An Untimely Death (Catullus 101)
Catullus’ poem set at his brother’s grave needs to be seen in the context of Roman funeral customs, says John Brittin, but it also carries the unmistakable marks of emotional authenticity and deep feeling. The repeated word frater is like a ghostly echo that stays with the listener after the poem is finished. Catullus 101 discussed, translated, and read aloud by John Brittin.
Roman grave relief 1st century. London, British Museum. Photo: Mary Harrsch, flickr: http://bit.ly/ZBVN6K
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.