Catullus 8 in Latin & English: Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire!
Channel: David Amster
Date: 2020-08-13

#catullus
#latinpoetry
#latinpronunciation

Catullus 8, one of his masterpieces, is about his love affair with Lesbia/Clodia, when she has clearly lost interest. The wonderful 19th century painting of Sappho is certainly anachronistic, but seems a fitting image for the “miserable Lesbia” of Catullus’ imagination. My hunch is that she was more relieved than miserable...

Catulli Carmen VIII  Ad se ipsum

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, vae (ouai!) te, quae tibi manet vita?
quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

Wretched Catullus, you should stop playing the fool,
and what you see has been lost, you should realize is lost. 
Once bright suns shone for you,
when you would go wherever the girl would lead, 
the one loved by us as none will ever be loved. 
Then, when there were those many playful times,
which you desired, and the girl was not reluctant,
truly then bright suns shone for you. 
Now she doesn’t want those things...
you too, helpless, stop wanting them,
and don’t chase one who runs away, nor live miserably,
but with a resolved mind endure, be strong. 
Farewell, girl. Now Catullus is a rock. 
He will not inquire about you, nor ask you against your will. 
But you will lament, when you are asked for not at all.
Detestable woman, woe to you! What sort of life remains for you?
Who now will come to you? To whom will you seem pretty?
Whom now will you love? Whose will you be said to be? 
Whom will you kiss? Whose lips will you bite? 
But you, Catullus, resolved, harden your heart.

Translation DWA, 
Fez, August 13, 2020