Catullus 33 in Latin: O furum optime balneariorum, Pronunciation, Meter, Vocabulary & Grammar Notes
Channel: David Amster
Date: 2021-05-07

#catullus
#latinpoetry
#latinpronunciation

It seems that Vibennius and son were notorious for their activities at the public baths. I suspect they had probably pilfered one of Catullus’ favorite bath towels :) 

Instead of translating the poem, I’m going to supply vocabulary and grammar notes so you can hopefully understand it without a translation. But first a few comments on pronunciation and meter...


Pronunciation Notes

Ō fūr(um)optime balneāriōru(m)
VibeNNī pater et cinaede fīlī,
na(m)N dextRā pater i(n)NGquinātiōre,
cūlō fīlius est vorāciōre,
cūR nōn exiliuM malāsqu(e)in ōrās
itis? quandoquideM patris rapīnae
nōtae sunt popul(ō)et natīs pilōsās,
fīlī, nōn potes aSSe vēnditāre.


Meter: Phalaecean Hendecasyllables

 ⏓ ⏓ – ⏑ ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏑ – ⏓ 

where ⏓ ⏓ is one of – ⏑ or – – or ⏑ –

ō fūrum ōptĭmĕ bālnĕārĭōrŭm
Vĭbēnnī pătĕr ēt cĭnaēdĕ fīlī.
nām dēxtrā pătĕr īnquĭnātĭōrĕ,
cūlō fīlĭŭs ēst uŏrācĭōrĕ.
cūr nōn ēxĭlĭūm mălāsque ĭn ōrās
ītīs. quāndŏquĭdēm pătrīs răpīnaē
nōtaē sūnt pŏpŭlo ēt nătīs pĭlōsās,
fīlī, nōn pŏtĕs āssĕ uēndĭtārĕ.

While there is normally flexibility with the first foot, note that Catullus uses a spondee (– –) in all except line 2. 

The O in quandōquidem is normally long, but here it’s short to fit the meter. 


Vocabulary & Grammar Notes

O furum optime balneariorum

optime: vocative singular, best, most excellent 
furum balneariorum: genitive pl, bathhouse thieves

Vibenni pater et cinaede fili

Vibenni pater: vocative, Vibennius is otherwise unknown 
cinaede fili: vocative, cinaedus = catamite, sodomite

nam dextrā pater inquinatiore

nam: for
dextrā: ablative of description with est, with his right hand
inquinatiore: ablative with dextra, comparative of inquinātus
more polluted, defiled, impure, filthy

culo filius est voraciore

culo: ablative of description, buttocks, anus
filius: nominative, son
voraciore: ablative with culo, comparative of vorax, more voracious, gluttonous

cur non exilium malasque in oras itis? 

cur: why
itis: 2nd person pl, present of eo, go
exilium: accusative of place towards or after an understood in + acc., exile
in + accusative: into, to
oras: accusative pl, coast, region, country
malas: accusative pl, bad, evil, wicked 
-que: and

quandoquidem patris rapinae

quandoquidem: since indeed, since, seeing that 
patris: genitive singular of pater
rapinae: nominative pl, robbery, plundering, pillage

notae sunt populo, et natīs pilosas

notae sunt: perfect passive with rapinae, have been known, discovered, are known
populo: dative, the people, populace, citizens, everyone
natīs: accusative pl, rump, buttocks
pilosas: accusative pl, hairy, shaggy

fili, non potes asse venditare.

fili: vocative singular, son
potes: 2nd p sing present, can, are able
venditare: infinitive, to offer again and again for sale, to try to sell 
asse: ablative singular of AS, for an as, a copper coin;
the average daily wage for a soldier or manual worker was 16 asses. 


Repetition of Sound/Alliteration 

O furum Optime balnearIORum
vibenni pater et cinaede fili,
nam dextra pater inquinatIORE,
Culo filius est voracIORE,
Cur non exilium malasque in ORas
iTIS? quandoquidem Patris rapinae
notae sunt Populo, et naTIS PilosaS,
fili, non PoteS aSSe venditare.


Artwork 

Tepidarium at the Forum baths in Pompeii, Hansen, Joseph Theodor, 1884, public domain

Baths of Caracalla, Rome: interior of the Tepidarium, watercolor, C.R. Cockrell (1788-1863), Royal Academy of Arts, public domain