Catullus 114 Translation
Introduction |
In Catullus 114, the poet takes aim at a man named Mentula, who is reality is Mamurra. This man served Caesar and Pompey and had a large estate on the Caelian Hill that he dubbed Firmum. By referring to Mamurra as Mentula, Catullus can call him Mr. Penis, because that is what a Mentula is.
According to the poem, Mamurra’s estate was filled with fine things. While describing those things, Catullus managed to play with words. In line three, the poet refers to “fish, pasture, cornland, and game.” But, he also refers to “fowling of all sorts” – which is the play on words. In one case, fowling of all sorts could be a variety of birds. It could also be a reference to how Mamurra has managed to destroy what he has created, which is evident in line four.
Catullus says that Mamurra has all of these fine things, but he doesn’t use them to his benefit. In line four, Catullus shares that Mamurra spends more than he makes on the land. In line five, he is rich, but he is lacking everything. Catullus finishes the poem by asking to admire Mamurra’s estate, but only if Mamurra is “in want.”
Mamurra must not realize how good he has it, and he must not know how to take care of his wealth. There is an entendre about Mr. Penis being in possession of Firmum, as Firmum sounds like it is hard – possibly erect, like a penis. He sounds like a man that Catullus would not respect because of his lack of care for his land and possessions. It’s one thing to look like you are rich, but Mamurra cannot back up his wealth.
As a friend of Pompey and Caesar, Catullus would recognize Mamurra as a phony who might put on a good show, but cannot back up what he does with anything of value.
Carmen 114 |
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
1 | FIRMANVS saltu non falso Mentula diues | Mr. Penis is truly said to be rich in the possession of the grant of land at Firmum, |
2 | fertur, qui tot res in se habet egregias, | which has so many fine things in it, |
3 | aucupium omne genus, piscis, prata, arua ferasque. | fowling of all sorts, fish, pasture, cornland, and game. |
4 | nequiquam: fructus sumptibus exsuperat. | All to no purpose; he outruns the produce of it by his expenses. |
5 | quare concedo sit diues, dum omnia desint. | So I grant that he is rich, if you will allow that he lacks everything. |
6 | saltum laudemus, dum modo ipse egeat. | Let us admire the advantages of his estate, so long as he himself is in want. |
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Resources |
VRoma Project: http://www.vroma.org/~hwalker/VRomaCatullus/114x.html
