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CARMEN XII.
Catullus seems to have taken a violent dislike to
a fellow townsman, whose jealousy was not so
easily excited as his own, and whose complacent
or heedless allowance of the sports and caprices of
his wife, was intolerable to the hasty temper of the
poet. He addresses the colony, offering his good
wishes in the matter of a new bridge, which the
residents very much desired, and asking in return,
that the fellow who could so neglect his own inter-
ests, might be flung from it into the deepest and
blackest mud beneath.
1. Colonia] Scaliger and Voss suppose that the
place here mentioned was Novum Comum, a col-
ony recently planted by Julius Caesar, ludere]
Certain contests, as boxing, were sometimes exhib-
ited on bridges.
3. asculis] i. q. assicidis, 'slender beams. '
'y
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? 100 NOTES.
6. ] 'On which (so good that) their sacred rites
may be performed by the morris dancers. '
10. ut] i. q. ubi.
14. cum] i. q. etsi. Jlore] the greenness of her
youth, as liable to errors; and also contrasted with
the advanced age of her husband.
17. uni] for unius, as sometimes toti for totius,
alii modi for alius modi.
18. alnus . . . suppernata] 'the alder hewn be-
neath,' i. e. a boat, suppernata is commonly written
subpernata.
19. Liguri] 'of a Ligurian. ' Liguria was noted
for ship and boat timber.
20. Tantumdem] 'Just as much. '
22. Nunc] Sillig reads hunc. "Hie is est, quern
nolo. " Better, for the notion of time is impertinent
here, and nunc is never used, I believe, to denote
sequence. Hunc eum is analagous to the common
hie ille.
CARMEN XIII.
The dedication of a grove to Priapus, composed,
probably during the poet's residence in Bitliynia.
1. dedico] 'I devote. ' consecroque] "I dedicate
with solemn rites. " "Consecrare has a more reli-
gious cast than dedicare. " Dumesnil.
2. Lampsaci] Priapus was born at Lampsacus.
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? NOTES. 101
4. ostreosior] So Virgil George, 1. v. 207, ostriferi
fauces Abydi.
CARMEN XIV.
An image of Priapus standing in a garden, ad-
dresses some mischievous boys, who were disposed
to plunder on the grounds, mentions the various
gifts and observances, by which the owner had
sought to secure his favor, with his own duty of
watchfulness, and points out to their rapacity, a
richer vineyard and a more negligent Priapus.
This poem and the next, may be considered a
locus classicus on the worship of Priapus. There
are few passages, if any, in the whole of Latin liter-
ature, which more fully and strikingly evince, what
we find it very difficult to comprehend, the earnest
sincerity of the rustic worshipper. One can hardly
rise from this truly poetical picture of the poor hus-
bandman and his son in their devout offerings,
without feeling that though the philosopher might
despise, and the cultivated poet sneer or ridicule,
yet they were influenced by a real faith in the
power, and a real hope of the favor of the Deity they
served.
4. Nutrivi] i. q. auxi. ut] with the force of
utpote, 'because,' introducing the reason of the pre-
ceding sentence, beata] belongs to quercus, i. e.
-
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? 102 Notes.
Priapus. "Auxi Wam villam quia quotidie muneri-
bus et honoribus large qfficior. " Nam hujus villa etc.
Sillig.
10. ponitur] 'is offered. '
35. sed tacebilis] Why silent? The common
answer, that the fruits of the earth only were pre-
sented to Priapus, is hardly satisfactory, as probably
in the time of Catullus, certainly soon after, sacri-
fices of blood were made to him. More likely, be-
cause they were offered only in the fouler mysteries,
which the darkness of midnight concealed from the
moral and severe, and which, therefore, he would
not have disclosed.
CARMEN XVI.
A satire upon Suffenus, a man of some preten-
sions to gentility, but a vile, voluminous and con-
ceited poet. The piece naturally concludes with a
reflection on the blindness of men to their own
failings, and their tendency to mistake their own
powers.
1. probe nusti] simply 'well known. '
5. palimpsesto] a material used for the first
draught of a work, from which it might be easily
erased.
6. relata] 'written out. ' Carey suggests the
meaning "scored, blotted with corrections,"
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? NOTES. 103
7. umbilici] The umbilicus was of two kinds: in
cylindrical volumes, the inner edge of the roll, which
was usually attached to a slender rod; and in books
made of two tables or pages, as those used for mem-
oranda, a small button in the middle of each, to
prevent their touching when closed, and obliterating
the impression on the wax.
lora] The Romans attached to the outer edge of
the volume, a strip of parchment, wide enough to
fold around and enclose the whole. They were
used for protection, and for ornament, and painted
of various colors, here red.
8. cKrecta] 'ruled. '
11. abhorret] scil. a se ipso, mutat] is often
used passively.
12. scurra] 'a witling. '
14. inficeto] commonly written infaceto.
15. Simul]. more frequently in prose we find
simul ac. Horace uses Simul, Carm. Lib. 1. 12. v.
27. Catullus also, Carm. 35. v. 6. and 42. vs. 31.
12. 86. 147.
31. mantica]
"Peras imposuit Juppiter nobis duos,
Propriis repletam vitiis post terga dedit. "
Phaedrus. 4. 9.
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? 104 NOTES.
CARMEN XVII.
To Furius.
A piece of severe satire upon Furius, whom he
ironically congratulates on the conveniences of hia
extreme poverty, and the stinginess of his parents.
CARMEN XVIII.
To the young Juventius.
Catullus represents to Juventius, the low estate
of one who sought to win his affection, as a suffi-
cient dissuasive, whatever other merits he might
possess.
1. Juventiorum] 'of the Juventii,' a family of con-
siderable distinction at Rome.
4. mihi] in passages like this, has commonly been
treated as an expletive. It may be better to consider
it as expressing the remote object of the verb, and in-
dicating more strongly than mallem would do without
it, the personal interest of the writer. Conf. Carm.
7. v. 2. and see Buttman's larger Greek Grammar,
Sec. 133, note 4. Voss conjectures Mida, and
makes the sense of the line, that ' he would preter
that Juventius should bestow the wealth of Midas
on his wooer. '
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? NOTES. 105
9. haec] 'his condition and my wishes. ' elevaque]
'undervalue. '
CARMEN XIX.
To Thallus. .
Catullus with great severity and even coarseness,
scolds and threatens Thallus, who had carried off
and exhibited as his own, some articles belonging
to him. This piece presents him in no very amia-
ble light, yielding to violent passion, and descend-
ing to abusive language, on, to say the least, an un-
suitable occasion.
Such methods of gratifying ill-
will, or revenging an affront, were not very uncom-
mon in this age of Rome, and English literature,
even is not wholly without examples. Catullus in
these verses, has exhausted all the power of di-
minutives to abuse and degrade his enemy.
2. oricilla] i. q. auricula, dim. of auris.
4. diva mulier] 'a female skilled in omens. '
occinentes] 'whose song is of evil omen. '
6. catagrapliosque] according to Voss, parchment
tablets, painted of various colors, great numbers of
which were made in Bithynia. 'Profiles '?
CARMEN XX.
To Furius.
The best reading of the first line of this poem i
em is
9*
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? 106. NOTES.
entirely uncertain. The editions are divided, with
great weight of authority on either side, between
nostra and vestra; and I am not aware that we have
any means of deciding the question. Vestra, seems
to suit better with the general character and con-
dition of Catullus. - Yet we do not know the time
when it was written, or whether he was then pros-
perous or poor. Nor do we know'the individual to
whom it is addressed. In other pieces he speaks of
two, of the same name, one a friend, and the other
an enemy. Nor yet do we know the villa of which
he speaks, as he possessed more than one, (Carm.
29. and 23. ,) neither of which can be the one to
which he here refers. The general construction of
the piece needs no remark.
CARMEN XXI.
To a youthful Cupbearer.
2. amariores] 'more bitter,' i. e. older.
3. magistral] the mistress of the revel, who pre-
scribed the rule (legem) of drinking. The Postu-
mia, who here held the office of symposiarch, is not
known, probably a fancy name.
4. acind Ebriosd] 'than the swollen grape. '
Seneca makes this distinction between ebrius and
ebriosus. "Potest qui ebrius est, nunc primum esse,
qui ebriosus est, sape extra cbrietatem esse. " *
7. Thyonianus] a name of Bacchus,
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? NOTES. 107
CARMEN XXII.
To Mphenus.
A remonstrance with Alphenus, who had gained
and betrayed the confidence and affection of Catul-
lus. The sentiment of the poem is sorrow rather
than anger. The poet touches on the unfaithful-
ness of his friend, the tendency of such breaches of
confidence to produce mutual distrust among men,
and reminds him of the anger of the gods who
guard the rights of friendship, and punish their vio-
lation.
CARMEN XXIII.
To the peniusula Sirmio.
This poem was composed on the occasion of the
poet's return, care-worn and dejected, from his wea-
risome and fruitless expedition to Bithynia, to his
beautiful and fondly-loved retreat at Sirmio. The
feeling of home-joy which he expresses, is simple
and natural, and every heart sympathizes with it
"Sirmio was a peninsular promontory, of about
two miles circumference, projecting into the lake
Benacus, now the Lago di Garda. "
"Sirmione appears as an island, so low and so
narrow is the bank that unites it to the main land.
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? 108 NOTES.
The promontory spreads behind the town, and rises
into a hill entirely covered with olives. Catullus
undoubtedly inhabited this spot, and certainly he.
could not have chosen a more charming retreat.
The soil is fertile, and its surface varied; sometimes
shelving in a gentle declivity, at other times break-
ing in craggy magnificence, and thus furnishing
every requisite for delightful walks and luxurious
baths; while. the views vary at every step, present-
ing rich coasts or barren mountains, sometimes con-
fined to the cultivated scenes of the neighboring
shore, and at other times bewildered and lost in the
windings of the lake, or in the recesses of the
Alps. "--Eustace, Classical Tour.
3. uterque JVeptunus] Neptunus stagnorum, and
Neptunus maris.
13. Lydite] from the origin of the northern Ital-
ians who emigrated from Lydia.
CARMEN XXIV.
To Diana.
This ode, one of the few strictly lyric poems of Ca-
tullus, was composed to be sung by choirs of youths
and maidens, at the celebration of the Ludi Secu-
lares, A. U. 700. For the date, see the observa-
tions of Voss on this ode, and for the character and
purpose of the secular games, the remarks of
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? NOTtiS. 109
Mitscherlich, introductory to the Carmen seculare
of Horace. This hymn celebrates the august origin
of the goddess, and hej- various characters, and
offices of aid and benevolence to men, and con-
cludes with an invocation of her continued favor to
the Roman people.
CARMEN XXV.
An invitation to Cacilius.
Intended both to convey a compliment to the
poetical skill of Caecilius and to express his own
affection.
3, 4. Novi Comi] Novum Comum, a town on
the shores of the lake Larius, now di Como.
14. Dindymi dominam] Cybele ; the phrase here
used means a poem in praise of Cybele, com-
posed byifccilius, the reading of which had gained
him the ardent attachment of a learned lady of
Comum.
18. magna Mater] 'the Cybele. ' inchoala] 'fin-
ished. '
CARMEN XXVI.
On the Annals of Volusius.
The mistress of Catullus, during a period of es-
trangement, had vowed to Venus and Cupid, if she
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? HO NOTES.
might win back the affection of her lover, to make
an offering to Vulcan (tardipedi Deo) of the fittest
writings of the vilest poet. The poetical annals
of Volusius were selected for this fate.
8. infelicibus] many kinds of wood were consid-
ered infelices by the Romans, generally such as
bear no fruit.
9. pessima] "vox blanditiarum. "
12. aperlos] from the extensive plains with which
Syria abounds.
15. Adria tabernam] 'the warehouse of the
Adriatic. '
CARMEN XXVII.
To Cornificius.
This is only the fragment of a poem, the full
sense of which cannot of course be well aMpftained.
The portion which remains is a reproachful com-
plaint to Cornificius, that in his deep affliction, he
had received from him, not even a syllable of con-
solation.
1. Cornifici] an elegiac poet, mentioned by
Ovid, and said to have been an enemy and a de-
jtractor of Virgil.
7, 8. ] 'a word however slight, (would soothe,)
were it sadder than the tears (tearful poems) of
j3imonides. 1
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? frOTESf. Hi
CARMEN XXVIII.
In ridicule of Egnatius, who to show the white-
ness of his teeth, wore a continual smile, which
the most serious and affecting occasions could not
restrain.
10. Sabinus] The severity of Sabine manners
seldom indulged a smile, on account of which
though not to be expected, it was not to be reprov-
ed. Tiburs] The air of this region was reported
to possess excellent whitening properties. Martial,
Ep. 63, Lib. 4.
11. pastus] The soil of TJmbriawas rich. oiesua]
A part of the flesh of the sacrifices was given to
the augurs, mostly. Etruscans.
12. detUatus] an epithet applied to the inhabi-
tants of Lanuvium, from the size and prominence
of their teeth. ater] A dark complexion would-
show then! to better advantage.
CARMEN XXIX.
To his Country Seat.
Catullus had taken a severe cold, while at an en-
tertainment made by Sextius, he listened to a Very
l'ong oration read by his host against Antius. He'
renders thanks to his villa, where by the leisure and
solitude which- he found there, and medicinal applj*-
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? 112 NOTES.
ances, he had recovered his health. The poem
seems aimed at Sextius, and through him, at those
individuals, not infrequent at Rome, who inflict
upon their guests, long and tedious recitations.
1. ] This country residence of Catullus was situa-
ted on the borders of the Sabine and Tiburtine ter-
ritory, and hence the doubt to which it belonged.
Horace raises the same question in respect to his
own villa. Lib. 2, Sat. 1, v. 34.
11. Antius] probably C. Antius Restio, the au-
thor of a sumptuary law. pditorem] 'candidate. '
19. recepso] for recepero.
CARMEN XXX.
To himself on the coming of Spring.
In this poem, Catullus expresses his delight, on
leaving the cold plains of Phrygia, and the stormy
Nicffia, for the warmer climate and renowned
cities of the south; and bids farewell to his com-
rades, whom various pursuits now called to sepa-
rate.
4. Phrygii] 'of Bithynia,' where Catullus passed
a year with Memmius. In the division of the country
which obtained in the time of Catullus, Bithynia
was a part of Phrygia major.