish and the following selfquestioning echo that of Medea in Euripides’ Greek and Ennius’ Latin Medea. 172 Gnōsius, -a, -um, related to city of Cnossos on Crete or Crete tangō, tangere, tetigī, tactum, touch puppis, puppis, f., stern of boat, boat, ship 173 indomitō...taurō: chiasmus dīrus, -a, -um, adj., terrible, awful, dire stīpendium, stīpendī, n., regular cash payment, permanent tax, oﬀering taurus, -ī, m., bull 174 religō, religāre, religāvī, religātum, tie, fasten behind; untie (occasionally) nāvita, -ae, m., sailor fūnis, fūnis, m., rope, cable, mooring rope 175 cēlō, cēlāre, cēlāvī, cēlātum, conceal, hide forma, -ae, f., form, appearance, image, beauty 176 requiescō, requiescere, requiēvī, requiētum, rest, be given a rest requiēsset: syncopated pluperfect active subjunctive 177 quō, adv., where, for what purpose referam: first of four deliberative subjunctives; others, petam (178), spērem (180), consōler (182) spēs, speī, f., hope nītor, nītī, nixus sum, lean, struggle, strive

116

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

Idaeosne petam montes? at gurgite lato discernens ponti truculentum dividit aequor. an patris auxilium sperem? quemne ipsa reliqui respersum iuvenem fraterna caede secuta? coniugis an fido consoler memet amore? quine fugit lentos incurvans gurgite remos? praeterea nullo colitur sola insula tecto, nec patet egressus pelagi cingentibus undis. nulla fugae ratio, nulla spes: omnia muta, omnia sunt deserta, ostentant omnia letum. 178

180

185

Īdaeus, -a, -um, adj., of Mount Ida on Crete gurges, gurgitis, m., eddy, whirlpool, waters of river or sea lātus, -a, -um, adj, wide

179 discernō, discernere, discrēvī, discrētum, separate, divide pontus, -ī, m., sea truculentus, -a, -um, adj., ferocious, aggressive dīvidō, dīvidere, dīvīsī, dīvīsum, separate, divide aequor, aequoris, n., a flat level surface, the flat surface of the sea, sea, (often used in pl.) 180 auxilium, auxilī, n., help, aid quemne: -ne best taken here as the aﬃrmative particle emphasizing quem relinquō, relinquere, relīquī, relictum, leave, leave behind, abandon 181 respergō, respergere, respersī, respersum, sprinkle, sprinkle with stains 182 fīdus, -a, -um, adj., faithful, loyal consōlor, consōlārī, consōlātus sum, comfort, console 183 quīne: same use of -ne as with quemne, line 180 above fugit: Notice the short u signalling the present tense. lentus, -a, -um, adj., slow, lingering, unresponsive, pliant incurvō, incurvāre, incurvāvī, incurvātum, bend, extend in a curve 184 colō, colere, coluī, cultum, cultivate, cherish 185 pateō, patēre, patuī, be open ēgressus, -ūs, m., escape, egress cingō, cingere, cinxī, cinctum, surround, encircle 186 fuga, -ae, f., flight, desertion ratiō, ratiōnis, f., calculation, reason, method 187 mūtus, -a, -um, adj., inarticulate, dumb, silent, mute ostentō, ostentāre, ostentāvī, ostentātum, display, show, indicate

C at u l l u s 6 4

non tamen ante mihi languescent lumina morte, nec prius a fesso secedent corpore sensus, quam iustam a divis exposcam prodita multam caelestumque fidem postrema comprecer hora. quare facta virum multantes vindice poena Eumenides, quibus anguino redimita capillo frons exspirantis praeportat pectoris iras, huc huc adventate, meas audite querellas,

117

190

195

188 ante...nec prius...quam: tmesis languescō, languescere, languī, grow weak 189 fessus, -a, -um, adj., tired, weary sēcēdō, sēcēdere, sēcessī, sēcessum, withdraw 190 iustus, -a, -um, lawful, fair, just exposcō, exposcere, expoposcī, ask for, demand, beg exposcam and comprecer (below): antequam and priusquam take subjunctive to denote an anticipated action prōdō, prōdere, prōdidī, prōditum, project, assert, transmit, betray multa, -ae, f., fine, penalty 191 caelestis, -e, adj., of the sky, celestial, divine caelestum: substantival use here fidēs, fidēī, f., trust, belief, faith, honesty, honor comprecor, comprecārī, comprecātus sum, pray to, invoke, supplicate 192 factum, -ī, n., deed, action virum: genitive plural; “men” not “people.” Ariadne is interested, specifically, in vengeance against men like Theseus here. Catullus’ is the only account that makes Theseus’ forgetfulness upon returning home and its dire results a consequence of Ariadne’s vengeance upon him for abandoning her. multō, multāre, multāvī, multātum, fine, punish vindex, vindicis, m., f., avenger; here, as adj., avenging 193 Eumenis, Eumenidos, f., one of the Eumenides or Furies who avenge wrongs, sometimes depicted with snakes anguīnus, -a, -um, adj., of snakes, consisting of snakes redimiō, redimīre, redimiī, redimītum, encircle with a garland, surround capillus, -i, m., hair 194 frons, frontis, f., forehead, brow, front praeportō, praeportāre, carry in front īra, -ae, f., anger, wrath, rage 195 adventō, adventāre, adventāvī, adventātum, approach, draw near

118

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

quas ego, vae miserae, imis proferre medullis cogor inops, ardens, amenti caeca furore. quae quoniam verae nascuntur pectore ab imo, vos nolite pati nostrum vanescere luctum, sed quali solam Theseus me mente reliquit, tali mente, deae, funestet seque suosque.” has postquam maesto profudit pectore voces, supplicium saevis exposcens anxia factis, annuit invicto caelestum numine rector; quo motu tellus atque horrida contremuerunt aequora concussitque micantia sidera mundus.

200

205

196 vae, interj., alas, alas for, woe to, bad luck to prōferō, prōferre, prōtulī, prōlātum, bring forth, utter 197 inops, inopis, adj., lacking wealth, poor āmens, āmentis, adj., demented, insane, frantic caecus, -a, -um, adj., blind, dark, hidden 198 nascor, nascī, nātus sum, be born 199 patior, patī, passus sum, suﬀer, undergo, experience, endure, allow vānescō, vānescere, vanish, become useless 200 quālī...tālī: correlatives 201 fūnestō, fūnestāre, fūnestāvī, fūnestātum, pollute by murder, stain with blood, make mournful 202 profundō, profundere, profūdī, profūsum, pour out, emit 203 supplicium, supplicī, n., entreaty, punishment, atonement, thing oﬀered to propitiate someone anxius, -a, -um, adj., disturbed, distressing 204 annuō, annuere, annuī, annūtum, make signs, nod, nod assent, approve of invictus, -a, -um, adj., unconquered, invincible rector, rectōris, m., helmsman, ruler rector: Jupiter 205 quō: connecting relative adjective mōtus, -ūs, m., motion, movement, passion, upheaval tellūs, tellūris, f., land, earth, country, ground contremescō, contremescere, contremuī, tremble, be afraid of 206 concutiō, concutere, concussī, concussum, shake, upset, stir up micō, micāre, micuī, quiver, dart, flash sīdus, sīderis, n., star; sky (pl.) mundus, -ī, m., sky, world

C at u l l u s 6 4

ipse autem caeca mentem caligine Theseus consitus oblito dimisit pectore cuncta quae mandata prius constanti mente tenebat, dulcia nec maesto sustollens signa parenti sospitem Erectheum se ostendit visere portum. namque ferunt olim, classi cum moenia divae linquentem gnatum ventis concrederet Aegeus, talia complexum iuveni mandata dedisse: “gnate mihi longe iucundior unice vita, gnate, ego quem in dubios cogor dimittere casus,

119

210

215

207 cālīgō, cālīginis, f., darkness, obscurity of a mist or fog 207–208 mentem...consitus: perfect passive participle with accusative of respect or perfect passive participle used in a middle sense taking an accusative direct object 208 conserō, conserere, consēvī, consitum, sow, plant; consitus (of persons) beset oblīviscor, oblīviscī, oblītus sum, forget dīmittō, dīmittere, dīmīsī, dīmissum, let go, send away cuncta...mandāta: accusative; direct object of dīmīsīt 209 quae: antecedent is mandāta; direct object of tenēbat mandātum, -ī, n., order, instruction constans, constantis, adj., unchanging, constant 210 sustollō, sustollere, sustulī, sublātum, raise on high, kidnap signum, -ī, n., sign, distinguishing mark, image, constellation, military standard 211 Erecthēus, -a, -um, adj., of Erectheus, legendary king of Athens; Athenian ostendō, ostendere, ostendī, ostentum, show, display, indicate portus, -ūs, m., harbor, port, refuge 212 dīva, -ae, f., goddess 213 gnātus, -ī, m., son concrēdō, concrēdere, concrēdidī, concrēditum, entrust for safekeeping Aegeus (disyllabic), Aegeī, m., Aegeus, legendary king of Athens, father of Theseus 214 complector, complectī, complexus sum, embrace, hug complexum: modifies an understood “Aegeus”; subject accusative in indirect statement dedisse: infinitive in indirect statement introduced by ferunt 215 gnāte anaphora vītā: ablative of comparison 216 quem: postposition, perhaps indicating emotional upset; notice the juxtaposition of ego and quem (newly reunited father and son) right before the moment of departure dubius, -a, -um, adj., uncertain, indecisive cāsus, -ūs, m., fall, event, misfortune, chance

120

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

reddite in extrema nuper mihi fine senectae, quandoquidem fortuna mea ac tua fervida virtus eripit invito mihi te, cui languida nondum lumina sunt gnati cara saturata figura, non ego te gaudens laetanti pectore mittam, nec te ferre sinam fortunae signa secundae, sed primum multas expromam mente querellas, canitiem terra atque infuso pulvere foedans; inde infecta vago suspendam lintea malo, nostros ut luctus nostraeque incendia mentis

220

225

217 reddite: Theseus’ mother Aethra took him, when an infant, to Troezen. When he grew up, he went to Athens and was recognized by his father, by then an old man. senecta, -ae, f., old age 218 quandōquidem, rel. adv., since, seeing that fervidus, -a, -um, adj., boiling, burning, hot, impetuous 219 invītus, -a, -um, adj., unwilling, reluctant, not wishing invītō mihi: dative of separation with ēripit languidus, -a, -um, adj., languid, sluggish, slow 220 saturō, saturāre, saturāvī, saturātum, satisfy, sate, saturate 221 ego tē: juxtaposition, again, of father and son gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsus sum, rejoice, delight in (with abl.) mitt am: first of four future tense verbs 222 sinō, sinere, sīvī, situm, leave alone, allow 223 exprōmō, exprōmere, exprompsī, expromptum, bring out, give expression to, reveal 224 cānitiēs, cānitiēī, f., white or grey coloring, grey or white hair cānitiem...foedans: ancient ritual denoting grief infundō, infundere, infūdī, infūsum, pour in, fill pulvis, pulveris, m., dust foedō, foedāre, foedāvī, foedātum, make filthy, stain 225 inficiō, inficere, infēcī, infectum, dye, imbue, taint, stain vagus, -a, -um, adj., roaming, wandering suspendō, suspendere, suspendī, suspensum, hang up linteum, -ī, n., piece of linen cloth, sail, towel, napkin, curtain mālus, -ī, m., pole, beam, mast of a ship mālō: Notice that the word for “mast” has a long a unlike the adjective malus, -a, -um. 226 incendium, incendī, n., fire, fire (of love)

C at u l l u s 6 4

carbasus obscurata dicet ferrugine Hibera. quod tibi si sancti concesserit incola Itoni, quae nostrum genus ac sedes defendere Erecthei annuit, ut tauri respergas sanguine dextram, tum vero facito ut memori tibi condita corde haec vigeant mandata, nec ulla oblitteret aetas; ut simul ac nostros invisent lumina collis

121

230

227 carbasus, -ī, f., sail, canvas, awning obscurō, obscurāre, obscurāvī, obscurātum, obscure, darken, hide dicō, dicāre, dicāvī, dicātum, show, indicate dicet: subjunctive in purpose clause ferrūgō, ferrūginis, f., rust, rust color ferrūgine: rust-colored dye Hibērus, -a, -um, adj., Iberian, Spanish 228 concēdō, concēdere, concessī, concessum, go away, concede, grant, allow concesserit: verb of “granting” introduces substantive clause in subjunctive (respergās) Itōnus, Itōnī, f., name of Thessalian and Boeotian towns associated with Athena incola Itōnī: allusive reference to Athena 229 genus, generis, n., birth, race, kind, oﬀspring defendō, defendere, defendī, defensum, avert, defend, protect Erectheus (trisyllabic), Erectheī, m., legendary king of Athens Erectheī: -eī one syllable by synizesis 230 sanguis, sanguinis, m., blood dextra, -ae, f., right hand, pledge 231 facitō: future active imperative, second person singular. With ut it introduces five present subjunctive verbs through line 237: ut in line 231 governs the first two subjunctives, ut in 233 the second two, and that in 236 the last one. The imperative of faciō takes a substantive clause in the subjunctive. Note that invīsent and sistet are not subjunctives. memor, memoris, adj., mindful, remembering condō, condere, condidī, conditum, found, establish, store up 232 vigeō, vigēre, viguī, flourish, thrive oblītterō, oblīterrāre, oblītt āvī, oblīterrātum, cause to be forgotten, eﬀace aetās, aetātis, f., time, age 233 invīsō, invīsere, invīsī, invīsum, go to see, visit, have visual experience of, see collis, collis, m., hill

122

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

funestam antennae deponant undique vestem candidaque intorti sustollant vela rudentes, quam primum cernens ut laeta gaudia mente agnoscam, cum te reducem aetas prospera sistet.” haec mandata prius constanti mente tenentem Thesea ceu pulsae ventorum flamine nubes aerium nivei montis liquere cacumen. at pater, ut summa prospectum ex arce petebat,

235

240

234 fūnestus, -a, -um, adj., of mourning, funereal, deadly antenna, -ae, f., sailyard, sail dēpōnō, dēpōnere, dēposuī, dēpositum, put down vestem: Notice the appearance of this word earlier at lines 50 and 163. Ariadne’s desired punishment for Theseus becomes fulfilled and this word helps to link Aegeus’ sorrow with Ariadne’s and with her curse upon Theseus that becomes fulfilled when his forgetfulness of her leads to forgetfulness of his father’s instructions. 235 candida: Cf. the use of this adjective to describe Theseus’ feet in line 162. It further links the present passage with Ariadne’s earlier words. intortus, -a, -um, adj., twisted, crooked vēlum, -ī, n., sail rudens, rudentis, m., ship’s rope, rope 237 agnoscō, agnoscere, agnōvī, agnōtum, recognize, identify redux, reducis, adj., that brings back home, returning prosperus, -a, -um, adj., prosperous, successful, favorable sistō, sistere, stetī, statum, set up, place firmly, make firm 238 haec mandāta: nominative 239 ceu, particle, as, like ventōrum: This word recalls Aegeus’ having entrusted Theseus to the winds (line 213). nūbēs, nūbis, f., cloud nūbēs: nominative 240 āerium: quadrisyllabic; cf. note on line 142. niveus, -a, -um, adj., snowy, snow-white niveī and cacūmen: These words in the simile about Theseus’ forgetfulness ironically recall the white hair of Aegeus made filthy in an act of grief at his son’s departure (line 224). līquēre: alternate ending, third person plural perfect active indicative. The past tense is appropriate to Theseus’ situation; in the simile it may be a gnomic perfect. The verb functions in sense both within and outside of the simile. cacūmen, cacūminis, n., peak, top 241 prospectus, -ūs, m., view, prospect arx, arcis, f., citadel, height

C at u l l u s 6 4

anxia in assiduos absumens lumina fletus, cum primum inflati conspexit lintea veli, praecipitem sese scopulorum e vertice iecit, amissum credens immiti Thesea fato. sic, funesta domus ingressus tecta paterna morte, ferox Theseus, qualem Minoidi luctum obtulerat mente immemori, talem ipse recepit. quae tum prospectans cedentem maesta carinam multiplices animo volvebat saucia curas. at parte ex alia florens volitabat Iacchus

123

245

250

242 anxia: This description of Aegeus’ eyes recalls Ariadne in line 203. The two are linked through Theseus’ forgetfulness of them and, more specifically, through Ariadne’s wish (lines 200–01) that such sorrow as she has experienced come to Theseus and his own people. absūmō, absūmere, absumpsī, absumptum, spend, consume, wear out, exhaust, destroy, remove by death flētus, -ūs, m., weeping, tears, lamentation 243 cum prīmum: as soon as infl ātus, -a, -um, adj., puﬀed out, swollen, filled with air, filled with conceit infl ātī: contains a possible suggestion of arrogance 244 praeceps, praecipitis, adj., headlong, rushing forward scopulus, -ī, m., projecting rock, boulder iaciō, iacere, iēcī, iactum, throw, lay foundations 245 crēdens: At the beginning of this selection Ariadne can scarcely believe what she sees (line 55). Here, Aegeus’ accurate visual perception makes him misperceive “the facts.” Theseus’ forgetfulness has caused his father to “misread” with disastrous consequences. 247 quālem...tālem: recalls quālī...tālī (lines 200–01) Mīnōidi: allusive reference to Ariadne 248 oﬀerō, oﬀerre, obtulī, oblātum, show, provide, cause recipiō, recipere, recēpī, receptum, take back, accept, regain 249 quae: connecting relative pronoun; refers to Ariadne carīna, -ae, f., bottom of a ship, ship, boat 250 multiplex, multiplicis, adj., having many twists or turns, multitudinous, varied volvō, volvere, volvī, volūtum, roll, turn over (in the mind) saucius, -a, -um, adj., wounded 251 flōrens, flōrentis, adj., flowering, flourishing, in the flower of one’s youth volitō, volitāre, volitāvī, volitātum, fly, move about rapidly Iacchus, -ī, m., Bacchus

124

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

cum thiaso Satyrorum et Nysigenis Silenis, te quaerens, Ariadna, tuoque incensus amore. 252 thiasus, -ī, m., group devoted to cult of Bacchus, orgiastic dance, especially in honor of Bacchus Satyrus, -ī, m., Satyr; demi-god of wild places, especially forests, having the form of a man with some animal characteristics Nӯsigena, -ae, m., adj., born on legendary Mount Nysa, birthplace of Bacchus Sīlēnus, -ī, m., Silenus; attendant of Bacchus usually depicted as old, drunk, and bestial 253 quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī, quaesītum, look for, seek, ask, acquire, earn

Catullus 65 Poem 65, like Poems 68 and 101, refers to the death of Catullus’ brother. Here, grief is seen as a barrier to Catullus’ production of poetry—or is it? Carefully embedded in this poem of lament is another tale of love and sadness (the final simile) through which Catullus confirms that even sorrow does not make him forget his friend’s literary request. This poem serves as an elaborate introduction to Poem 66, the translation of a Callimachus poem that follows in the text of Catullus.

Etsi me assiduo defectum cura dolore sevocat a doctis, Hortale, virginibus, nec potis est dulcis Musarum expromere fetus mens animi, tantis fluctuat ipsa malis— namque mei nuper Lethaeo in gurgite fratris

5

Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

assiduus, -a, -um, adj., persistent, constant dēficiō, dēficere, dēfēcī, dēfectum, leave lacking, fail, falter cūra, -ae, f., care, concern, worry, a person or thing constituting an object of care dolor, dolōris, m., pain, anguish, grief

2

sēvocō, sēvocāre, sēvocāvī, sēvocātum, call away, draw aside, separate ā doctīs...virginibus: While in the context of the lines that follow this refers to the Muses, before that context is established it applies equally well to well-educated unmarried girls. This is significant in light of the closing simile of the poem where the “virgin or maiden” is clearly not one of the Muses! doctus, -a, -um, adj., learned, taught Hortalus, -ī, m., Hortalus; also appears in Poem 95, as a poet. He may be the Quintus Hortensius Hortalus who was Cicero’s rival in the law courts.

3

potis, pote, indecl. adj., able Mūsa, -ae, f., muse; one of the nine Muses, goddesses who were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne and presided over the arts exprōmō, exprōmere, exprompsī, expromptum, bring out, give expression to, reveal fētus, -ūs, m., begetting, oﬀspring, product of mind or imagination

4

mens animī: expression found in Lucretius; equivalent to “mind” animus, -ī, m., mind, inclination, desire, enthusiasm fluctuō, fluctuāre, fluctuāvī, fluctuātum, undulate, be in turmoil, hesitate fluctuat: Cf. similar language of Ariadne in Poem 64, line 62.

5

Lēthaeus, -a, -um, adj., of Lethe, the river in the underworld that produces oblivion; causing sleep or forgetfulness gurges, gurgitis, m., eddy, whirlpool, waters of river or sea

126

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

pallidulum manans alluit unda pedem, Troia Rhoeteo quem subter litore tellus ereptum nostris obterit ex oculis. . . . . . . . . numquam ego te, vita frater amabilior, aspiciam posthac? at certe semper amabo, semper maesta tua carmina morte canam, qualia sub densis ramorum concinit umbris

6

10

pallidulus, -a, -um, adj., pale mānō, mānāre, mānāvī, mānātum, flow, spread alluō, alluere, alluī, flow past, wash, wet

7

Trōius, -a, -um, adj., Trojan Rhoetēus, -a, -um, adj., of Rhoeteum, poetic word for Troy subter, prep. with acc. or abl., under lītus, lītoris, n., shore, coast, beach tellūs, tellūris, f., land, earth, country, ground

8

ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum, snatch away, rescue obterō, obterere, obtrīvī, obtrītum, crush, trample underfoot

9

Line 9 missing or disputed in manuscripts. What follows is an apostrophe to his brother.

10

vitā: ablative of comparison amābilis, -e, adj., able or worthy to be loved, delightful

11

aspiciō, aspicere, aspexī, aspectum, catch sight of, look at, gaze upon, see, behold posthāc, adv., from now on, hereafter

12

amābō: understand tē from the previous line. Note however that the phrase can also stand without an object and the sense, then, of the verb can expand beyond love for his brother to love and the act of making love as a counter to the grimness of death. Cf. Poem 5 where the present of love and lovemaking is juxtaposed with eternal death. Like the “learned maidens,” this anticipates the erotic end to the poem. semper: anaphora maestus, -a, -um, adj., sad, sorrowful, dejected, gloomy carmen, carminis, n., solemn or ritual utterance, song, poem, lyric poetry canō, canere, cecinī, cantum, sing, sing about, recite, prophesy, foretell

13

rāmus, rāmī, m., branch concinō, concinere, concinuī, sing together, celebrate in song umbra, -ae, f., shade, shadow, ghost umbrīs: Note how the word calls to mind both the shade of trees and the shades of the dead.

C at u l l u s 6 5

Daulias, absumpti fata gemens Ityli.— sed tamen in tantis maeroribus, Hortale, mitto haec expressa tibi carmina Battiadae, ne tua dicta vagis nequiquam credita ventis eﬄuxisse meo forte putes animo, ut missum sponsi furtivo munere malum

14

127

15

Daulias, Dauliados, f. adj., of Daulis, a town in Phocis, region in central Greece where Delphi is located; used of Procne or Philomela. Procne killed her son Itys (or Itylus as he is called here through conflation with another myth) in revenge for her husband, Tereus, having raped her sister, Philomela. Before Tereus can take revenge, all are changed into birds: he, the hoopoe; Procne, the nightingale; and Philomela, the swallow. Here, the “Daulian one” refers to Procne/the nightingale. absūmō, absūmere, absumpsī, absumptum, spend, consume, wear out, exhaust, destroy, remove by death gemō, gemere, gemuī, gemitum, groan, moan, lament Itylus, -ī, m., Itylus; here, son of Procne and Tereus; known as Itys in other versions

15

maeror, maerōris, m., grief, mourning mittō... Batt iadae: Poem 66 (the poem that follows this one in the complete text of Catullus) is the Lock of Berenice, Catullus’ translation of a poem by Callimachus. Thus this poem functions, in a sense, as an introduction to the poem that follows, the fulfillment of Hortalus’ request. Of course, Poem 65, itself, moves beyond (at least partially) the melancholy with which it begins. Cf. Poem 116, line 2, for another reference to Catullus translating Callimachus.

16

exprimō, exprimere, expressī, expressum, extract, reproduce, copy, translate, express carmina: here, “poem” (the plural can denote a single poem) Batt iadēs, -ae, m., an inhabitant of Cyrene, town of northwest Libya, whose legendary founder was Batt us; specifically Callimachus. Cf. Poems 7 and 116.

17

vagus, -a, -um, adj., roaming, wandering nēquīquam, adv., to no eﬀect, in vain crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum, trust, believe, entrust ventīs: Cf. Poems 30, 64, and 70 on trusting things to the winds.

18

eﬄuō, eﬄuere, eﬄuxī, flow out

19

ut: introduces a six-line simile sponsus, -ī, m., betrothed husband furtīvus, -a, -um, adj., stolen, secret mūnus, mūneris, n., service, duty, gift, entertainment, oﬀering mūnere: Cf. Poem 1 for another poem that contains a virgō and the notion of gift giving. mālum, -ī, n., originally most soft-skinned tree fruit, later normally specifying an apple mālum: subject of prōcurrit

128

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

procurrit casto virginis e gremio, quod miserae oblitae molli sub veste locatum, dum adventu matris prosilit, excutitur, atque illud prono praeceps agitur decursu, huic manat tristi conscius ore rubor.

20

prōcurrō, prōcurrere, prōcurrī, prōcursum, run forward castus, -a, -um, adj., pure, virgin, sexually faithful castō: transferred epithet or can be taken more literally gremium, gremī, n., lap, breast, female genital parts

21

quod: subject of excutitur; antecedent is mālum oblīviscor, oblīviscī, oblītus sum, forget mollis, -e, adj., soft, gentle, flexible, voluptuous vestis, vestis, f., clothes, dress, cloth in form of covering or hanging locō, locāre, locāvī, locātum, place, station

22

adventus, -ūs, m., arrival, approach prōsiliō, prōsilīre, prōsiluī, leap forward, rush forward prōsilit: subject is the young woman excutiō, excutere, excussī, excussum, shake out, drive out, banish

23

prōnus, -a, -um, adj., leaning forward, prone, sloping praeceps, praecipitis, adj., headlong, rushing forward dēcursus, -ūs, m., descent, fall, downward flow

24

mānat: recalls the “flowing” waters of Lethe near the beginning of the poem tristis, -e, adj., sad conscius, -a, -um, adj., sharing knowledge, conscious, guilty ōs, ōris, n., mouth, words, face rubor, rubōris, m., redness, blush

20

Catullus 68 (lines 1–40) Scholars have debated whether Poem 68, lines 1–40, is a complete poem by itself or is connected with the lines that follow. More see the two as distinct. Since only lines 1–40 are included here, comments will be limited to that material alone. A request for “gifts of the Muses and of Venus” opens up into an emotional world that links brotherly love and loss to the ability to supply others with gifts of love and writing. Compare the very diﬀerent handling of brotherly loss in this poem from that in Poem 101, despite the phrase that is identical in both poems. In Poem 101 there is a “separation” of brotherly loss from all else. Here it reverberates with the rest of the speaker’s life.

Quod mihi fortuna casuque oppressus acerbo conscriptum hoc lacrimis mittis epistolium, naufragum ut eiectum spumantibus aequoris undis sublevem et a mortis limine restituam, quem neque sancta Venus molli requiescere somno 5 Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

Quod...id: correlatives “(the fact) that... that” cāsus, -ūs, m., fall, event, misfortune, chance opprimō, opprimere, oppressī, oppressum, press on, overwhelm, oppress acerbus, -a, -um, bitter, harsh, untimely (esp. of death)

2

conscrībō, conscrībere, conscripsī, conscriptum, enrol, write on, compose epistolium, epistolī, n., short letter

3

naufragus, -a, -um, adj., shipwrecked, shipwrecking ēiciō, ēicere, ēiēcī, ēiectum, throw out, expel spūmō, spūmāre, spūmāvī, spūmātum, foam, froth aequor, aequoris, n., a flat level surface, the flat surface of the sea, sea, (often used in pl.)

4

sublevō, sublevāre, sublevāvī, sublevātum, lift, support, encourage, lighten sublevem...restituam: subjunctives in purpose clauses līmen, līminis, n., threshold restituō, restituere, restituī, restitūtum, restore, revive

5

sanctus, -a, -um, adj., sacred, holy mollis, -e, adj., soft, gentle, flexible, voluptuous requiescō, requiescere, requiēvī, requiētum, rest, relax somnus, -ī, m., sleep

130

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

desertum in lecto caelibe perpetitur, nec veterum dulci scriptorum carmine Musae oblectant, cum mens anxia pervigilat: id gratum est mihi, me quoniam tibi dicis amicum, muneraque et Musarum hinc petis et Veneris. 10 sed tibi ne mea sint ignota incommoda, Manli, neu me odisse putes hospitis oﬃcium, accipe quis merser fortunae fluctibus ipse,

6

dēsertus, -a, -um, adj., deserted, uninhabited, left lectus, -i, m., bed, couch (also used for reclining at meals or studying) caelebs, caelibis, adj., unmarried caelibe: transferred epithet perpetior, perpetī, perpessus sum, undergo completely, allow

7

vetus, veteris, adj., old, ancient scriptor, scriptōris, m., writer, scribe carmen, carminis, n., solemn or ritual utterance, song, poem, lyric poetry mūsa, -ae, f., muse; one of the nine Muses, goddesses who were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne and presided over the arts

8

oblectō, oblectāre, oblectāvī, oblectātum, delight, amuse, entertain anxius, -a, -um, adj., disturbed, distressing pervigilō, pervigilāre, pervigilāvī, pervigilātum, stay awake all night or for a particular period, keep watch all night pervigilat: Cf. the sleepnessness in Poem 50.

9 10

amīcus, -ī, m., friend, lover mūnus, mūneris, n., service, duty, gift, entertainment, oﬀering mūnera...Mūsārum...Veneris: poetry and love petō, petere, petīvī, petītum, seek, go after, attack

11

ignōtus, -a, -um, adj., unknown, obscure, ignorant incommodum, -ī, n., detriment, unfavorable circumstance, aﬄiction Manlius, Manlī, m., Manlius; otherwise unknown

12

neu, conj., and that...not ōdī, ōdisse, ōsum (perfect with present sense), have an aversion to, hate hospes, hospitis, m., guest, visitor, host, stranger oﬃcium, oﬃcī, n., service, duty, function, oﬃce

13

accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum, receive, take, hear, understand quīs: quibus mersō, mersāre, mersāvī, mersātum, dip, submerge, drown, overwhelm fluctus, -ūs, m., a flowing, wave, disturbance

C at u l l u s 6 8

ne amplius a misero dona beata petas. tempore quo primum vestis mihi tradita pura est, iucundum cum aetas florida ver ageret, multa satis lusi: non est dea nescia nostri, quae dulcem curis miscet amaritiem. sed totum hoc studium luctu fraterna mihi mors abstulit. o misero frater adempte mihi,

14

131

15

20

amplius, adv., more, further beātus, -a, -um, adj., happy, fortunate

15

vestis, vestis, f., clothes, dress, cloth in form of covering vestis...pūra: the plain white toga worn by a male Roman citizen after puberty trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum, hand over, deliver, introduce pūrus, -a, -um, adj., clean, pure, plain, chaste

16

iūcundus, -a, -um, adj., delightful, agreeable aetās, aetātis, f., time, age flōridus, -a, -um, adj., flowery, in the bloom of youth or beauty, blooming vēr, vēris, n., spring

17

multa: internal accusative; neuter plural of adjective functioning adverbially; much lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum, play, amuse oneself, play sexually, write light poetry lūsī: Cf. the mingling of the erotic and poetry in Poem 50. dea: Venus nescius, -a, -um, adj., ignorant, unaware

18

dulcem...amāritiem: Sappho, writing in Greek, is the first to call love (eros) “bittersweet” (Fragment 130). cūra, -ae, f., care, concern, worry, a person or thing constituting an object of care misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mixtum, mix, mingle amāritiēs, amāritiēī, f., bitterness

19

hoc: accusative singular with studium luctus, -ūs, m., expression of grief, mourning

20

auferō, auferre, abstulī, ablātum, take away, carry oﬀ, kill ō: introduces apostrophe to his brother ō miserō: assonance of o sound; makes sound of lament miserō...mihi: dative of separation frāter adempte mihi: Cf. poem 101, line 6, where this identical phrase appears in the same metrical position in the line. adimō, adimere, adēmī, ademptum, take away

132

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

tu mea tu moriens fregisti commoda, frater, tecum una tota est nostra sepulta domus; omnia tecum una perierunt gaudia nostra quae tuus in vita dulcis alebat amor. cuius ego interitu tota de mente fugavi haec studia atque omnes delicias animi. quare, quod scribis Veronae turpe Catullo esse, quod hic quisquis de meliore nota frigida deserto tepefactet membra cubili, id, Manli, non est turpe, magis miserum est.

21

25

30

tū: anaphora; heightens the emotional tone frangō, frangere, frēgī, fractum, break, crush commodum, -ī, n., advantage, benefit, gift, interest

22

ūnā, adv., together, at the same time sepeliō, sepelīre, sepelīvī, sepultum, bury, overcome

23

tēcum ūnā: anaphora pereō, perīre, periī, peritum, perish, die gaudium, gaudī, n., joy, delight

24

quae: antecedent is gaudia; direct object of alēbat vītā: The absence of a possessive adjective has the eﬀect of mingling the lives of the two brothers: “in his life, i.e., when he was alive” and “in my life.” alō, alere, aluī, altum, nourish

25

cuius: connecting relative pronoun interitus, -ūs, m., violent or untimely death; fact or process of being destroyed fugō, fugāre, fugāvī, fugātum, cause to flee, drive away

26

dēlicia, -ae, f., (usually in pl.) pleasure, delight, sweetheart, pet, pet animal, toys, erotic verse

27

quod...quod...id: The first quod is answered by id, “(the fact) that...that.” Cf. the quod...id that begins in line 1. The second quod is “because.” Vērōna, -ae, f., Verona, town in Gallia Transpadana; birthplace of Catullus Vērōnae: locative turpis, -e, adj., ugly, shameful, disgraceful

28

hīc: here nota, -ae, f., mark, sign, wine of a specified quality or vintage, class, character

29

tepefaciō, tepefacere, tepefēcī, tepefactum, warm, make fairly hot membrum, -ī, n., limb or member of the body, limb, member, part of anything cubīle, cubīlis, n., bed, couch

C at u l l u s 6 8

133

ignosces igitur si, quae mihi luctus ademit, haec tibi non tribuo munera, cum nequeo. nam, quod scriptorum non magna est copia apud me, hoc fit, quod Romae vivimus: illa domus, illa mihi sedes, illic mea carpitur aetas; 35 huc una ex multis capsula me sequitur. quod cum ita sit, nolim statuas nos mente maligna id facere aut animo non satis ingenuo, quod tibi non utriusque petenti copia posta est: ultro ego deferrem, copia siqua foret. 40

31 32

ignoscō, ignoscere, ignōvī, ignōtum, forgive, pardon tribuō, tribuere, tribuī, tribūtum, allot, assign, grant, bestow nequeō, nequīre, nequīvī/nequiī, be unable

33

scriptum, -ī, n., writing, literary work (usually in pl.) cōpia, -ae, f., large quantity, abundance, supply apud, prep. with acc., at, near, at the house of, with (a person)

34

fīō, fīerī, factus sum, be made, be done, become, happen, occur Rōmae: locative

35

sēdēs, sēdis, f., seat, site, home, dwelling carpō, carpere, carpsī, carptum, pluck, seize, wear away, comsume

36

capsula, -ae, f., small container for books

37

quod: connecting relative pronoun cum: means “since” in this expression statuō, statuere, statuī, statūtum, set, stand, establish, decide malignus, -a, -um, adj., ungenerous, unkind

38

id...quod: it/this...that ingenuus, -a, -um, natural, freeborn, generous, befitting a free person

39

uterque, utraque, utrumque, adj., pron., each of two pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum, put, place, provide, supply posta: posita

40

ultrō, adv., of one’s own accord dēferō, dēferre, dētulī, dēlātum, carry, convey, confer, grant sīquis, sīqua/sīquae, sīquid, indef. pron. and adj., if anybody, if anything, if any

Catullus 69 This poem makes an allegation about smelly armpits in a humorous and kind of sexy way. Its “charming” description of the “uncharming” recalls the similar interplay in Poem 10. The hyperbole of the beastly image of disgusting smell plays oﬀ the enticing images of the women to clever eﬀect. Notice how the trux...caper hides in the middle of the poem in the “valley” between the women!

Noli admirari, quare tibi femina nulla, Rufe, velit tenerum supposuisse femur, non si illam rarae labefactes munere vestis aut perluciduli deliciis lapidis. Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

admīror, admīrārī, admīrātus sum, be surprised at, wonder at, admire admīrārī quārē: Notice how the first couplet of the poem is echoed by the last couplet through the repetition of these words. This is further strengthened by the repeated image of a woman lying down with a man. tibi: dative with suppōnō

2

Rūfus, -ī, m., Roman cognomen. This Rufus may be the Marcus Caelius Rufus who had an aﬀair with Clodia Metelli and whom Cicero defended successfully in his speech, the Pro Caelio. He may also be the same Rufus who appears in Poem 77. velit: subjunctive in indirect question; can also be seen as a potential subjunctive tener, tenera, tenerum, adj., tender, delicate, soft, young suppōnō, suppōnere, supposuī, suppositum, put under, place under femur, feminis, n., thigh

3

rārus, -a, -um, adj., loosely woven, having an open texture, spaced apart, rare rārae: Used of clothing here, this suggests a “see-through” quality, which is picked up in the word perlūcidulī below. labefactō, labefactāre, labefactāvī, labefactātum, loosen, cause to waver, shake (someone’s resolve) labefactēs: subjunctive in protasis of future less vivid condition mūnus, mūneris, n., service, duty, gift, entertainment, oﬀering vestis, vestis, f., clothes, dress, cloth in form of covering or hanging

4

perlūcidulus, -a, -um, adj., transparent, translucent perlūcidulī: hapax legomenon (term comes from Greek “said once”), i.e., only attested appearance in Latin. dēlicia, -ae, f., (usually in pl.) pleasure, delight, sweetheart, pet, pet animal, toys, erotic verse lapis, lapidis, m., stone

136

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

laedit te quaedam mala fabula, qua tibi fertur 5 valle sub alarum trux habitare caper. hunc metuunt omnes, neque mirum: nam mala valde est bestia, nec quicum bella puella cubet. quare aut crudelem nasorum interfice pestem, aut admirari desine cur fugiunt. 10

5

laedō, laedere, laesī, laesum, harm, strike fābula, -ae, f., talk, rumor, report, story ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum, bear, bring, carry, tell, claim

6

vallēs, vallis, f., valley āla, -ae, f., wing, armpit trux, trucis, adj., harsh, savage habitō, habitāre, habitāvī, habitātum, live in, inhabit caper, caprī, m., male goat; by metonymy, goat-like smell

7

metuō, metuere, metuī, metūtum, fear, be afraid of, be afraid mīrus, -a, -um, adj., amazing, extraordinary valdē, adv., powerfully, greatly, extremely

8

bestia, -ae, f., beast, animal, creature quīcum: quī: archaic feminine ablative singular bellus, -a, -um, adj., charming, handsome, prett y, fine cubō, cubāre, cubuī, cubitum, lie down or be lying down, recline, be in bed or on one’s couch, be confined to bed by illness, recline at table cubet: subjunctive in relative clause of characteristic or as potential subjunctive

9

crūdēlis, -e, adj., cruel, savage, painful nāsus, -ī, m., nose interficiō, interficere, interfēcī, interfectum, kill, destroy pestis, pestis, f., physical destruction or death, plague, pest

10

dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī, dēsitum, stop, cease fugiunt: indicative instead of subjunctive in an indirect question is colloquial

Catullus 70 This poem circles around the (un)reliability of speech and the power(lessness) of writing. What appears at first glance to be two lines of positive declaration followed by two lines of scepticism is more layered than that, for the first couplet is not about what “is” but about what “is said,” while the second couplet further complicates matters by the introduction of “writing.”

Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat. dicit; sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, in vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua. Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

nullī = nēminī “no one” from nēmō, nēminis; dative with nūbere nullī...mālle: Notice how the first line, read alone, produces a diﬀerent meaning from the first line read with the quam mihi which follows. Still further, does she say she prefers to marry no one else or does she prefer to marry “no one” rather than to marry him? The potential “unraveling” of her words begins earlier than the second couplet. mulier, mulieris, f., woman, wife nūbō, nūbere, nūpsī, nūptum, marry (typically with woman as the subject) mālō, mālle, māluī, prefer

2

quam: “than,” with mālle “prefer, want more” sē: indirect reflexive, refers to subject of main clause, mulier Iuppiter, Iovis, m., Jupiter, supreme god of the Romans, god of sky and weather Iuppiter ipse: Consider the irony in the use of Jupiter here. He is married and has aﬀairs. On Jupiter, cf. Poem 72, line 2. petō, petere, petīvī, petītum, seek, go after, attack petat: subjunctive in protasis of a future less vivid condition

3

dīcit: This introduces the idea that what one “says” and what “is” are not the same. sed...: On lovers’ words and promises, cf. Poems 30 and 64. cupidus, -a, -um, adj., having strong desire, longing, eager quod: accusative, direct object of dīcit, with understood antecedent. The relative clause is a substantive clause functioning as the object of scrībere. dīcit: Notice the three appearances of this word in the four-line poem. amans, amantis, m., f., lover

4

ventus, -ī, m., wind rapidus, -a, -um, adj., rapid, violent scrībere: The infinitive and its object clause are the subject of the impersonal verb, oportet. Notice the switch from speech to writing. There are Greek proverbs about “writing on water” and Latin references to letting wind or water carry away one’s words. “Writing on the wind” is not paralleled. oportet, oportēre, oportuit, impers., it is right, proper

Catullus 72 Diﬀerent kinds of love and the connection (or disconnect) between knowing and loving are at the heart of this poem. Where does valuing fit or not fit with loving?

Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum, Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem. dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam, sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos. nunc te cognovi; quare, etsi impensius uror, multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.

5

Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

dīcēbās: Notice the importance, once again, of speech. quondam, adv., once, formerly, sometimes, in the future sōlum tē nōsse Catullum: ambiguous; tē can be subject or object of the infinitive noscō, noscere, nōvī, nōtum, get to know, learn; know (in perfect tense) nōsse: syncopated form of nōvisse; the verb has sexual overtones

2

prae, prep. with abl., before, in comparison with prae mē: While to “hold someone before” can mean “prefer” it can also mean “hold someone before” in the temporal sense of prae. Taken this way, the statement becomes one about “order” of lovers, not preference. Comparative language and time issues are important to this poem. Cf. Poem 11, line 18 for Lesbia “holding.” velle: understand tē from line 1 as the subject of this infinitive, at this point resolving the ambiguity Iovem: Cf. Jupiter in Poem 70.

3

dīligō, dīligere, dīlexī, dīlectum, love, esteem, hold dear, have special regard for tantum, adv., so much, only vulgus, -ī, n., the common people, the general public, crowd amīca, -ae, f., female friend, girlfriend

4

gnātus, -ī, m., son; pl., children; from (g)nascor (be born) gener, generī, m., son-in-law

5

cognoscō, cognoscere, cognōvī, cognitum, get to know, have experience of impensē, adv., immoderately, excessively ūrō, ūrere, ussī, ustum, burn; in pass., be on fire

6

vīlis, -e, adj., cheap, worthless levis, -e, adj., light, swift, gentle, unimportant, fickle

140

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.

7

quī, interr. adv., how, in what way potis, pote, indecl. adj., able potis est: ellipsis of infinitive “to be” or “to happen” inquam, inquit, defective verb (only a few forms occur, most often used parenthetically or before or after a quotation), say inquis: Note the second person singular, which refers ambiguously to Lesbia and/or the reader. amans, amantis, m., f., lover iniūria, -ae, f., unlawful conduct, unjust act, insult

8

cōgō, cōgere, coēgī, coactum, drive together, force bene, adv., well; with adj. or adv., quite bene velle: has the sense of “like” “be fond of”

Catullus 76 The solemn and religious tone to this self-appeal contrasts with Poem 8’s tension between reason and emotion. Both deal with abandoning a love, but the eﬀect is quite diﬀerent. The appeal to the gods and the declaration by the speaker of his sense of devotion put love and its consequences in a larger Roman social and cultural context.

Si qua recordanti benefacta priora voluptas est homini, cum se cogitat esse pium, nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere in ullo divum ad fallendos numine abusum homines, multa parata manent in longa aetate, Catulle,

5

Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

quī, quae/qua, quod, indef. adj. (after sī), any qua: nominative singular feminine, modifying voluptās recordor, recordārī, recordātus, recollect, remember benefactum, -ī, n., good deed, benefit, service recordantī...hominī: dative of possession voluptās, voluptātis, f., pleasure, delight

2

cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum, think, consider, imagine, recollect pius, -a, -um, adj., dutiful, devoted

3

sanctus, -a, -um, adj., sacred, holy violō, violāre, violāvī, violātum, violate, dishonor violāsse: syncopated perfect active infinitive fidēs, fidēī, f., trust, belief, faith, honesty, honor foedus, foederis, n., treaty, compact foedus: Cf. Poems 87, line 3 and 109, line 6.

4

dīvum: genitive plural ad fallendos...hominēs: gerundive expressing purpose fallō, fallere, fefellī, falsum, deceive, trick, escape the notice of; in passive, be mistaken nūmen, nūminis, n., nod, divine power, divinity, god nūmine: ablative with compound of ūtor abūtor, abūtī, abūsum, use up, use, abuse, take advantage of abūsum: understand esse

5

multa: modifies gaudia parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum, prepare, buy, get aetās, aetātis, f., time, age

142

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

ex hoc ingrato gaudia amore tibi. nam quaecumque homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possunt aut facere, haec a te dictaque factaque sunt. omnia quae ingratae perierunt credita menti. quare cur tete iam amplius excrucies? 10 quin tu animo oﬃrmas atque istinc te ipse reducis et dis invitis desinis esse miser? diﬃcile est longum subito deponere amorem, diﬃcile est, verum hoc qua lubet eﬃcias; 6

ingrātus, -a, -um, adj., marked by ingratitude, ungrateful gaudium, gaudī, n., joy, delight

7

quaecumque: accusative plural neuter quisquam, quicquam, pron., anyone, anything

8

haec: nominative plural neuter

9

quae: connecting relative pronoun pereō, perīre, periī, peritum, perish, die

10

tētē: emphatic form of tē amplius, adv., more, further excruciō, excruciāre, excruciāvī, excruciātum, torture, torment excruciēs: deliberative subjunctive

11

quīn, adv., why not, indeed; conj., but that animō: understand in oﬃ rmō, oﬃ rmāre, oﬃ rmāvī, oﬃ rmātum, make firm, make up one’s mind not to yield istinc, adv., from there

12

dīs invītīs: dīs = deīs. What the gods are unwilling about is unstated. Most take it to mean that they are unwilling to support the love. invītus, -a, -um, adj., unwilling, reluctant, not wishing dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī, dēsitum, stop, cease dēsinis: Cf. Poem 8, line 1.

13 14

dēpōnō, dēpōnere, dēposuī, dēpositum, put down, lay down, abandon diﬃcile est: anaphora vērum, adv., but quā, indef. adv., in any way lubet (libet), lubēre, libuit/libitum est, impersonal verb, it is pleasing or agreeable eﬃciō, eﬃcere, eﬀēcī, eﬀectum, make, bring about, carry out, finish eﬃciās: jussive subjunctive

C at u l l u s 7 6

una salus haec est, hoc est tibi pervincendum, hoc facias, sive id non pote sive pote. o di, si vestrum est misereri, aut si quibus umquam extremam iam ipsa in morte tulistis opem, me miserum aspicite et, si vitam puriter egi, eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi, quae mihi subrepens imos ut torpor in artus expulit ex omni pectore laetitias. 15

143

15

20

salūs, salūtis, f., safety, health, salvation hōc: neuter nominative singular; sometimes this o is lengthened pervincō, pervincere, pervīcī, pervictum, overcome, gain pervincendum: Notice the fifth foot spondee.

16

faciās: jussive subjunctive potis, pote, indecl. adj., able nōn pote = potest

17

dī: vocative plural of deus vestrum: genitive of vōs; genitive of characteristic or quality misereor, miserērī, miseritum, pity, feel or show compassion quibus: indefinite pronoun after sī

18

extrēmus, -a, -um, adj., situated at the end, edge, or tip; situated at the end of the world, last, final ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum, bear, bring, carry, tell, claim ops, opis, f., power, aid, assistance

19

aspiciō, aspicere, aspexī, aspectum, catch sight of, look at, gaze upon, see, behold pūriter, adv., righteously, in a clean manner

20

ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum, snatch away, rescue pestis, pestis, f., physical destruction or death, plague, pest perniciēs, perniciēī, f., physical desctruction, fatal injury, ruin mihi: dative of separation

21

quae...: Compare the language, here, of the onset of love as “disease” with Poem 51’s language of the onset of desire. mihi: dative of reference subrēpō, subrēpere, subrepsī, subreptum, creep under, come on gradually īmus, -a, -um, adj., lowest, bottom of torpor, torpōris, m., numbness, paralysis, unconsciousness, lethargy, drowsiness artus, artūs, m., joint, limb, arm or leg, member or part of body

22

expellō, expellere, expulī, expulsum, drive out, banish pectus, pectoris, n., breast, chest, heart laetitia, -ae, f., happiness, joy

144

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

non iam illud quaero, contra ut me diligat illa, aut, quod non potis est, esse pudica velit: ipse valere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum. o di, reddite mi hoc pro pietate mea.

23

25

illud: refers to the following ut clause quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī, quaesītum, look for, seek, ask, acquire, earn contrā, adv., in return; prep. with acc., against dīligō, dīligere, dīlexī, dīlectum, love, esteem, hold dear, have special regard for

24

quod: This word is generally taken as the relative pronoun, not as the conjunction, although one could imagine an argument for the conjunction in which case potis would not be taken as neuter. potis: generally taken as neuter here pudīcus, -a, -um, adj., having a sense of modesty or shame, modest, honorable, chaste velit: understand ut from line 23

25

valeō, valēre, valuī, valitum, be powerful, be strong enough to, be well, prevail optō, optāre, optāvī, optātum, desire, choose taeter, taetra, taetrum, adj., foul, horrible, vile, monstrous morbus, -ī, m., sickness, disease

26

reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum, give back, deliver pietās, pietātis, f., duty, devotion

Catullus 77 The tortured feeling of this poem concerning friendship betrayed comes in part from its lengthy postponement of its first main verb until the poem’s third line. The poem has just three main verbs, one of which is just a repeat of or answer to another. The elaborate frame of vocatives in the poem makes it a kind of crying out in disbelief, rage, and sorrow.

Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amice (frustra? immo magno cum pretio atque malo), sicine subrepsti mi atque intestina perurens ei misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona? Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

Rūfus, -ī, m., Roman cognomen. This Rufus may be the Marcus Caelius Rufus who had an aﬀair with Clodia Metelli and whom Cicero defended successfully in his speech, the Pro Caelio. He may also be the same Rufus who appears in Poem 69.

2

frustrā, adv., in vain, to no purpose nēquīquam, adv., to no eﬀect, in vain crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum, trust, believe, entrust frustrā: Note the heavy use of anaphora in the poem. immō, particle correcting previous statement, rather pretium, pretī, n., reward, prize, penalty, price, value, cost malum, -ī, n., trouble, distress, misfortune, evil, harm

3

sīcine = sīc + -ne subrēpō, subrēpere, subrepsī, subreptum, creep under, come on gradually subrepstī: syncopated second person singular mī: dative of reference or dative with subrēpō intestīnum, -ī, n., alimentary canal, or part of it; in pl., intestines, guts perūrō, perūrere, perussī, perustum, burn up, consume

4

ei, interjection, exclamation expressing anguish, alas ei: one syllable miserō: understand mihi; dative of separation with ēripuistī

146

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

eripuisti, eheu nostrae crudele venenum vitae, eheu nostrae pestis amicitiae.

5

5

ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum, snatch away, rescue bona: While this word often has the sense of “goods” as in “property,” the sense here is “good things.” ēheu, interj. expressing grief or pain, alas crūdēlis, -e, adj., cruel, savage, painful venēnum, -ī, n., poison, magical or medicinal potion venēnum: vocative

6

pestis, pestis, f., physical destruction or death, plague, pest pestis: vocative amīcitia, -ae, f., friendship, accord

Catullus 84 The unsophisticated Arrius doesn’t know when to start a Latin word with an h. Trying to imitate the educated, he puts the letter in where it doesn’t belong. He becomes the butt of a joke about social circumstances and language. At the time Catullus was writing, the issue of aspiration (production of the breathy h sound) was being written about (Caesar had a section on it in his On Analogy) and linguistic practice was not consistent. Arrius’ pronunciation may arise from his rustic dialect or from excessive (and incorrect) imitation of urban, more educated, speakers of Latin.

Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda vellet dicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias, et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum, cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias. credo, sic mater, sic liber avunculus eius, sic maternus avus dixerat atque avia.

5

Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

quandō, indef. adv., ever commodum, -ī, n., advantage, benefit, gift, interest vellet imperfect subjunctive in the protasis of a condition to denote repeated action rather than the more common indicative

2

insidiae, -ārum, f. pl., ambush, treacherous attack insidiās Arrius hinsidiās: ellipsis; understood repetition of the previous clauses, but with chiastic order for the aspirated and unaspirated words. Arrius, Arī, m., Arrius; most likely Quintus Arrius, self-made orator and follower of the triumvir, Marcus Licinius Crassus, mentioned by Cicero (Brutus 242).

3

mīrificē, adv., amazingly, remarkably spērō, spērāre, spērāvī, spērātum, hope, hope for, expect

4

quantum, rel. adv., to what degree, to what extent quantum: idiomatic with poterat, “to the greatest degree (he was able),” suggesting strength or volume dixerat: pluperfect indicative for past repeated action with cum

5

avunculus, -ī, m., maternal uncle; a mother’s sister’s husband

6

māternus, -a, -um, adj., maternal avus, -ī, m., grandfather, ancestor avia, -ae, f., grandmother

148

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures: audibant eadem haec leniter et leviter, nec sibi postilla metuebant talia verba, cum subito aﬀertur nuntius horribilis, Ionios fluctus, postquam illuc Arrius isset, iam non Ionios esse sed Hionios. 7

10

Syria, -ae, f., Syria, area between Asia Minor and Egypt, usually including Phoenicia and Palestine Syriam: If the identification for Arrius mentioned above is correct, then he may have accompanied Crassus to the East in 55 bce. requiescō, requiescere, requiēvī, requiētum, rest, relax requiērant: syncopated form of pluperfect indicative omnibus: dative of reference auris, auris, f., ear

8

audībant = audiēbant lēniter, adv., gently, without aspiration leviter, adv., lightly, gently, quietly

9

postillā, adv., afterwards metuō, metuere, metuī, metūtum, fear, be afraid of, be afraid tālis, -e, adj., of such a kind verbum, -ī, n., word, verb, saying, speech

10

subitō, adv., suddenly, quickly aﬀerō, aﬀerre, att ulī, allātum, bring, deliver aﬀertur: historical present nuntius, nuntī, m., messenger, message horribilis, -e, adj., terrifying, rough, monstrous horribilis: Notice that the “terrible/horrible” message has an h.

11

Īonius, -a, -um, adj., Ionian, related to the Ionian Sea, west of Greece Īoniōs fluctūs: accusative subject in indirect statement depending on the idea in aﬀertur nuntius fluctus, -ūs, m., a flowing, wave, disturbance īsset: subjunctive in subordinate clause in indirect statement; syncopated form of pluperfect subjunctive

Catullus 85 In this cryptic, consummate, love poem who is there besides an “I’? The only “you” is that in requīris. And who is that? Has the relationship of reader to speaker preempted that of speaker to lover? Or are the two somehow elided? Notice the progression in the poem from active to passive verbs, with the ambiguous fīerī at the “crossroads.”

Odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris. nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior. Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

ōdī, ōdisse, ōsum (perfect with present sense), have an aversion to, hate faciam: subjunctive in indirect question fortasse, adv., perhaps requīrō, requīrere, requīsīvī/requīsiī, requīsītum, look for, ask about, try to bring back, need, miss

2

nesciō, nescīre, nescīvī, nescītum, not know, be ignorant of, not to know how to, not to be able to fīō, fīerī, factus sum, be made, be done, become, happen, occur fīerī: infinitive in indirect statement; understand “it” as the accusative subject of the infinitive. Notice the lack of an “agent” with the verb. Remember that the word can mean “be done” (a true passive) or “happen.” Notice that the infinitive picks up and recalls the earlier faciam. sentiō, sentīre, sensī, sensum, feel, sense, perceive, think, understand excruciō, excruciāre, excruciāvī, excruciātum, torture, torment excrucior: This same verb was used in Poem 76. The root in the word is crux, crucis, the word for “cross.” Since crucifixion was a method of punishing slaves, one should keep in mind that this verb was not merely metaphorical for the Romans; issues of power and class are inextricably part of the word.

Catullus 86 Is the whole merely the sum of its parts? Obviously not. Without the “Venus-like quality” of “sex appeal” there is no real attractiveness. The idea that Lesbia becomes attractive through an act of “theft” (the same verb is used of “stealing” kisses in the first and last words of Poem 99) puts a spicy twist on the notion of the possession of, or the acquiring of, sexual appeal.

Quintia formosa est multis. mihi candida, longa, recta est: haec ego sic singula confiteor, totum illud “formosa” nego: nam nulla venustas, nulla in tam magno est corpore mica salis. Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

Quintia, -ae, f., Quintia (a woman’s name) formōsus, -a, -um, adj., having a fine appearance, beautiful, handsome multīs: dative of reference mihi: dative of reference candidus, -a, -um, adj., bright, radiant, white

2

rectus, -a, -um, adj., straight, right, correct, proper, erect in bearing singulī, -ae, -a, adj. pl., single, individual confiteor, confitērī, confessus sum, admit

3

tōtum illud: accusative, direct object of negō formōsa: nominative case (outside the grammatical construction), hence the quotation marks. The form is taken directly from line 1. negō, negāre, negāvī, negātum, say no, deny, refuse

4

venustās, venustātis, f., charm, grace, attraction tam magnō...corpore: There may be a play here on this as a positive quality, like the ones mentioned in lines 1–2 and a negative quality (big is not good) in keeping with the Callimachean and Neoteric aesthetic (cf. Papanghelis, 1991). mīca, -ae, f., grain, particle, crumb sāl, salis, m., salt, wit salis: Cf. Poems 10, line 33; 12, line 4; 13, line 5; and 14, line 16 on “salt/wit.” The word here carries the sense of “a quality that gives life to a person,” or “sexual attractiveness.”

152

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

Lesbia formosa est, quae cum pulcerrima tota est, tum omnibus una omnis surripuit veneres.

5

5

cum...tum: not only...but also pulc(h)er, pulc(h)ra, pulc(h)rum, adj., beautiful, lovely, aesthetically pleasing

6

omnibus ūna: dative of separation. On this contrast, cf. Poems 1, lines 5–6; and 5, line 3. Omnibus includes Quintia and all other women or people in general and perhaps Venus herself? omnīs: accusative plural surripiō, surripere, surripuī, surreptum, steal venus, veneris, f., Venus, Roman goddess of love; love, charm, sexual activity; best throw at dice venerēs: picks up venustās, above

Catullus 87 There are echoes here of Poem 8 and its declaration that Lesbia has been loved as no other has been loved. But rather than the extreme mood swings of that poem, here there is a self-satisfaction in the speaker’s sense of his having loved in a certain manner despite anything else.

Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatam vere, quantum a me Lesbia amata mea es. nulla fides ullo fuit umquam in foedere tanta, quanta in amore tuo ex parte reperta mea est. Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

mulier, mulieris, f., woman, wife tantum...quantum: to such as extent...as. Note the elegant symmetry to these correlatives and the pair in lines 3–4. dīcere: Once again, what one “says” is important. Cf. Poems 70 and 72, among others. amātam: understand esse

2

vērē, adv., really, truly vērē: Despite the fact that structurally the adverb probably works best with dīcere, especially by the time one reads to the end of line 2, it conceivably could modify amātam, and in fact makes as much grammatical sense that way until the end of line 2. Cf. Poem 11, line 19, on Catullus’ girlfriend not loving truly: nullum amans vērē. Since loving truly and speaking truly are both important in Catullus’ poems, it is best to keep this ambiguity to some extent active.

3

fidēs, fidēī, f., trust, belief, faith, honesty, honor foedus, foederis, n., treaty, compact foedus: Cf. Poems 76, line 3 and 109, line 6.

4

tanta...quanta: as great...as amor, amōris, m., love, sexual passion, object of one’s love (usually in pl.), love aﬀair, act of sex; love personified as the god of love tuō: your, for you pars, partis, f., part, party; stage role (usually in pl.), part, unit in explaining a fraction (math) reperiō, reperīre, repperī, repertum, discover, get, find to be, devise

Catullus 96 This one sentence, six lines long, is Catullus’ poem of consolation on the occasion of the death of Quintilia, Calvus’ wife or girlfriend. We know from Propertius (Elegies 2.34.89–90) that Calvus wrote an elegy on the death of Quintilia. From a fragment of Calvus’ writings, forsitan hoc etiam gaudeat ipsa cinis (fr.16 Morel in Fragmenta Poetarum Latinorum epicorum et lyricorum praeter Ennium et Lucilium [1927], ed. W. Morel), likely from that elegy, we can imagine that Catullus’ poem (cf. certe...gaudet) takes oﬀ from what Calvus has already written. The lack of specificity, starting with the word nostrō, about the identity and number of the individuals experiencing dolor, dēsīderium, amor, and amīcitia makes this poem more enigmatic than it may appear to be.

Si quicquam mutis gratum acceptumve sepulcris accidere a nostro, Calve, dolore potest, quo desiderio veteres renovamus amores atque olim missas flemus amicitias, Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

mūtus, -a, -um, adj., inarticulate, dumb, silent, mute mūtīs: transferred epithet grātus, -a, -um, adj., pleasing acceptus, -a, -um, adj., welcome, pleasing mūtīs...sepulcrīs: dative either with grātum and acceptum (or) with accidere. On the muteness of the dead, cf. mūtam...cinerem (Poem 101, line 4). sepulcrum, -ī, n., tomb, grave

2

accidō, accidere, accidī, fall down, happen, come to pass, arise Calvus, -ī m., Gaius Licinius Calvus (82–47 bce), intimate friend of Catullus; poet, orator. Only a few fragments of his work survive. On Calvus, cf. Poems 50, 53, and 96 as well. dolor, dolōris, m., pain, anguish, grief

3

quō dēsīderiō: ablative of means or cause; quō is the relative adjective dēsīderium, desīderī, n., desire, longing, object of desire, darling dēsīderiō: Cf. Poem 2, line 5. vetus, veteris, adj., old, ancient renovō, renovāre, renovāvī, renovātum, renew, restore, revive

4

ōlim, adv., formerly, once, on an occasion, at some future date fleō, flēre, flēvī, flētum, weep, weep for, lament amīcitia, -ae, f., friendship, accord

156

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

certe non tanto mors immatura dolori est Quintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo.

5

5

nōn tantō...dolōrī...est Quintiliae: double dative tantō...quantum: correlatives immātūrus, -a, -um, adj., unripe, immature, premature, untimely

6

Quintilia, -ae, f., Quintilia; wife or girlfriend of Calvus gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsus sum, rejoice, delight in (with abl.) amōre tuō: “Your love” is clearly Calvus’, but the object of it, traditionally taken to be Quintilia, is unspecified.

Catullus 101 The somber and isolated dignity of this poem about Catullus’ brother’s death is perhaps unparalleled in his poems. The contrast between the “mute ashes” of the brother who has died and the perpetual voice of the poet saying “hail and farewell” entails a complicated commentary on the concept of loss.

Multas per gentes et multa per aequora vectus advenio has miseras, frater, ad inferias, ut te postremo donarem munere mortis et mutam nequiquam alloquerer cinerem, Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

gens, gentis, f., people, nation, clan, tribe, family aequor, aequoris, n., a flat level surface, the flat surface of the sea, sea (often used in pl.) vehō, vehere, vexī, vectum, carry; passive in middle sense, travel, sail

2

adveniō, advenīre, advēnī, adventum, come to, reach frāter: This is the first of the three appearances of this vocative address to his brother in the poem. All appear in the same metrical position in the line. Addressing the dead three times was part of the Roman funeral ritual. ad: has a “final” or “purpose” sense here inferiae, -ārum, f. pl., rites in honor of the dead; oﬀerings to the dead (wine, milk, honey, flowers etc.)

3

postrēmus, -a, -um, adj., last, latest, final dōnō, dōnāre, dōnāvī, dōnātum, present, endow dōnārem: Notice the sequence of tenses. The imperfect subjunctive in secondary sequence here, and below with alloquerer, can be explained through the combination of vectus adveniō acting like a perfect tense. Cf. the use of this same verb in Poem 1, line 1. The construction is accusative of the person “endowed,” tē, and ablative of with what he/she is “endowed,” mūnere. mūnus, mūneris, n., service, duty, gift, entertainment, oﬀering mortis: The genitive here explains the kind of oﬀering, i.e., one connected with death.

4

mūtus, -a, -um, adj., inarticulate, dumb, silent, mute mūtam...cinerem: Cf. mūtīs... sepulcrīs (Poem 96, line 1). nēquīquam, adv., to no eﬀect, in vain nēquīquam: The last syllable in this word is elided into the word of “speaking” at the typical break point in the pentameter line, reflecting the diﬃculty and possible pointlessness of attempting to address the dead. alloquor, alloquī, allocūtus sum, speak to, address, invoke, comfort cinis, cineris, m., f., ashes

158

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

quandoquidem fortuna mihi tete abstulit ipsum, 5 heu miser indigne frater adempte mihi. nunc tamen interea haec, prisco quae more parentum tradita sunt tristi munere ad inferias, accipe fraterno multum manantia fletu, atque in perpetuum, frater, ave atque vale. 10

5

quandōquidem, rel. adv., since, seeing that mihi: dative of separation tētē: emphatic form of tē auferō, auferre, abstulī, ablātum, take away, carry oﬀ, kill

6

heu, interj. expressing grief or pain, oh, alas heu...mihi: apostrophe miser, misera, miserum, adj., unhappy, pitiful indignē, adv., unworthily, undeservedly frāter adempte mihi: Cf. Poem 68, line 20, where this identical phrase appears in the same metrical position in the line. adimō, adimere, adēmī, ademptum, take away adempte: vocative mihi: dative of separation

7

nunc...accipe: The complicated word order is suggestive of the emotionally diﬃcult task being performed. intereā, adv., meanwhile intereā: adversative, not temporal sense, here, with tamen; “yet,” “at any rate” haec: accusative; direct object of accipe priscus, -a, -um, adj., ancient, former quae: nominative; antecedent is haec mōs, mōris, m., custom, tradition; (pl.) character, habits parens, parentis, m., f., parent, father or mother; (pl.) parents; (usually in pl.) ancestor, originator

8

trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum, hand over, deliver, introduce tristis, -e, adj., sad

9

accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum, receive, take, hear, understand mānō, mānāre, mānāvī, mānātum, flow, spread flētus, -ūs, m., weeping, tears, lamentation

10

perpetuus, -a, -um, adj., continuing, permanent, connected in perpetuum: forever avē (formal expression of greeting), hail avē atque valē: formula found on sepulchral inscriptions valeō, valēre, valuī, valitum, be powerful, be strong enough to, be well, prevail; valē etc., goodbye, farewell

Catullus 109 What in its first line may appear to be a simple proposal for lovemaking opens up into fervent prayer to the gods that they bring it about that the speaker’s lover speaks and promises truly. The almost solemn elegance of the poem’s last line—with its language of sacred accord—is predicated precariously upon the speaker’s wish that his lover’s voice is to be trusted.

Iucundum, mea vita, mihi proponis: amorem hunc nostrum inter nos perpetuum usque fore. di magni, facite ut vere promittere possit, atque id sincere dicat et ex animo, Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

iūcundus, -a, -um, adj., delightful, agreeable iūcundum: substantive; neuter singular, direct object of prōpōnis according to the text printed here. An alternate reading, without the colon, takes iūcundum as an adjective modifying amōrem, and hunc nostrum in apposition. The first line (if one ignores the colon even just momentarily) reads like a “simple” proposal of some pleasant love or lovemaking. Line 2 is the first place that introduces any idea of its duration. In addition, line 2 makes one rethink whether to take iūcundum as adjective or noun. vīta, -ae, f., life; hyperbolically, of a person as a term of aﬀection prōpōnō, prōpōnere, prōposuī, prōpositum, oﬀer, propose, hold out amōrem: modified by hunc nostrum; subject accusative in indirect statement

2

inter nōs: This mutuality is perhaps picked up by the interlocked word order in the poem’s conclusion. perpetuus, -a, -um, adj., continuing, permanent, connected perpetuum: accusative, linked to amōrem by fore usque, adv., continuously, continually, all the way fore: futūrum esse, future active infinitive of esse

3

dī...: apostrophe facite ut: The imperative of faciō takes a substantive clause in the subjunctive. vērē, adv., really, truly

4

sincērē, adv., truly, faithfully

160

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

ut liceat nobis tota perducere vita aeternum hoc sanctae foedus amicitiae.

5

5

licet, licēre, licuit/licitum est, impersonal verb, it is permitted ut liceat: result or purpose tōtā vītā: ablative for the more usual accusative of duration of time perdūcō, perdūcere, perduxī, perductum, conduct, convey, lead

6

aeternus, -a, -um, adj., eternal, everlasting aeternum...amīcitiae: synchysis or interlocked word order, reflecting perhaps the lovers whose lives are to be intertwined sanctus, -a, -um, adj., sacred, holy foedus, foederis, n., treaty, compact foedus: Cf. Poems 76, line 3 and 87, line 3. amīcitia, -ae, f., friendship, accord

Catullus 116 This is one of a group of hostile poems addressed to Gellius which, in turn, form part of a larger group of Catullan poems of aggressive attack. Here a present of poetry is mentioned as having been a possible vehicle for calming hostilities, but, due to the failure of that, the fight continues. This is the last poem in the Catullan corpus.

Saepe tibi studiose, animo venante, requirens carmina uti possem mittere Battiadae, qui te lenirem nobis, neu conarere tela infesta <meum> mittere in usque caput, Meter: Elegiac Couplets 1

studiōsē, adv., attentively, diligently, eagerly, zealously vēnor, vēnārī, vēnātus sum, hunt requīrō, requīrere, requīsīvī/requīsiī, requīsītum, look for, ask about, try to bring back, need, miss

2

carmen, carminis, n., solemn or ritual utterance, song, poem, lyric poetry carmina...Batt iadae: presumably a translation of Callimachus as in Poem 65, lines 15–16 utī = ut: “how” introducing an indirect question or “so that” introducing a purpose clause, each of which taking the subjunctive Batt iadēs, -ae, m., an inhabitant of Cyrene, town of northwest Libya, whose legendary founder was Batt us; specifically Callimachus. Cf. Poems 7 and 65.

3

quī: old form of ablative, quō; either has sense of quibus “by which” or “so that thereby” (use of quō without a comparative with sense of ut); with lēnīrēm has final/purpose sense quī...: This is Catullus’ only completely spondaic hexameter line and is the only one in Latin after Ennius. lēniō, lēnīrē, lenīvī, lēnītum, assuage, placate, calm, explain away neu, conj., and that...not cōnor, cōnārī, cōnātus sum, attempt, try, make an eﬀort cōnārāre: -re, alternate ending for -ris, second personal singular passive

4

tēlum, -ī, n., spear, missile, weapon, shaft tēla: This word carries phallic sexual overtones in Latin. infestus, -a, -um, adj., dangerous, hostile, insecure usque, adv., continuously, continually, all the way caput, capitis, n., head, top, source, person, person’s life

162

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

hunc video mihi nunc frustra sumptum esse laborem, Gelli, nec nostras hinc valuisse preces. contra nos tela ista tua evitabimus acta, at fixus nostris tu dabis supplicium.

5

5

mihi: dative of agent with sumptum esse frustrā, adv., in vain, to no purpose sūmō, sūmere, sumpsī, sumptum, take, take on

6

Gellius, Gellī, m., Gellius is addressed by Catullus in a group of sexually abusive epigrams (74, 80, 88, 89, 90, 91, 116). He is attacked as incestuous, a sexual “passive,” and stealer of a female beloved of Catullus. He is probably Lucius Gellius Poplicola, who belonged to the circle of Clodia Metelli at the time of Cicero’s speech in defense of Caelius (Pro Caelio). There were charges of incest against him in antiquity. Consul in 36 bce, he was a commander on Marc Antony’s side at the Battle of Actium in 31 bce. hinc: “from here” in the sense of “on these grounds” valeō, valēre, valuī, valitum, be powerful, be strong enough to, be well, prevail prex, precis, f., prayer

7

contrā, adv., in return; prep. with acc., against contrā nōs: either preposition with accusative or adverb with nōs as nominative ēvītō, ēvītāre, ēvītāvī, ēvītātum, avoid acta: the sense is “thrown” or “hurled” here

8

fīgō, fīgere, fīxī, fīxum, drive in, transfix, pierce, fix nostrīs: understand tēlīs dabis: with supplicium, “pay the penalty” or “suﬀer punishment”; final s of dabis is suppressed here making the second syllable short. Suppression of final s occurs nowhere else in Catullus. It is prevalent in the early Latin poets, like Ennius, and occurs fairly often in Lucretius, Catullus’ contemporary, where it is probably used as an archaism. supplicium, -ī, n., entreaty, punishment, atonement, thing oﬀered to propitiate someone

Meters of the Poems In English poetry metrical patterns are based on which syllables in a word are stressed, or said more emphatically. In Latin poetry, however, the metrical patterns are based on the length of the syllables in the Latin words, not on their stress. While the stress accent played some role in how Latin poetry sounded, the length of the syllables determined the particular meter being used in a given poem. For this reason the meters are called quantitative meters, that is, they are based on the length or quantity of the syllables. The student or teacher should consult the prosody or versification section in a basic Latin grammar or text for rules about determining syllable length, and, more generally, for rules about figuring out Latin meter. The metrical patterns consist of arrangements of short syllables (∪) and long syllables (—). A syllable marked (X) is called anceps (“doubleheaded”) and can be long or short. The final syllable of each verse is anceps. When pronounced, long syllables are said for a longer time than short ones. The student should learn to write out the scansion, or the marking of the long and short syllables and elisions, in the poems. (Students taking the Advanced Placement* Latin Exam will be required to do this on the exam.) After gaining competence in writing out the scansion, the student should become familiar with the sound of the Latin poetry. The best way to accomplish this is to write out the scansion of a particular passage, e.g., about four lines that make sense as a metrical and grammatical unit, to practice reading it with the appropriate long and short syllables, elisions etc., and then to memorize it. Having such a “chunk” of Latin in one’s head or on one’s lips is the best way to reinforce the particular metrical patterns. * AP is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

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The following meters occur in the poems in this text: Dactylic Hexameter, Elegiac Couplets, Choliambic (limping iambic), Sapphic, Iambic Senarius, Greater Asclepiadean, Hendecasyllabic

Dactylic Hexameter Poem 64 is composed in dactylic hexameter, the same meter used in Latin for Vergil’s Aeneid and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and in Greek for Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. There are six feet (“hex” is Greek for “six”) in a line or verse of dactylic hexameter poetry. (A foot is the smallest metrical unit of verse with a given sequence and number of short and long syllables.) The first five feet are either dactyls (— ∪ ∪) or spondees (— —) or any combination of these (i.e., the first foot could be a dactyl, the second a spondee etc.). A dactyl is one long syllable followed by two short syllables. A spondee is two long syllables. The sixth foot is treated as a spondee (— —), but the second syllable of the spondee is actually anceps (— X). The fifth foot is usually a dactyl. This is the metrical pattern of the line: ∪∪ ∪∪ ∪∪ ∪∪ ∪∪ ——/——/——/——/——/—X A caesura (//) is a pause or break between words within a foot. The major pause in the line, called the principal caesura, usually occurs after the first syllable of the third foot or after the first syllable of the fourth foot. Poem 64, line 50 haec vestis priscīs hominum variāta figūrīs —

—/— — /— ∪ ∪ /—

∪∪/—∪ ∪/—X

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Elegiac Couplets The elegiac couplet consists of alternating lines of dactylic hexameter and pentameter. (See the description of the dactylic hexameter line above.) The pentameter line gets its name (“pent” is Greek for five) from the fact that it consists of two times 2 ½ feet of hexameter. There is a pause or diaeresis in between. The first half of the pentameter consists of two and a half feet of hexameter with the substitutions of dactyls and spondees allowed in the hexameter line. The second half of the pentameter does not allow substitution and consists of two dactylic feet and a half foot. The “half” feet in the pentameter are always one long syllable. hexameter: ∪∪ ∪∪ ∪∪ ∪∪ ∪∪ ——/——/——/——/——/—X pentameter: —∪∪—∪∪ — — — — — // — ∪∪ — ∪∪ X Poem 76, lines 1–2 Sī qua recordantī benefacta priōra voluptās —∪

∪/— — /— ∪∪/— ∪ ∪ /—∪ ∪/— X

est hominī, cum sē cōgitat esse pium, — ∪ ∪/— — / —//—∪∪/—∪ ∪/ X

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Choliambic (also called limping iambics or scazons) This line consists of five iambs (∪—) followed by a trochee (—∪) or spondee(— —). The “limping” quality of the line comes from the switch after the iambs to a final foot that begins with a long syllable. The first and third feet can be spondees instead of iambs. __ __ ∪—/∪—/∪—/∪—/∪—/—X Poem 8, line 1 Miser Catulle, dēsinās ineptīre, ∪ — / ∪ — /∪ — /∪— /∪—/—X

Sapphic The following is the metrical pattern of the Sapphic stanza. The pattern is written as four lines, although the fourth line originally may have been thought of as just a lengthening of the third line: — ∪ — ∪ — // ∪∪ — ∪ — X — ∪ — ∪ — // ∪ ∪ — ∪ — X — ∪ — ∪ — // ∪ ∪ — ∪ — X —∪∪—X

Meters of the Poems

The diaeresis does not always occur in this spot. Poem 51, line 1 Ille mī pār esse deō vidētur, —∪— — —∪ ∪— ∪— X ille, sī fās est, superāre dīvōs, —∪— — — ∪ ∪ —∪ — X quī sedens adversus identidem tē — ∪ — — — ∪ ∪— ∪— X spectat et audit — ∪ ∪—X

Iambic Senarius This is a pure iambic trimeter consisting of six iambs. ∪— ∪— ∪— ∪— ∪— ∪X Poem 4, line 1 Phasēlus ille, quem vidētis, hospitēs, ∪ —∪ —∪ — ∪—∪ — ∪X

Greater Asclepiadean — — — ∪ ∪ — // — ∪∪ — // — ∪ ∪ — ∪ X Poem 30, line 3 iam mē prōdere, iam nōn dubitās fallere, perfide? — — — ∪ ∪ — //— ∪ ∪— //—∪ ∪ — ∪ X

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Hendecasyllabic (or Phalaecean) This metrical line has eleven syllables (“hendeca” is Greek for “eleven”). It is the most common meter in Catullus’ poems. —∪ ∪— ———∪∪—∪—∪—X Poem 5, line 1 Vīvāmus, mea Lesbia, atque amēmus, ∪

———

∪∪ — ∪—

∪

∪

—X

Metrical Terms, Tropes or Figures of Thought, and Rhetorical Figures or Figures of Speech The following is a list of definitions for terms used in this book that are important for (1) meter and (2) the figurative use of language, whether a departure from the standard meaning of a word (a trope) or a departure from the standard order of words (a rhetorical figure). References in parentheses are to examples from poems in this book. alliteration: repetition of the same sound, usually initial, in two or more words. The term usually applies to consonants. (Poem 35, line 14: Dindymi dominam) anaphora: repetition of a word or phrase, often at the beginning of successive clauses or phrases. (Poem 5, line 8: dein mille altera, dein secunda centum) apostrophe: a “turning away” to address an often absent person or personified thing for rhetorical eﬀect. (Poem 3, line 16: [o factum male! o miselle passer!]) assonance: repetition of a sound, usually in the middle or at the end of a word, in successive words. (Poem 5, line 1: Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus,) asyndeton: lack of a conjunction between words or clauses. (Poem 45, line 20: amant amantur) caesura: pause or break between words within a metrical foot. chiasmus: arrangement of words parallel in syntax with corresponding words reversed in an A B B A pattern like the Greek letter chi (X). (Poem 44, line 13: gravēdō frīgida et frequens tussis)

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diaeresis: pause or break between words that coincides with the end of a metrical unit. ecphrasis: literary description of an object. (Poem 64, lines 50 ﬀ.: Haec vestis..., of the bedspread) elision: suppression, partial suppression, or blending of a final syllable of a word ending in a vowel (or a vowel followed by the letter m) before another word beginning with a vowel (or the letter h followed by a vowel). Elision is indicated in scansion by writing the symbol (∪) from the end of the first word to the beginning of the second word as well as by crossing through with a single line (/) or putting in parentheses () the elided letters. ellipsis: omission of a word or words that must be understood from the context. (Poem 84, line 2: insidias Arrius hinsidias) foot: the smallest metrical unit of verse with a given sequence and number of short and long syllables. golden line: two adjectives and two nouns with a verb between. (Poem 64, line 59: irrita ventosae linquens promissa procellae) hendiadys: one idea expressed through two words joined by a copulative conjunction. (Poem 14a, line 8: novum ac repertum) hiatus: lack of elision. (Poem 3, line 16: [o factum male! o miselle passer!]) hyperbaton: disruption of normal prose word order, for example, through wide separation of noun and modifier. (Poem 44, line 9: dedit) hyperbole: extravagant exaggeration. (Poem 69: exaggerated description of bad odor) hypermetric line: a line that has an extra syllable which must be elided to the next line. (Poem 11, line 19: omnium / ilia) hysteron proteron: reversal of natural or chronological order of events. (Poem 50, line 13: loquerer...essem)

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iambic shortening: (An iamb is a short syllable followed by a long syllable.) According to this metrical law, a long syllable, if preceded by a short syllable, may be counted as short if the word’s natural accent falls on the syllable directly preceding or following it. (Poem 13, line 11: dabo) Here, dabo (∪ —) can become (∪ ∪) because the word is accented on the first syllable, i.e., the syllable preceding the change. irony: statement in which implied meaning is diﬀerent from explicitly stated meaning. (Poem 70, use of Jupiter as potential marital partner) litotes: understatement, usually involving the assertion of something by denying its opposite. (Poem 4, lines 3–4: neque...nequisse) metaphor: implied comparison in the form of an identity. The “tenor” is the subject to which the metaphoric language is applied, while the “vehicle” is the metaphoric language itself. (Poem 1, line 2: arida...pumice expolitum, where the idea of “polishing” is both literal and figurative or metaphorical in terms of style) metonymy: application of a term for one thing to another with which it is closely associated. (Poem 64, line 67: fluctus salis alludebant, where “salt” is the “sea”) onomatopoeia: use of words which through their sound imitate their meaning. (Poem 64, line 155: spumantibus exspuit) oxymoron: paradox expressed through juxtaposition of seemingly contradictory words. (Poem 64, line 83: funera... nec funera) personification: application to inanimate objects of human qualities. (Poem 4: the speaking boat) postposition: placement of a word later than the location expected in prose; often, the placement of a word second rather than first in its clause. (Poem 51, line 5: misero quod...) simile: explicit comparison between two distinct things introduced by a word like velut (just as). (Poem 11, lines 22–23: velut...flos, of the speaker’s love) stanza: division of a poem containing a series of lines repeating in a pattern.

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synchysis or interlocked word order: arrangement of words parallel in syntax with an interlocking of the corresponding words in an A B A B pattern. (Poem 109, line 6: aeternum hoc sanctae foedus amicitiae.) syncope: shortening of a form. (Poem 3, line 6: norat: syncopated form of noverat) synecdoche: part of something used to signify the whole. (Poem 31, line 9: larem, for “home”) synizesis: the joining of two successive vowels within a word into one long syllable. (Poem 64, line 229: Erectheī: -eī one syllable) tmesis: separation of a compound word. (Poem 64, lines 91–92: prius...quam) transferred epithet (or hypallage): transfer of an adjective from the noun it goes with “in sense” to another related noun. (Poem 7, line 5: aestuosi) tricolon crescendo: arrangement of three phrases, clauses etc. with increasing length. (Poem 2, lines 2–4: quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,/ cui primum digitum dare appetenti)

Latin Text without Notes and Vocabulary

Catullus 1 Cui dono lepidum novum libellum arida modo pumice expolitum? Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas meas esse aliquid putare nugas iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum omne aevum tribus explicare cartis doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis. quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli, qualecumque quod, patrona virgo, plus uno maneat perenne saeclo.

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Catullus 2 Passer, deliciae meae puellae, quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere, cui primum digitum dare appetenti et acris solet incitare morsus, cum desiderio meo nitenti carum nescioquid lubet iocari, ut solaciolum sui doloris, credo, ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor; tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem et tristis animi levare curas!

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Catullus 3 Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque et quantum est hominum venustiorum: passer mortuus est meae puellae, passer, deliciae meae puellae, quem plus illa oculis suis amabat. nam mellitus erat suamque norat ipsam tam bene quam puella matrem, nec sese a gremio illius movebat, sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc ad solam dominam usque pipiabat; qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum illuc, unde negant redire quemquam. at vobis male sit, malae tenebrae Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis: tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis (o factum male! o miselle passer!); vestra nunc opera meae puellae flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli.

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Catullus 4 Phaselus ille, quem videtis, hospites, ait fuisse navium celerrimus, neque ullius natantis impetum trabis nequisse praeterire, sive palmulis opus foret volare sive linteo. et hoc negat minacis Hadriatici negare litus insulasve Cycladas Rhodumque nobilem horridamque Thracia Propontida trucemve Ponticum sinum, ubi iste post phaselus antea fuit comata silva; nam Cytorio in iugo loquente saepe sibilum edidit coma. Amastri Pontica et Cytore buxifer, tibi haec fuisse et esse cognitissima ait phaselus: ultima ex origine tuo stetisse dicit in cacumine, tuo imbuisse palmulas in aequore, et inde tot per impotentia freta erum tulisse, laeva sive dextera vocaret aura, sive utrumque Iuppiter simul secundus incidisset in pedem; neque ulla vota litoralibus deis sibi esse facta, cum veniret a mari novissime hunc ad usque limpidum lacum. sed haec prius fuere: nunc recondita senet quiete seque dedicat tibi, gemelle Castor et gemelle Castoris.

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Catullus 5 Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus, rumoresque senum severiorum omnes unius aestimemus assis! soles occidere et redire possunt; nobis, cum semel occidit brevis lux, nox est perpetua una dormienda. da mi basia mille, deinde centum, dein mille altera, dein secunda centum, deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum; dein, cum milia multa fecerimus, conturbabimus, illa ne sciamus, aut ne quis malus invidere possit cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.

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Catullus 7 Quaeris quot mihi basiationes tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque. quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum, aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox, furtivos hominum vident amores; tam te basia multa basiare vesano satis et super Catullo est, quae nec pernumerare curiosi possint nec mala fascinare lingua.

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Catullus 8 Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire, et quod vides perisse perditum ducas. fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles, cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla. ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant, quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat, fulsere vere candidi tibi soles. nunc iam illa non vult; tu quoque inpote<ns noli>, nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive, sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura. vale, puella. iam Catullus obdurat, nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam. at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla. scelesta, vae te! quae tibi manet vita? quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella? quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris? quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis? at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

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Catullus 10 Varus me meus ad suos amores visum duxerat e foro otiosum, scortillum, ut mihi tum repente visum est, non sane illepidum neque invenustum. huc ut venimus, incidere nobis sermones varii: in quibus, quid esset iam Bithynia; quo modo se haberet; ecquonam mihi profuisset aere. respondi, id quod erat, nihil neque ipsis nec praetoribus esse nec cohorti, cur quisquam caput unctius referret, praesertim quibus esset irrumator praetor, nec faceret pili cohortem. “at certe tamen,” inquiunt “quod illic natum dicitur esse, comparasti ad lecticam homines.” ego, ut puellae unum me facerem beatiorem, “non” inquam “mihi tam fuit maligne, ut, provincia quod mala incidisset, non possem octo homines parare rectos.” at mi nullus erat nec hic neque illic, fractum qui veteris pedem grabati in collo sibi collocare posset. hic illa, ut decuit cinaediorem, “quaeso” inquit mihi, “mi Catulle, paulum istos commoda; nam volo ad Serapim deferri.” “mane,” inquii puellae, “istud quod modo dixeram me habere, fugit me ratio: meus sodalis— Cinna est Gaius—is sibi paravit. verum, utrum illius an mei, quid ad me? utor tam bene quam mihi pararim. sed tu insulsa male et molesta vivis, per quam non licet esse neglegentem.”

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Catullus 11 Furi et Aureli, comites Catulli, sive in extremos penetrabit Indos, litus ut longe resonante Eoa tunditur unda, sive in Hyrcanos Arabasve molles, seu Sagas sagittiferosve Parthos, sive quae septemgeminus colorat aequora Nilus, sive trans altas gradietur Alpes, Caesaris visens monimenta magni, Gallicum Rhenum horribile aequor ultimosque Britannos, omnia haec, quaecumque feret voluntas caelitum, temptare simul parati, pauca nuntiate meae puellae non bona dicta. cum suis vivat valeatque moechis, quos simul complexa tenet trecentos, nullum amans vere, sed identidem omnium ilia rumpens; nec meum respectet, ut ante, amorem, qui illius culpa cecidit velut prati ultimi flos, praetereunte postquam tactus aratro est.

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Catullus 12 Marrucine Asini, manu sinistra non belle uteris: in ioco atque vino tollis lintea neglegentiorum. hoc salsum esse putas? fugit te, inepte; quamvis sordida res et invenusta est. non credis mihi? crede Pollioni fratri, qui tua furta vel talento mutari velit: est enim leporum diﬀertus puer ac facetiarum. quare aut hendecasyllabos trecentos exspecta, aut mihi linteum remitte, quod me non movet aestimatione, verum est mnemosynum mei sodalis. nam sudaria Saetaba ex Hiberis miserunt mihi muneri Fabullus et Veranius; haec amem necesse est ut Veraniolum meum et Fabullum.

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Catullus 13 Cenabis bene, mi Fabulle, apud me paucis, si tibi di favent, diebus, si tecum attuleris bonam atque magnam cenam, non sine candida puella et vino et sale et omnibus cachinnis. haec si, inquam, attuleris, venuste noster, cenabis bene—nam tui Catulli plenus sacculus est aranearum. sed contra accipies meros amores seu quid suavius elegantiusve est: nam unguentum dabo quod meae puellae donarunt Veneres Cupidinesque, quod tu cum olfacies, deos rogabis totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.

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Catullus 14a (numbered as 14 in Thomson) Ni te plus oculis meis amarem, iucundissime Calve, munere isto odissem te odio Vatiniano: nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus, cur me tot male perderes poetis? isti di mala multa dent clienti, qui tantum tibi misit impiorum. quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum munus dat tibi Sulla litterator, non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, quod non dispereunt tui labores. di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum! quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum misti continuo, ut die periret Saturnalibus optimo dierum! non non hoc tibi, salse, sic abibit. nam, si luxerit, ad librariorum curram scrinia; Caesios, Aquinos, Suﬀenum, omnia colligam venena, ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. vos hinc interea valete abite illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis, saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.

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Catullus 22 Suﬀenus iste, Vare, quem probe nosti, homo est venustus et dicax et urbanus, idemque longe plurimos facit versus. puto esse ego illi milia aut decem aut plura perscripta, nec sic ut fit in palimpsesto relata: cartae regiae novae libri, novi umbilici, lora rubra, membranae, derecta plumbo et pumice omnia aequata. haec cum legas tu, bellus ille et urbanus Suﬀenus unus caprimulgus aut fossor rursus videtur: tantum abhorret ac mutat. hoc quid putemus esse? qui modo scurra aut siquid hac re scitius videbatur, idem inficeto est inficetior rure, simul poemata attigit, neque idem umquam aeque est beatus ac poema cum scribit: tam gaudet in se tamque se ipse miratur. nimirum idem omnes fallimur, neque est quisquam quem non in aliqua re videre Suﬀenum possis. suus cuique attributus est error; sed non videmus manticae quod in tergo est.

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Catullus 30 Alfene immemor atque unanimis false sodalibus, iam te nil miseret, dure, tui dulcis amiculi? iam me prodere, iam non dubitas fallere, perfide? nec facta impia fallacum hominum caelicolis placent. quae tu neglegis ac me miserum deseris in malis. eheu quid faciant, dic, homines cuive habeant fidem? certe tute iubebas animam tradere, inique, <me> inducens in amorem, quasi tuta omnia mi forent. idem nunc retrahis te ac tua dicta omnia factaque ventos irrita ferre ac nebulas aerias sinis. si tu oblitus es, at di meminerunt, meminit Fides, quae te ut paeniteat postmodo facti faciet tui.

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Catullus 31 Paene insularum, Sirmio, insularumque ocelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnis marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus, quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso, vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bithynos liquisse campos et videre te in tuto. o quid solutis est beatius curis, cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, desideratoque acquiescimus lecto? hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis. salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude gaudente, vosque lucidae lacus undae ridete quidquid est domi cachinnorum.

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Catullus 35 Poetae tenero, meo sodali, velim Caecilio, papyre, dicas Veronam veniat, Novi relinquens Comi moenia Lariumque litus: nam quasdam volo cogitationes amici accipiat sui meique. quare, si sapiet, viam vorabit, quamvis candida milies puella euntem revocet, manusque collo ambas iniciens roget morari. quae nunc, si mihi vera nuntiantur, illum deperit impotente amore: nam quo tempore legit incohatam Dindymi dominam, ex eo misellae ignes interiorem edunt medullam. ignosco tibi, Sapphica puella musa doctior: est enim venuste Magna Caecilio incohata Mater.

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Catullus 36 Annales Volusi, cacata carta, votum solvite pro mea puella. nam sanctae Veneri Cupidinique vovit, si sibi restitutus essem desissemque truces vibrare iambos, electissima pessimi poetae scripta tardipedi deo daturam infelicibus ustulanda lignis, et hoc pessima se puella vidit iocose lepide vovere divis. nunc, o caeruleo creata ponto, quae sanctum Idalium Uriosque apertos quaeque Ancona Cnidumque harundinosam colis quaeque Amathunta quaeque Golgos quaeque Dyrrachium Hadriae tabernam, acceptum face redditumque votum, si non illepidum neque invenustum est. at vos interea venite in ignem, pleni ruris et inficetiarum annales Volusi, cacata carta.

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Catullus 40 Quaenam te mala mens, miselle Raude, agit praecipitem in meos iambos? quis deus tibi non bene advocatus vecordem parat excitare rixam? an ut pervenias in ora vulgi? quid vis? qualubet esse notus optas? eris, quandoquidem meos amores cum longa voluisti amare poena.

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Catullus 43 Salve, nec minimo puella naso nec bello pede nec nigris ocellis nec longis digitis nec ore sicco nec sane nimis elegante lingua. decoctoris amica Formiani, ten provincia narrat esse bellam? tecum Lesbia nostra comparatur? o saeclum insipiens et inficetum!

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Catullus 44 O funde noster seu Sabine seu Tiburs (nam te esse Tiburtem autumant, quibus non est cordi Catullum laedere; at quibus cordi est, quovis Sabinum pignore esse contendunt), sed seu Sabine sive verius Tiburs, fui libenter in tua suburbana villa, malamque pectore expuli tussim, non inmerenti quam mihi meus venter, dum sumptuosas appeto, dedit, cenas: nam, Sestianus dum volo esse conviva, orationem in Antium petitorem plenam veneni et pestilentiae legi. hic me gravedo frigida et frequens tussis quassavit usque, dum in tuum sinum fugi, et me recuravi otioque et urtica. quare refectus maximas tibi grates ago, meum quod non es ulta peccatum. nec deprecor iam, si nefaria scripta Sesti recepso, quin gravedinem et tussim non mi, sed ipsi Sestio ferat frigus, qui tunc vocat me, cum malum librum legi.

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Catullus 45 Acmen Septimius suos amores tenens in gremio “mea” inquit “Acme, ni te perdite amo atque amare porro omnes sum assidue paratus annos, quantum qui pote plurimum perire, solus in Libya Indiaque tosta caesio veniam obvius leoni.” hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante dextra sternuit approbationem. at Acme leviter caput reflectens et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos illo purpureo ore saviata, “sic,” inquit “mea vita Septimille, huic uni domino usque serviamus, ut multo mihi maior acriorque ignis mollibus ardet in medullis.” hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante dextra sternuit approbationem. nunc ab auspicio bono profecti mutuis animis amant amantur. unam Septimius misellus Acmen mavult quam Syrias Britanniasque: uno in Septimio fidelis Acme facit delicias libidinesque. quis ullos homines beatiores vidit, quis venerem auspicatiorem?

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Catullus 46 Iam ver egelidos refert tepores, iam caeli furor aequinoctialis iucundis Zephyri silescit auris. linquantur Phrygii, Catulle, campi Nicaeaeque ager uber aestuosae: ad claras Asiae volemus urbes. iam mens praetrepidans avet vagari, iam laeti studio pedes vigescunt. o dulces comitum valete coetus, longe quos simul a domo profectos diversae varie viae reportant.

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Catullus 49 Disertissime Romuli nepotum, quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli, quotque post aliis erunt in annis, gratias tibi maximas Catullus agit pessimus omnium poeta, tanto pessimus omnium poeta quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

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Catullus 50 Hesterno, Licini, die otiosi multum lusimus in meis tabellis, ut convenerat esse delicatos: scribens versiculos uterque nostrum ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc, reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum. atque illinc abii tuo lepore incensus, Licini, facetiisque, ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos, sed toto indomitus furore lecto versarer, cupiens videre lucem, ut tecum loquerer simulque ut essem. at defessa labore membra postquam semimortua lectulo iacebant, hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci, ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem. nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras, oramus, cave despuas, ocelle, ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te. est vemens dea; laedere hanc caveto.

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Catullus 51 Ille mi par esse deo videtur, ille, si fas est, superare divos, qui sedens adversus identidem te spectat et audit dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te, Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus flamma demanat, sonitu suopte tintinant aures, gemina teguntur lumina nocte. otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est; otio exsultas nimiumque gestis; otium et reges prius et beatas perdidit urbes.

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Catullus 60 Num te leaena montibus Libystinis aut Scylla latrans infima inguinum parte tam mente dura procreavit ac taetra ut supplicis vocem in novissimo casu contemptam haberes, a nimis fero corde?

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Catullus 64 (lines 50–253) haec vestis priscis hominum variata figuris heroum mira virtutes indicat arte. namque fluentisono prospectans litore Diae Thesea cedentem celeri cum classe tuetur indomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores, necdum etiam sese quae visit visere credit, utpote fallaci quae tunc primum excita somno desertam in sola miseram se cernat harena. immemor at iuvenis fugiens pellit vada remis, irrita ventosae linquens promissa procellae; quem procul ex alga maestis Minois ocellis saxea ut eﬃgies bacchantis, prospicit, eheu, prospicit et magnis curarum fluctuat undis, non flavo retinens subtilem vertice mitram, non contecta levi velatum pectus amictu, non tereti strophio lactentis vincta papillas, omnia quae toto delapsa e corpore passim ipsius ante pedes fluctus salis alludebant. sed neque tum mitrae neque tum fluitantis amictus illa vicem curans toto ex te pectore, Theseu, toto animo, tota pendebat perdita mente. a misera, assiduis quam luctibus externavit spinosas Erycina serens in pectore curas, illa tempestate, ferox qua robore Theseus egressus curvis e litoribus Piraei attigit iniusti regis Gortynia templa. nam perhibent olim crudeli peste coactam Androgeoneae poenas exsolvere caedis electos iuvenes simul et decus innuptarum Cecropiam solitam esse dapem dare Minotauro. quis angusta malis cum moenia vexarentur, ipse suum Theseus pro caris corpus Athenis proicere optavit potius quam talia Cretam funera Cecropiae nec funera portarentur.

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atque ita nave levi nitens ac lenibus auris magnanimum ad Minoa venit sedesque superbas. hunc simul ac cupido conspexit lumine virgo regia, quam suavis exspirans castus odores lectulus in molli complexu matris alebat, quales Eurotae progignunt flumina myrtus aurave distinctos educit verna colores, non prius ex illo flagrantia declinavit lumina, quam cuncto concepit corpore flammam funditus atque imis exarsit tota medullis. heu misere exagitans immiti corde furores sancte puer, curis hominum qui gaudia misces, quaeque regis Golgos quaeque Idalium frondosum, qualibus incensam iactastis mente puellam fluctibus, in flavo saepe hospite suspirantem! quantos illa tulit languenti corde timores! quam tum saepe magis fulgore expalluit auri, cum saevum cupiens contra contendere monstrum aut mortem appeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis! non ingrata tamen frustra munuscula divis promittens tacito succepit vota labello: nam velut in summo quatientem brachia Tauro quercum aut conigeram sudanti cortice pinum indomitus turbo contorquens flamine robur eruit (illa procul radicitus exturbata prona cadit, late quaeviscumque obvia frangens), sic domito saevum prostravit corpore Theseus nequiquam vanis iactantem cornua ventis. inde pedem sospes multa cum laude reflexit errabunda regens tenui vestigia filo, ne labyrintheis e flexibus egredientem tecti frustraretur inobservabilis error. sed quid ego a primo digressus carmine plura commemorem, ut linquens genitoris filia vultum, ut consanguineae complexum, ut denique matris, quae misera in gnata deperdita laeta, omnibus his Thesei dulcem praeoptarit amorem; aut ut vecta rati spumosa ad litora Diae

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aut ut eam devinctam lumina somno liquerit immemori discedens pectore coniunx? saepe illam perhibent ardenti corde furentem clarisonas imo fudisse e pectore voces, ac tum praeruptos tristem conscendere montes, unde aciem pelagi vastos protenderet aestus, tum tremuli salis adversas procurrere in undas mollia nudatae tollentem tegmina surae, atque haec extremis maestam dixisse querellis, frigidulos udo singultus ore cientem: “sicine me patriis avectam, perfide, ab aris, perfide, deserto liquisti in litore, Theseu? sicine discedens neglecto numine divum, immemor a! devota domum periuria portas? nullane res potuit crudelis flectere mentis consilium? tibi nulla fuit clementia praesto, immite ut nostri vellet miserescere pectus? at non haec quondam blanda promissa dedisti voce mihi, non haec miseram sperare iubebas, sed conubia laeta, sed optatos hymenaeos, quae cuncta aerii discerpunt irrita venti. nunc iam nulla viro iuranti femina credat, nulla viri speret sermones esse fideles, quis dum aliquid cupiens animus praegestit apisci, nil metuunt iurare, nihil promittere parcunt; sed simul ac cupidae mentis satiata libido est, dicta nihil meminere, nihil periuria curant. certe ego te in medio versantem turbine leti eripui, et potius germanum amittere crevi quam tibi fallaci supremo in tempore dessem. pro quo dilaceranda feris dabor alitibusque praeda, neque iniecta tumulabor mortua terra. quaenam te genuit sola sub rupe leaena, quod mare conceptum spumantibus exspuit undis, quae Syrtis, quae Scylla rapax, quae vasta Charybdis, talia qui reddis pro dulci praemia vita? si tibi non cordi fuerant conubia nostra, saeva quod horrebas prisci praecepta parentis,

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attamen in vestras potuisti ducere sedes, quae tibi iucundo famularer serva labore, candida permulcens liquidis vestigia lymphis, purpureave tuum consternens veste cubile. sed quid ego ignaris nequiquam conqueror auris, exsternata malo, quae nullis sensibus auctae nec missas audire queunt nec reddere voces? ille autem prope iam mediis versatur in undis, nec quisquam apparet vacua mortalis in alga. sic nimis insultans extremo tempore saeva fors etiam nostris invidit questibus auris. Iuppiter omnipotens, utinam ne tempore primo Gnosia Cecropiae tetigissent litora puppes, indomito nec dira ferens stipendia tauro perfidus in Creta religasset navita funem, nec malus haec celans dulci crudelia forma consilia in nostris requiesset sedibus hospes! nam quo me referam? quali spe perdita nitor? Idaeosne petam montes? at gurgite lato discernens ponti truculentum dividit aequor. an patris auxilium sperem? quemne ipsa reliqui respersum iuvenem fraterna caede secuta? coniugis an fido consoler memet amore? quine fugit lentos incurvans gurgite remos? praeterea nullo colitur sola insula tecto, nec patet egressus pelagi cingentibus undis. nulla fugae ratio, nulla spes: omnia muta, omnia sunt deserta, ostentant omnia letum. non tamen ante mihi languescent lumina morte, nec prius a fesso secedent corpore sensus, quam iustam a divis exposcam prodita multam caelestumque fidem postrema comprecer hora. quare facta virum multantes vindice poena Eumenides, quibus anguino redimita capillo frons exspirantis praeportat pectoris iras, huc huc adventate, meas audite querellas, quas ego, vae miserae, imis proferre medullis cogor inops, ardens, amenti caeca furore.

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quae quoniam verae nascuntur pectore ab imo, vos nolite pati nostrum vanescere luctum, sed quali solam Theseus me mente reliquit, tali mente, deae, funestet seque suosque.” has postquam maesto profudit pectore voces, supplicium saevis exposcens anxia factis, annuit invicto caelestum numine rector; quo motu tellus atque horrida contremuerunt aequora concussitque micantia sidera mundus. ipse autem caeca mentem caligine Theseus consitus oblito dimisit pectore cuncta quae mandata prius constanti mente tenebat, dulcia nec maesto sustollens signa parenti sospitem Erectheum se ostendit visere portum. namque ferunt olim, classi cum moenia divae linquentem gnatum ventis concrederet Aegeus, talia complexum iuveni mandata dedisse: “gnate mihi longe iucundior unice vita, gnate, ego quem in dubios cogor dimittere casus, reddite in extrema nuper mihi fine senectae, quandoquidem fortuna mea ac tua fervida virtus eripit invito mihi te, cui languida nondum lumina sunt gnati cara saturata figura, non ego te gaudens laetanti pectore mittam, nec te ferre sinam fortunae signa secundae, sed primum multas expromam mente querellas, canitiem terra atque infuso pulvere foedans; inde infecta vago suspendam lintea malo, nostros ut luctus nostraeque incendia mentis carbasus obscurata dicet ferrugine Hibera. quod tibi si sancti concesserit incola Itoni, quae nostrum genus ac sedes defendere Erecthei annuit, ut tauri respergas sanguine dextram, tum vero facito ut memori tibi condita corde haec vigeant mandata, nec ulla oblitteret aetas; ut simul ac nostros invisent lumina collis funestam antennae deponant undique vestem candidaque intorti sustollant vela rudentes,

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quam primum cernens ut laeta gaudia mente agnoscam, cum te reducem aetas prospera sistet.” haec mandata prius constanti mente tenentem Thesea ceu pulsae ventorum flamine nubes aerium nivei montis liquere cacumen. at pater, ut summa prospectum ex arce petebat, anxia in assiduos absumens lumina fletus, cum primum inflati conspexit lintea veli, praecipitem sese scopulorum e vertice iecit, amissum credens immiti Thesea fato. sic, funesta domus ingressus tecta paterna morte, ferox Theseus, qualem Minoidi luctum obtulerat mente immemori, talem ipse recepit. quae tum prospectans cedentem maesta carinam multiplices animo volvebat saucia curas. at parte ex alia florens volitabat Iacchus cum thiaso Satyrorum et Nysigenis Silenis, te quaerens, Ariadna, tuoque incensus amore.

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Catullus 65 Etsi me assiduo defectum cura dolore sevocat a doctis, Hortale, virginibus, nec potis est dulcis Musarum expromere fetus mens animi, tantis fluctuat ipsa malis— namque mei nuper Lethaeo in gurgite fratris pallidulum manans alluit unda pedem, Troia Rhoeteo quem subter litore tellus ereptum nostris obterit ex oculis. . . . . . . . . numquam ego te, vita frater amabilior, aspiciam posthac? at certe semper amabo, semper maesta tua carmina morte canam, qualia sub densis ramorum concinit umbris Daulias, absumpti fata gemens Ityli.— sed tamen in tantis maeroribus, Hortale, mitto haec expressa tibi carmina Battiadae, ne tua dicta vagis nequiquam credita ventis eﬄuxisse meo forte putes animo, ut missum sponsi furtivo munere malum procurrit casto virginis e gremio, quod miserae oblitae molli sub veste locatum, dum adventu matris prosilit, excutitur, atque illud prono praeceps agitur decursu, huic manat tristi conscius ore rubor.

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Catullus 68 (lines 1–40) Quod mihi fortuna casuque oppressus acerbo conscriptum hoc lacrimis mittis epistolium, naufragum ut eiectum spumantibus aequoris undis sublevem et a mortis limine restituam, quem neque sancta Venus molli requiescere somno desertum in lecto caelibe perpetitur, nec veterum dulci scriptorum carmine Musae oblectant, cum mens anxia pervigilat: id gratum est mihi, me quoniam tibi dicis amicum, muneraque et Musarum hinc petis et Veneris. sed tibi ne mea sint ignota incommoda, Manli, neu me odisse putes hospitis oﬃcium, accipe quis merser fortunae fluctibus ipse, ne amplius a misero dona beata petas. tempore quo primum vestis mihi tradita pura est, iucundum cum aetas florida ver ageret, multa satis lusi: non est dea nescia nostri, quae dulcem curis miscet amaritiem. sed totum hoc studium luctu fraterna mihi mors abstulit. o misero frater adempte mihi, tu mea tu moriens fregisti commoda, frater, tecum una tota est nostra sepulta domus; omnia tecum una perierunt gaudia nostra quae tuus in vita dulcis alebat amor. cuius ego interitu tota de mente fugavi haec studia atque omnes delicias animi. quare, quod scribis Veronae turpe Catullo esse, quod hic quisquis de meliore nota frigida deserto tepefactet membra cubili, id, Manli, non est turpe, magis miserum est. ignosces igitur si, quae mihi luctus ademit, haec tibi non tribuo munera, cum nequeo. nam, quod scriptorum non magna est copia apud me, hoc fit, quod Romae vivimus: illa domus,

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illa mihi sedes, illic mea carpitur aetas; huc una ex multis capsula me sequitur. quod cum ita sit, nolim statuas nos mente maligna id facere aut animo non satis ingenuo, quod tibi non utriusque petenti copia posta est: ultro ego deferrem, copia siqua foret.

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Catullus 69 Noli admirari, quare tibi femina nulla, Rufe, velit tenerum supposuisse femur, non si illam rarae labefactes munere vestis aut perluciduli deliciis lapidis. laedit te quaedam mala fabula, qua tibi fertur 5 valle sub alarum trux habitare caper. hunc metuunt omnes, neque mirum: nam mala valde est bestia, nec quicum bella puella cubet. quare aut crudelem nasorum interfice pestem, aut admirari desine cur fugiunt. 10

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Catullus 70 Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat. dicit; sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, in vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.

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Catullus 72 Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum, Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem. dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam, sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos. nunc te cognovi; quare, etsi impensius uror, multo mi tamen es vilior et levior. qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.

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Catullus 76 Si qua recordanti benefacta priora voluptas est homini, cum se cogitat esse pium, nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere in ullo divum ad fallendos numine abusum homines, multa parata manent in longa aetate, Catulle, 5 ex hoc ingrato gaudia amore tibi. nam quaecumque homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possunt aut facere, haec a te dictaque factaque sunt. omnia quae ingratae perierunt credita menti. quare cur tete iam amplius excrucies? 10 quin tu animo oﬃrmas atque istinc te ipse reducis et dis invitis desinis esse miser? diﬃcile est longum subito deponere amorem, diﬃcile est, verum hoc qua lubet eﬃcias; una salus haec est, hoc est tibi pervincendum, 15 hoc facias, sive id non pote sive pote. o di, si vestrum est misereri, aut si quibus umquam extremam iam ipsa in morte tulistis opem, me miserum aspicite et, si vitam puriter egi, eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi, 20 quae mihi subrepens imos ut torpor in artus expulit ex omni pectore laetitias. non iam illud quaero, contra ut me diligat illa, aut, quod non potis est, esse pudica velit: ipse valere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum. 25 o di, reddite mi hoc pro pietate mea.

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Catullus 77 Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amice (frustra? immo magno cum pretio atque malo), sicine subrepsti mi atque intestina perurens ei misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona? eripuisti, eheu nostrae crudele venenum vitae, eheu nostrae pestis amicitiae.

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Catullus 84 Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda vellet dicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias, et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum, cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias. credo, sic mater, sic liber avunculus eius, sic maternus avus dixerat atque avia. hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures: audibant eadem haec leniter et leviter, nec sibi postilla metuebant talia verba, cum subito aﬀertur nuntius horribilis, Ionios fluctus, postquam illuc Arrius isset, iam non Ionios esse sed Hionios.

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Catullus 85 Odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris. nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.

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Catullus 86 Quintia formosa est multis. mihi candida, longa, recta est: haec ego sic singula confiteor, totum illud “formosa” nego: nam nulla venustas, nulla in tam magno est corpore mica salis. Lesbia formosa est, quae cum pulcerrima tota est, tum omnibus una omnis surripuit veneres.

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Catullus 87 Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatam vere, quantum a me Lesbia amata mea es. nulla fides ullo fuit umquam in foedere tanta, quanta in amore tuo ex parte reperta mea est.

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Catullus 96 Si quicquam mutis gratum acceptumve sepulcris accidere a nostro, Calve, dolore potest, quo desiderio veteres renovamus amores atque olim missas flemus amicitias, certe non tanto mors immatura dolori est Quintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo.

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Catullus 101 Multas per gentes et multa per aequora vectus advenio has miseras, frater, ad inferias, ut te postremo donarem munere mortis et mutam nequiquam alloquerer cinerem, quandoquidem fortuna mihi tete abstulit ipsum, heu miser indigne frater adempte mihi. nunc tamen interea haec, prisco quae more parentum tradita sunt tristi munere ad inferias, accipe fraterno multum manantia fletu, atque in perpetuum, frater, ave atque vale.

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Catullus 109 Iucundum, mea vita, mihi proponis: amorem hunc nostrum inter nos perpetuum usque fore. di magni, facite ut vere promittere possit, atque id sincere dicat et ex animo, ut liceat nobis tota perducere vita aeternum hoc sanctae foedus amicitiae.

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Catullus 116 Saepe tibi studiose, animo venante, requirens carmina uti possem mittere Battiadae, qui te lenirem nobis, neu conarere tela infesta <meum> mittere in usque caput, hunc video mihi nunc frustra sumptum esse laborem, Gelli, nec nostras hinc valuisse preces. contra nos tela ista tua evitabimus acta, at fixus nostris tu dabis supplicium.

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Vocabulary In general, only long vowels in metrically indeterminate positions are marked. For example, the length of the a in “annus” need not be marked as long or short because the syllable in which it is contained must be long, regardless of the length of the vowel, because the vowel is followed by two consonants, “nn,” (not a combination like tr which can create indeterminacy), while the a in “beātus” must be marked long because it occurs in a position where metrical rules cannot determine the length of the syllable in which it occurs. Genitive singular of second declension nouns whose nominative singular ends in “-ius” or “-ium” is given as ī (not iī) since that was the form in use when Catullus wrote. These words have the whole word written in the genitive rather than just ī, e.g., “Cornelius, Cornelī” vs. “scriptum, -ī.” These genitives accent the penult, even when short. The same holds for the accent in the vocative of second declension proper names ending in “-ius,” e.g., “Cornélī.” ________________________________________

A ā, interj., ah; interjection expressing a variety of feelings ā/ab, prep. with abl., from, by abeō, abīre, abiī, abitum, go away, depart, get oﬀ, be allowed to pass abhorreō, abhorrēre, abhorruī, shrink back from, be averse to, be diﬀerent from absūmō, absūmere, absumpsī, absumptum, spend, consume, wear out, exhaust, destroy, remove by death abūtor, abūtī, abūsum, use up, use, abuse, take advantage of ac, conj., and

acceptus, -a, -um, adj., welcome, pleasing accidō, accidere, accidī, fall down, happen, come to pass, arise accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum, receive, take, hear, understand ācer, ācris, ācre, adj., sharp, fierce, eager, dangerous acerbus, -a, -um, bitter, harsh, untimely (esp. of death) aciēs, aciēī, f., sharp edge, eye, battle line Acmē, Acmēs, f., Acme, a woman’s name. acquiescō, acquiescere, acquiē(v)ī, rest, relax, subside, find relief

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

ad, prep. with acc., to, towards, near adeō, adīre, ad(i)ī, aditum, go to, approach adferō, adferre, att ulī, allātum, bring, add adimō, adimere, adēmī, ademptum, take away

aestimō, aestimāre, aestimāvī, aestimātum, value, assess at aestuōsus, -a, -um, adj., very hot, agitated aestus, -ūs, m., heat, passion, tide aetās, aetātis, f., time, age aeternus, -a, -um, adj., eternal, everlasting

admīror, admīrārī, admīrātus sum, be surprised at, wonder at, admire

aevum, -ī, n., time, age, course of history

adveniō, advenīre, advēnī, adventum, come to, reach

aﬀerō, aﬀerre, att ulī, allātum, bring, deliver

adventō, adventāre, adventāvī, adventātum, approach, draw near

ager, agrī, m., field, territory

adventus, -ūs, m., arrival, approach adversus, -a, -um, adj., turned toward, opposite, hostile advocō, advocāre, advocāvī, advocātum, call upon, summon, invoke the aid of the gods, employ as legal counsel Aegeus, Aegeī, m., Aegeus, legendary king of Athens, father of Theseus aequē, adv., equally aequinoctiālis, aequinoctiāle, adj., connected with the equinox, equinoctial aequō, aequāre, aequāvī, aequātum, make level, even, smooth aequor, aequoris, n., a flat level surface, the flat surface of the sea, sea (often used in pl.) āerius, -a, -um, adj., of the air, lofty aes, aeris, n., copper, bronze, money aestimātiō, aestimātiōnis, f., valuation, estimation, monetary worth

agnoscō, agnoscere, agnōvī, agnōtum, recognize, identify agō, agere, ēgī, actum, do, drive, propel āiō, defective verb, say yes, say āla, -ae, f., wing, armpit āles, ālitis, m., f., large bird; omen Alfenus, -a, -um, adj., name of a Roman gens alga, -ae, f., seaweed aliquis, aliqua, aliquid, pron., someone, anyone, something, anything alius, alia, aliud, adj., other, another alloquor, alloquī, allocūtus sum, speak to, address, invoke, comfort allūdō, allūdere, allūsī, allūsum, play against, play with alluō, alluere, alluī, flow past, wash, wet alō, alere, aluī, altum, nourish Alpēs, Alpium, f. pl., the Alps, high mountains bordering Italy on the north

Vo c a b u l a r y

alter, altera, alterum, adj., another, one of two, the one, the other altus, -a, -um, adj., high, deep, tall

Androgeōnēus, -a, -um, adj., of Androgeos, son of Minos and Pasiphae.

amābilis, -e, adj., able or worthy to be loved, delightful

anguīnus, -a, -um, adj., of snakes, consisting of snakes

amans, amantis, m., f., lover

angustus, -a, -um, adj., narrow, limited, diﬃcult (of circumstances)

amāritiēs, amāritiēī, f., bitterness

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Amastris, Amastridis, f., town in Paphlagonia, a country in Asia Minor between Bithynia and Pontus

anima, -ae, f., breath, life, darling

Amathūs, Amathuntis, f., town in Cyprus connected with worship of Venus

annālis, annālis, m. (short for annālis liber), book of annals, chronicles; pl., chronicle or similar history written in several books, records, history

ambō, ambae, ambō, pl. adj. and pron., both, two of a pair

animus, -ī, m., mind, inclination, desire, enthusiasm, feelings

āmens, āmentis, adj., demented, insane, frantic

annuō, annuere, annuī, annūtum, make signs, nod, nod assent, approve of

amīca, -ae, f., female friend, girlfriend

annus, -ī, m., year

amīcitia, -ae, f., friendship, accord amictus, -ūs, m., cloak, clothing amīculus, -ī, m., dear friend, dear lover amīcus, -ī, m., friend, lover āmittō, āmittere, āmīsī, āmissum, send away, release, lose amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum, love, make love amor, amōris, m., love, sexual passion, object of one’s love (usually in pl.), love aﬀair, act of sex; love personified as the god of love amplius, adv., more, further an, particle., whether, or Ancōna, -ae, f., Ancona, seaport on the Adriatic coast of Italy in Picenum settled by Greeks

ante, adv., before, previously, in front; prep. with acc., before, in front of anteā, adv., previously antenna, -ae, f., sailyard, sail Antius, Antī, m., possibly the Gaius Antius who was responsible for a sumptuary law aimed at electoral corruption anxius, -a, -um, adj., disturbed, distressing apertus, -a, -um, adj., open, exposed to the elements apiscor, apiscī, aptus sum, grasp, get appāreō, appārēre, appāruī, appāritum, appear appetō, appetere, appetīvī/appetiī, appetītum, seek, desire, attack

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

approbātiō, approbātiōnis, f., approbation, giving of one’s approval

aspiciō, aspicere, aspexī, aspectum, catch sight of, look at, gaze upon, see, behold

apud, prep. with acc., at, near, at the house of, with (a person)

assiduē, adv., continually, constantly

aqua, -ae, f., water, body of water Aquīnus, -a, -um, adj., name of a Roman gens āra, -ae, f., altar, refuge

assiduus, -a, -um, adj., persistent, constant at, conj., but, however, yet Athēnae, -ārum, f. pl., Athens

Arabēs, Arabum, m. pl., Arabs

atque, conj., and; after comparatives, than

arānea, -ae, f., spider’s web, cobweb, spider

attingō, attingere, attigī, attactum, touch, reach, take up (a task)

arātrum, -ī, n., plough

att ribuō, att ribuere, att ribuī, att ribūtum, assign, count as belonging to, ascribe as an attribute

ardeō, ardēre, arsī, be on fire, burn, be in love ardor, ardōris, m., burning, fierce heat, passion Ariadna, -ae, f., Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete and his wife, Pasiphae.

audax, audācis, adj., daring, bold, rash audeō, audēre, ausus sum, dare, wish

āridus, -a, -um, adj., dry, lacking embellishment

audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum, hear, heed

Arrius, Arī, m., Arrius; most likely Quintus Arrius, self-made orator and follower of the triumvir, Marcus Licinius Crassus

auferō, auferre, abstulī, ablātum, take away, carry oﬀ, kill

ars, artis, f., art, technical skill, craft, method

augeō, augēre, auxī, auctum, increase, furnish aura, -ae, f., breeze

artus, artūs, m., joint, limb, arm or leg, member or part of body

Aurēlius, Aurēlī, m., Aurelius; not identified outside of Catullus’ poems

arx, arcis, f., citadel, height

auris, auris, f., ear

as, assis, m., coin of small value, penny

aurum -ī, n., gold

Asia, -ae, f., Asia, Asia Minor, the East, Roman province of Asia Asinius, -a, -um, adj., the name of a Roman gens

auspicātus, -a, -um, adj., approved by augury, auspicious, fortunate, lucky auspicium, auspicī, n., auspices, observing of omens from birds, omen, fortune, luck aut, conj., or; aut...aut, either...or

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autem, particle, but, moreover

bestia, -ae, f., beast, animal, creature

autumō, autumāre, autumāvī, autumātum, allege, aﬃrm, say, call, think

Bīthӯnia, -ae, Bithynia; Roman province on the northwest coast of Asia Minor; Catullus served there on the staﬀ of Gaius Memmius, governor in 57–56 bce.

auxilium, auxilī, n., help, aid avē (formal expression of greeting), hail

Bīthӯnius, -a, -um, adj., Bithynian

āvehō, āvehere, āvehī, āvectum, carry oﬀ, depart

blandus, -a, -um, adj., charming, persuasive, seductive

aveō, avēre, be eager, desire, long

bonus, -a, -um, adj., good

avia, -ae, f., grandmother

brāchium, brāchī, n., arm

avunculus, -ī, m., maternal uncle; a mother’s sister’s husband

brevis, -e, adj., short, brief

avus, -ī, m., grandfather, ancestor

Britannī, Britannōrum, m. pl., inhabitants of Britain, Britons Britannia, -ae, f., Britain

B

buxifer, buxifera, buxiferum, adj., producing box trees

bacchor, bacchārī, bacchātus sum, celebrate the festival of Bacchus, rave, rage

C

bāsiātiō, bāsiātiōnis, f., a kissing or kiss bāsiō, bāsiāre, bāsiāvī, bāsiātum, kiss bāsium, bāsī, n., kiss Battiadēs, -ae, m., an inhabitant of Cyrene, town of northwest Libya, whose legendary founder was Battus; specifically Callimachus Batt us, -ī, m., Battus, legendary founder of Cyrene

c(h)arta, -ae, f., sheet of papyrus, writings, roll (with one sheet standing for plural) cachinnus, -ī, m., laugh cacō, cacāre, cacāvī, cacātum, defecate, emit as excrement cacūmen, cacūminis, n., peak, top cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum, fall, die, set (of heavenly bodies) Caecilius, Caecilī, m., Caecilius; otherwise unknown

beātus, -a, -um, adj., happy, fortunate

caecus, -a, -um, adj., blind, dark, hidden

bellē, adv., nicely, well

caedēs, caedis, f., killing, slaughter

bellus, -a, -um, adj., charming, handsome, pretty, fine

caelebs, caelibis, adj., unmarried

bene, adv., well; with adj. or adv., quite

caeles, caelitis, adj., celestial; as noun, usually plural, a god

benefactum, -ī, n., good deed, benefit, service

caelestis, -e, adj., of the sky, celestial, divine

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

caelicola, -ae, m., or f., inhabitant of heaven, a god or goddess

caput, capitis, n., head, top, source, person, person’s life

caelum, -ī, n., sky, heavens, weather, world

carbasus, -ī, f., sail, canvas, awning

caeruleus, -a, -um, adj., blue

carīna, -ae, f., bottom of a ship, ship, boat

Caesar, Caesaris, m., Julius Caesar, the famous Roman general and politician, 100–44 bce; friend of Catullus’ family; attacked by Catullus in several poems.

carmen, carminis, n., solemn or ritual utterance, song, poem, lyric poetry

Caesius, -a, -um, adj., name of a Roman gens

cārus, -a, -um, adj., dear, beloved

caesius, -a, -um, adj., gray or grayblue, having gray or gray-blue eyes cālīgō, cālīginis, f., darkness, obscurity of a mist or fog Calvus, -ī m., Gaius Licinius Calvus, 82–47 bce, intimate friend of Catullus; poet, orator campus, -ī, m., plain, level surface; field; often refers specifically to the Campus Martius in Rome candidus, -a, -um, adj., bright, radiant, white

carpō, carpere, carpsī, carptum, pluck, seize, wear away, consume Castor, Castoris, m., Castor, son of Tyndareus (or Zeus) and Leda, and brother of Pollux; Castor and Pollux, also called the Dioscuri, are a help at sea castus, -a, -um, adj., pure, virgin, sexually faithful cāsus, -ūs, m., fall, event, misfortune, chance Catullus, -ī, m., Gaius Valerius Catullus, the poet caveō, cavēre, cāvī, cautum, beware, refrain from, watch out for

cānitiēs, cānitiēī, f., white or grey coloring, grey or white hair

Cecropia, -ae, f., Athens; from Cecrops, legendary king of Athens

canō, canere, cecinī, cantum, sing, sing about, recite, prophesy, foretell

cēdō, cēdere, cessī, cessum, go, yield, withdraw

caper, caprī, m., male goat; by metonymy, goat-like smell capillus, -i, m., hair capiō, capere, cēpī, captum, take, capture, get caprimulgus, -ī, m., country bumpkin (from capra, -ae, f., shegoat and mulgeō, milk) capsula, -ae, f., small container for books

celer, celeris, celere, adj., swift, quick cēlō, cēlāre, cēlāvī, cēlātum, conceal, hide cēna, -ae, f., dinner cēnō, cēnāre, cēnāvī, cēnātum, dine, have dinner centum, indecl. adj., a hundred cernō, cernere, crēvī, crētum, distinguish, see, perceive, decide certē, adv., certainly

Vo c a b u l a r y

ceu, particle, as, like Charybdis, Charybdis, f., whirlpool, seen as female monster, on Sicilian side of strait between Sicily and Italy cibus, -ī, m., food, meal, sustenance cieō, ciēre, cīvī, citum, stir up, rouse, produce cinaedus, -a, -um, adj., resembling or typical of a cinaedus or gender transgressive man, i.e., one who plays a “passive” sexual role; can be used of a female, shameless, sluttish cingō, cingere, cinxī, cinctum, surround, encircle cinis, cineris, m., f., ashes Cinna, -ae, m., Gaius Helvius Cinna, poet contemporary with Catullus who likely served with him in Bithynia; killed by a mob at Caesar’s funeral when mistaken for the anti-Caesarian, Lucius Cornelius Cinna

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coetus, coetūs, m., meeting, crowd, band, company, gang cōgitātiō, cōgitātiōnis, f., thought, deliberation cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum, think, consider, imagine, recollect cognitus, -a, -um, adj., known, noted cognoscō, cognoscere, cognōvī, cognitum, get to know, have experience of cōgō, cōgere, coēgī, coactum, drive together, force cohors, cohortis, f., cohort, staﬀ of a governor or other oﬃcial colligō, colligere, collēgī, collectum, to gather or bring together, collect collis, collis, m., hill collocō, collocāre, collocāvī, collocātum, put, place collum, -ī, n., neck colō, colere, coluī, cultum, cultivate, cherish

circumsiliō, circumsilīre, leap or jump around

color, colōris, m., color

clārisonus, -a, -um, adj., loud or clear sounding

colōrō, colōrāre, colōrāvī, colōrātum, give color to, dye, make darker in color

clārus, -a, -um, adj., clear, bright, famous

coma, -ae, f., hair, fleece, foliage

classis, classis, f., fleet, political class

comātus, -a, -um, adj., having long hair, leafy

clēmentia, -ae, f., clemency, disposition to pardon, mildness cliens, clientis, m., client; one who attaches himself to a person of greater influence or political power (patrōnus) for protection Cnidus, -ī, f., Cnidus, town in southwest Asia Minor with three temples to Venus

comes, comitis, m., f., one who goes with or accompanies another, companion, friend, comrade commemorō, commemorāre, commemorāvī, commemorātum, recall, relate, tell commodō, commodāre, commodāvī, commodātum, lend, provide

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

commodum, -ī, n., advantage, benefit, gift, interest

conscius, -a, -um, adj., sharing knowledge, conscious, guilty

comparō, comparāre, comparāvī, comparātum, compare, treat as equal to another

conscrībō, conscrībere, conscripsī, conscriptum, enrol, write on, compose

complector, complectī, complexus sum, embrace, hug

conserō, conserere, consēvī, consitum, sow, plant; consitus (of persons) beset

complexus, -ūs, m., embrace comprecor, comprecārī, comprecātus sum, pray to, invoke, supplicate

consilium, consilī, n., deliberation, decision, purpose consōlor, consōlārī, consōlātus sum, comfort, console

concēdō, concēdere, concessī, concessum, go away, concede, grant, allow

conspiciō, conspicere, conspexī, conspectum, catch sight of

concinō, concinere, concinuī, sing together, celebrate in song

constans, constantis, adj., unchanging, constant

concipiō, concipere, concēpī, conceptum, take in, conceive, produce

consternō, consternere, constrāvī, constrātum, spread, cover

concrēdō, concrēdere, concrēdidī, concrēditum, entrust for safekeeping concutiō, concutere, concussī, concussum, shake, upset, stir up

contegō, contegere, contexī, contectum, clothe, cover, hide contemnō, contemnere, contempsī, contemptum, look down on, despise, insult

condō, condere, condidī, conditum, found, establish, store up

contendō, contendere, contendī, contentum, stretch, hasten, compete, contend

confiteor, confitērī, confessus sum, admit

continuō, adv., immediately, continuously

cōniger, cōnigera, cōnigerum, coniferous, cone-bearing

contorqueō, contorquēre, contorsī, contortum, twist, whirl, turn about

coniunx, coniugis, m., f., spouse, wife, husband cōnor, cōnārī, cōnātus sum, attempt, try, make an eﬀort conqueror, conquerī, conquestus sum, complain, lament consanguinea, -ae, f., sister conscendō, conscendere, conscendī, conscensum, climb, go up to

contrā, adv., in return; prep. with acc., against contremescō, contremescere, contremuī, tremble, be afraid of conturbō, conturbāre, conturbāvī, conturbātum, mix up, go bankrupt cōnūbium, cōnūbī, n., marriage

Vo c a b u l a r y

conveniō, convenīre, convēnī, conventum, meet, agree, be suitable; impers., it is agreed convīva, -ae, m., f., table companion, guest cōpia, -ae, f., large quantity, abundance, supply cor, cordis, n., heart

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cupidus, -a, -um, adj., having strong desire, longing, eager cupiō, cupere, cupīvī, cupītum, wish, desire, long for cūr, adv., why, on account of which cūra, -ae, f., care, concern, worry, a person or thing constituting an object of care

Cornēlius, Cornēlī, m., Cornelius Nepos, c. 110–24 bce, Latin biographer, historian, writer of light verse

cūriōsus, -a, -um, adj., careful, diligent, curious, interfering

cornū, -ūs, n., horn, anything hornshaped

currō, currere, cucurrī, cursum, run

corpus, corporis, n., body cortex, corticis, m., bark, rind, cork crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum, trust, believe, entrust creō, creāre, creāvī, creātum, create, bring into being Crēta, -ae, f., island of Crete crūdēlis, -e, adj., cruel, savage, painful cubīle, cubīlis, n., bed, couch cubō, cubāre, cubuī, cubitum, lie down or be lying down, recline, be in bed or on one’s couch, be confined to bed by illness, recline at table culpa, -ae, f., blame, fault, wrongdoing cum, prep. with abl., with; conj., when, since, although cunctus, -a, -um, adj., the whole of, all cupīdō, cupīdinis, f., m., passionate desire, carnal desire, greed, personification of carnal desire; m., often regarded as a god, the son of Venus, Cupid

cūrō, cūrāre, cūrāvī, cūrātum, care about, take care of, attend to curvus, -a, -um, adj., bent, curved, winding Cyclas, Cycladis/Cyclados, f., one of the Cyclades, the islands in the Aegean Sea surrounding Delos Cӯrēnae, -ārum, f. pl., Cyrene, town of northwest Libya, district which surrounded the town and together with Crete became the province of Cyrene ; birthplace of Callimachus and Berenice II Cytōrius, -a, -um, adj., of Mount Cytorus in Paphlagonia Cytōrus, -ī, m., a mountain of Paphlagonia, country in Asia Minor between Bithynia and Pontus

D daps, dapis, f., feast, banquet Daulias, Dauliados, f. adj., of Daulis, a town in Phocis, region in central Greece where Delphi is located dē, prep. with abl., about, concerning, down from, from

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

dea, -ae, f., goddess decem, indecl. adj., ten decet, decēre, decuit, impersonal verb, be right or fitting for, become dēclīnō, dēclīnāre, dēclīnāvī, dēclīnātum, turn away dēcoctor, dēcoctōris, m., bankrupt person dēcursus, -ūs, m., descent, fall, downward flow decus, decoris, n., that which adorns or beautifies, honor, glory dēdicō, dēdicāre, dēdicāvī, dēdicātum, dedicate

dēpereō, deperīre, deperiī, die, perish, be desperately in love with dēpōnō, dēpōnere, dēposuī, dēpositum, put down, lay down, abandon dēprecor, dēprecārī, dēprecātus sum, try to avert by prayer, beg dēserō, dēserere, dēseruī, dēsertum, leave, abandon dēsertus, -a, -um, adj., deserted, uninhabited, left alone dēsīderium, desīderī, n., desire, longing, object of desire, darling

defendō, defendere, defendī, defensum, avert, defend, protect

dēsīderō, dēsīderāre, dēsīderāvī, dēsīderātum, desire, want, long for

dēferō, dēferre, dētulī, dēlātum, carry, convey, confer, grant

dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī, dēsitum, stop, cease

dēfessus, -a, -um, adj., tired out, exhausted

despuō, despuere, spit down on the ground, spurn, reject

dēficiō, dēficere, dēfēcī, dēfectum, leave lacking, fail, falter

dēstinātus, -a, -um, adj., stubborn, obstinate

dein/deinde, adv., afterwards, then, next

dēsum, dēesse, dēfuī, be missing, fail (with dat. of person)

dēlābor, dēlābī, dēlapsus sum, drop, slip down

deus, -ī, m., god

dēlicātus, -a, -um, adj., interested in pleasure, self-indulgent, elegant, eﬀeminate dēlicia, -ae, f., (usually in pl.) pleasure, delight, sweetheart, pet, pet animal, toys, erotic verse dēmānō, dēmānāre, dēmānāvī, run down

dēvinciō, dēvincīre, dēvinxī, dēvinctum, bind dēvorō, dēvorāre, dēvorāvī, dēvorātum, swallow, engulf, absorb dēvōtus, -a, -um, adj., accursed, devoted

dēnique, adv., finally

dexter, dext(e)ra, dext(e)rum, adj., right, skillful, coming from the right

densus, -a, -um, adj., thick, dense

dextrā, adv., on the right

dēperditus, -a, -um, adj., abandoned, utterly lost

dextra, -ae, f., right hand, pledge

Vo c a b u l a r y

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Dīa, -ae, f., island in the Aegean Sea, may refer to Naxos

disertus, -a, -um, adj., skilled in speaking or writing

dicax, dicācis, adj., having a ready tongue, verbally witty

dispereō, disperīre, disperiī, perish, be destroyed

dicō, dicāre, dicāvī, dicātum, show, indicate

distinctus, -a, -um, adj., diﬀerent

dīcō, dīcere, dixī, dictum, say, tell, call, sing, recite

dīversus, -a, -um, adj., diﬀerent, from diﬀerent directions

dictum, -ī, n., that which is said, words

dīvus, -ī, m., god

diēs, diēī, m., f., day diﬀertus, -a, -um, adj., stuﬀed full diﬃcilis, -e, adj., diﬃcult, troublesome, hard to manage digitus, -ī, m., finger dīgredior, dīgredī, dīgressus sum, depart, digress dīlacerō, dīlacerāre, dīlacerāvī, dīlacerātum, tear to pieces dīligō, dīligere, dīlexī, dīlectum, love, esteem, hold dear, have special regard for dīmittō, dīmittere, dīmīsī, dīmissum, let go, send away

dīva, -ae, f., goddess

dō, dare, dedī, datum, give doctus, -a, -um, adj., learned, taught doleō, dolēre, doluī, dolitum, suﬀer mental or physical pain, be in pain, grieve dolor, dolōris, m., pain, anguish, grief domina, -ae, f., female head of a household, mistress, owner dominus, -ī, m., master, lord, ruler domō, domāre, domuī, subdue, overcome domus, -ūs/-ī, f., house, home dōnō, dōnāre, dōnāvī, dōnātum, present, endow

Dindymon, -ī, n., Mt. Dindymus, mountain in Phrygia sacred to the goddess Cybele, the Magna Mater, or Great Mother

dormiō, dormīre, dormīvī, dormītum, sleep

dīrigō, dīrigere, dīrexī, dīrectum, make straight, direct, mark

dubitō, dubitāre, dubitāvī, dubitātum, be in doubt, hesitate

dīrus, -a, -um, adj., terrible, awful, dire

dubius, -a, -um, adj., uncertain, indecisive

discēdō, discēdere, discessī, discessum, go away, depart

dūcō, dūcere, duxī, ductum, lead, take, consider

discernō, discernere, discrēvī, discrētum, separate, divide

dulce, adv., sweetly

discerpō, discerpere, discerpsī, discerptum, tear to pieces

dōnum, -ī, n., gift

dulcis, -e, adj., sweet, (of persons) dear, beloved

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

dum, conj., while, as long as, provided that, if only, until

ēlectus, -a, -um, adj., selected for excellence, choice

duo, duae, duo, adj., two

ēlegans, ēlegantis, refined, tastefully attractive, elegant

dūrus, -a, -um, adj., hard, harsh

enim, conj., for, truly

Dyrrachium, Dyrrachī, n., Dyrrachium, town on coast of Illyria

eō, īre, īvī/iī, itum, go

E

epistolium, epistolī, n., short letter

ē/ex, prep. with abl., out of, from

Erecthēus, -a, -um, adj., of Erectheus, legendary king of Athens; Athenian

ēbrius, -a, -um, adj., drunk ecquīnam, ecquaenam/ecquanam, ecquodnam, interr. adj. and pron., is there any that, whether any ēdō, ēdere, ēdidī, ēditum, put forth, give out, give birth to, publish edō, esse, ēdī, ēsum, eat, consume ēdūcō, ēdūcere, ēduxī, ēductum, lead or bring out, produce eﬃciō, eﬃcere, eﬀēcī, eﬀectum, make, bring about, carry out, finish eﬃgiēs, eﬃgiēī, f., artistic representation, statue, copy eﬄuō, eﬄuere, eﬄuxī, flow out ēgelidus, -a, -um, adj., having the chill taken oﬀ, tepid ego, meī, mihi/mī, mē, mē, pron., I, me ēgredior, ēgredī, ēgressus sum, go or come out, leave ēgressus, -ūs, m., escape, egress ēheu, interj. expressing grief or pain, alas ei, interjection, exclamation expressing anguish, alas ēiciō, ēicere, ēiēcī, ēiectum, throw out, expel

Eōus, -a, -um, adj., connected with the dawn, eastern, oriental

Erectheus, Erectheī, m., legendary king of Athens ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum, snatch away, rescue errābundus, -a, -um, adj., wandering error, errōris, m., wandering about, doubt, mistake, error, delusion ēruō, ēruere, ēruī, ērutum, uproot, stir up erus, -ī, m., master Erycīna, -ae, f., Venus; a temple of Venus was located on Mt. Eryx in Sicily et, conj., and, even; et...et, both...and etiam, particle, still, yet, even etsī, conj., even if, although Eumenis, Eumenidos, f., one of the Eumenides or Furies who avenge wrongs, sometimes depicted with snakes Eurōtās, -ae, m., river on which Sparta is located ēvītō, ēvītāre, ēvītāvī, ēvītātum, avoid exagitō, exagitāre, exagitāvī, exagitātum, rouse, stir up

Vo c a b u l a r y

exardescō, exardescere, exarsī, catch fire, blaze up excitō, excitāre, excitāvī, excitātum, rouse, set in motion, excite

233

exsultō, exsultāre, exsultāvī, spring up, behave in an unrestrained manner, run riot, exult

excruciō, excruciāre, excruciāvī, excruciātum, torture, torment

externō/ex(s)ternō, externāre, externāvī, externātum, drive out of one’s mind, provoke to panic

excutiō, excutere, excussī, excussum, shake out, drive out, banish

extrēmus, -a, -um, adj., situated at the end, edge, or tip; situated at the end of the world, last, final

expallescō, expallescere, expalluī, turn pale

exturbō, exturbāre, exturbāvī, exturbātum, drive out, banish, disturb

expellō, expellere, expulī, expulsum, drive out, expel, banish explicō, explicāre, explicāvī/ explicuī, explicātum/explicitum, unfold, unroll, give an account of expoliō, expolīre, expolīvī/expoliī, expolītum, smooth down, polish exposcō, exposcere, expoposcī, ask for, demand, beg exprimō, exprimere, expressī, expressum, extract, reproduce, copy, translate, express exprōmō, exprōmere, exprompsī, expromptum, bring out, give expression to, reveal exsolvō, exsolvere, exsoluī, exsolūtum, set free, release, perform or discharge (a vow or penalty) exspectō, exspectāre, exspectāvī, exspectātum, wait for, expect, look forward to exspīrō, exspīrāre, exspīrāvī, exspīrātum, breathe out, emit (odors) exspuō, exspuere, exspuī, exspūtum, spit out, emit

F fābula, -ae, f., talk, rumor, report, story Fabullus, -ī, m., Fabullus, friend of Catullus facētiae, -ārum, f. pl., cleverness, wit faciō, facere, fēcī, factum, make, do, regard factum, -ī, n., deed, action fallax, fallācis, adj., deceitful, deceptive fallō, fallere, fefellī, falsum, deceive, trick, escape the notice of; in passive, be mistaken falsus, -a, -um, adj., false, faithless, deceitful famulor, famulārī, famulātus sum, be subject to, be a slave fās, indecl. n., what is right or allowed by divine law, what is right or proper fascinō, fascināre, fascināvī, fascinātum, cast a spell on, bewitch fātum, -ī, n., fate, pl., the Fates

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

faveō, favēre, fāvī, fautum, favor fēmina, -ae, f., woman femur, feminis, n., thigh fera, -ae, f., wild animal ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum, bear, bring, carry, tell, claim, play (a part, role) ferox, ferōcis, adj., bold ferrūgō, ferrūginis, f., rust, rust color ferus, -a, -um, adj., wild, uncivilized, cruel fervidus, -a, -um, adj., boiling, burning, hot, impetuous fessus, -a, -um, adj., tired, weary fētus, -ūs, m., begetting, oﬀspring, product of mind or imagination fidēlis, -e, adj., faithful fidēs, fidēī, f., trust, belief, faith, honesty, honor fīdus, -a, -um, adj., faithful, loyal fīgō, fīgere, fīxī, fīxum, drive in, transfix, pierce, fix figūra, -ae, f., form, shape, figure, image fīlia, -ae, f., daughter fīlum, fīlī, n., thread fīnis, fīnis, m., boundary, limit, end fīō, fīerī, factus sum, be made, be done, become, happen, occur

flectō, flectere, flexī, flexum, bend, curve, turn, change, influence fleō, flēre, flēvī, flētum, weep, weep for, lament flētus, -ūs, m., weeping, tears, lamentation flexus, -ūs, m., bending, curve flōrens, flōrentis, adj., flowering, flourishing, in the flower of one’s youth flōridus, -a, -um, adj., flowery, in the bloom of youth or beauty, blooming flōs, flōris, m., flower fluctuō, fluctuāre, fluctuāvī, fluctuātum, undulate, be in turmoil, hesitate fluctus, -ūs, m., a flowing, wave, disturbance fluentisonus, -a, -um, adj., resounding with noise of waves fluitō, fluitāre, fluitāvī, flow, hang loose, float flūmen, flūminis, n., river, waters of a river foedō, foedāre, foedāvī, foedātum, make filthy, stain foedus, foederis, n., treaty, compact forma, -ae, f., form, appearance, image, beauty

flagrans, flagrantis, adj., hot, blazing, passionate

Formiānus, -a, -um, adj., of or belonging to Formiae, city on coast of Latium

flāmen, flāminis. n., blast, wind, breeze

formōsus, -a, -um, adj., having a fine appearance, beautiful, handsome

flamma, -ae, f., flame, fire, burning passion

fors, fortis, f., chance, luck

flāvus, -a, -um, adj., yellow, golden, blonde, auburn

fortasse, adv., perhaps forte, adv., by chance, as luck would have it, as it so happened

Vo c a b u l a r y

fortūna, -ae, f., fortune, chance, luck forum, -ī, n., forum, public square in center of a town, Roman Forum fossor, fossōris, m., ditchdigger, uncouth individual frangō, frangere, frēgī, fractum, break, crush

235

fundō, fundere, fūdī, fūsum, pour, spread, scatter, defeat fundus, -ī, m., bottom, farm, estate fūnestō, fūnestāre, fūnestāvī, fūnestātum, pollute by murder, stain with blood, make mournful

frāter, frātris, m., brother

fūnestus, -a, -um, adj., of mourning, funereal, deadly

frāternus, -a, -um, adj., brotherly, of or belonging to a brother

fūnis, fūnis, m., rope, cable, mooring rope

frequens, frequentis, adj., crowded, assiduous, constant, regular

fūnus, fūneris, n., funeral, death, destruction

fretum, -ī, n., strait, sea

furens, furentis, adj., mad, wild

frīgidulus, -a, -um, adj., chilly, cold

Fūrius, Fūrī, m., Furius; may be the poet Furius Bibaculus.

frīgidus, -a, -um, cold, lacking energy, feeble frīgus, frigoris, n., cold, coldness, lukewarm or unfavorable reception, flatness or frigidity of writing style

furor, furōris, m., madness, frenzy, fury furtīvus, -a, -um, adj., stolen, secret furtum, -ī, n., theft, secret action, stolen article

frondōsus, -a, -um, adj., leafy frons, frontis, f., forehead, brow, front frustrā, adv., in vain, to no purpose frustror, frustrārī, frustrātus sum, delude, escape, elude, evade

G Gāius, Gāī, cf. Cinna Gallicus, -a, -um, adj., of Gaul or the Gauls

fuga, -ae, f., flight, desertion

gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsus sum, rejoice, delight in (with abl.)

fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitum, flee, flee from, avoid

gaudium, gaudī, n., joy, delight

fugō, fugāre, fugāvī, fugātum, cause to flee, drive away fulgeō, fulgēre, fulsī, shine brightly, gleam, be bright fulgor, fulgōris, m., brightness, radiance funditus, adv., from the bottom, completely

Gellius, Gellī, m., Gellius; addressed by Catullus in a group of sexually abusive epigrams; probably Lucius Gellius Poplicola, who belonged to the circle of Clodia Metelli at the time of Cicero’s speech in defense of Caelius (Pro Caelio) gemellus, -a, -um, adj., twin

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

geminus, -a, -um, adj., twin, double gemō, gemere, gemuī, gemitum, groan, moan, lament gener, generī, m., son-in-law genitor, genitōris, m., father, originator

gremium, gremī, n., lap, breast, female genital parts gurges, gurgitis, m., eddy, whirlpool, waters of river or sea

H

gens, gentis, f., people, nation, clan, tribe, family

habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum, have, hold, consider, keep

genus, generis, n., birth, race, kind, oﬀspring

habitō, habitāre, habitāvī, habitātum, live in, inhabit

germānus, -ī, m., brother

Hadria, -ae, m., the Adriatic Sea

gerō, gerere, gessī, gestum, bear, carry, do

Hadriāticum, -ī, n., the Adriatic Sea

gestiō, gestīre, gestīvī, desire eagerly, be impatient, act without restraint, exult gignō, gignere, genuī, genitum, give birth to, produce gnāta, -ae, f., daughter gnātus, -ī, m., son; pl., children

harēna, -ae, f., sand, beach, desert, arena harundinōsus, -a, -um, adj., full of reeds, reedy hendecasyllabus, -a, -um, adj., of a line of poetry consisting of eleven syllables; m. pl., poetry composed in the hendecasyllabic meter hērōs, hērōos, m., hero

Gnōsius, -a, -um, related to city of Cnossos on Crete or Crete

hesternus, -a, -um, adj., of yesterday

Golgī, -ōrum, m. pl., town in Cyprus connected with worship of Venus

heu, interj. expressing grief or pain, oh, alas

Gortӯnius, -a, -um, of Gortyn, city on Crete

Hibēr, Hibēris, m., an inhabitant of the Iberian peninsula

grabātus, -ī, m., a low, usually cheap, bed or couch

Hibērī, -ōrum, m. pl., the Iberians or Spaniards

gradior, gradī, gressus sum, step, walk, proceed

Hibērus, -a, -um, adj., Iberian, Spanish

grātēs, grātium, f. pl., thanks

hīc, adv., here, at this point

grātia, -ae, f., kindness, favor, thanks

hic, haec, hoc, demonstr. pron. and adj., this, the latter

grātus, -a, -um, adj., pleasing gravēdō, gravēdinis, f., head cold, heavy oppressive feeling gravis, -e, adj., heavy, weighty, serious

hinc, adv., from here, here homō, hominis, m., person, human being hōra, -ae, f., hour, time, season

Vo c a b u l a r y

horreō, horrēre, horruī, bristle, shudder at

identidem, adv., repeatedly, again and again, continually

horribilis, -e, adj., terrifying, rough, monstrous

igitur, conj., therefore, then, so

horridus, -a, -um, adj., rough, harsh, dreadful Hortalus, -ī, m., Hortalus; may be the Quintus Hortensius Hortalus who was Cicero’s rival in the law courts. hospes, hospitis, m., guest, visitor, host, stranger hūc, adv., to here, here, to this place hymenaeus, -ī, m., wedding, marriage (usually in pl.) Hyrcānī, Hyrcānōrum, m., pl. the Hyrcanians, Hyrcani; lived on south shore of the Caspian Sea

I Iacchus, -ī, m., Bacchus iaceō, iacēre, iacuī, lie, be in ruins iaciō, iacere, iēcī, iactum, throw, lay foundations iactō, iactāre, iactāvī, iactātum, throw, toss, shake up, brag iam, adv., already, now, even then, even now iambus, -ī, m., iambus, metrical foot of one short syllable followed by one long; (pl.) invective written in iambic meter ibī/ibĭ, adv., there, then Īdaeus, -a, -um, adj., of Mount Ida on Crete

237

ignārus, -a, -um, ignorant, unaware ignis, ignis, m., fire ignoscō, ignoscere, ignōvī, ignōtum, forgive, pardon ignōtus, -a, -um, adj., unknown, obscure, ignorant īlia, īlium, n. pl., side of the body extending from hips to the groin, sometimes used especially to refer to the groin or private parts; “balls” ille, illa, illud, demonstr. pron. and adj., that, the former illepidus, -a, -um, adj., lacking grace or refinement illīc, adv., there illic, illaec, illuc, pron., adj., that illinc, adv., from there, from that time illūc, adv., to that place, there imbuō, imbuere, imbuī, imbūtum, wet, fill, inspire immātūrus, -a, -um, adj., unripe, immature, premature, untimely immemor, immemoris, adj., forgetful, unmindful immītis, -e, adj., harsh, bitter immō, particle correcting previous statement, rather impensē, adv., immoderately, excessively

Īdalium, Īdalī, n., Idalium, town in Cyprus sacred to Venus

impetus, -ūs, m., attack, onset, rapid motion, violent onward motion or force

īdem, eadem, idem, pron. and adj., the same, too, likewise

impius, -a, -um, adj., impious, undutiful, disloyal

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

impotens, impotentis, adj., powerless, weak, wild, violent īmus, -a, -um, adj., lowest, bottom of in, prep. with abl., in, on; prep. with acc., into, onto, against, over incendium, incendī, n., fire, fire (of love) incendō, incendere, incendī, incensum, burn, make hot, inflame, excite incidō, incidere, incidī, incāsum, fall on, rush on, happen on, present itself in conversation incitō, incitāre, incitāvī, incitātum, incite, urge on, arouse incohō, incohāre, incohāvī, incohātum, start working on, begin, establish incola, -ae, m., f., inhabitant incommodum, -ī, n., detriment, unfavorable circumstance, aﬄiction incurvō, incurvāre, incurvāvī, incurvātum, bend, extend in a curve inde, adv., from that point, from there, from that time, from then, then India, -ae, f., India, poorly defined region of Asia covering from modern-day India to the borders of China

indūcō, indūcere, indūxī, inductum, bring in, entice, lead into a false situation Indus, -ī, m., an inhabitant of India ineptiō, ineptīre, play the fool, be silly ineptus, -a, -um, adj., having no sense of what is fitting, foolish, silly infēlix, infēlīcis, adj., unproductive, unlucky, unhappy inferiae, -ārum, f. pl., rites in honor of the dead; oﬀerings to the dead (wine, milk, honey, flowers etc.) infestus, -a, -um, adj., dangerous, hostile, insecure inficētiae, -ārum, f. pl., instances of clumsiness inficētus, -a, -um, adj., boorish, not witty or smart inficiō, inficere, infēcī, infectum, dye, imbue, taint, stain infi mus, -a, -um, adj., lowest, most humble inflātus, -a, -um, adj., puﬀed out, swollen, filled with air, filled with conceit infundō, infundere, infūdī, infūsum, pour in, fill ingenuus, -a, -um, adj., natural, freeborn, generous, befitting a free person

indicō, indicāre, indicāvī, indicātum, point out, show, declare

ingrātus, -a, -um, adj., marked by ingratitude, ungrateful, unwelcome, unattractive

indignē, adv., unworthily, undeservedly

inguen, inguinis, n., swelling on groin, groin, sexual organs

indomitus, -a, -um, adj., unconquered, unconquerable, wild

iniciō, inicere, iniēcī, iniectum, throw in or on, put one’s hands on

Vo c a b u l a r y

239

inīquus, -a, -um, adj., uneven, unfavorable, treacherous, discontented

interitus, -ūs, m., violent or untimely death; fact or process of being destroyed

iniūria, -ae, f., unlawful conduct, unjust act, insult

intestīnum, -ī, n., alimentary canal, or part of it; in pl., intestines, guts

iniustus, -a, -um, adj., unjust, unfair, lawless

intortus, -a, -um, adj., twisted, crooked

inmerens, inmerentis, adj., undeserving, blameless

invenustus, -a, -um, adj., lacking in charm or beauty, unlovely, unattractive

innuptus, -a, -um, adj., (of women) unmarried inobservābilis, -e, adj., diﬃcult to trace or observe inops, inopis, adj., lacking wealth, poor inpotens, inpotentis, adj., powerless, weak, wild, violent

invictus, -a, -um, adj., unconquered, invincible invideō, invidēre, invīdī, invīsum, envy, begrudge, refuse invīsō, invīsere, invīsī, invīsum, go to see, visit, have visual experience of, see

inquam, inquit, defective verb (only a few forms occur, most often used parenthetically or before or after a quotation), say

invītus, -a, -um, adj., unwilling, reluctant, not wishing

insidiae, -ārum, f. pl., ambush, treacherous attack

iocōsus, -a, -um, adj., full of fun, full of joking

insipiens, insipientis, adj., unwise, foolish

iocus, -ī, m., joke, jest, joking

insula, -ae, f., island, apartment building insulsus, -a, -um, adj., unsalted, unattractive, boring, dull, stupid insultō, insultāre, insultāvī, insultātum, leap or trample on, mock

iocor, iocārī, iocātus sum, joke iocōsē, adv., humorously, playfully

Īonius, -a, -um, adj., Ionian, related to the Ionian Sea, west of Greece ipse, ipsa, ipsum, pron., adj., himself, herself, itself, oneself etc. īra, -ae, f., anger, wrath, rage irritus, -a, -um, made null and void, empty

interficiō, interficere, interfēcī, interfectum, kill, destroy

irrumātor, irrumātōris, m., a man who forces someone to give him oral sex; metaphorically, one who treats another with contempt

interior, interius, adj., inner, interior, private

is, ea, id, pron. and adj., he, she, it, this, that

inter, prep. with acc., between, among intereā, adv., meanwhile

240

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

iste, ista, istud, pron. and adj., that of yours, this, that (often with derogatory sense)

labyrinthēus, -a, -um, adj., labyrinthine

istinc, adv., from there ita, adv., thus, so

lactens, lactentis, adj., full of milk, milk-white

Italus, -a, -um, adj., Italian

lacus, lacūs, m., lake, pond, pool

iter, itineris, n., journey

laedō, laedere, laesī, laesum, harm, strike

Itōnus, Itōnī, f., name of Thessalian and Boeotian towns associated with Athena

lacrima, -ae, f., tear, lament

laetitia, -ae, f., happiness, joy laetor, laetārī, laetātus sum, rejoice, delight in

Itylus, -ī, m., Itylus; here, son of Procne and Tereus; known as Itys in other versions

laetus, -a, -um, adj., happy, glad, fertile

iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussum, order, command, bid

laevus, -a, -um, adj., left, unfavorable, coming from the left

iūcundus, -a, -um, adj., delightful, agreeable

langueō, languēre, be sluggish, languid, weak

iugum, -ī, n., yoke, bond, ridge, chariot

languescō, languescere, languī, grow weak

Iuppiter, Iovis, m., Jupiter, supreme god of the Romans, god of sky and weather

languidus, -a, -um, adj., languid, sluggish, slow

iūrō, iūrāre, iūrāvī, iūrātum, swear, vow, aﬃrm iustus, -a, -um, lawful, fair, just iuvenis, iuvenis, m., f., young man, young woman

lapis, lapidis, m., stone lar, laris, m., one of a class of Roman gods associated with protection of places; tutelary god of hearth or home; home

iuvō, iuvāre, iūvī, iūtum, please, delight, help

Lārius, -a, -um, adj., of Lake Larius in Cisalpine Gaul, Lago di Como (Lake Como)

L

lāsarpīcifer, lāsarpīcifera, lāsarpīciferum, adj., silphiumbearing

labefactō, labefactāre, labefactāvī, labefactātum, loosen, cause to waver, shake (someone’s resolve) labellum, -ī, n., lip labor, labōris, m., work, eﬀort, task labōriōsus, -a, -um, involving much work, toilsome, industrious

lātē, adv., widely, over a large area lātrō, lātrāre, lātrāvī, lātrātum, bark, roar lātus, -a, -um, adj, wide laus, laudis, f., praise leana, -ae, f., lioness

Vo c a b u l a r y

lectīca, -ae, f., litter lectulus, -ī, m., couch, bed (also used for reclining at meals or studying) lectus, -i, m., bed, couch (also used for reclining at meals or studying) legō, legere, lēgī, lectum, gather, collect, read, recite lēniō, lēnīrē, lenīvī, lēnītum, assuage, placate, calm, explain away

241

libenter, adv., with pleasure, willingly, gladly līber, lībera, līberum, adj., free liber, librī, m., inner bark of a tree, book, volume, roll libīdō, libīdinis, f., desire, longing, sexual desire, lust; in pl., instance of desire librārius, librārī, m., scribe, bookseller, secretary Libya, -ae, f., Libya, general term for whole of North Africa

lēnis, -e, adj., smooth, gentle, mild, soft

Libyssa, -ae, f. adj., Libyan, of north Africa, African

lēniter, adv., gently, without aspiration

Libystīnus, -a, -um, adj., African

lentus, -a, -um, adj., slow, lingering, unresponsive, pliant leō, leōnis, m., lion lepidē, adv., charmingly, delightfully, wittily, amusingly lepidus, -a, -um, adj., charming, delightful, witty, amusing lepos, lepōris, m., charm, grace, attractiveness, wit

licet, licēre, licuit/licitum est, impersonal verb, it is permitted Licinius, Licinī. m., Gaius Licinius Calvus, 82–47 bce, intimate friend of Catullus; poet, orator lignum, -ī, n., wood; (especially pl.), firewood ligō, ligāre, ligāvī, ligātum, fasten, bind līmen, līminis, n., threshold

Lesbia, -ae, f., Lesbia; pseudonym in the poems for Catullus’ beloved (see Introduction)

limpidus, -a, -um, adj., clear, transparent

Lēthaeus, -a, -um, adj., of Lethe, the river in the underworld that produces oblivion; causing sleep or forgetfulness

linquō, linquere, līquī, go away from, abandon, leave behind

levis, -e, adj., light, swift, gentle, unimportant, fickle

lingua, -ae, f., tongue, language

linteum, -ī, n., piece of linen cloth, sail, towel, napkin, curtain

leviter, adv., lightly, gently, quietly

liqueō, liquēre, licuī/liquī, be liquid, be clear, appear clear

levō, levāre, levāvī, levātum, lift, remove, relieve

liquidus, -a, -um, adj., flowing, clear, melodious, liquid

libellus, -ī, m., a small work written for publication, volume, little book

lītorālis, lītorāle, adj., of the seashore, of the shore

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

litterātor, litterātōris, m., elementary school teacher

magnus, -a, -um, adj., large, big, great

lītus, lītoris, n., shore, coast, beach

male, adv., badly, insuﬃciently, wickedly, scarcely, awfully

locō, locāre, locāvī, locātum, place, station

maior, maius, adj., greater, larger

malignē, adv., poorly, insuﬃciently

longē, adv., far, far oﬀ, far away in time, by far

malignus, -a, -um, adj., ungenerous, unkind

longus, -a, -um, adj., long

mālō, mālle, māluī, prefer

loquor, loquī, locūtus sum, speak

mālum, -ī, n., originally, most softskinned tree fruit, later, normally specifying an apple

lōrum, -ī, n., leather strap; pl., horse’s reins lubet (libet), lubēre, libuit/libitum est, impersonal verb, it is pleasing or agreeable lūceō, lūcēre, luxī, shine, dawn, become light lūcidus, -a, -um, adj., bright, shining, clear

malum, -ī, n., trouble, distress, misfortune, evil, harm malus, -a, -um, adj., bad, nasty, hostile, unfavorable mālus, -ī, m., pole, beam, mast of a ship mandātum, -ī, n., order, instruction

luctus, -ūs, m., expression of grief, mourning

maneō, manēre, mansī, mansum, remain, stay, endure, stop, await

lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum, play, amuse oneself, play sexually, write light poetry

Manlius, Manlī, m., Manlius; otherwise unknown

lūgeō, lūgēre, luxī, luctum, mourn, lament lūmen, lūminis, n., light, day, eye, glory lux, lūcis, f., light, daylight, day, life lympha, -ae, f., water

M maeror, maerōris, m., grief, mourning maestus, -a, -um, adj., sad, sorrowful, dejected, gloomy

mānō, mānāre, mānāvī, mānātum, flow, spread mantica, -ae, f., knapsack, pack manus, -ūs, f., hand, band Marcus Tullius Cicerō, Marcī Tullī Cicerōnis, Roman orator, writer, statesman; 106–43 bce. mare, maris, n., sea Marrūcīnus, -a, -um, adj., of or belonging to the Marrucini, a people living on the east coast of central Italy māter, mātris, f., mother

magis, adv., more, more nearly

māternus, -a, -um, adj., maternal

magnanimus, -a, -um, adj., brave, bold

maximus, -a, -um, adj., biggest, largest, oldest, greatest

Vo c a b u l a r y

medius, -a, -um, adj., middle medulla, -ae, f., bone marrow, one’s interior, heart or mind (as seat of deep thought and emotion) melior, melius, adj., better mellītus, -a, -um. adj., honeyed, delightful as honey, honey-sweet membrāna, -ae, f., membrane, covering, parchment (the skin of sheep, goats etc. prepared for use as a writing material), parchment used as a cover for manuscripts

243

Mīnōs, Mīnōis/Minōnis, m., Minos, king of Crete, and later a judge in the underworld; Mīnōa (accusative singular) Mīnōtaurus, -ī, m., the Minotaur; half-man, half-bull born from the union of Pasiphae and a bull, housed in the Labyrinth and killed by Theseus. minus, adv., less mīrificē, adv., amazingly, remarkably mīror, mīrārī, mīrātus sum, be surprised, wonder at, admire

membrum, -ī, n., limb or member of the body, limb, member, part of anything

mīrus, -a, -um, adj., amazing, extraordinary

meminī, meminisse, perf. with pres. meaning; remember, recollect

misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mixtum, mix, mingle

memor, memoris, adj., mindful, remembering

misellus, -a, -um, adj., wretched, pitiable, unfortunate

mens, mentis, f., mind

miser, misera, miserum, adj., unhappy, pitiful

mersō, mersāre, mersāvī, mersātum, dip, submerge, drown, overwhelm

miserē, adv., wretchedly, desperately

merus, -a, -um, adj., pure, unmixed

misereor, miserērī, miseritum, pity, feel or show compassion

metuō, metuere, metuī, metūtum, fear, be afraid of, be afraid

miserescō, miserescere, have compassion for (with gen.)

meus, -a, -um, adj., my mīca, -ae, f., grain, particle, crumb

mitra, -ae, f., Oriental headdress tied with ribbons under chin

micō, micāre, micuī, quiver, dart, flash

mittō, mittere, mīsī, missum, release, let go, abandon, send

mīliēs, adv., a thousand times (often hyperbolic)

mnēmosynum, -ī, n., souvenir, keepsake

mille, indecl. n. and adj., a thousand; pl., mīlia

modo, adv., only, just now; modo... modo, now...now

minax, minācis, adj., threatening, projecting

modus, -ī, m., limit, way, rhythmic pattern; in pl., poetry

minimus, -a, -um, adj., smallest, least

moechus, -ī, m., adulterer, man who pursues inappropriate women

Mīnōis, Mīnōidis, f., female descendant of Minos; Ariadne

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

moenia, -ium, n. pl., defensive walls of a town or city, town or city enclosed by walls

mūnus, mūneris, n., service, duty, gift, entertainment, oﬀering

molestus, -a, -um, adj., troublesome, annoying, tiresome

mūsa, -ae, f., muse; one of the nine Muses, goddesses who were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne and presided over the arts

mollis, -e, adj., soft, gentle, flexible, voluptuous monimentum, -ī, n., monument, memorial

mūnusculum, -ī, n., little gift

mons, montis, m., mountain

mūtō, mūtāre, mūtāvī, mūtātum, change, exchange

monstrum, -ī, n., portent, marvel, monster

mūtus, -a, -um, adj., inarticulate, dumb, silent, mute

morbus, -ī, m., sickness, disease

mūtuus, -a, -um, adj., mutual, reciprocal; n. pl. with adverbial force, reciprocally, mutually

mordeō, mordēre, momordī, morsum, bite, nibble, gnaw morior, morī, mortuus sum, die

myrtus, -ī/ūs, f., myrtle

moror, morārī, morātus sum, delay, linger, be late in appearing

N

mors, mortis, f., death

nam, conj., for, because

morsus, morsūs m., bite

namque, conj., for, because

mortālis, -e, adj., mortal

narrō, narrāre, narrāvī, narrātum, tell, say

mōs, mōris, m., custom, tradition; (pl.) character, habits mōtus, -ūs, m., motion, movement, passion, upheaval moveō, movēre, mōvī, mōtum, move mulier, mulieris, f., woman, wife multa, -ae, f., fine, penalty multiplex, multiplicis, adj., having many twists or turns, multitudinous, varied multō, adv., by far, by much

nascor, nascī, nātus sum, be born nāsus, -ī, m., nose natō, natāre, natāvī, natātum, swim, float, hover naufragus, -a, -um, adj., shipwrecked, shipwrecking nāvis, nāvis, f., ship nāvita, -ae, m., sailor -ne, enclitic interrogative particle; occasionally, aﬃrmative particle

multus, -a, -um, much, many, large

nē, negative adv., and conj., not, that not, so that not, lest; used in negative purpose clauses and prohibitions, among other constructions

mundus, -ī, m., sky, world

nebula, -ae, f., mist, fog

multō, multāre, multāvī, multātum, fine, punish multum, adv., much

Vo c a b u l a r y

nec, conj., and not; nec...nec, neither... nor

245

necdum, conj. and adv., (and) not yet

niger, nigra, nigrum, adj., black, dark, gloomy, black as a color of ill omen, evil

necesse, adv., necessary

nihil, n., indecl., nothing

nefārius, -a, -um, adj., oﬀending against moral law, evil, horrible

Nīlus, -ī, m., the river Nile

neglectus, -a, -um, adj., not cared for, neglected neglegens, neglegentis, adj., careless, untidy, neglectful neglegō, neglegere, neglexī, neglectum, be indiﬀerent to, neglect

nīmīrum, particle, without doubt, of course nimis, adv., very, too much, too nimium, adv., too, too much, very niteō, nitēre, nituī, shine, be radiant with beauty nītor, nītī, nixus sum, lean, struggle, strive, rely on

negō, negāre, negāvī, negātum, say no, deny, refuse

niveus, -a, -um, adj., snowy, snowwhite

Nemesis, Nemeseōs, f., Nemesis, Greek goddess of retribution

nōbilis, -e, adj., noble

nepōs, nepōtis, m., f., grandchild, descendant

nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, not want, be unwilling, refuse nōn, adv., not

Neptūnus, -ī, m., Neptune, Roman god of the sea.

nōndum, adv., not yet

neque, conj., and not; neque...neque, neither...nor

nōs, nostrī/nostrum, nōbīs, nōs, nōbīs, pron., we, us

nequeō, nequīre, nequīvī/nequiī, be unable

noscō, noscere, nōvī, nōtum, get to know, learn; know (in perfect tense)

nēquīquam, adv., to no eﬀect, in vain nesciō, nescīre, nescīvī, nescītum, not know, be ignorant of, not to know how to, not to be able to

noster, nostra, nostrum, adj., our nota, -ae, f., mark, sign, wine of a specified quality or vintage, class, character

nescioquis, nescioquid, indefinite pron. or adj., someone or other, something or other

novissimē, adv., very recently

nescius, -a, -um, adj., ignorant, unaware

Novum Comum, Novī Comī, n., New Comum, modern Como

neu, conj., and that...not

novus, -a, -um, adj., new, strange

nī, nisi, conj., if not, unless

nox, noctis, f., night

Nīcaea, -ae, f., Nicaea, city in Bithynia

nūbēs, nūbis, f., cloud

nōtus, -a, -um, adj., known, familiar

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nūbō, nūbere, nūpsī, nūptum, marry (typically with woman as the subject)

obscurō, obscurāre, obscurāvī, obscurātum, obscure, darken, hide

nūdō, nūdāre, nūdāvī, nūdātum, make naked, strip, uncover

obstinātus, -a, -um, adj., resolute, stubborn, obstinate

nūgae, nūgārum, f. pl., things not serious, nonsense, worthless stuﬀ

obterō, obterere, obtrīvī, obtrītum, crush, trample underfoot

nullus, -a, -um, adj., no, not any; adverbially, not at all num, interr. particle, certainly not

obvius, -a, -um, adj. (with dat.), in the way, placed so as to meet, situated so as to confront

nūmen, nūminis, n., nod, divine power, divinity, god

occidō, occidere, occidī, occāsum, fall, die

numerus, -ī, m., number, poetic meter

ocellus, -ī, m., a little eye; as term of endearment, darling

numquam, adv., never nunc, adv., now nuntiō, nuntiāre, nuntiāvī, nuntiātum, bring word of, announce

octo, indecl. adj., eight oculus, -ī, m., eye ōdī, ōdisse, ōsum (perfect with present sense), have an aversion to, hate

nuntius, nuntī, m., messenger, message

odium, odī, n., hatred, dislike

nūper, adv., recently

odor, odōris, m., smell, odor, perfume

Nӯsigena, -ae, m., adj., born on legendary Mount Nysa, birthplace of Bacchus

O ō, interj., O (with voc.) obdūrō, obdūrāre, obdūrāvī, obdūrātum, be persistent, hold out, endure oblectō, oblectāre, oblectāvī, oblectātum, delight, amuse, entertain

oﬀerō, oﬀerre, obtulī, oblātum, show, provide, cause oﬃcium, oﬃcī, n., service, duty, function, oﬃce oﬃ rmō, oﬃ rmāre, oﬃ rmāvī, oﬃ rmātum, make firm, make up one’s mind not to yield olfaciō, olfacere, olfēcī, olfactum, smell ōlim, adv., formerly, once, on an occasion, at some future date omnipotens, omnipotentis, adj., all powerful

oblītterō, oblīterrāre, oblīttāvī, oblīterrātum, cause to be forgotten, eﬀace

omnis, -e, adj., all, every

oblīviscor, oblīviscī, oblītus sum, forget

opera, -ae, f., eﬀort

onus, oneris, n., burden

Vo c a b u l a r y

oportet, oportēre, oportuit, impers., it is right, proper opprimō, opprimere, oppressī, oppressum, press on, overwhelm, oppress ops, opis, f., power, aid, assistance optimus, -a, -um, adj., best, very good optō, optāre, optāvī, optātum, desire, choose opus, operis, n., work, business, task, genre; with esse, be necessary, be needed ōrāclum, -ī, n., oracle ōrātiō, ōrātiōnis, f., act of speaking, language, speech, oration

247

palimpsestum, -ī, n., a palimpsest; Greek loan word, literally “scraped again,” papyrus or parchment writing material that is scraped or washed and reused for more writing. pallidulus, -a, -um, adj., pale palmula, -ae, f., front of the hand, palm, oar papilla, -ae, f., nipple; here, more generally, breast papӯrus, -ī, f., papyrus; plant found in Egypt or writing material made from the plant pār, paris, adj., equal, well-matched, fitting parātus, -a, -um, adj., prepared

Orcus, Orcī, m., Orcus, the god of the lower world, the lower world, death

parcō, parcere, pepercī, parsum, spare (with dat.)

orīgō, orīginis, f., beginning, birth, starting point, source

parens, parentis, m., f., parent, father or mother; pl., parents; (usually in pl.) ancestor, originator

ōrō, ōrāre, ōrāvī, ōrātum, plead, beg, beseech ōs, ōris, n., mouth, words, face ostendō, ostendere, ostendī, ostentum, show, display, indicate ostentō, ostentāre, ostentāvī, ostentātum, display, show, indicate ōtiōsus, -a, -um, adj., not occupied by business, at leisure, idle ōtium, ōtī, n., free time, leisure, peace

parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum, prepare, buy, get pars, partis, f., part, party; stage role (usually in pl.), part, unit in explaining a fraction (math.) Parthī, Parthōrum, m., pl. Parthians; eastern people hostile to Rome whose kingdom extended from the Euphrates to the Indus rivers passer, passeris m., a small bird, usually taken to be a sparrow, but sometimes a blue thrush passim, adv., here and there

P paene, adv., almost paeniteō, paenitēre, paenituī, regret

pateō, patēre, patuī, be open pater, patris, m., father patior, patī, passus sum, suﬀer, undergo, experience, endure, allow

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patrius, -a, -um, adj., of a father, ancestral, native, inherited, belonging to one’s country

perennis, -e, adj., lasting throughout the year, lasting for many years, enduring

patrōna, -ae, f., protector, patron; feminine alternative to patrōnus

pereō, perīre, periī, peritum, perish, die

patrōnus, -ī, m., patron, former master of a freed slave, one who pleads for a client in court, advocate

perferō, perferre, pertulī, perlātum, endure, carry through to the end

paucus, -a, -um, adj., in pl., few paulum, adv., for a short while

perhibeō, perhibēre, perhibuī, perhibitum, present, tell

peccātum, -ī, n., error, mistake, moral oﬀense

periūrium, periūrī, n., false oath, perjury

pectus, pectoris, n., breast, chest, heart

perlūcidulus, -a, -um, adj., transparent, translucent

pelagus, -ī, n., sea

permulceō, permulcēre, permulsī, permulsum, stroke, soothe, charm

pellō, pellere, pepulī, pulsum, push, drive, strike

perfidus, -a, -um, adj., treacherous, false, deceitful

penātēs, penātium, m. pl., guardian gods of the Roman pantry considered to control the destiny of the household, these gods in their material form as images, one’s home

perniciēs, perniciēī, f., physical destruction, fatal injury, ruin, undoing, source of destruction

pendeō, pendēre, pependī, hang, hang down, be suspended

perpetior, perpetī, perpessus sum, undergo completely, allow

penetrō, penetrāre, penetrāvī, penetrātum, penetrate, make one’s way into or as far as

perpetuus, -a, -um, adj., continuing, permanent, connected

per, prep. with acc., through, according to, as far as __ is concerned perditē, adv., to desperation perdō, perdere, perdidī, perditum, destroy, lose perdūcō, perdūcere, perduxī, perductum, conduct, convey, lead peregrīnus, -a, -um, adj., foreign, alien, situated abroad

pernumerō, pernumerāre, pernumerāvī, pernumerātum, count up

perscrībō, perscrībere, perscripsī, perscriptum, write out fully perspiciō, perspicere, perspexī, perspectum, look over thoroughly, survey, study, recognize, become aware of perūrō, perūrere, perussī, perustum, burn up, consume perveniō, pervenīre, pervēnī, perventum arrive at, reach

Vo c a b u l a r y

249

pervigilō, pervigilāre, pervigilāvī, pervigilātum, stay awake all night or for a particular period, keep watch all night

plūrimum, adv., to the greatest extent

pervincō, pervincere, pervīcī, pervictum, overcome, gain

plūrimus, -a, -um, adj., very many, most

pēs, pedis, m., foot, metrical foot, a leg or foot of an article of furniture; nautical term, sheet, the rope by which the lower two corners of a sail are attached to a ship

plūs, adv., more

pessimus, -a, -um, adj., worst, very bad pestilentia, -ae, f., plague, pestilence pestis, pestis, f., physical destruction or death, plague, pest petītor, petītōris, m., seeker, candidate petō, petere, petīvī, petītum, seek, go after, attack

plumbum, -ī, n., lead; lead (used for drawing lines)

plūs, plūris, n., more; plūrēs, plūra, pl. adj., more poēma, poēmatis, n., poem poena, -ae, f., penalty paid for an oﬀense, punishment, revenge poēta, -ae, m., poet Polliō, Polliōnis, m., Gaius Asinius Pollio, 76 bce—4 ce, politician and writer, historian of the civil wars; friend of Catullus, Horace, Vergil pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum, put, place, provide, supply

phasēlus, -ī, m., f., kind of bean, light ship

Ponticus, -a, -um, adj., Pontic, of the Black Sea or the region adjoining it

Phrygius, -a, -um, adj., Phrygian

pontus, -ī, m., sea

pietās, pietātis, f., duty, devotion

porrō, adv., forward, further

pignus, pigneris/pignoris, n., pledge, token, symbol, stake

portō, portāre, portāvī, portātum, carry

pilus, -ī, m., a hair, something of minimal size or value

portus, -ūs, m., harbor, port, refuge

pīnus, -ūs, f., pine pīpiō, pīpiāre, chirp Pīraeus, Pīraeī, m., Piraeus, port of Athens

possum, posse, potuī, be able, can post, adv., behind, at a later time, afterward; prep. with acc., behind, after posthāc, adv., from now on, hereafter

pius, -a, -um, adj., dutiful, devoted

postillā, adv., afterwards

placeō, placēre, placuī, placitum, please

postmodo, adv., later, presently

plēnus, -a, -um, adj., full

postrēmus, -a, -um, adj., last, latest, final

postquam, conj., after

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

potis, pote, indecl. adj., able potius, adv., rather, more (than) prae, prep. with abl., before, in comparison with praeceps, praecipitis, adj., headlong, rushing forward

prō, prep. with abl., for, on behalf of, in front of, in return for, in payment for probē, adv., correctly, well procella, -ae, f., storm, trouble

praeceptum, -ī, n., precept, rule

prōcreō, prōcreāre, prōcreāvī, prōcreātum, create, produce

praeda, -ae, f., booty, prey, prize

procul, adv., apart, far away

praegestiō, praegestīre, be very eager

prōcurrō, prōcurrere, prōcurrī, prōcursum, run forward

praemium, praemī, n., prize, reward

prōdō, prōdere, prōdidī, prōditum, project, assert, transmit, betray

praeportō, praeportāre, carry in front praeruptus, -a, -um, adj., abrupt, broken oﬀ, precipitous, very steep praesertim, adv., especially praestō, adv., ready, available praetereā, adv., besides, moreoever praetereō, praeterīre, praeteriī, praeteritum, go by, go past, pass by, go beyond, omit praetor, praetōris, m., praetor; propraetor or governor in charge of running the province praetrepidō, praetrepidāre, tremble in anticipation prātum, -ī, n., meadow pretium, pretī, n., reward, prize, penalty, price, value, cost prex, precis, f., prayer prīmum, adv., first prīmus, -a, -um, adj., first prior, prius, adj., earlier priscus, -a, -um, adj., ancient, former prius, adv., previously, before

prōferō, prōferre, prōtulī, prōlātum, bring forth, utter proficiscor, proficiscī, profectus sum, start on a journey, set out profundō, profundere, profūdī, profūsum, pour out, emit prōgignō, prōgignere, prōgenuī, prōgenitum, produce oﬀspring, give rise to prōiciō, prōicere, prōiēcī, prōiectum, throw forward, give up, abandon prōmittō, prōmittere, prōmīsī, prōmissum, send forth, let loose, undertake, promise prōnus, -a, -um, adj., leaning forward, prone, sloping prope, adv., almost prōpōnō, prōpōnere, prōposuī, prōpositum, oﬀer, propose, hold out Propontis, Propontidis/ Propontidos, f., the Propontis or Sea of Marmora, between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea prōsiliō, prōsilīre, prōsiluī, leap forward, rush forward

Vo c a b u l a r y

prospectō, prospectāre, prospectāvī, prospectātum, gaze out at, look intently at, watch prospectus, -ūs, m., view, prospect prosperus, -a, -um, adj., prosperous, successful, favorable prospiciō, prospicere, prospexī, prospectum, see in front, watch, anticipate prosternō, prosternere, prostrāvī, prostrātum, lay low, overthrow prōsum, prōdesse, prōfuī, to be of use, to be beneficial (with dat.) prōtendō, prōtendere, prōtendī, prōtentum, stretch out, extend prōvincia, -ae, f., province, territory outside Italy under the administration of a Roman governor pudīcus, -a, -um, adj., having a sense of modesty or shame, modest, honorable, chaste puella, -ae, f., girl, young woman, girlfriend puer, puerī, m., boy, non-adult male, male beloved, (young) male slave pulc(h)er, pulc(h)ra, pulc(h)rum, adj., beautiful, lovely, aesthetically pleasing pulvis, pulveris, m., dust pūmex, pūmicis, m., f., pumice or any similar volcanic rock or piece of it puppis, puppis, f., stern of boat, boat, ship pūriter, adv., righteously, in a clean manner purpureus, -a, -um, adj., purple, radiant, glowing

251

pūrus, -a, -um, adj., clean, pure, plain, chaste putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum, think, consider, discuss

Q quā, indef. adv., in any way quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī, quaesītum, look for, seek, ask, acquire, earn quaesō, (quaesere), seek, ask for; first person parenthetically, please quālis, -e, rel. adj., of which sort, such as quāliscumque, quālecumque, rel. adj., of whatever sort quālubet, adv., by any road that pleases, no matter how quam, interr. and rel. adv., how, as; with the superlative, as...as possible; after a comparative, than quamvīs, rel. adv., to any degree you like, ever so, however, although quandō, indef. adv., ever quandōquidem, rel. adv., since, seeing that quantum, quantī, n., which amount, how much quantum, rel. adv., to what degree, to what extent quantus, -a, -um, adj., interr. and rel. adj., how great, of what size quārē, interr. and rel. adv., in what way, how, why, because, therefore, in this way

252

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

quasi, conj., as if quassō, quassāre, quassāvī, quassātum, shake repeatedly, cause to tremble violently

quisquam, quicquam, pron., anyone, anything quisque, quaeque, quidque, pron., each one

quatiō, quatere, quassum, shake, beat upon

quisquis, quidquid/ quicquid, pron. and adj., whoever, whatever

-que, enclitic conj., and

quīvīs, quaevīs, quidvīs, adj. and pron., whatever person or thing you please, anyone, anything

queō, quīre, quīvī, be able quercus, -ūs, f., oak tree querella, -ae, f., complaint, expression of grievance

quīvīscumque, quaevīscumque, quodvīscumque, adj., every conceivable, no matter what

questus, -ūs, m., complaint, lament

quō, adv., where, for what purpose

quī, interr. adv., how, in what way

quod, conj., because

quī, quae, quod, rel. pron., who, which, that; interr. adj., what, which

quondam, adv., once, formerly, sometimes, in the future quoniam, conj., since

quī, quae/qua, quod, indef. adj. (after sī), any

quoque, adv., also, too

quia, conj., because

quot, indecl. adj., how many, as many as

quīcumque, quaecumque, quodcumque, indef. pron., whoever, whichever, whatever quid, adv., why quīdam, quaedam, quiddam, pron., a certain person, a certain thing

R rādīcitus, adv., by the roots, completely rāmus, rāmī, m., branch

quiēs, quiētis, f., rest, repose, calm, rest of sleep or death

rapax, rapācis, adj., rapacious, very greedy

quīn, adv., why not, indeed, but; conj., so that...not, but that

rapidus, -a, -um, adj., rapid, violent

quīnam, quaenam, quodnam, interr. adj., + nam, what (which) __, tell me? Quintia, -ae, f., Quintia, woman’s name Quintilia, -ae, f., Quintilia; wife or girlfriend of Calvus quis, quid, interr. pron., who, what; indef. pron., anyone, anything

rārus, -a, -um, adj., loosely woven, having an open texture, spaced apart, rare ratiō, ratiōnis, f., calculation, reason, method ratis, ratis, f., raft, boat, ship Raudus, -ī, m., Raudus; a man’s name; otherwise unknown recipiō, recipere, recēpī, receptum, take back, accept, regain

Vo c a b u l a r y

reconditus, -a, -um, adj., concealed, secret, secluded recordor, recordārī, recordātus, recollect, remember rector, rectōris, m., helmsman, ruler rectus, -a, -um, adj., straight, right, correct, proper, erect in bearing

253

remittō, remittere, remīsī, remissum, send back, return, let go, abandon remūneror, remūnerārī, remūnerātus sum, repay, reward, pay back rēmus, -ī, m., oar

recūrō, recūrāre, recūrāvī, recūrātum, cure, restore a thing to its former condition

renovō, renovāre, renovāvī, renovātum, renew, restore, revive

reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum, give back, deliver

reperiō, reperīre, repperī, repertum, discover, get, find to be, devise

redeō, redīre, rediī, reditum, go back, come back, return

repōnō, repōnere, reposuī, repositum, put back, put down

redimiō, redimīre, redimiī, redimītum, encircle with a garland, surround

reportō, reportāre, reportāvī, reportātum, bring back, carry back

redūcō, redūcere, reduxī, reductum, bring back

reposcō, reposcere, demand back, demand

redux, reducis, adj., that brings back home, returning

requiescō, requiescere, requiēvī, requiētum, rest, be given a rest, relax

referō, referre, retulī, relātum, bring back or again, carry home, render

repente, adv., suddenly, in an instant

reficiō, reficere, refēcī, refectum, make again, repair, renew

requīrō, requīrere, requīsīvī/ requīsiī, requīsītum, look for, ask about, try to bring back, need, miss

reflectō, reflectere, reflexī, reflexum, bend back, turn back

rēs, reī, f., wealth, thing, circumstance, aﬀair, legal matter

rēgius, -a, -um, adj., royal, splendid; technical term used of high quality writing material

resonō, resonāre, resonāvī, resound, echo

regō, regere, rexī, rectum, guide, direct, rule religō, religāre, religāvī, religātum, tie, fasten behind; occasionally, untie relinquō, relinquere, relīquī, relictum, leave, leave behind, abandon

respectō, respectāre, wait for, keep on looking around or back at respergō, respergere, respersī, respersum, sprinkle, sprinkle with stains respondeō, respondēre, respondī, responsum, answer, reply; technical sense, appear in court restituō, restituere, restituī, restitūtum, restore, revive

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

retineō, retinēre, retinuī, retentum, retain, keep, stop retrahō, retrahere, retraxī, retractum, withdraw, draw back revocō, revocāre, revocāvī, revocātum, recall, call back, restrain rex, rēgis, m., king

rūmor, rūmōris, m., clamor, gossip, rumor, unfavorable report, favorable report rumpō, rumpere, rūpī, ruptum, break, shatter, destroy rūpēs, rūpis, f., steep rocky cliﬀ, crag rursus, adv., back, again, once again, on the other hand

Rhēnus, -ī, m., the river Rhine, considered the boundary between Gaul and Germany

rūs, rūris, n., the country (as opposed to the town), farm, estate

Rhodus, -ī, f., Rhodes, island oﬀ the coast of Lycia

S

Rhoetēus, -a, -um, adj., of Rhoeteum, poetic word for Troy

Sabīnus, -a, -um, adj., Sabine; the Sabines were a people of central Italy.

rīdeō, rīdēre, rīdī, rīsum, laugh, laugh at rixa, -ae, f., fight rōbur, rōboris, n., oak tree, hard timber, strength rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum, ask, ask for, ask a person to do something, make erotic overtures to, beg Rōma, -ae, f., Rome

sacculus, -ī, m., small bag; small bag used for holding money sacer, sacra, sacrum, adj., sacred, holy, detestable (as term of abuse, from the idea of “oﬀensive to divine law”) saec(u)lum, -ī, n., generation, age, lifetime, century saepe, adv., often

rubeō, rubēre, to become red

Saetabus, -a, -um, adj., Saetaban, of or made in Saetabis, a town in Hispania Tarraconensis known for its linen

ruber, rubra, rubrum, adj., red

saevus, -a, -um, adj., cruel, savage

rubor, rubōris, m., redness, blush

Sagae, Sagārum, m. pl., a Scythian people living on the northern borders of Persia.

Rōmulus, -ī, m., Romulus, legendary founder of Rome

rudens, rudentis, m., ship’s rope, rope Rūfus, -ī, m., Roman cognomen; may be the Marcus Caelius Rufus who had an aﬀair with Clodia Metelli and whom Cicero defended successfully in his speech, the Pro Caelio

sagittifer, sagittifera, sagittiferum, adj., carrying arrows sāl, salis, m., salt, wit salsus, -a, -um, adj., salted, witty, funny

Vo c a b u l a r y

salūs, salūtis, f., safety, health, salvation

scīlicet, adv., evidently, of course, surely

salvē, singular imperative; hello, hail

sciō, scīre, scīvī, scītum, know

sanctus, -a, -um, adj., sacred, holy

scītus, -a, -um, adj., expert, clever

sānē, adv., soundly, really, truly, sesibly; with adv. or adj., very, quite

scopulus, -ī, m., projecting rock, boulder

255

sanguis, sanguinis, m., blood

scortillum, -ī, n., little prostitute, young prostitute, little/young tart

sapiō, sapere, sapīvī, have taste, be wise

scrībō, scrībere, scripsī, scriptum, write

Sapphicus, -a, -um, adj., Sapphic, of Sappho, the Greek poet who wrote and lived on the island of Lesbos towards the end of the 7th century bce

scrīnium, scrīnī, n., case or shelf for holding letters or papyrus rolls in a bookstore or library; holder for other things scriptor, scriptōris, m., writer, scribe

satiō, satiāre, satiāvī, satiātum, satisfy, sate, gratify

scriptum, -ī, n., writing, literary work (usually in pl.)

satis, adv., enough, suﬃciently; indecl. noun, enough

scurra, -ae, m., fashionable idler, witty person

Sāturnālia, -ium, n. pl., December 17 and following days of holiday, festival of Saturn, a time of merriment and freedom from restraint

Scylla, -ae, f., Scylla, half-human sea monster, located at the Straits of Messina, who grabbed and ate men from passing ships

saturō, saturāre, saturāvī, saturātum, satisfy, sate, saturate

sēcēdō, sēcēdere, sēcessī, sēcessum, withdraw sector, sectārī, sectātus sum, pursue, chase

Satyrus, -ī, m., Satyr; demi-god of wild places, especially forests, having the form of a man with some animal characteristics

secundus, -a, -um, adj., following, second, favorable

saucius, -a, -um, adj., wounded

sedeō, sedēre, sēdī, sessum, sit

sāvior, sāviārī, sāviātum, kiss

sēdēs, sēdis, f., seat, site, home, dwelling

saxeus, -a, -um, adj., made of stone, rocky, stony, unfeeling scelestus, -a, -um, adj., wicked, guilty of evil or criminal actions; used colloquially as term of abuse

sed, conj., but

semel, adv., once, once and for all sēmimortuus, -a, -um, adj., half dead semper, adv., always senecta, -ae, f., old age

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

seneō, senēre, be old senex, senis, m., old man sensus, sensūs, m., any of the five physical senses, ability to perceive or make judgments, consciousness, feeling, sense sentiō, sentīre, sensī, sensum, feel, sense, perceive, think, understand sepeliō, sepelīre, sepelīvī, sepultum, bury, overcome septemgeminus, -a, -um, adj., sevenfold Septimillus, -ī, m., diminutive of Septimius Septimius, Septimī, m., Septimius, man’s name sepulcrum, -ī, n., tomb, grave sequor, sequī, secūtus sum, follow Serāpis, Serāpis/Serāpidis, m., Serapis, Egyptian god

sēvocō, sēvocāre, sēvocāvī, sēvocātum, call away, draw aside, separate sī, conj., if sībilus, -ī, m., a sibilant sound, hissing or whistling sound sīc, adv., so, thus, in this way; that is so, yes siccus, -a, -um, adj., dry, sober sīcut, adv., just as, as sīdus, sīderis, n., star; sky (pl.) signum, -ī, n., sign, distinguishing mark, image, constellation, military standard Sīlēnus, -ī, m., Silenus; attendant of Bacchus usually depicted as old, drunk, and bestial silescō, silescere, become silent, grow quiet silva, -ae, f., forest

sermō, sermōnis, m., speech, talk, conversation, dialogue, topic of conversation

simul, conj., as soon as (also with atque or ac); adv., at the same time, at the same time as, once, together

serō, serere, sēvī, satum, sow, plant

sincērē, adv., truly, faithfully

serva, -ae, f., slave (female)

sine, prep. with abl., without

serviō, servīre, servīvī, servītum, serve as a slave, wait on, be politically subject, devote oneself to

singulī, -ae, -a, adj. pl., single, individual

Sestiānus, -a, -um, adj., Sestian, related to Publius Sestius, quaestor in 63 bce and helper of Cicero against Catiline Sestius, Sestī, m., Sestius; Cf. Sestiānus, -a, -um seu, conj., or if, seu...seu, whether...or sevērus, -a, -um, adj., strict, severe, serious

singultus, -ūs, m., sob sinister, sinistra, sinistrum, adj., left, adverse sinistrā, adv., on the left sinō, sinere, sīvī, situm, leave alone, allow sinus, sinūs m., fold in a garment, curve, breast, embrace, gulf sīquis, sīqua/sīquae, sīquid, indef. pron. and adj., if anybody, if anything, if any

Vo c a b u l a r y

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Sirmiō, Sirmiōnis, f., promontory in Lacus Benacus (Lago di Garda).

stāgnum, -ī, n., expanse of standing water, pool

sistō, sistere, stetī, statum, set up, place firmly, make firm

statuō, statuere, statuī, statūtum, set, stand, establish, decide

sīve, conj., or if, sīve...sīve, whether... or

sternuō, sternuere, sternuī, sneeze

sodālis, sodālis, m., companion, comrade sōl, sōlis, m., sun, a day (as determined by the rising of the sun) sōlāciolum, -ī, n., a little comfort, a little solace, a little consolation soleō, solēre, solitus sum, be accustomed sōlus, -a, -um, adj., alone, lonely, deserted solvō, solvere, solvī, solūtum, loosen, break up, set free, perform duly, fulfill (as in a vow or promise) somnus, -ī, m., sleep sonitus, -ūs, m., sound

stīpendium, stīpendī, n., regular cash payment, permanent tax, oﬀering stō, stāre, stetī, statum, stand strophium, strophī, n., breastband studiōsē, adv., attentively, diligently, eagerly, zealously studium, studī, n., enthusiasm, eagerness, pastime, study suāvis, -e, pleasant, pleasing to the senses sub, prep. with acc. or abl., under, below subitō, adv., suddenly, quickly sublevō, sublevāre, sublevāvī, sublevātum, lift, support, encourage, lighten

sordidus, -a, -um, adj., dirty, degrading, vulgar

subrēpō, subrēpere, subrepsī, subreptum, creep under, come on gradually

sospes, sospitis, adj., safe and sound, unhurt

subter, prep. with acc. or abl., under

spectō, spectāre, spectāvī, spectātum, look at, watch spērō, spērāre, spērāvī, spērātum, hope, hope for, expect spēs, speī, f., hope spīnōsus, -a, -um, adj., thorny, spiny, diﬃcult sponsus, -ī, m., betrothed husband spūmō, spūmāre, spūmāvī, spūmātum, foam, froth spūmōsus, -a, -um, adj., foaming, frothy

subtīlis, -e, adj., fine in texture, delicate suburbānus, -a, -um, adj., situated close to the city (usually Rome), characteristic of those living near the city succipiō, succipere, succēpī, succeptum, take, receive, undertake sūdārium, sūdārī, n., piece of cloth carried around and used for wiping the face or as a napkin

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W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

sūdō, sūdāre, sūdāvī, sūdātum, sweat, be damp

suspicor, suspicārī suspicātus sum, guess, imagine, suspect

Suﬀēnus, -ī, m., Suﬀenus; otherwise unknown

suspīrō, suspīrāre, suspīrāvī, suspīrātum, sigh, breathe out

suī, sibi, sē, sē, third person reflex. pron., himself, herself, itself, themselves

sustollō, sustollere, sustulī, sublātum, raise on high, kidnap

Sulla, -ae, m., Sulla; otherwise unknown sum, esse, fuī, futūrus, be summus, -a, -um, adj., highest, topmost sūmō, sūmere, sumpsī, sumptum, take, take on sumptuōsus, -a, -um, adj., expensive, costly, extravagant

suus, -a, -um, third person reflex. adj., his, her, its, their (own) Syria, -ae, f., Syria, area between Asia Minor and Egypt, usually including Phoenicia and Palestine Syrtis, Syrtis, f., Syrtis (esp. pl.), name of two areas of sandy flats on the coast between Carthage and Cyrene; whole desert region next to this coast

super, adv., above, beyond, more than enough

T

superbus, -a, -um, adj., proud, arrogant

tabella, -ae, f., flat piece of wood, tablet, picture, wooden writing tablet usually coated with wax

superō, superāre, superāvī, superātum, get beyond, surpass, overcome, be superior to

taberna, -ae, f., wooden hut, inn, shop

supersum, superesse, superfuī, remain, survive

taceō, tacēre, tacuī, tacitum, be silent

supplex, supplicis, adj., suppliant

tacitus, -a, -um, adj., silent

supplicium, supplicī, n., entreaty, punishment, atonement, thing oﬀered to propitiate someone

taeter, taetra, taetrum, adj., foul, horrible, vile, monstrous

suppōnō, suppōnere, supposuī, suppositum, put under, place under

talentum, -ī, n., a weight of silver used as a Greek unit of currency, talent tālis, -e, adj., of such a kind

suprēmus, -a, -um, adj., final, last

tam, adv., to such a degree, so

sūra, -ae, f., calf of the leg

tamen, adv., nevertheless

surripiō, surripere, surripuī, surreptum, steal

tandem, adv., at last, finally

suspendō, suspendere, suspendī, suspensum, hang up

tangō, tangere, tetigī, tactum, touch tantum, -ī, n. pron., so much; adv. use of acc., to such an extent, only

Vo c a b u l a r y

tantus, -a, -um, adj., so great, of such a size, of such great magnitude (pl.) so many tardipēs, tardipedis, adj., slowfooted, lame taurus, -ī, m., bull Taurus, -ī, m., Taurus, mountain range in south of Asia Minor tectum, -ī, n., roof, house, dwelling tegmen, tegminis, n., cover tegō, tegere, texī, tectum, cover, guard, close the eyes (in sleep) tellūs, tellūris, f., land, earth, country, ground tēlum, -ī, n., spear, missile, weapon, shaft tempestās, tempestātis, f., period, season, time, weather, storm

259

tergum, -ī, n., back terra, -ae, f., earth, land Thēseus, Thēseī/Thēseos, m., Theseus, son of Aegeus, king of Athens, (or of Poseidon in another version) and Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, king of Troezen thiasus, -ī, m., group devoted to cult of Bacchus, orgiastic dance, especially in honor of Bacchus Thrācias, Thrāciae f., wind from west of north Thӯnia, -ae, f., Bithynia; an area, later a Roman province, on the northwest coast of Asia Minor Tīburs, Tīburtis, adj., of or belonging to Tibur, modern Tivoli, a town not far from Rome timor, timōris, m., fear

templum, -ī, n., sacred precinct, temple

tintinō, tintināre, make a ringing sound

temptō, temptāre, temptāvī, temptātum, try, attempt

tollō, tollere, sustulī, sublātum, lift, raise, extol, take away, destroy

tempus, temporis, n., time, occasion, proper time, an age or particular period in history, danger

torpeō, torpēre, be physically numb, lack sensation

tenebrae, -ārum, f. pl., darkness tenebricōsus, -a, -um, adj., dark teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentum, hold tener, tenera, tenerum, adj., tender, delicate, soft, young tenuis, tenue, adj., slender, thin, slight, subtle tepefaciō, tepefacere, tepefēcī, tepefactum, warm, make fairly hot tepor, tepōris, m., mild heat, warmth teres, teretis, adj., rounded, smooth, polished

torpor, torpōris, m., numbness, paralysis, unconsciousness, lethargy, drowsiness torreō, torrēre, toruī, tostum, scorch, parch, burn tot, indecl. adj., so many tōtus, -a, -um, adj., the whole of, all trabs, trabis, f., beam of wood, trunk of tree, ship; by metonymy, phallus trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum, hand over, deliver, introduce trans, prep. with acc., across

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trecentī, -ae, -a, pl. adj., three hundred, used to denote a large number tremulus, -a, -um, adj., trembling, shaky, quivering

ūdus, -a, -um, adj., wet, pliant ulciscor, ulciscī, ultus sum, take revenge on, avenge ullus, -a, -um, adj., any

trēs, tria, adj., three

ultimus, -a, -um, adj., last, farthest, extreme, earliest

tribuō, tribuere, tribuī, tribūtum, allot, assign, grant, bestow

ultrō, adv., of one’s own accord

trux, trucis, adj., harsh, savage

umbilīcus, -ī, m., navel, umbilical cord, cylinder or roller or stick on which papyrus roll was wound; in plural, when referring to one book, the ornamental knobs or bosses at the ends of roller projecting from the roll.

tū, tuī, tibi, tē, tē, pron., you (sing.)

umbra, -ae, f., shade, shadow, ghost

tueor, tuērī, tuitus sum, look at, watch over, protect

umquam, adv., ever

tristis, -e, adj., sad Trōius, -a, -um, adj., Trojan truculentus, -a, -um, adj., ferocious, aggressive

tum, adv., then

ūnā, adv., together, at the same time ūnanimus, -a, -um, adj., sharing a single attitude, acting in accord

tumulō, tumulāre, tumulāvī, tumulātum, cover with a burial mound

unctus, -a, -um, adj., oiled, enriched

tunc, adv., then

unda, -ae, f., wave, water

tundō, tundere, tutudī, tunsum, strike with repeated blows, beat

unde, interr. and rel. adv., from where, from whom, from which

turbō, turbinis, m., object that spins, whirlwind

undique, adv., on all sides, everywhere

turgidulus, -a, -um, adj., swollen

unguentum, -ī, n., ointment, perfume

turpis, -e, adj., ugly, shameful, disgraceful

ūnicus, -a, -um, sole, one and only

tussis, tussis, f., cough tūtus, -a, -um, adj., safe, secure

urbānus, -a, -um, adj., of the city, urbane, sophisticated

tuus, -a, -um, adj., your (sing.)

urbs, urbis, f., city; the city of Rome

U

Ūriī, -ōrum, m. pl., name of some place associated with the cult of Venus, perhaps the same as Urium, a town on the Apulian coast of Italy

ūber, ūberis, adj., rich, abundant ubi, rel. adv., where, when; interr. adv., where

ūnus, -a, -um, adj., one, alone, sole

ūrō, ūrere, ussī, ustum, burn; in pass., be on fire

Vo c a b u l a r y

261

urtīca, -ae, f., stinging nettle (coarse herb with stinging hairs)

vānescō, vānescere, vanish, become useless

usque, adv., continuously, continually, all the way

vānus, -a, -um, adj., empty, groundless, imaginary

ustulō, ustulāre, ustulāvī, ustulātum, burn partially, scorch

variē, adv., in diﬀerent ways, variously

ut, conj. with indic., as, like, when, considering how, where; with subj., so that, that, to; interr. adv., how

variō, variāre, variāvī, variātum, adorn with contrasting colors, variegate

uterque, utraque, utrumque, adj., pron., each of two utinam, particle, used to reinforce a wish expressed by subjunctive, “would that...” ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum, (with abl.), use, enjoy utpote, particle reinforcing explanatary clause, naturally

varius, -a, -um, adj., varied, of many diﬀerent kinds Vārus, -ī, m., Alfenus Varus, jurist who became consul suﬀect in 39 bce or Quintilius Varus, friend of Vergil and Horace, mourned by Horace in Odes 1.24 vastus, -a, -um, adj., desolate, huge

utrum, particle, whether

Vatīniānus, -a, -um, of Vatinius; Publius Vatinius, prosecuted in 54 bce by Calvus for illegal electioneering, defended successfully by Cicero

V

-ve, conj., or

vacuus, -a, -um, adj., empty, free, available

vēcors, vēcordis, adj., mad, demented

vadum -ī, n., shallow water, bottom of sea, waters of sea (usually in pl.)

vehō, vehere, vexī, vectum, carry; passive in middle sense, travel, sail

vae, interj., alas, alas for, woe to, bad luck to vagor, vagārī, vagātus sum, wander vagus, -a, -um, adj., roaming, wandering valdē, adv., powerfully, greatly, extremely valeō, valēre, valuī, valitum, be powerful, be strong enough to, be well, prevail; valē etc., goodbye, farewell vallēs, vallis, f., valley

vel, conj., or vēlō, vēlāre, vēlāvī, vēlātum, cover, clothe vēlum, -ī, n., sail velut, adv., as, just as vēmens, vēmentis, adj., violent, powerful venēnum, -ī, n., poison, magical or medicinal potion veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum, come vēnor, vēnārī, vēnātus sum, hunt

262

W r i t i n g Pa s s i o n

venter, ventris, m., belly, abdomen, stomach ventitō, ventitāre, ventitāvī, ventitātum, come frequently ventōsus, -a, -um, adj., windy, volatile ventus, -ī, m., wind

vērus, -a, -um, adj., true, real vēsānus, -a, -um, adj., acting without reason, mad vester, vestra, vestrum, adj., your (pl.) vestigium, vestigī, n., footprint, sole, track, vestige

venus, veneris, f., Venus, Roman goddess of love; love, charm, sexual activity; best throw at dice

vestis, vestis, f., clothes, dress, cloth in form of covering or hanging

venustās, venustātis, f., charm, grace, attraction

vexō, vexāre, vexāvī, vexātum, disturb, trouble, agitate, ravage

venustē, adv., in a charming or attractive manner

via, -ae, f., road, street, way

vetus, veteris, adj., old, ancient

venustus, -a, -um, adj., attractive, charming

vibrō, vibrāre, vibrāvī, vibrātum, wave, brandish, propel (a weapon) suddenly

vēr, vēris, n., spring

vicis (gen.) f., turn, situation, lot

Vērāniolus, -ī, m., diminutive of Veranius

videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum, see, understand; in passive, seem, appear

Vērānius, Vērānī, m., Veranius, friend of Catullus

vigeō, vigēre, viguī, flourish, thrive

verbum, -ī, n., word, verb, saying, speech

vigescō, vigescere, grow lively, gain strength

vērē, adv., really, truly

vīlis, -e, adj., cheap, worthless

vernus, -a, -um, occurring in spring, vernal

villa, -ae, f., country-house, estate, farm

vērō, adv., particle, truly, indeed

vinciō, vincīre, vinxī, vinctum, bind, encircle

Vērōna, -ae, f., town in Transpadane Gaul, birthplace of Catullus. versiculus, -ī, m., brief line of verse; (pl.) light poetry

vindex, vindicis, m., f., avenger; here, as adj., avenging vīnum, -ī, n., wine

versō, versāre, versāvī, versātum, spin, turn, keep turning around,; pass or reflex., keep going around, toss, writhe

violō, violāre, violāvī, violātum, violate, dishonor

versus, -ūs, m., line of verse

virgō, virginis, f., girl of marriageable age, young woman, virgin, maiden

vertex, verticis, m., head, summit vērum, adv., but

vir, -ī, m., man, husband

Vo c a b u l a r y

virtūs, virtūtis, f., manhood, courage, valor, virtue vīsō, vīsere, vīsī, look at, go and see vīta, -ae, f., life; hyperbolically, of a person as a term of aﬀection vīvō, vīvere, vixī, victum, live vix, adv., hardly, scarcely, just vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum, call, summon, invite volitō, volitāre, volitāvī, volitātum, fly, move about rapidly volō, velle, voluī, wish, want, be willing volō, volāre, volāvī, volātum, fly, speed voluntās, voluntātis, f., will, wish, intention voluptās, voluptātis, f., pleasure, delight Volusius, Volusī, m., Volusius, otherwise unknown volvō, volvere, volvī, volūtum, roll, turn over (in the mind) vorō, vorāre, vorāvī, vorātum, devour vōs, vestrī/vestrum, vōbīs, vōs, vōbīs, pron., you (pl.) vōtum, -ī, n., vow, prayer, votive oﬀering voveō, vovēre, vōvī, vōtum, promise (to a god) in return for a favor, vow, pray or long for vox, vōcis, f., voice, sound, words vulgus, -ī, n., the common people, the general public, crowd vultus, -ūs, m., look, face

263

Z zephyrus, -ī, m., west wind, Zephyr zōna, -ae, f., belt, girdle

AP */IB Texts and Ancillae Cicero’s Pro Caelio, 3rd Edition

Excelability in Advanced Latin

Stephen Ciraolo

A Workbook for Students Marianthe Colakis with Gaylan DuBose

xxxi + 239 pp. (1997, 3rd edition 2003) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-559-5

Vergil’s Aeneid: Selections from Books 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, and 12 Barbara Weiden Boyd Student Text: (2001, 2nd editon 2004) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-584-7 Hardbound, ISBN 978-0-86516-583-0 Teacher’s Guide: (2002) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-481-9

Embers of the Ancient Flame Latin Love Poetry Selections from Catullus, Horace, and Ovid Carol A. Murphy, Daniel G. Thiem, and Ryan T. Moore ix + 114 pp., (2001) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-505-2

Horace Satire I.9: The Boor Margaret A. Brucia and Madeleine M. Henry Student Text: Illus., 45 pp., (1998, Reprint 2000) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-413-0 Teacher’s Guide: 20 pp., (1998) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-429-1

Horace: Selected Odes and Satire 1.9 Ronnie Ancona Student Text: xxiii + 199 pp. (1999) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-416-1 Teacher’s Guide: viii + 87 pp. (1999) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-430-7

Ovid: Amores, Metamorphoses Selections 2nd edition Charbra Adams Jestin and Phyllis B. Katz Student Text: xx + 195 pp. (1999, Revised Reprint 2000) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-431-4 Teacher’s Edition: viii + 72 pp. (1999, Revised Reprint, 2000) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-496-3

Vergil’s Aeneid, 10 & 12 Pallas & Turnus Barbara Weiden Boyd Student Text: xii + 44 pp. (1998) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-415-4 Teacher’s Guide: vi + 13 pp. (1998) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-428-4

Vergil’s Aeneid: Books I–VI Clyde Pharr Illus., xvii + 518 pp. + fold-out (1964, Reprint 1998) Paperback, ISBN 978-086516-421-5 Hardbound, ISBN 978-086516-433-8

Vergil’s Aeneid: Books I and II Waldo E. Sweet 163 pp. (1960, Reprint 1983) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-023-1

Student Text: iv + 244 pp. (2003) 8 1/2” x 11” Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-512-0 Teacher’s Guide: vi + 139 pp. (2003) 8 1/2” x 11” Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-518-2

Why Horace? A Collection of Interpretations William S. Anderson, ed. xvi + 264 pp. (1999) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-417-8 Hardbound, ISBN 978-0-86516-434-5

Why Vergil? A Collection of Interpretations Stephanie Quinn, ed. (2000) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-418-5 Hardbound, ISBN 978-0-86516-435-2

Reading Livy’s Rome Selections from Books I–VI of Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita Milena Minkova and Terence Tunberg Student Text: xii + 276 pp. (2005) 6” x 9” Paperback ISBN 978-0-86516-550-2 Teacher’s Guide: vi + 114 pp. (2005) 6” x 9” Paperback ISBN 978-0-86516-600-4

The Labors of Aeneas What A Pain It Was to Found the Roman Race Rose Williams vi + 108 pp. (2003) Paperback, ISBN 978-0-86516-556-4

Horace Fully Parsed Word by Word Books I and II of Horace Odes Grammatically Analyzed and Literally Translated 288 pp. (2003 reprint of 1917 edition) Paperback ISBN 978-0-86516-552-6

Performing Cicero’s Speeches An Experimental Workshop Jon Hall and Robin Bond 32 minute videotape + 28 page booklet (2003) VHS Videotape & Booklet, ISBN 978-0-86516-488-8

Vergil’s Dido & Mimus Magicus Composed by Jan Novák Conducted by Rafael Kubelik Performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the Bayerischer Rundfunk (Germany) Original record published by audite Schallplatten, Germany Limited Edition CD (1997) 40-page libretto in Latin, English, and German, ISBN 978-0-86516-346-1

Schola Cantans Composed by Jan Novák Sung by Voces Latinae (1998) Cassette: 19 pp., ISBN 978-0-86516-357-7 Music Score: 46 pp., ISBN 978-0-86516-358-4 Cassette and Music Score Set: ISBN 978-0-86516-404-8

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