The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/8
Text & Translation
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]The use of the metre, limping iambic, has a broken uneven effect, mimicking the dead end of his thoughts.
Line 1
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- obdura - endure
The end of the poem finishes with a blunt imperative. This is Catullus trying to snap himself out of his misery.
Vocabulary
[edit | edit source]Line 1
[edit | edit source]- miser - miserable; wretched; unhappy; love-sick
- desino, ere, -sii, -itum - leave off; cease; desist; abandon
- ineptio, ineptire - play the fool
Line 2
[edit | edit source]- perdo, -ere, -didi, -ditum - destroy; ruin; lose
Line 3
[edit | edit source]- fulgeo, -ere, fulsi - shine; gleam; glitter; sparkle
- candidus, -a, -um - white; fair; beautiful
- soles (pl. of sol) - lit. = suns; rays; beams
Line 4
[edit | edit source]- ventito, ventitare - come often; keep coming
Line 6
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- impotens, -entis (adj.) - weak; feeble; puny
Line 10
[edit | edit source]- sector, sectari, sectatus sum - follow; pursue
Line 11
[edit | edit source]- obstinatus, -a, -um - resolved; resolute; fixed; obstinate
- perfero, -re, pertuli, perlatum - carry through; endure
Line 13
[edit | edit source]- invitus, -a, -um - unwilling; reluctant
Line 14
[edit | edit source]- doleo, -ere, dolui, dolitum - feel pain; suffer; grieve
Line 15
[edit | edit source]- vae - woe to; alas
Line 18
[edit | edit source]- labellum, -i, n. (dim.) - little lip
- mordeo, momordi, morsum - bite
Line 19
[edit | edit source]- destino, -are, -avi, -atum - fasten down; secure; determine; fix
External Links
[edit | edit source]Catullus 8 A Translation of Catullus 8
Catullus 8 Another Translation of Catullus 8