Catullus 45 Flashcards
Acmen Septimius suos amores tenens
Septimius holding his lover Acme
Two names together- shows closeness
further emphasized because hes holding her, but her name surrounds him (Acme…suos amores)
Acme
Greek name, means ‘peak’ or ‘zenith’- essentially shes top notch. Name also suggests this is a relationship between a Roman and a Greek freedwoman.
Why is Catullus 45 special?
It is the only poem in Catullus’ corpus that is an example of fulfilled love.
perdite
to distraction
v serious word. Madness etc. Topos?
amo at amare
unless i LOVE you to distraction and hereafter am prepared to LOVE you…
repetition
omnes sum assidue paratus annos
and hereafter am prepared to love you continually throughout the years
hyperbaton of omnes and annos. all words surround assidue, main word. gives the same effect as a golden line in hexameter
quantum qui pote plurimum perire
as much as he who is able to love you the most
alliteration of q and p. Harsh, like perire itself
solus in Libya Indiaque tosta
may i alone in Libya and torrid India
solus stresses the danger.
Libya and India are the places where a Roman might meet a lion.
tosta is unnecessary detail- heat is irrelevant if theres a lion in front of you! Has a second meaning- ‘torreo’ to burn with love. - appears in Horace’s odes
Amor sinistra ut ante dextra sternuit approbationem
Uses the repetition of this clause as a closural device of each section. Brings structure and balance to the poem.
Sneeze is a good omen
caesio veniam obvius leoni
meet a green-eyed lion
colour of eyes is irrelevant. Just emphasises how close the lion has gotten.
Theres a reference to a green-eyed lion in Homer’s Illiad.
Theres a reference to a green eyed girl in Lucretius’ catalogue of lover’s euphemisms.
caput…ocellos…suaviata…
head, little eyes, lips
travelling down the face.
ocellos, Septimille
affectionate diminutives.
ebrios intoxicated (with love)
suggests the relationship between sex and alcohol
suaviata
lips
sounds as if its derived from suavis (pleasurable)
purpureo
rosy/red
colour imagery suggests his lips are suffused with arousal.
‘mea vita Septimille’
my dear septimius, my life
Acme is more affectionate than Septimius, but doesnt offer to prove her love as he does.
huic uni domino usque serviamus
let us serve forever this one master
Lyne: concept of being a ‘slave to love’. Common in Roman elegy, but not in Catullus. However, usually it is the man being subservient to the mistress. Here they are both equally subservient to love itself.
ut mutlo mihi maior acriorque
ignis mollibus ardet in medullis
as a flame much greater and keener
burns in my tender limbs
repetitions of ‘m’ and ‘ll’. Soothing/ smoldering passion.
mutuis animis amant amantur
they love and are loved with mutual feelings
mutuis animis explicitly demarcates the mutuality of their love.
asyndeton of amant amantur suggests equality.
ignis mollibus ardet in medullis
a fire tenderly burns in my limbs
ABAB structure
fire, soft, burns, bones
Unam Septimius misellus Acmen
poor little Septimius (loves his) one Acme
ABBA chiastic structure. Interlocking affection of the two.
Syrias Britanniasque
Syrians and Britons
55BC- Crassus’ unsucessful campaign in Syria, Caesar in Britain. Countries also used as bywords for East and West
uno in Septimio fidelis Acme
the faithful Acme… in her one Septimius
goes from plural Syrians and Britons in line above to singulars. emphasises their ‘fidelis’ to each other.
facit delicias
takes delight
expands on Acme’s fidelis in the line before even though it sounds flippant. Acme is satisfied with Septimius and doesnt seek pleasure with others.
who a more Venerem auspicatiorem
who a more auspicious cupid?
ends w. rhetorical question.
last word picks up on the sneezing cupids. Structre. Recalls the good omen
