Catullus 82 Translation

Introduction

Catullus** wrote this poem to his friend Quintus**. The poem is almost circular in its logic as Catullus begins by talking about how Quintus would like Catullus to own him his eyes. But, in the second line Catullus mentions how he could owe something dearer than his eyes if there is anything dearer than his eyes. 

In line three and four, Catullus tells Quintus not to take what is dearer to him that his eyes or anything else that is dearer than his eyes. So, overall, Quintus wants Catullus to owe him something dea, but Catullus does not want him to take anything that is dear to him. Since they are friends, and potentially lovers, Catullus is already giving him something dear - his affection. 

However, there could be a different meaning than love for Catullus. Quintus was associated with Clodia, who is Catullus’s love he calls Lesbia in his poetry. She could be the “aught” (anything) that is dearer to him that his eyes. In other poems about Lesbia, Catullus does refer to her as being more valuable to him than his eyes. 

Catullus could also be writing about blindness, especially since love is blind. He loves Quintus. He loves Lesbia. He loves being able to see them. He does not want to lose his sight or lose his loves. The poem, especially in line three, also has a subtle threatening tone to it as Catullus tells Quintus that he should not take what is dearer to him than his eyes or his eyes.

He should not take anything dear to his friend if he wishes his friend to own him something valuable. In other translations, the word snatch is used in place of take, so the threatening tone in line three is there. 

Carmen 82

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