Quare hoc est gratum nobis quoque, carius auro, Restituis cupido atque insperanti? ipsa refers te 5 Quis me uno vivit felicior, aut magis hac me est Optandus vita? dicere quis poterit? CVIII. Si, Comini, populi arbitrio tua cana senectus Non equidem dubito quin primum inimica bonorum Effossos oculos vorat atro gutture corvus, CIX. Jucundum, mea vita, mihi proponis amorem Ut liceat nobis tota perducere vita Aeternum hoc sanctae foedus amicitiae. CXIV. Firmano saltu non falso Mentula dives Fertur, qui tot res in se habet egregias, Aucupia omne genus, pisces, prata, arva, ferasque. 5 5 5 CXVI. Saepe tibi studioso animo venante requirens 4 Hunc video mihi nunc frustra sumptum esse laborem, Gelli, nec nostras hic valuisse preces. Contra, nos tela ista tua evitamus amictu, At fixus nostris tu dabis supplicium. NOTES. I. P. 1. 1. To whom am I to give my dainty, new-born little volume ?' The words lepidum and novum mean both that the book is bright and new from the publisher's hands, and that it contains delicate wit presented in a form new to Latin literature. 2. pumice. For the use of pumice stone in the preparation of books, see XXII. 6 note. 3. Corneli. Corn. Nepos, compatriot of Catullus and about eight years his senior, chiefly known as biographer of illustrious men, but also writer of love poems now lost. 'Chronica' here referred to are also lost. The 4. aliquid in opposition to nugas. Catullus calls his light poems nothings,' but his friend always considered them of serious value,' a something of importance.' Si vis esse aliquis if you would be a somebody. Translate 'would set upon my trifles no trifling value.' = 6. explicare, to unfold and show as a whole, as a robe-maker exhibits his wares (cxplicat vestem), or as a general reviews his troops (explicat ordines), so that all may be comprehended at a glance. Here the word almost 'tabulate.' 7. laboriosis is said to mean 'on which labour has been spent,' according to A. Gellius, who (N. A. Ix. 12) quotes a line from Catullus' friend, Calvus, 'Durum rus fugis et laboriosum,' and explains the last word as 'in quo laboratur.' But Calvus means the hard, work-a-day country,' employing the simple personification which is also used here. If carta (a sheet) can be called docta (learned), it may also be called laboriosa (diligent) and in LXVIII B. 6 (46), we find 'carta loquatur anus.' The whole of Gellius' article is confused and unfortunate. 8. quicquid hoc libelli, "Therefore take to yourself all there is in this of a little book: whatever its worth may perhaps be, yet may it, O guardian maiden, endure without fading more than one generation.' The best MSS. read Qualecumque quod, for which quidem is the earliest and perhaps best correction. Ellis reads: 'Quare habe tibi quicquid hoc libelli ='Take this slight book, such as it is, and may it,' &c. The ='that, poor as it perhaps may be, yet for its patron's sake it may endure.' This makes capital sense, but there is no evidence that Catullus wrote it. On the Hendecasyllabic metre of this poem see Appendix I. II. 1. deliciae, 'my lady's pet': so 'amores'=' mistress,' 'favourite.' 3. primum digitum, 'finger tip,' not 'first finger,' which is called index. adpetenti, reaching forward to catch.' whose sallies she will offer her finger tip.' Translate 'to 5. desiderio 'my heart's desire.' Cicero (Fam. XIV. 2 fin.) writes to his wife 'mea lux, mea desideria, valete.' For the "Lover's vocabulary" in Catullus see Appendix II. nitenti, 'bright-eyed.' 6. Carum nescio quid, like solaciolum, is accusative after jocari. On the 'cognate' acc. see VII. 9 note. Translate 'is pleased to play I know not what dear frolic and soft diversion of her pain.' credo. 'And well she may: would that I, like your mis |