The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/72

Text And Translation LineLatin textEnglish Translation1Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,Once you used to say that you knew only Catullus, Lesbia,2Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.and that you did not want to embrace Jupiter instead of me.3dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,I loved you then not just as a common man loves a girl,4sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.but as a father loves his sons and sons-in-law.5nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror,Now I have got to know you: therefore, although I burn more earnestly,6multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.to me you are nevertheless much cheaper and more fickle.7qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talisHow is that possible you say? Because a hurt like this8cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.forces a lover to love more but to like less. Connotations of The Text Line 1 dicebas - you used to say The use of the Imperfect Tense here "used to" implies that she has changed from what she used to say. It also hints at a disapproving tone from Catullus himself, angry and disappointed that she has gone back on a promise to him. solum te nosse Catullum - you knew only Catullus This is a repitition of the idea in Poem 70 that Catullus is the only one in Lesbia's life. As the poem progresses, we learn this is not what it seems. Line 2 nec prae me velle tenere Iovem - and not hold Jupiter over me This is an exaggeration by Catullus, suggesting that Lesbia would choose him over a god. This emphasises the disappointment that he feels and the reader begins to understand Lesbia's fickle personality. It also picks up on Poem 70 where he says that she claimed to prefer to marry him over Jupiter. Line 4 pater ut gnatos diligit - as a father loves his sons This is a reference to 'pietas'. It is a belief in the male support throughout the family. The grandfather supports the son and grandson, while being supported by them and the same principles for the son and grandson. Line 8 cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus - forces a lover to love more but to like less Catullus is angry at Lesbia for cheating on him but he is still involuntarily in love with her. Vocabulary Line 1 nosco, nosse, novi, notum - to know; become aquainted with Line 2 prae (Adv. & Prep. + Abl.) - before; in front of; in advance of teneo, -ere, -ui, -tentum - to hold; here embrace Line 3 diligo, -ere, -lexi, -lectum - choose; value highly; love vulgus, -i, m. - public; vulgar; throng; crowd; mass Line 4 gnatus = natus - son gener, generi, -m - son in law Line 5 etsi (conj.) - though; although; even if; yet impensus, -a, -um - considerable; great; earnest impensius (comp. adj.) - more considerably; greatly uro, urere, ussi, ustum - burn; inflame; consume Line 6 levis, -e (adj.) - light; fickle; inconstant; dispensable; trivial vilis, -e (adj.) - of small price; cheap; inexpensive Line 7 iniuria, -ae, f. - injustice; hurt; injury; illegal act Line 8 cogo, -ere, -egi, -actum - force; compel; urge bene velle - "be fond of" External Links Catullus 72 A Translation of Catullus 72 Catullus 72 Another Translation of Catullus 72