The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus/7

Catullus 7 is one of Catullus's poems to his Lesbia. This seems to have been written at a particularly passionate stage of the affair, as the poem has no negative connotations, or doubts, as in others. Text & Translation Meter - Hendecasyllabic LineLatin TextEnglish Translation1quaeris quot mihi basiationesYou ask how many kissings2tuae Lesbia sint satis superqueOf yours, Lesbia, would be enough and more for me.3quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenaeAs great as the number of Libyan sands4lasarpiciferis iacet CyrenisThat lie in lasarpicium-bearing Cyrene5oraclum Iovis inter aestuosiBetween the oracle of sweltering Jupiter6et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrumAnd the sacred tomb of old Battus,7aut quam sidera multa cum tacet noxOr as many as the stars that, when the night is silent,8furtivos hominum vident amoresSee people's secret love affairs:9tam te basia multa basiareFor you to kiss so many kisses10vesano satis et super Catullo estIs enough and more for love-crazy Catullus,11quae nec pernumerare curiosiAnd which inquiring men could not count completely12possint nec mala fascinare linguaNor an evil tongue bewitch. Connotations of The Text Line 3 Libya - Africa This is not to be confused with the present day nation of Libya. The Romans called the continent of Africa Libya and our modern day nation of Libya was known as Africa. quam magnus numerus Libysae harenae - as great a number of the Libyan sands A common metaphor for infinity, Catullus stresses his desire for Lesbia through this wish. The message here is, that no amount of kisses will be enough for Catullus. This is also a stereotypical way of expressing love which makes it original by naming the beach but it doesn't give it a romantic aspect but a learned aspect because of Lesbia Line 4 lasarpiciferis - silphium bearing Libya was the centre of producing the plant lasarpicium of which is the gum asa foetida. The gum was used as a cure for baldness and many illnesses and conditions, as well as a contraceptive and abortifacient - it would be administered to a woman to terminate a pregnancy. Line 6 Battus - the founder of Cyrene In 700 BC Battus founded of the city of Cyrene in what is now Libya. His tomb, mentioned here as sacrum sepulchrum [sacred tomb] was 300 miles away from the Oracle of Jupiter, and some Romans used to venture out into the desert in the hope of finding it, and receiving a vision. Battus' father was Polymnestus, a descendant of the Argonaut Euphemus. After leaving Lemos for Lacedaemonia, they were forced to leave Lacedaemonia and settle in Thera. His mother was a native-born Cretan called Phronime. Battus' real name has come under dispute; some have said his real name was Aristaeus. Cyrene, furthermore, was connected to the poet Callimachus. Callimachus was considered chief of the elegiac poets; his elegies were highly esteemed by the Romans (see Neoterics), and imitated by Catullus. Line 7 aut quam sidera multa - or as many as are the stars The number of stars in the sky is how many kisses is enough for Catullus. This of course is infinite and the poetic reference serves to make his point within the metaphor. Line 8 furtivos hominum vident amores - which see the secret love affairs of men Could this be a clear reference to Catullus himself? Line 11 curiosi - inquiring men This is a reference to the gossip that was present at the time of Catullus' affair. He is thought to have been having an affair with a senator's wife, and as such the gossip in the Senate was potentially damaging. Line 12 mala fascinare lingua - an evil tongue bewitch In witchcraft, it was believed that if the evil one had a specific number that was related to the victim, [in this case the number of kisses] then it would make the spell more effective. Catullus is urging Lesbia to kiss him so many times that any potential evil-doer would not be able to count them. This would also serve to quench Catullus' lust for Lesbia. Vocabulary Line 1 quaero, -ere, -sivi, -situm - seek; ask basiatio, -onis, f. - kissifications [real word] Line 2 satis superque - enough and more than enough Line 3 Libyssus, -a, -um (Libya, -ae, f.) - Libyan harena, -ae, f. - sand; beach Line 4 lasarpicifer, -era, -erum - silphium bearing; plant used in medicine for baldness - the gum of which is called asa foetida Cyrenae, -arum, f. (Cyrenis - locative. case) - Cyrene, North East Africa Line 5 aestuosus, -a, -um - hot; sultry Line 6 vetus, veteris (adj.) - aged; old; ancient sepulcrum, -i, n. - tomb; grave; Line 7 sidus, sideris, n. - a group of stars; the heavens Line 8 furtivus, -a, -um - secret; concealed; stolen Line 9 basiare - to kiss Line 10 vesanus, -a, -um - mad; insane; wild; love-sick Line 11 curiosus, -a, -um - curious; nosy; inquisitive; thoughtful Line 12 fascino, fascinare, fascinum, -i, n. - enchant; bewitch; fascinate lingua, -ae, f. - tongue; speech; language External Links Catullus 7 Translation of Catullus 7 Catullus 7 Another Translation of Catullus 7 Catullus 7 Commentary Commentary on the Text of Catullus 7 Battus For more on Battus, founder of Cyrene.