Catullus

Holmes_Ov.Am.1.5_Latin112_2013

Ovid’s poem about his afternoon love-making with Corinna is not just boasting about his sexual conquests, argues Chris Holmes, but the elegance of the poetry is also meant to be flattering to Corinna. Ovid, Amores 1.5.1-12 discussed, translated, and read aloud by Chris Holmes.

source: http://bit.ly/101zB7f

Aestus erat, mediamque diēs exēgerat hōram;

apposuī mediō membra levanda torō.

pars adaperta fuit, pars altera clausa fenestrae,

quāle ferē silvae lūmen habēre solent,

quālia sublūcent fugiente crepuscula Phoebō

aut ubi nox abiit nec tamen orta diēs.

lla verēcundīs lūx est praebenda puellīs,

quā timidus latebrās spēret habēre pudor.

ecce, Corinna venit tunicā vēlāta recīnctā,

candida dīviduā colla tegente comā,

quāliter in thalamōs formōsa Samīramis īsse

dīcitur et multīs Lāis amāta virīs.

Heden_Cat13_Latin112_2013

Catullus’ mock dinner invitation to his friend Fabullus is really a compliment to his own girlfriend (probably to be identified as the Lesbia he addresses elsewhere in his work), argues Chris Heden. She is to bring the most important ingredient of the party: an unguent or perfumed oil, an expensive luxury item typically featured in fashionable Roman dinner parties. Catullus 13 discussed, translated, and read aloud by Chris Heden.

Roman fresco with banquet scene (detail) from the Casa dei Casti Amanti (IX 12, 6-8) in Pompeii. (Wikimedia Commons)

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.

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.

Cicak_Cat22_Latin112_2013

Catullus blends Aesopic fable with literary criticism and good old fashioned ridicule in poem 22, about the stylish but overly wordy poet Suffenus. Joelle Cicak argues that this many-sided poem must be understood in the context of the movement of “new poets” (poetae novi) of which Catullus was a part. Catullus 22 discussed, translated, and read aloud by Joelle Cicak.

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, novi 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 si quid hac re scitius videbatur,

idem infaceto est infacetior rure,

simul poëmata attigit, neque idem umquam

aeque est beatus ac poëma 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.

Image source: http://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/jan06/images/rare-b.jpg

Campbell_Cat46_Latin112_2013

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.

Cacchione_podcast_Latin112_2013

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)

Brittin_Cat101_Latin112_2013

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.

Bednarz_Cat34_Latin112_2013

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.

Purington Catullus 35

Can Latin poetry be sexy? That’s what Catullus thinks of his friend Caecilius’ poem about the goddess Cybele, and evidently Caecilius’ girlfriend agreed. Catullus 35, read, translated, and discussed by Katy Purington.

Poetae tenero, meo sodali,
velim Caecilio, papyre, dicas
Veronam veniat, Novi relinquens
Comi moenia Lariumque litus:
nam quasdam volo cogitationes 5
amici accipiat sui tuique.
quare, si sapiet, viam vorabit,
quamvis candida milies puella
euntem revocet, manusque collo
ambas iniciens roget morari, 10
quae nunc, si mihi vera nuntiantur,
illum deperit impotente amore.
nam quo tempore legit incohatam
Dindymi dominam, ex eo misellae
ignes interiorem edunt medullam. 15
ignosco tibi, Sapphica puella
musa doctior: est enim venuste
Magna Caecilio incohata Mater.