A modest proposal (Catullus 32)
Obscenity was not at all out of place in Roman poetry, argues John O’Connor, as he reads, translates and discusses a prime example, Catullus 32.
Amabo, mea dulcis Ipsitilla,
meae deliciae, mei lepores,
iube ad te veniam meridiatum.
et si iusseris, illud adiuvato,
nequis liminis obseret tabellam, 5
neu tibi libeat foras abire,
sed domi maneas paresque nobis
novem continuas fututiones.
verum, siquid ages, statim iubeto:
nam pransus iaceo et satur supinus 10
pertundo tunicamque palliumque.
latin-poetry-podcast Said,
May 17, 2012 @ 1:49 pm
Nice work, John! The neutrality of your tone makes a nice contrast with the racy subject matter. You translation isn’t quite as obscene as the Latin, but then again, appreciating that is one advantage of knowing some Latin.