Catullus

Fields_Cat101_Latin112_2013

Julie Fields explains how Catullus’ poem in honor of his dead brother gives insight into some of the most intimate Roman customs surrounding funerals. They are representative of pagan customs rejected by all the great monotheistic religions. Catullus 101 discussed, translated, and read aloud by Julie Fields.

Roman relief depicting a funeral. Source: http://bit.ly/16uYDy0

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.