The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/8

Text & Translation

Meter - Limping Iambics

Line	Latin Text	English Translation
1	Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,	Miserable Catullus, cease to be a fool,
2	et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.	and that which you see to have been lost, may you consider lost.
3	Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,	Bright suns once shone for you,
4	cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat	when you often came to where the girl led you,
5	amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.	a girl loved by us more than any girl will be loved.
6	Ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,	where there those many jokes used to happen,
7	quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,	which you wanted, and she did not deny,
8	fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.	truly bright suns shone for you.
9	Nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,	now she does not want; you also, powerless, do not want,
10	nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,	neither follow she who flees, nor live miserably,
11	sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.	but remain firm with a resolute mind, endure.
12	Vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,	Goodbye girl, already Catullus endures,
13	nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.	he will neither miss you, nor will he ask for you, unwilling.
14	At tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.	but you will grieve, when you will not be asked for at all.
15	Scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita?	wicked one, woe to you! what life remains for you?
16	Quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?	who will come to you now? To whom will you seem beautiful?
17	Quem nunc amabis? Cuius esse diceris?	whom will you love now? Whose will you be said to be?
18	Quem basiabis? Cui labella mordebis?	whom will you kiss? Whose lips will you bite?
19	At tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.	But you, Catullus, obstinate, endure.

Connotations of The Text

The use of the metre, limping iambic, has a broken uneven effect, mimicking the dead end of his thoughts.

Line 1

• miser - miserable; wretched; unhappy

This is a favourite word of Catullus' usually used to describe himself. It can also be translated as "love-sick" and this translation creates a nearer tone that Catullus intended in the poem. This expression can also be seen in Poem 7.

Line 4

• ventitabas - you used to go

The use of the Imperfect Tense shows how Catullus used to go everywhere Lesbia went - making him like Lesbia's shadow.

• ducebat - where she used to lead

The use of the Imperfect Tense indicates how Lesbia used to be in control of Catullus and she led him around as she pleased.

Line 9

• nunc iam - now it has come to this

This phrases emphasises the finality of the relationship and how it has ended once and for all.

Line 14

• rogaberis nulla - you will be asked [out] by none

Here the poet is trying to convince himself that Lesbia will lose out the most in the end. Nulla here is acting more as an adverb "not"

Line 19

• obdura - endure

The end of the poem finishes with a blunt imperative. This is Catullus trying to snap himself out of his misery.

Vocabulary

Line 1

• miser - miserable; wretched; unhappy; love-sick

• desino, ere, -sii, -itum - leave off; cease; desist; abandon

• ineptio, ineptire - play the fool

Line 2

• perdo, -ere, -didi, -ditum - destroy; ruin; lose

Line 3

• fulgeo, -ere, fulsi - shine; gleam; glitter; sparkle

• candidus, -a, -um - white; fair; beautiful

• soles (pl. of sol) - lit. = suns; rays; beams

Line 4

• ventito, ventitare - come often; keep coming

Line 6

• ibi (adv.) - there; in that place; then; thereupon

• fio, fieri, factus sum - to happen; be done; become

• iocosus, -a, -um - humorous; jokey; light-hearted

Line 9

• impotens, -entis (adj.) - weak; feeble; puny

Line 10

• sector, sectari, sectatus sum - follow; pursue

Line 11

• obstinatus, -a, -um - resolved; resolute; fixed; obstinate

• perfero, -re, pertuli, perlatum - carry through; endure

Line 13

• invitus, -a, -um - unwilling; reluctant

Line 14

• doleo, -ere, dolui, dolitum - feel pain; suffer; grieve

Line 15

• vae - woe to; alas

Line 18

• labellum, -i, n. (dim.) - little lip

• mordeo, momordi, morsum - bite

Line 19

• destino, -are, -avi, -atum - fasten down; secure; determine; fix

External Links

Catullus 8 A Translation of Catullus 8

Catullus 8 Another Translation of Catullus 8