The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/2

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Contents

[edit] Text & Translation

Meter - Hendecasyllabic

Line Latin Text English Translation
1 Passer, deliciae meae puellae, Sparrow, darling of my girl,
2 quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere, with whom she often plays, whom she holds in her lap,
3 cui primum digitum dare appetenti, to whom she is in the habit of giving the tip of her finger as it pecks,
4 et acris solet incitare morsus, and stir you to bite her sharply,
5 cum desiderio meo nitenti, when she is gleaming with longing for me,
6 carum nescio quid lubet iocari, and wants to do some unspecified fooling about,
7 et solacium sui doloris, she can enjoy a little solace for her pain,
8 credo, ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor, I believe, that then her heavy passion may be satisfied,
9 tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem, to be able to play with you, like the mistress,
10 et tristis animi leuare curas... and to raise up the sad passions of my heart...
11 tam gratum est mihi quam ferunt puellae, is as welcome to me as they say,
12 pernici aureolum fuisse malum, the fast girl found the golden apple,
13 quod zonam soluit diu ligitam. which undid her girdle that had been tied for a long time.


[edit] Line 10

  • leuare curas...

Here there is text that has been lost, as the poem clearly has a break in sense. We can only theorise what might have been after line 10.

[edit] Lines 11-13

This refers to the myth of the girl Atalanta a beautiful princess. She was warned about the dangers of marrying, so she set a task: For if any man could beat her in a foot race, he would be able to marry her. But if the man lost he would be killed.

One day, a hero called Melanion (also known as Hippomenes) came along to woo her. Atalanta fell in love with him and while running she stopped to pick up a golden apple thrown by Melanion. (This apple had been given to him by the goddess Venus). Atalanta stopped and picked up the apple and deliberately lost the race so she could marry him.

Catullus is remarking how if he was in the sparrow's place, it would be as welcome to him as the golden apple which was Atalanta's excuse for losing the race.

[edit] Vocabulary

[edit] Line 1

  • deliciae, -arum, f. - delight; beloved object; darling

[edit] Line 2

  • sinus, -us, m. - curve; fold; lap; [in one's body or dress]

[edit] Line 3

  • digitus, -i, m. - finger; finger tip

[edit] Line 4

  • acer, acris, acre - sharp
  • morsus, -us, m. - a bite; biting

[edit] Line 5

  • desiderium, -i, n. - desire; the object of my affection

[edit] Line 6

  • lubet or libet - it pleases; it is agreeable
  • iocor, iocari, iocarus sum - to jest; joke

[edit] Line 7

  • solaciolum, -i, n. - little comfort; relief; solace

[edit] Line 8

  • acquiesco, -ere, -ievi - repose; rest; be satisfied
  • ardor, ardoris, m. - a burning fire; heat; flame; passion

[edit] Line 9

[edit] Line 10

  • animus, -i, m. - soul; passions; heart
  • levo, levare - relieve, lighten; take away

[edit] Line 11

  • gratus -a, -um - causing joy; agreeable; welcome
  • ferunt (3rd pl. pres. fero) - they say; report; relate

[edit] Line 12

  • pernix, pernicis (adj.) - nimble; swift
  • aureolus, -a, -um (dim. of aureus) - little gold
  • malum, -i, n. - apple; pulpy fruit

[edit] Line 13

  • zona, -ae, f. - belt; girdle; zone
  • solvo, solvere - loosen; untie; undo

[edit] See also

[edit] External Links

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