Catullus 88 Translation
Introduction
In 88, the poet questions the behavior of Gellius, who he has written about in other poems. Gellius is another person that Catullus does not like. The poet ridicules him sexually in a series of poems, including this one.
In the first two lines, Catullus wonders what Gellius is doing as he “tingles” with a mother and sister, keeping their vigil tunics out of sorts. A vigil tunic would be a garment that a woman would wear when keeping vigil for a loved one. Then, in line three, he questions why Gellius will not let his uncle marry. Catullus wonders about how much guilt Gellius experiences.
Then, he makes a bold statement about how much guilt he experiences. The “he” could be a reference to Gellius or to the uncle. While the antecedent is unknown, what is known in this poem is that Catullus is claiming that Gellius is committing incest with his mother and sister, and possibly with his uncle.
Catullus believes that guilt is extensive. He uses hyperbole to describe the breadth and depth of the guilt by mentioning Tethys and Ocean. There is so much guilt that the Titaness of freshwater could clear away. He says that Ocean, with a capital O, the titan of the salty seas couldn’t wash away all of the guilt, either. Then, in line seven, Catullus says that the guilt couldn’t be washed away because there isn’t any guilt from a man like Gellius.
The final line of the poem shows what Catullus really thinks of the author. He says that the author wouldn’t experience any guilt, even if he bent down and swallowed himself. Catullus plays with the word head in the final line. The double entendre could be his head, or it could be his penis, as if he managed to have sexual relations with himself.
Carmen 88
Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
1 | QVID facit is, Gelli, qui cum matre atque sorore | WHAT is he doing, Gellius, who tingles with mother and sister, |
2 | prurit, et abiectis peruigilat tunicis? | And keeps vigil tunics all thrown off ? |
3 | quid facit is, patruum qui non sinit esse maritum? | What is he doing, who will not let his uncle be a husband? |
4 | ecquid scis quantum suscipiat sceleris? | Do you know how much guilt he incurs? |
5 | suscipit, o Gelli, quantum non ultima Tethys | More he incurs, O Gellius, than furthest Tethys |
6 | nec genitor Nympharum abluit Oceanus: | can wash away, or Ocean, father of the nymphs: |
7 | nam nihil est quicquam sceleris, quo prodeat ultra, | for there is no guilt whatever beyond for him to attain to, |
8 | non si demisso se ipse uoret capite. | not even if he bent down his head and swallowed himself. |
