Catullus 45 Translation
Introduction
The story of Acme and Septimus is one of true love. In this poem by Catullus, Septimus tells Acme that he loves her to desperation. To prove how much he loves her, he says that if he couldn’t go on loving her his whole life, he would like to meet a lion so he could die at its hands in Libya or India.
Catullus then talks about Love, as a proper noun. This is most likely a reference to Cupid. Love is sitting on the left and sneezes goodwill. Right after the sneeze, Acme bends back her head and with her eyes filled with love, tells Septimus that she loves him down to “the flame deep in my melting marrow.” She also requests that they only serve one master (most likely Love).
Then, love moves to the right and sneezes more goodwill at the couple. Catullus then tells that they are living heart-in-heart, loving each other alone. Septimus loves only Acme, and Acme is faithfully in love with him.
To finish this lovely poem, Catullus asks two questions: “Who ever saw humans being more blest?” and “Who ever saw a more fortunate love?” Catullus might be expecting his readers to be unable to answer the questions. He also might be hoping that someday he and Lesbia can be the answers to those questions.
This is a simple poem, but there is some irony in it. The simplicity does not fit the complexity of love. Even though Catullus used the questions at the end, the question that readers should ask is whether they really love each other, or is their love controlled by the sneezes of Cupid. They are truly blest by Cupid and they are fortunate that Cupid was sitting on the left and right. They may not be blessed with real love, but they were blessed by the gods.
The love between Acme and Septimus is filled with passion, but is there unconditional love? When Catullus wrote about Lesbia, he focused on how he wanted to have more than passion with her. He wanted love without limits. It is difficult to believe that the idyllic love between Acme and Septimus is the type of love he wants with Lesbia. It might last, but the love isn’t deep.
Carmen 45
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACMEN Septimius suos amores | Septimius, holding in his arms |
| 2 | tenens in gremio ‘mea’ inquit ‘Acme, | his darling Acme, says, “My Acme, |
| 3 | ni te perdite amo atque amare porro | if I do not love thee to desperation, and if I am not ready |
| 4 | omnes sum assidue paratus annos, | to go on loving th contnually through all my years, |
| 5 | quantum qui pote plurimum perire, | as much and as distractedly as the most distracted of lovers, |
| 6 | solus in Libya Indiaque tosta | may I in Libya or sunburnt India |
| 7 | caesio ueniam obuius leoni.‘ | meet a green-eyed lion alone |
| 8 | hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante | As he said this, Love on the left, |
| 9 | dextra sternuit approbationem. | as before on the right, sneezed goodwill. |
| 10 | at Acme leuiter caput reflectens | Then Acme, slightly bending back her head, |
| 11 | et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos | kissed with that rosy mouth |
| 12 | illo purpureo ore suauiata, | her love’s swimming eyes, |
| 13 | ’sic’ inquit ‘mea uita Septimille, | and said, “So, my life, my darling Septimius, |
| 14 | huic uni domino usque seruiamus, | so may we ever serve this one master |
| 15 | ut multo mihi maior acriorque | as (I swear) more strongly and fiercely burns in me |
| 16 | ignis mollibus ardet in medullis.‘ | the flame deep in my melting marrow.” |
| 17 | hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante | As she said this, Love, as before on the left, |
| 18 | dextra sternuit approbationem. | now on the right sneezed goodwill. |
| 19 | nunc ab auspicio bono profecti | And now, setting out from a good omen, |
| 20 | mutuis animis amant amantur. | heart in heart they live, loving and loved. |
| 21 | unam Septimius misellus Acmen | Poor Septimius prefers Acme alone |
| 22 | mauult quam Syrias Britanniasque: | to whole Syrias and Britains. |
| 23 | uno in Septimio fidelis Acme | In Septimius, him alone, his faithful Acme |
| 24 | facit delicias libidinisque. | takes her fill of loves and pleasures. |
| 25 | quis ullos homines beatiores | Who ever saw human beings more blest? |
| 26 | uidit, quis Venerem auspicatiorem? | Who ever saw a more fortunate love? |
