Catullus 104 Translation

Introduction

In this poem, Catullus questions why “you and Tappo” make things prodigious. In the first line of the poem, Catullus questions why someone who thinks he could speak ill of “my life” which is a reference to Lesbia, the woman he loves. In line two, he says she is dearer to him than both of his eyes. 

Then, in lines three and four, he shares that there is no way he could have ever spoken ill of her. But, two people, including an unnamed person and Tappo, are prodigious or abnormally unnatural. Catullus shares in line three that he is ruinously in love with Lesbia. This begs the question what do these people make prodigious? Whatever it is, it has to do with Catullus’s love for Lesbia. 

In other translations, the word portent has been used in place of prodigious. The word makes more sense than prodigious. A portent is a sign that something major is going to happen. It could also mean that Tappo and his friend are ready to create drama and spread rumors. They will make up stories about Catullus and Lesbia. 

Interestingly, the phrase non potui means “at the time of writing”. So, at the time, he could not have spoken ill of Lesbia. But, Catullus later does fall out of love with Lesbia. She ends up having a relationship with another man while she is with Catullus and with her husband. So, during his time with Lesbia, he could not have spoken ill of her. But, at another time he could have. Notice that Catullus uses the word “ruinously” to describe his love with Lesbia. He wrote this at the back end of the relationship, knowing that a ruin was coming.  However, his relationship with Lesbia is not something that other people should worry about, as it is his life, not theirs. 

Carmen 104

Resources

VRoma Project