Catullus 68 Translation
Classical
Introduction
This is one of the poets longest works at 160 lines. The poem addresses several topics within the lines, which is why some scholars believe the poem is actually two poems. The first stops at line 40, the second continues from 41 to the end.
In the first line, the poem appears to be written as a letter to “you” who is eventually addressed as Manius. Catullus writes about his brother’s death in the first 40 lines and how death has destroyed his happiness. The first 40 lines are rather somber, with several of them referring to his brother.
The remainder of the poem is addressed to Allius, which is a name that sounds like Alias - or a pseudonym or a friend. In the second part of the poem, Catullus makes several allusions to the battle at Troy. He talks about the brothers Castor and Pollux, whose sister was Helen (of Troy). He also wrote about Laodamia and Protesilaus. All of them suffered when the battle at Ilium began. Catullus also squeaks in a reference to Lesbia as he writes about beautiful goddesses who cross the thresholds of the houses of the men they love.
Catullus compares the deaths of all of the brothers in Troy to the death of his brother. Those brothers in Troy were unable to be buried by their family members, and Catullus’s brother is too far away to be buried by him. He continued the metaphor in the third set of lines, using Paris’s greed for a leisurely life as the reason why so many men (especially brothers who have loved) had to die.
Catullus also references names that are associated with Heracles, including Amphitryon, Hebe, and the Stymphalian birds. At the end of the poem, he refers to Lesbia calling her his Light, who makes it sweet for him to live.
Carmen 68
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QVOD mihi fortuna casuque oppressus acerbo | THAT YOU, weighed down as you are by fortune and bitter chance, |
| 2 | conscriptum hoc lacrimis mittis epistolium, | should send me this letter written with tears, |
| 3 | naufragum ut eiectum spumantibus aequoris undis | to bid me succour a shipwrecked man cast up by the foaming waters of the sea, |
| 4 | subleuem et a mortis limine restituam, | and restore him from the threshold of death, |
| 5 | quem neque sancta Venus molli requiescere somno | whom neither does holy Venus suffer to rest, |
| 6 | desertum in lecto caelibe perpetitur, | deserted in his widowed bed, |
| 7 | nec ueterum dulci scriptorum carmine Musae | nor do the Muses charm him with the sweet poetry of ancient writers, |
| 8 | oblectant, cum mens anxia peruigilat: | when his mind keeps anxious vigil; |
| 9 | id gratum est mihi, me quoniam tibi dicis amicum, | this is grateful to me, since you call me your friend, |
| 10 | muneraque et Musarum hinc petis et Veneris. | and come to me for the gifts both of the Muses and of Love. |
| 11 | sed tibi ne mea sint ignota incommoda, Mani, | But, dear Manius, that my troubles may not be unknown to you, |
| 12 | neu me odisse putes hospitis officium, | and that you may not think I am tired of the duty of a friend, |
| 13 | accipe, quis merser fortunae fluctibus ipse, | let me tell you what are the waves of fortune in which I too am whelmed; |
| 14 | ne amplius a misero dona beata petas. | so will you not again require gifts of happiness from one who is unblest. |
| 15 | tempore quo primum uestis mihi tradita pura est, | At the time when first a white toga was given to me, |
| 16 | iucundum cum aetas florida uer ageret, | when my youth in its flower was keeping jocund springtime, |
| 17 | multa satis lusi: non est dea nescia nostri, | I wrote merry poems enough; not unknown am I to the goddess |
| 18 | quae dulcem curis miscet amaritiem. | who mingles with her cares a sweet bitterness. |
| 19 | sed totum hoc studium luctu fraterna mihi mors | But all care for this is gone from me by my brother’s death. |
| 20 | abstulit. o misero frater adempte mihi, | Ah me unhappy, who have lost you, my brother! |
| 21 | tu mea tu moriens fregisti commoda, frater, | You, brother, you by your death have destroyed my happiness; |
| 22 | tecum una tota est nostra sepulta domus, | with you all my house is buried. |
| 23 | omnia tecum una perierunt gaudia nostra, | With you all my joys have died, |
| 24 | quae tuus in uita dulcis alebat amor. | which your sweet love cherished, while yet you lived. |
| 25 | cuius ego interitu tota de mente fugaui | By reason of your death, I have banished from all my mind |
| 26 | haec studia atque omnes delicias animi. | these thoughts and all the pleasures of my heart. |
| 27 | quare, quod scribis Veronae turpe Catullo | And so, when you write, “It is no credit to Catullus to be at Verona; |
| 28 | esse, quod hic quisquis de meliore nota | because here, where I an, all the young men of better condition |
| 29 | frigida deserto tepefactet membra cubili, | warm their cold limbs in the bed deserted by you; |
| 30 | id, Mani, non est turpe, magis miserum est. | that, Manius, is rather a misfortune than a discredit. |
| 31 | ignosces igitur si, quae mihi luctus ademit, | You will forgive me then, if I do not render to you those services |
| 32 | haec tibi non tribuo munera, cum nequeo. | which grief has taken from me at a time when I cannot do it. |
| 33 | nam, quod scriptorum non magna est copia apud me, | For as for my not having plenty of authors at hand, |
| 34 | hoc fit, quod Romae uiuimus: illa domus, | that is because I live at Rome: that is my home, |
| 35 | illa mihi sedes, illic mea carpitur aetas; | that is my abode, there my life is spent; |
| 36 | huc una ex multis capsula me sequitur. | when I come here only one small box out of many attends me. |
| 37 | quod cum ita sit, nolim statuas nos mente maligna | And since this is so, I would not have you judge that it is due to niggardly mind |
| 38 | id facere aut animo non satis ingenuo, | or ungenerous temper, that you have not received |
| 39 | quod tibi non utriusque petenti copia posta est: | a full supply of what you ask of each kind: |
| 40 | ultro ego deferrem, copia siqua foret. | I would have offered it unasked, if I had any such resources. |
| 41 | Non possum reticere, deae, qua me Allius in re | I CANNOT, O ye goddesses, refrain from telling what the matter was in which Allius |
| 42 | iuuerit aut quantis iuuerit officiis, | helped me, and how greatly he helped me by his services, |
| 43 | ne fugiens saeclis obliuiscentibus aetas | lest time flying with forgetful ages |
| 44 | illius hoc caeca nocte tegat studium: | hide in blind night this kindly zeal of his. |
| 45 | sed dicam uobis, uos porro dicite multis | But to you I will tell it; do you hand on the tale to many thousands, |
| 46 | milibus et facite haec carta loquatur anus. | and let the paper speak this in its old age. |
| 47 | […] | [missing line] |
| 48 | notescatque magis mortuus atque magis, | and let him be famous more and more in death; |
| 49 | nec tenuem texens sublimis aranea telam | and let not the spider who weaves her thin web aloft spread her work |
| 50 | in deserto Alli nomine opus faciat. | over the neglected name of Allius. |
| 51 | nam, mihi quam dederit duplex Amathusia curam, | For how much sorrow of heart the wily goddess of Amathus gave me, |
| 52 | scitis, et in quo me torruerit genere, | ye know, and in what fashion she scorched me. |
| 53 | cum tantum arderem quantum Trinacria rupes | When I was burning as hotly as the Trinacrian rock |
| 54 | lymphaque in Oetaeis Malia Thermopylis, | and the Malian water at Oetean Thermopylae, |
| 55 | maesta neque assiduo tabescere lumina fletu | when my sad eyes never rested from wasting with perpetual tears, |
| 56 | cessarent. tristique imbre madere genae. | nor my cheeks from streaming with a flood of sorrow; |
| 57 | qualis in aerii perlucens uertice montis | as at the top of a lofty mountain |
| 58 | riuus muscoso prosilit e lapide, | a bright stream leaps forth from a mossgrown rock, |
| 59 | qui cum de prona praeceps est ualle uolutus, | and gushing headlong down the steep valley |
| 60 | per medium densi transit iter populi, | crosses the mid way thronged by the people, |
| 61 | dulce uiatori lasso in sudore leuamen, | a sweet solace in his labour to the weary wayfarer |
| 62 | cum grauis exustos aestus hiulcat agros: | when sultry heat makes the parched fields to gape; |
| 63 | hic, uelut in nigro iactatis turbine nautis | and as to mariners tossed by the black storm |
| 64 | lenius aspirans aura secunda uenit | comes a favouring breeze with gentler breath, |
| 65 | iam prece Pollucis, iam Castoris implorata, | sought by prayer now to Pollux, now to Castor, |
| 66 | tale fuit nobis Allius auxilium. | such an aid to me was Allius; |
| 67 | is clausum lato patefecit limite campum, | he opened a broad track across the fenced field, |
| 68 | isque domum nobis isque dedit dominae, | he gave me access to a house and its mistress, |
| 69 | ad quam communes exerceremus amores. | under whose roof we should together enjoy each our own love. |
| 70 | quo mea se molli candida diua pede | Thither my fair goddess delicately stepped, |
| 71 | intulit et trito fulgentem in limine plantam | and set the sole of her shining foot on the smooth threshold, |
| 72 | innixa arguta constituit solea, | as she pressed on her slender sandal; |
| 73 | coniugis ut quondam flagrans aduenit amore | even as once Laodamia came burning with love |
| 74 | Protesilaeam Laodamia domum | to the house of Protesilaus, |
| 75 | inceptam frustra, nondum cum sanguine sacro | that house begun in vain, since not yet had a victim’s sacred blood |
| 76 | hostia caelestis pacificasset eros. | appeased the Lords of heaven. |
| 77 | nil mihi tam ualde placeat, Ramnusia uirgo, | Lady of Rhamnus, never may that please me |
| 78 | quod temere inuitis suscipiatur eris. | which is undertaken amiss without the will of our Lords. |
| 79 | quam ieiuna pium desiderat ara cruorem, | How much the starved altar craves for the blood of pious sacrifices, |
| 80 | docta est amisso Laudamia uiro, | Laodamia learnt by the loss of her husband; |
| 81 | coniugis ante coacta noui dimittere collum, | forced to loose her arms from the neck of her new spouse, |
| 82 | quam ueniens una atque altera rursus hiems | before the coming of one and then a second winter |
| 83 | noctibus in longis auidum saturasset amorem, | with its long nights should content her passionate love, |
| 84 | posset ut abrupto uiuere coniugio, | that she might endure to live, though her husband was taken from her; |
| 85 | quod scibant Parcae non longo tempore abesse, | and this the Fates knew would come in no long time, |
| 86 | si miles muros isset ad Iliacos. | if once he went as a soldier to the walls of Ilium. |
| 87 | nam tum Helenae raptu primores Argiuorum | For then it was, because of the rape of Helen, that Troy began |
| 88 | coeperat ad sese Troia ciere uiros, | to summon against herself the chieftains of the Argives, |
| 89 | Troia (nefas!) commune sepulcrum Asiae Europaeque, | Troy — O horror! — the common grave of Europe and Asia, |
| 90 | Troia uirum et uirtutum omnium acerba cinis, | Troy the untimely tomb of all heroes and heroic deeds: |
| 91 | quaene etiam nostro letum miserabile fratri | Troy brought pitiable death to my brother also; |
| 92 | attulit. ei misero frater adempte mihi | alas! my brother, taken from me unhappy, |
| 93 | ei misero fratri iucundum lumen ademptum, | alas! dear light of my eyes, taken from thy unhappy brother: |
| 94 | tecum una tota est nostra sepulta domus, | with thee now is all my house buried; |
| 95 | omnia tecum una perierunt gaudia nostra, | all my joys have perished together with thee, |
| 96 | quae tuus in uita dulcis alebat amor. | which while thou wert alive thy sweet love cherished. |
| 97 | quem nunc tam longe non inter nota sepulcra | Thee now far, far away, not among familiar graves, |
| 98 | nec prope cognatos compositum cineres, | nor laid to rest near the ashes of thy kinsfolk, |
| 99 | sed Troia obscena, Troia infelice sepultum | but buried in hateful Troy, illomened Troy, |
| 100 | detinet extremo terra aliena solo. | a foreign land holds in a distant soil. |
| 101 | ad quam tum properans fertur undique pubes | To Troy at that time all the youth of Greece is said to have hastened together, |
| 102 | Graecae penetralis deseruisse focos, | deserting their hearths and homes, |
| 103 | ne Paris abducta gauisus libera moecha | that Paris might not enjoy undisturbed leisure in a peaceful chamber, |
| 104 | otia pacato degeret in thalamo. | rejoicing in the abduction of his paramour. |
| 105 | quo tibi tum casu, pulcerrima Laudamia, | By that sad chance then, fairest Laodamia, |
| 106 | ereptum est uita dulcius atque anima | wast thou bereft of thy husband, sweeter to thee than life and soul; |
| 107 | coniugium: tanto te absorbens uertice amoris | so strong the tide of love, so whelming the eddy that bore thee |
| 108 | aestus in abruptum detulerat barathrum, | into the sheer abyss, deep as that gulf |
| 109 | quale ferunt Grai Pheneum prope Cylleneum | which (say the Greeks) near Cyllenian Pheneus |
| 110 | siccare emulsa pingue palude solum, | drains away the swamp, and dries up the rich soil |
| 111 | quod quondam caesis montis fodisse medullis | which of old the falsefathered son of Amphitryon is said |
| 112 | audit falsiparens Amphitryoniades, | to have dug out, cutting away the heart of the hill, |
| 113 | tempore quo certa Stymphalia monstra sagitta | what time with sure shaft he hit the monsters of Stymphalus |
| 114 | perculit imperio deterioris eri, | at the bidding of a meaner lord, |
| 115 | pluribus ut caeli tereretur ianua diuis, | that the door of heaven might be frequented by more gods, |
| 116 | Hebe nec longa uirginitate foret. | and that Hebe might not long be unmated. |
| 117 | sed tuus altus amor barathro fuit altior illo, | But deeper than that gulf was thy deep love, |
| 118 | qui tamen indomitam ferre iugum docuit. | which taught thee though untamed to bear the yoke. |
| 119 | nam nec tam carum confecto aetate parenti | Not so dear to her agestricken parent |
| 120 | una caput seri nata nepotis alit, | is the head of the lateborn grandchild which his only daughter nurses, |
| 121 | qui cum diuitiis uix tandem iuuentus auitis | who, scarce at length appearing as an heir to ancestral wealth, |
| 122 | nomen testatas intulit in tabulas, | and having his name brought into the witnessed tablets, |
| 123 | impia derisi gentilis gaudia tollens, | puts an end to the unnatural joy of the kinsman, now in his turn derided, |
| 124 | suscitat a cano uolturium capiti: | and drives away the vulture that waits for the hoary head; |
| 125 | nec tantum niueo gauisa est ulla columbo | nor did ever dove delight so much in her snowy mate, |
| 126 | compar, quae multo dicitur improbius | though the dove bites and bills and snatches kisses |
| 127 | oscula mordenti semper decerpere rostro, | more wantonly than any woman, |
| 128 | quam quae praecipue multiuola est mulier. | be she amorous beyond others’ measure. |
| 129 | sed tu horum magnos uicisti sola furores, | You alone surpassed the passion of these, |
| 130 | ut semel es flauo conciliata uiro. | when once you were matched with your goldenhaired husband. |
| 131 | aut nihil aut paulum cui tum concedere digna | Even so kind, or but little less, was she, |
| 132 | lux mea se nostrum contulit in gremium, | my bright one, who came into my arms; |
| 133 | quam circumcursans hinc illinc saepe Cupido | and often around her flitting hither and thither Cupid |
| 134 | fulgebat crocina candidus in tunica. | shone fair in vest of saffron hue. |
| 135 | quae tamen etsi uno non est contenta Catullo, | And though she is not content with Catullus alone, |
| 136 | rara uerecundae furta feremus erae | I will bear the faults, for few they are, of my modest mistress, |
| 137 | ne nimium simus stultorum more molesti. | lest we become as tiresome as jealous fools. |
| 138 | saepe etiam Iuno, maxima caelicolum, | Juno, too, greatest of the heavenly ones, |
| 139 | coniugis in culpa flagrantem concoquit iram, | often keeps down her anger for her husband’s fault, |
| 140 | noscens omniuoli plurima furta Iouis. | as she learns the many loves of all amorous Jove. |
| 141 | atqui nec diuis homines componier aequum est, | Yet since it is not fit that men should be compared with gods, |
| 142 | ingratum tremuli tolle parentis onus. | away, then, with the hateful severity of an anxious father. |
| 143 | nec tamen illa mihi dextra deducta paterna | And after all she did not come for me led by her father’s band |
| 144 | fragrantem Assyrio uenit odore domum, | into a house fragrant with Assyrian odours, |
| 145 | sed furtiua dedit mira munuscula nocte, | but gave me in the wondrous night sweet stolen gifts, |
| 146 | ipsius ex ipso dempta uiri gremio. | taken from the very bosom of her husband himself. |
| 147 | quare illud satis est, si nobis is datur unis | Wherefore it is enough if to me alone is granted |
| 148 | quem lapide illa dies candidiore notat. | the day which she marks with a whiter stone. |
| 149 | hoc tibi, quod potui, confectum carmine munus | This gift — ‘twas all I could — set forth in verse |
| 150 | pro multis, Alli, redditur officiis, | is returned to you, Allius, for many kind offices; |
| 151 | ne uestrum scabra tangat rubigine nomen | lest this and that day, and another and another |
| 152 | haec atque illa dies atque alia atque alia. | should touch your name with corroding rust. |
| 153 | huc addent diui quam plurima, quae Themis olim | To this the gods will add those countless gifts which Themis of old |
| 154 | antiquis solita est munera ferre piis. | was wont to give to pious men of ancient time. |
| 155 | sitis felices et tu simul et tua uita, | May ye be happy, both you, and with you your dear Life, |
| 156 | et domus illa in qua lusimus et domina, | and the house in which you and I sported, and its mistress, |
| 157 | et qui principio nobis terram dedit aufert, | and he who first [ gave and takes land?] for us, |
| 158 | a quo sunt primo omnia nata bona, | from whom first all those good things had their springing for me. |
| 159 | et longe ante omnes mihi quae me carior ipso est, | And far before all, she who is dearer to me than myself, |
| 160 | lux mea, qua uiua uiuere dulce mihi est. | my Light, whose life alone makes it sweet to me to live. |
