Catullus 37 Translation
Introduction
This poem is about men who visit brothels. In the first line, Catullus talks about people who visit them, and some of them are men who are in the service of the gods. They work in the temples. They think they are the only ones who have penises. They think the men who don’t work in the temples do not have penises, and are nothing more than goats.
Then, Catullus begins to accuse these men of being homosexual. He accuses them of sitting in long lines, not thinking, but sexually molesting young men. In lines 9 and 10, Catullus says that they may think it and he will draw phalluses on the doors of the brothels.
Strangely, Catullus then invokes Lesbia. He calls her his girl who has left his arms. He talks about how he loved her better than anyone loved, despite the number of fights they had. Then, he says she had taken up abode there; meaning that now she lives in a brothel. Or she behaves as if she lives in a brothel.
He says this about her, because she is dear to men who are wealthy and have rank in society. Her shame is that so many people have haunted her, or slept with her. He then addresses one many in particular: Egnatius. Catullus calls him a long-haired dandy who brushes his teeth with urine. He also refers to Egnatius as being a child of Celtiberia - which is an area where Celts made their home in Iberia. Catullus does not seem to be happy with his relationship with Lesbia in this poem. He also does not appreciate how men of power take advantage of people who are less fortunate - like girls who live in brothels. He is not afraid to call them out for what they are and he is not afraid to put his graffiti on the walls of the brothels for all to see.
Carmen 37
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SALAX taberna uosque contubernales, | Gallant pot-house, and you brothers in the service, |
| 2 | a pilleatis nona fratribus pila, | ninth pillar from the temple of the Brothers in the hats, |
| 3 | solis putatis esse mentulas uobis, | do you think you are the only ones with a penis? |
| 4 | solis licere, quidquid est puellarum, | the only ones who have leave to have sex with all the girls, |
| 5 | confutuere et putare ceteros hircos? | while you think every one else a goat? |
| 6 | an, continenter quod sedetis insulsi | Or if you sit in a line, five score or ten maybe, |
| 7 | centum an ducenti, non putatis ausurum | witless all, think you that I cannot |
| 8 | me una ducentos irrumare sessores? | clintonize ten score as they sit? |
| 9 | atqui putate: namque totius uobis | Yet you may think so: for I’ll scribble penises |
| 10 | frontem tabernae sopionibus scribam. | all over the pot-house front. |
| 11 | puella nam mi, quae meo sinu fugit, | My girl, who has left my arms, |
| 12 | amata tantum quantum amabitur nulla, | though loved as none ever shall be loved, |
| 13 | pro qua mihi sunt magna bella pugnata, | for whom I have fought so many great fights, |
| 14 | consedit istic. hanc boni beatique | has taken up her abode there. She is dear to all you men |
| 15 | omnes amatis, et quidem, quod indignum est, | of rank and fortune, indeed to her shame |
| 16 | omnes pusilli et semitarii moechi; | all the petty lechers that haunt the byways; |
| 17 | tu praeter omnes une de capillatis, | to you above all, paragon of long-haired dandies, |
| 18 | cuniculosae Celtiberiae fili, | son of rabbity Celtiberia, |
| 19 | Egnati. opaca quem bonum facit barba | Egnatius, made a gentleman by a bushy beard |
| 20 | et dens Hibera defricatus urina. | and teeth brushed with Spanish urine. |
