Catullus 18

Question 1

siqua recordanti benefacta priora voluptas et homini, cum se cogitat esse pium nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere nullo divium ad fallendos numine abusum homines

Answer 1

If there is any pleasure for a man remembering good deeds which he has done in the past when he thinks that he has been faithful and has not violated holy trust nor in any agreement has he misused the holy power of the gods to deceive people

Catullus begins with an if cluse that goes on to the end of line 4. It is couched in general terms ‘if anyone can take any pleasure in recalling past kindness, when…’ He is (as we see in line line 5), however, thinking of his own situation. These lines follow the expected formula for a prayer, beginning with what he has done in the past to deserve what he is about to ask for

Question 2

Catulle

Answer 2

Catullus

It becomes clear, Catullus is talking to himself

Question 3

ex hoc ingrato gauidia amore tibi

Answer 3

out of this love which was ungreatful to you

love being described as ingrato- ungrateful along with its position indicates that this may not be a happy poem- the love is squeezing the joy out of him

Question 4

ingratae perierunt

Answer 4

perished…ungreatful

pessimistic tone continues

Question 5

excrucies

Answer 5

torture

a similar word is used in poem 19 to describe the pain of hating and loving simultaneously

Question 6

nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere nullo

Answer 6

has not violated holy trust nor in any agreement

a double negative for emphasis

Question 7

multa parata manet in longa aetate Catulle ex hoc ingrato gaudia maore tibi

Answer 7

many joys await you in a long lifetime , Catullus made ready out of this love which was ungreateful to you

These lines answer the if clause. Note the Catulle- he is addressing himself, which again shows the state of his mind. He tries to console himself by saying he will have earned lots of enjoyment in time to come as a reward for his good faith and kindness; but notice the bitterness of the word ingrato to describe his love: not only does he feel ‘unthanked’ but the implication is that Lesbia has been ungrateful for all the love he has shown her

Question 8

nam quaecum que homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possunt aut facere haec a te dictaque factaque sunt

Answer 8

For whatever people are able either to say or to do kindly towards anyone these things have been said or done by you

note the repetition of dicere/dicta meaning say/said and the repetition of facere/facta meaning do/done. He tells himself again that he has done and said everything he could, as if he needs to convince himself

Question 9

perierunt credita

Answer 9

have perish was entrusted

Catullus’s use of this language of finance where bad investments has been lost

Question 10

ingrato… ingratae

Answer 10

ungrateful.. ungrateful

Repetition shows how let down he feels

Question 11

quare iam te cur amplius excrucies? quintu animo offirmas atque istinc teque reducis et dis invitis desinis esse miser?

Answer 11

Why then now do you torture yourself further? Why are you not being strong in spirit and pulling yourself back from there and stopping yourself being miserable which the gods don’t want

Catullus throws rhetorical questions at himself. Why cant he just free himself and stop this misery? He knows rationally what he should do: doing it is another question. Notice how often the gods are mentioned in this poem: surely they cannot want him to be unhappy, as he has done his duty by them

Question 12

offirmas

Answer 12

be strong

Question 13

reducis

Answer 13

step away

Question 14

efficas; facias

Answer 14

you must; may you do

Catullus keeps reminding him of what he has to do. Subjuncive verbs

Question 15

pervincendum

Answer 15

you must carry

Catullus keeps reminding him of what he has to do. Gerundive of obligation emhasising what he must do. Long word reflects how long it will take for Catullus to come to grips with what he has to do. Shows empathy. 4 Syllable word ending a hexameter is rare so highlights the effort needed also gives the idea of conquering reflecting the battle he is having with himself

Question 16

difficile est… difficile est

Answer 16

It is difficult… It is difficult

Repetition highlights how hard it is for him to forget about Lesbia

Question 17

hoc, haec, hoc, hoc

Answer 17

this, this, this, this

repetition highlights that he needs to lay aside his love

Question 18

longum subito

Answer 18

suddenly… long lasting

Juxtaposition shows how unexpected this was and how something Catullus thought was so good changed so quickly

Question 19

qua lubet

Answer 19

in any way

stresses how difficult it is to put his love aside

Question 20

salus

Answer 20

safety

A strong term; leaving her is his only way of staying sane

Question 21

sive id non pote sive pote

Answer 21

whether it is not possible or possible

The illogical of doing something “whether it can be done or not” reflects his upset state of mind; the reverse order in latin which puts non pote first

Question 22

me miserum aspicite et, si vitam puriter egi eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi

Answer 22

look at me in my misery and if I have led life purely rip away this disease and plague of mine

Interesting that he writes of ‘living blamelessly’ given that he has been having an affair with a married woman. However he seems quite sincere and says it more than once in the poem

Question 23

pestem perniciemque

Answer 23

disease and plague

two nouns but really one idea- synonyms. His love has become a disease- a very strong term reinforced by the alliteration of p, he is really spitting out his words

Question 24

subrepens imos ut in artus expulit ex omni pectore laetitias

Answer 24

creeping into the depth of my limbs like a numbness has driven out the happiness from all my heart

This plague is like a numbness, spreading bit by bit throughout his body- physical and mental anguish, no joy left in his heart.

Question 25

non iam illud quaero, contra me ut diligat illa, aut, quod non potis est esse pudica velit: ispe valere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum o di, reddite mi hoc pietate mea

Answer 25

I do not now seek that she loves me back or what is not possible, she would wish to be faithful: I myself ask to be well and to set down this foul illness. O gods, give this back to me in return for my faithfulness

His rational mind tells him he cannot ask for her to love him again or be faithful. All he can ask of the gods is to be healed of ‘this foul disease’ (another very strong term)