The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/70
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Contents |
[edit] Text and Translation
Meter - Elegiac couplets
| Line | Latin Text | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle | My woman says that she prefers to be married to no one |
| 2 | quam mihi, non si Iuppiter ipse petat. | than me, not even if Jupiter himself should seek her. |
| 3 | dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, | she says: but what a woman says to her passionate lover, |
| 4 | in vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua. | she ought to write on the wind and swift-flowing water. |
[edit] Connotations Of The Text
[edit] Line 1
- nubere (see vocabulary below) this literally means "to wear the veil" and is only used to describe a woman getting married. The masculine equivalent was ducere - lit. "to lead".
[edit] Line 2
- quam mihi - than me
Is this ambiguous? Is she saying that she would prefer to remain celibate than be married to Catullus?
- non si - not even if
This is emphatic. Jupiter was well known for his 'collection' of marriages, and was also the hardest to refuse.
- petat - should seek [her]
This is the potential subjunctive. The audience knows that this will never happen, and this renders Lesbia's declaration of love hollow.
[edit] Line 3
dicit: - she says: [supposedly is understood here]
Convey his doubts of Lesbia's loyalty to him.
cupido - passionate; desirous; eager
This is a direct reference to Catullus. The poet is showing how only the heart has been leading him up to this point, and as such, he has been 'blinded' by it. Lines 3-4 are a rational evaluation of the situation, as he steps back into a detached state.
[edit] Line 4
- in vento... oportet aqua - she ought to write on wind and fast-flowing water
This is a metaphor for her declarations of love. Any writing that was written on wind or water would disintegrate immediately. Therefore, we understand that the poet regards Lesbia's statements as fleeting, said in the moments of passion; in truth they are unreliable and fickle.
[edit] Vocabulary
[edit] Line 1
- mulier, mulieris, f. - a woman, married or not
- nubo, -ere, -psi, -uptum - to be married to; to become the wife of
- malo, malle, malui - prefer
[edit] Line 3
- cupidus, -a, -um - passionate; eager; desirous
[edit] Line 4
- oportet, oportuit - it is necessary; proper; reasonable
- rapidus, -a, -um - swift; rapid; fast-flowing; violent; overpowering
[edit] External Links
Catullus 70 Translation of Catullus 70
Catullus 70 Another Translation of Catullus 70
