Catullus 18 Flashcards
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
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
Catulle
Catullus
It becomes clear, Catullus is talking to himself
ex hoc ingrato gauidia amore tibi
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
ingratae perierunt
perished…ungreatful
pessimistic tone continues
excrucies
torture
a similar word is used in poem 19 to describe the pain of hating and loving simultaneously
nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere nullo
has not violated holy trust nor in any agreement
a double negative for emphasis
multa parata manet in longa aetate Catulle ex hoc ingrato gaudia maore tibi
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
nam quaecum que homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possunt aut facere haec a te dictaque factaque sunt
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
perierunt credita
have perish was entrusted
Catullus’s use of this language of finance where bad investments has been lost
ingrato… ingratae
ungrateful.. ungrateful
Repetition shows how let down he feels
quare iam te cur amplius excrucies? quintu animo offirmas atque istinc teque reducis et dis invitis desinis esse miser?
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
offirmas
be strong
reducis
step away
efficas; facias
you must; may you do
Catullus keeps reminding him of what he has to do. Subjuncive verbs
pervincendum
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
difficile est… difficile est
It is difficult… It is difficult
Repetition highlights how hard it is for him to forget about Lesbia
hoc, haec, hoc, hoc
this, this, this, this
repetition highlights that he needs to lay aside his love
longum subito
suddenly… long lasting
Juxtaposition shows how unexpected this was and how something Catullus thought was so good changed so quickly
qua lubet
in any way
stresses how difficult it is to put his love aside
salus
safety
A strong term; leaving her is his only way of staying sane
sive id non pote sive pote
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
me miserum aspicite et, si vitam puriter egi eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi
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
pestem perniciemque
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
subrepens imos ut in artus expulit ex omni pectore laetitias
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.
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
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)
