The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/50

=Text & Translation=

Metre – Hendecasyllables

=Connotations of The Text=

Line 1
This refers to Licinius Calvus, a fellow orator and poet of Catullus.
 * Licini

Line2

 * Tabellis

This is the diminutive of tabula. Catullus was very fond of diminutives (see lines 4, 10 and 19) and used them to express smallness, affection, pity, or contempt; in this case, most likely smallness or affection.

Line 4

 * versiculos

This is the diminutive of versos.

Line 8

 * incensus

Catullus was very fond of using fire or flame as a metaphor for passion.

Line 9

 * me miserum

This is a very common phrase of Catullus’s. Latin was quite comfortable with describing a personal pronoun with an adjective, but it can sound awkward in English eg. The miserable I…, the witty you…

Line 19

 * ocellos

This is the diminutive of oculus and literally means “little eye”. It was a common term of endearment in Latin, and especially in Catullus. However, here Catullus is actually referring to his eyes.

Line 20

 * Nemesis

Nemesis was the goddess of justice and punished men for being vain.

=Vocabulary=

=External Links=