Catullus

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Catullus’ 46th poem describes his eagerness to be away and traveling, now that good weather for sailing has returned. Melanie Campbell argues that even the sounds of the Latin words capture the excitement, joy, and exuberance that come with the first breath of spring. Catullus 46 discussed, translated, and read aloud by Melanie Campbell.

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.

Photo: Derek Ramsey, Wikimedia Commons.

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Catullus 46 expresses the poet’s eagerness to set off for home, following his travels in the famous cities of Asia Minor, in the spring of 56 BC. Victoria Cacchione argues that Catullus’ use of sonorous and unusual Latin words, and his naming of the foreign cities he visited, lend the poem a certain sophistication, but do not diminish the sense of eager restlessness that comes through so powerfully.  Catullus 46, discussed, translated, and read aloud by Victoria Cacchione.

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.

Brown_Cat9_Latin112_2013

It’s Catullus’ fearless expression of his emotions and his disregard of conventional gender stereotypes, argues Dominique Brown, that makes his poetry so compelling. His joy at the return of his friend Vernaius from a trip abroad rings true across the ages. Catullus 9 discussed, translated, and read aloud by Dominique Brown.

Verani, omnibus e meis amicis

antistans mihi milibus trecentis,

venistine domum ad tuos penates

fratresque unanimos anumque matrem?

Venisti. O mihi nuntii beati!

Visam te incolumem audiamque Hiberum

narrantem loca, facta, nationes,

ut mos est tuus, applicansque collum

iucundum os oculosque suaviabor.

O quantum est hominum beatiorum,

quid me laetius est beatiusve?

Image: Mummy portrait from Fayyum, 2nd half of the 2nd Century BC; Kestner Museum, Hannover (Wikimedia Commons)

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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.

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Catullus’ hymn to Diana is a remarkable blending of Greek anthrpomorphism and the feeling of Roman religion, argues Kaylin Bednarz. Catullus 34, discussed, translated, and read aloud by Kaylin Bednarz.

The Roman goddess Diana. Source: http://bit.ly/120SDYv

Dianae sumus in fide
puellae et pueri integri:
Dianam pueri integri
puellaeque canamus.

O Latonia, maximi
magna progenies Iovis,
quam mater prope Deliam
deposivit olivam,

montium domina ut fores
silvarumque virentium
saltuumque reconditorum
amniumque sonantum:

tu Lucina dolentibus
Iuno dicta puerperis,
tu potens Trivia et notho es
dicta lumine Luna.

Tu cursu, dea, menstruo
metiens iter annuum,
rustica agricolae bonis
tecta frugibus exples.

Sis quocumque tibi placet
sancta nomine, Romulique,
antique ut solita es, bona
sospites ope gentem.