The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/9

Text And Translation Meter - Hendecasyllabic LineLatin TextEnglish Translation 1 Verani, omnibus e meis amicis Veranius, surpassing all of my friends 2 antistans mihi millibus trecentis,in my eyes by three hundred thousand times 3 venistine domum ad tuos penates have you come to your home, household gods, 4 fratresque unanimos anumque matrem? loving brothers, and old mother? 5 Venisti. O mihi nuntii beati! You have come! O blissful news for me! 6 Visam te incolumem audiamque Hiberum Will I see you unharmed and will hear you 7 narrantem loca, facta, nationes, telling of the places, deeds and tribes of the Spanish 8 ut mos est tuus applicansque collumas is your custom, and drawing your pleasant neck close 9 iucundum os oculosque suaviabor?will I kiss your eyes and mouth? 10 O quantum est hominum beatiorem, O what number is there of happy men 11 quid me laetius est beatiusvne?that is happier or more blissful than I? Connotations of the Text Note the two tricolon crescendos in this poem; "your household gods...old mother" and "places...tribes" - these are particularly Alexandrian aspects of Catullus' poetry. This poem also expresses Catullus' Epicurean ideal through his friendship with Veranius. Line 1 Verani Veranius was a friend of Catullus's who had just returned from serving with the governor of Spain. External Links Catullus 9 Translation of Catullus 9