The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/1
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[edit] Text and Translation
Meter - Hendecasyllabic
| Line | Latin Text | English Translation | Scansion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | cui dono lepidum novum libellum | To whom do I give this pleasing new little book, | cuī dōnō lĕpĭdūm nŏvūm lĭbēllŭm |
| 2 | arida modo pumice expolitum | Just now smoothed with dry pumice? | ārĭdā mŏdŏ pūmĭc |
| 3 | Corneli tibi namque tu solebas | To you, Cornelius: For you were accustomed | Cōrnēlī tĭbĭ nāmquĕ tū sŏlēbās |
| 4 | meas esse aliquid putare nugas | To consider my trifles to be something | mĕās ēss |
| 5 | iam tum cum ausus es unus Italorum | At a time when you alone of the Italians dared | iām tūm c |
| 6 | omne aevum tribus explicare cartis | To unfurl every age in three volumes, | ōmn |
| 7 | doctis Iuppiter et laboriosis | Learned (by Jupiter!) and elaborate. | dōctīs Iūppĭtĕr ēt lăbōrĭōsīs |
| 8 | quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli | For this reason have for yourself whatever this is of a little book, | quār |
| 9 | qualecumque quod <o> patrona virgo | Such as it is; O virgin patron, | quālĕcūmquĕ quŏd ō pătrōnă vīrgō |
| 10 | plus uno maneat perenne saeclo | If only it remained enduring for more than one age. | plūs ūnō mănĕāt pĕrēnnĕ saēclō |
[edit] Connotations of the Text
This is traditionally arranged first among Catullus' poems, though it was not necessarily the first poem that he wrote. It is a dedication to Cornelius Nepos, a historian and sometimes poet, though some consider Catullus' praise of Cornelius' history (Chronica) to have been sarcastic; Catullus attempts in many cases to do away with large-scale forms, focusing rather on small but elaborate constructions. Nepos' project, although "doctus" and "laboriosus" (not insignificant compliments from Catullus), is in the tradition of large, comprehensive works, which Catullus contrasts with his "nugae."
The poem alternates between humility and self-confidence; Catullus calls his poetry "trifles", but asks that it remain for more than one age. This understatement is deliberate; Catullus knows very well the quality of his poetry, and also the provocative form it has. He also calls his work "new"; the poems are recently made and therefore new, but they are also new as some of the first examples of Neoteric poetry in the Latin language.
The poem begins with a 2-line question followed by a 1-line answer. The body of the poem, the middle 4 lines, is an explanation for the dedication; Catullus is dedicating the poems to Nepos because Nepos supported Catullus and because Catullus respects Nepos' work (and finds it similar to his own). The next line affirms that Nepos should accept Catullus' "whatever this is of a book," and the poem closes with a 2-line invocation of the Muse.
[edit] Line 1
- dono
Indicative, not the subjunctive donem. The indicative is more immediate, more active (for it is the act of giving, not the contemplation thereof), and implies that the decision to dedicate the poems to Cornelius has already been made. Perhaps the decision is such a no-brainer that a deliberative subjunctive is not necessary.
- libellum
A "papyrus roll" (liber, diminutive libellus) was the standard ancient format for a body of writings and the ancient equivalent of a modern book. Likewise, "papyrus sheets" (cartae) can refer to a "volume" of papyrus rolls. Catullus' labeling of his poems as a "libellum" (as opposed to librum) is an instance of the humble tone that pervades the poem. It is perhaps a mock humility, considering Catullus' loftier statements present both here and in his other poems.
There has been much debate about what poems exactly composed the "libellus," since the 116 poems (just shy of 2300 lines) that have come down to us are too many to fit onto a single papyrus. It is mostly accepted now that the "libellus" was some selection of Catullus' poems, although which poems these were is unknown.
[edit] Line 2
- modo
The "modo" gives the impression of these poems being "hot off the presses."
- pumice
Pumice was used to smooth off the ends of papyrus scrolls to prevent ragged edges.
- expolitum
The "ex-" has a sense of thoroughness. It refers to the papyrus itself, not its contents. However, the line is an indication that the poems are now ready for publication and consumption, both inside and out.
[edit] Line 4
- aliquid
The idea here is that Cornelius thought Catullus' trifles ("nothings") to be something. Perhaps best rendered as "really something."
- nugas
Catullus again is being self-deprecating about his own poetry. At the same time, the idea of creating these little "nuggets" was a point of pride for Catullus and the neoterics; they were creating a new genre of Latin poetry, quite distinct from weighty epics.
[edit] Line 6
Refers to Cornelius Nepos' Chronica, an exhaustive three-volume history of the Greco-Roman world. The comprehensive history was, before Nepos, a very Greek idea; before him, Roman historians had written on more isolated topics or had used the form of an annal, in which each year was summarized separately and methodically. Nepos is therefore an innovator (not unlike Catullus). The Chronica is no longer extant.
[edit] Line 7
- Iuppiter
An exclamation; Catullus is marveling at the quality of Nepos' work.
- doctis et laboriosis
Neoteric values; Catullus' poems are filled with "learned" references to mythology and are very finely crafted. Nepos' work is allegedly of similar quality.
[edit] Line 8
- quidquid hoc libelli
Self-deprecating, as is the "qualecumque" of the next line.
[edit] Line 9
- o
O does not appear in any extant manuscripts, but is supplied by modern editors on the assumption that it was in the original, based on context and metrical concerns.
- patrona virgo
The "virgin patron" is traditionally thought to be Euterpe, the muse of lyric poetry. Some commentators, however, believe that Catullus is invoking Pallas Athena. The invocation represents an elevation of the poem's tone.
[edit] Line 10
- plus uno saeclo
Saeclo ("age", syncopated from saeculum) can more specifically mean "lifetime", "generation", or "century"; it does not necessarily refer to anything approaching the amount of time over which Catullus' poetry has survived. Notably, Catullus does not ask for many ages. He merely asks that his "quidquid hoc libelli" remain for more than one. This is a touch of modesty, even in the middle of an invocation to the Muse (one of the more elevated activities of a poet).
- maneat
Optative subjunctive, not jussive subjunctive; one does not command the Muse.
[edit] Vocabulary
[edit] Line 1
- lepidus, -a, -um - delightful, pleasant, charming
- libellus, libelli - little book
[edit] Line 2
- aridus, -a, -um - dry
- modo, (adv.) - just now
- pumex, pumicis -pumice stone
- expolio, -ire, -ivi, -itus. - to polish, smooth; to smooth off
[edit] Line 3
- Cornelius, Cornelii - Cornelius Nepos
- soleo, solere, solitus sum be accustomed to
[edit] Line 4
- aliquis, aliquid - someone, something
- puto, -are, -avi, -atum to think, consider
- nugae, nugarum -trifle, nugget
[edit] Line 5
- cum, (conj.) -when
- audeo, -ere, ausus sum -to dare
- italus, -i, n. -Italian
[edit] Line 6
- aevum, aevi -age, generation
- tres, tria -three
- explico, -are, -avi, -atus -to unfurl; explain
- carta, cartae -papyrus sheet; volume
[edit] Line 7
- doctus, -a, -um -learned
- laboriosus, -a, -um -toiled-over, elaborate
[edit] Line 8
- quare, (adv.) -wherefore, therefore
- quidquid -whatever
[edit] Line 9
- qualiscumque, qualecumque -of whatever sort
[edit] Line 10
- plus, (adv.) -more than
- perennis, perenne -everlasting
- saec(u)lum, saec(u)li -age, generation
