Catullus 76 Translation
Introduction
Catullus 76 is an autobiographical poem where Catullus works through his personal torment of loving Lesbia while she does not love him in return. This poem is similar in tone and style to Sappho 31. In this poem, Sappho wrote about she sees someone who is so beautiful that she cannot speak. She becomes sweaty, she feels flushed from heat below her skin, and she feels like she is going to die.
In lines 17-20, Catullus asks the gods for mercy to look at his life and “take away the plague and ruin from me.” In the next two lines, he talks about how lethargic he feels in his joints and how all of the joys have left his heart.
In the final four lines of the poem, Catullus reveals what he wants. He says he no longer wants Lesbia (she) to love him in return. He hopes she consents to be chaste; this could mean that he only wants her to have sex with him. In the final two lines, he says that wants to be well in exchange for his piety.
He calls his love thankless in line six and he calls Lesbia an “ungrateful heart” in line nine. He asks himself how he can continue to be tormented by her. Catullus wrote almost a quarter of his poems to or about Lesbia. In many of them, he struggles with their relationship and how it evolves. In this poem, it appears that he is trying to give himself something like a “no regrets” speech. Yes, he has given everything to her. No, she did not return the love. But, he wants to become a godly man again and live with a body that no longer feels sickness.
In lines 13 and 14, Catullus understands how difficult it is to set aside a “long-cherished love.” He then tells himself that he needs to “accomplish it, one way or another.” Even though Catullus is sad about the outcome of his relationship with Lesbia, he seems to understand that he (with some help from the gods) is the only one who can get over her.
Carmen 76
Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
1 | SIQVA recordanti benefacta priora uoluptas | IF a man can take any pleasure in recalling the thought of kindnesses done, |
2 | est homini, cum se cogitat esse pium, | when he thinks that he has been a true friend; |
3 | nec sanctam uiolasse fidem, nec foedere nullo | and that he has not broken sacred faith, nor in any compact |
4 | diuum ad fallendos numine abusum homines, | has used the majesty of the gods in order to deceive men, |
5 | multa parata manent in longa aetate, Catulle, | then there are many joys in a long life for you, Catullus, |
6 | ex hoc ingrato gaudia amore tibi. | earned from this thankless love. |
7 | nam quaecumque homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possunt | For whatever kindness man can show to man by word |
8 | aut facere, haec a te dictaque factaque sunt. | or deed has been said and done by you. |
9 | omnia quae ingratae perierunt credita menti. | All this was entrusted to an ungrateful heart, and is lost: |
10 | quare iam te cur amplius excrucies? | why then should you torment yourself now any more? |
11 | quin tu animo offirmas atque istinc teque reducis, | Why do you not settle your mind firmly, and draw back, |
12 | et dis inuitis desinis esse miser? | and cease to be miserable, in despite of the gods? |
13 | difficile est longum subito deponere amorem, | It is difficult suddenly to lay aside a long-cherished love. |
14 | difficile est, uerum hoc qua lubet efficias: | It is difficult; but you should accomplish it, one way or another. |
15 | una salus haec est. hoc est tibi peruincendum, | This is the only safety, this you must carry through, |
16 | hoc facias, siue id non pote siue pote. | this you are to do, whether it is possible or impossible. |
17 | o di, si uestrum est misereri, aut si quibus umquam | Ye gods, if mercy is your attribute, or if ye ever brought |
18 | extremam iam ipsa in morte tulistis opem, | aid to any at the very moment of death, |
19 | me miserum aspicite et, si uitam puriter egi, | look upon me in my trouble, and if I have led a pure life, |
20 | eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi, | take away this plague and ruin from me. |
21 | quae mihi subrepens imos ut torpor in artus | Ah me! what a lethargy creeps into my inmost joints, |
22 | expulit ex omni pectore laetitias. | and has cast out all joys from my heart! |
23 | non iam illud quaero, contra me ut diligat illa, | No longer is this my prayer, that she should love me in return, |
24 | aut, quod non potis est, esse pudica uelit: | or, for that is impossible, that she should consent to be chaste. |
25 | ipse ualere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum. | I would myself be well again and put away this baleful sickness. |
26 | o di, reddite mi hoc pro pietate mea. | O ye gods, grant me this in return for my piety. |
