No More Learning

This is the longest and most highly wrought of
the poems of Catullus, and may be ranked among
the finest productions of the Latin Muse. It
abounds in strikingly distinct descriptions, and
pathetic and eloquent expressions of passion. The
despairing anguish of the forsaken Ariadne, her
reproaches mingled with love for her betrayer, are
hardly any way inferior to the dying language of
Dido, (Virg. iEneid 4. ) and far superior to the
strained sentiments and tamer expressions of the
same Ariadne in Ovid. (Heroides, Ep. 10. ) The
picture of the sad daughter of Minus standing on
the extreme beach--her hair loosened to the winds,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 128 NOTES.
the veil which had hid her hosom, and her woven
girdle, fallen at her feet and tossed unheeded by
the waves, gazing after the vessel that bears away
her false lover, and forgetting all but the despair of
her own abandonment, is worthy of the highest
efforts of the sculptor or the painter. The con-
cluding verses (385 ad fin. ) are in a tone of sad re-
gret, and of severe morality, which the Poets of
Rome seldom attained.
The poem opens with a rapid sketch of the
Argonautic expedition, the surprise of the Pontic
sea nymphs, and the mutual attachment of Peleus
and Thetis. After a hasty congratulation, the Poet
passes to the scene of the nuptials, the thronging
of the Thessalian youth, who deserted the labors
of the field and of the vineyard--the palace and the
festal splendors of Peleus. Among the nuptial
ornaments is a curiously embroidered quilt, the
description of which and the narratives suggested
by it, comprise the longer part of the poem. On
one portion is represented Ariadne deserted by
Theseus on the shore of Naxos ; in connection with
which the Poet relates the causes which led The-
seus to Crete, the love and flight of Ariadne, and
the unhappy forgetfulness which proved the death
of jEgeus. On another part, is represented Bac-
chus enamored and pursuing Ariadne, and the
orgies of his attendants. Returning from this
episode, he introduces the Gods and Demi Gods
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? NOTES. 129
honoring the nuptials with their presence, and
bringing each his peculiar and appropriate gifts.
During the feast, the Parcae, whose persons and
labors are minutely described, sing a fit epithalami-
um, predicting the future glory of Achilles, the
promised offspring. The poem concludes in a
strain of touching mournfulness, contrasting with
the latter times, the blessedness of those days
when the celestials were wont to honor with their
presence the abodes and the solemn assemblies of
men; and dwells in a few sad lines on the crimes
which had withdrawn from men the friendship and
fellowship of the Gods.
5. Colchis] dative plural, 'the Colchians. '
8. Diva] Minerva. Hor. Lib. I. vol. 7. "intactae
Palladia arces. " quibus] referring to juvenes v. 4.
9. Ipsa] this labor is ascribed to Minerva, by
Seneca, Medea v. 365. and by Claudian de bello
Getico, v. 16.
11. Ilia] sc. carina, imbuit] "imbuere est pro-
prieinchoareetinitiare. " Servius. Amphitriten] 'the
sea,' here the Pontic sea, for Catullus afterwards
mentions the voyage of Theseus as anterior.
14, 15. ] are thus construed by Vossy emersere
aequoreae Nereides e candenti gurgite admirantes
monstrum feri vullus. monstrum feri vullus--the
Argo. To construe Nereides in apposition with feri
vultu3 may seem better to accord with the simple and
natural arrangement usually preferred by Catullus.
11*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 130 NOTES.
21. sensit] Voas reads sanxit, from the conjec-
ture of Pontanus. If this were preferred, pater
ipse would of course refer. to Jupiter.
27. suos . . . concessit amores] Jupiter had loved
Thetis, but was induced to resign her, as the fates
had ordained according to the prediction of Prome-
theus, that the offspring of Thetis should become
greater than his father. Quinct. Lib. 3. cap. 7.
28. Neptunine] patronimic.
29. 30. ] Oceanus and Tethys begot Nereus and
Doris, and they the Nereids, of whom Thetis.
35. Scyros] a distant island, but once subject to
the Thessalians. Phthiotica Tempe] Tempe in
Phhiotis. The word Tempe first used to designate
a small and delightful portion of the valley of the
Peneus, was afterward applied to any spot distin-
guished for its pleasantness.
36. Cranonis . . Larrissea] both towns of Thes-
ealy.
43. Ipsius] 'of Peleus. '
49. purpura] equivalent to hac vestis, v. 50. Hor.
Lib. 2. Od. 18. v. 8.
52. Dia] commonly supposed to be Naxos. Some
however say the small island lying just off the shore
of Crete, a little north-west of Panormus. See Plu-
tarch Vita Thes.
60. Minois] 'daughter of Minos. '
61. bacchantis Eva] "mulieris Bacchi furore cor-
reptae et Evoe Evoe clamantis. " Vulpius. See v. 256.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? NOTES. 131
75. injusti regis] from the cruel war he waged
and the tribute he imposed on Athens. This Minos
-was a grandson of the Cretan Minos so famed for
the equity of his laws.
83. funera . . nefunera] 'mourned as dead while
living. ' Isocrates speaking of the same event, uses
the expression nsrSovfUrov? art ? <3rru! ;. Encomium
Helenae sec. 13.
96. Golgos] a place in Cyprus, sacred to Venus.
103. frustra] in relation to the desired affection
of Theseus.
104. tacito labello] 'with whispered prayer. ' The
? epithet tacitus is applied usually where the object
of the prayer is impious or improper. Persius Sat.
2, v. 5. "tacita libavit acerra. " compare Horace, Lib.
1. Ep. 16, v. 60. "labra movet metuens audiri," and
in the fourth book of Tibullus, Carm. 5, v. 18.
Here the prayer of Ariadne for the safety of The-
seus might imply that she ceased to mourn for the
loss of her brother.
145. apisci] for adipisd.
150. germanum] the Minotaur.
159. parentis] jEgeus the father of Theseus, as
is evident from the succeeding lines. prisci] 'old'
hence severe to the fancies of hia son.
179. invidit] 'denies. '
179. aquor] from aquus, properly means 'the
surface. '
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 132 NOTES. '
180. quemne] observe the negative force of ne in
this line, as also in v. 183.
217. Reddite] vocative participle. Theseus was
born in the extreme old age of jEgeus. --Plutarch
Vita Thesei.
227. Itoni] a town of Thessaly, from which the
Athenians are said to have derived the worship of
Minerva.
232. JEtas] 'time. ' so v. 238, commonly a limited
period.
236. ] unquestionably a spurious verse.
239.
mandata] subject of liquire understood.
252. paHe ex alia] sc. vestis.
299. ] The only nuptials of mortals which were
honored by the presence of the Gods. --Isocrates,
Evagoras, 6.
301. ldri] a mountain of C'aria, where were many
spots sacred to Apollo and Diana.
308. quercus] erot is understood. Habited in
branches of oak, or perhaps in robes inwoven with
oak leaves. The oak was an oracular tree.
309. Tyro] the daughter of Salmoneus. ora]
'border' Theocritus, Pharmac. vs. 121, 2, speaks of
a wreath of poplar entwined with purple ribbons.
312--314. ] 'The right hand, with the fingers
turned upward, first draws the thread, then with
the thumb reversed whirls the spindle. '
324. ] addressed to Peleus.
325. nato] Achilles.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? NOTES. 133
342. ]' Homer everywhere calls him noSag cixi);.
347. terlius hares] Agamemnon. Pelops left his
kingdom to Atreus his son, Atreus to Thyestes his
brother, and Thyestes to Agamemnon his nephew,
the son of Atreus.
382. putrida] 'wasted' by age. variabunt] 'dis-
color. '
402. prim<Bvi] 'yet in early manhood. '
403. innupta . . novercoz] 'a daughter-in-law wid-
owed by the death of her husband. ' Sallust, Bell.
Cat. 15.
404. ] an allusion perhaps to CEdipus.
CARMEN XLII1.
To Hortalus.
Catullus had promised Hortalus a translation or
imitation of the poem of Callimachus, entitled de
Coma Berenices, but had been long delayed in ex-
ecuting this promise, by his grief for the loss of a
tenderly loved brother. He at length sends him the
poem from Callimachus completed, with this poetical
apology for his delay. In many manuscripts this is
found as the introductory portion of the following
poem.
2. Horiale] supposed to be Marcus Hortalus, or
Ortalus the grandson of Hortensius.
14. Daulias] 'the Daulian,' Procne. For the
story of Procne and Itys, see Ovid Metam. Lib.
'
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 134 NOTES.
6. v. 620, seq. In the Heroides, Ep. 15. v. 154,
he calls her Daulias ales.
16. expressa] 'translated' or 'closely imitated. '
Battiada] of Callimachus, a native of Cyrene, and
deriving his name, probably, from his descent from
the royal family of Battus.
CARMEN XLIV.
The hair of Berenice.
Berenice was the sister and wife of Ptolemy
Evergetes, king of Egypt. A few days after his
marriage, he was called away to a war in Syria,
and Berenice, offering supplications for his safe re-
turn, vowed, should her prayers be answered, to
consecrate her hair to the gods (multis Deorum,
v. 9. ) The offering immediately and mysteriously
disappeared from the temple, and Conon, a cele-
brated mathematician and astronomer of Samos,
soon discovered it changed into a constellation in
the heavens; and Callimachus who resided at Al-
exandria, willing likewise to gain favor at court,
wrote a poem on the event, which, except a few
fragments, is now lost, and of which this of Catul-
lus is a version. The constellation is introduced
relating the causes which separated itself from the
head of Berenice, and expressing regrets for its
absence, which the brilliance of its new position
could not suppress.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? NOTES. 135
5. Lalmia] a mountain of Caria, the dwelling of
Endymion.
7. ccelesti lumine] construe with fulgentem.
15. Estne n. n. o. v. ] 'is Venus odious to young
brides? ' The transition here is abrupt. The order
of thought seems to be this. Are the maidenly re-
luctance of young brides, and their timid appre-
hensions of their coming nuptials, real or feigned?
The sorrow and vows of Berenice on the departure
of her new married husband, teach me they are not
sincere.
16. frustrantur] 'mocked. '
17. fundunt] sc. novae nuptae.
21. luxti] for luxisti.
26. magnanimam] Hyginus, (Poet. Astron. cap.
24. ) mentions as instances of the masculine charac-
ter of Berenice, and which secured to her the throne
of Egypt, a passion for horses, and her habit of
sending them to contend in the Olympic games.
Also, that once when Ptolemy, her father, sought
safety in flight from more numerous forces, she
rallied the flying troops, and defeated the enemy.
28. alis] for alius.
30. tristi] for trivisti.
36. Asiam] i. e. Syria.
39. invito] So Virgil, jEn. 6. 460. Invitus Regina
tuo de litore cessi. In these expressions of passion-
ate regret, the original author addressed to the
princess most courtly adulation. A similar strain
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 136 NOTES-
of compliment is implied in the preceding verses,
in the intimations that her love and fears, had over-
come her wonted energy, and self-possession.
41. quod] sc. caput, inaniter] "ut solent peijuri. "
dignaferat] let him suffer due punishment.
42. poslulet] 'arrogate to himself,''boast. '
44. Progenies This] 'the Sun. '
51. paxdo ante] join with sorores. 'just now sister
locks. ' abjuncta] i. e. ' whom I have left behind. '
53. unigena] Zephyrus twin brother (Carm. 42.
v. 201,) of Memnon; both born of Aurora.
54. ales equus] in apposition with unigena, v. 53.
Arsinoes Chloridos] Arsinoe the mother adoptive of
Berenice, was worshipped by the Egyptians, under
the name of Chloris.
57. Zephyritis] the same as Arsinoe Chloris, v.
54, so called from a temple dedicated to her and
Venus, on the Zephyrian promontory.
66. Callisto] dative case.
65-67. ] these verses determine the position of the
constellation, having Bootes on the east, Leo on the
west, northward the fore feet of Ursa Major, south-
ward Virgo.
69, 70. ] in compliance with the popular belief,
that the stars occupy the heavens only in the night,
and on the return of day pass into the ocean. ves-
tigia] 'footsteps. '
<
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2015-01-02 09:08 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. 32044085188480 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? NOTES. 137
71. pace tud] lest this seeming boasting should
excite the indignation of Nemesis.
77, 78. ] Voss reads expers for explens, and murrae
for una, asserting that virgins were not used to
smear their hair with unguents, but used simply
myrrh or oil. Sillig joining omnibus expers with
virgo, reads,
Dum virgo quondam fuit omnibus expers,
Unguentum multa millia bibi.
79-82. ] this passage seems to have perplexed
commentators very much, and almost every one has
given a different construction, Compare Vulpius,
Voss, &c. The order is vos, quas taeda optato
lumine junxit non (i. e. ne) tradite corpora, nudantes
rejecta veste papillas, unanimis conjugibus, prius
quam onyx libet mihi jucunda munera.