Catullus 21 Translation
Introduction |
In this poem, Catullus addresses Aurelius who wants to have an affair with Juventius – his lover. Catullus calls Aurelius the father of all starvations. This reference is not being hungry for food, but to being hungry to fulfill his sexual appetite. Catullus hopes that Aurelius stays hungry not and for many years into the future. Then, Catullus shares the issue that is bothering him. In line four, he shares that Aurelius wishes to sodomize his favorite – Juventius.
In lines five and six, Catullus shares that Aurelius is not trying to sodomize Juventius in private, quietly. He is sticking close to Juventius, joking with him, and trying everything he can to get the young man. In line seven, Catullus tells Aurelius that his actions are useless as he is attempting to plot against Catullus. Then, in line eight, Catullus threatens him by saying that he will put his penis in his mouth. Catullus explains that if he sodomizes Aurelius, then he will no longer go after Juventius. In line nine, Catullus uses the metaphor of having a full belly, so he will no longer be hungry for Juventius.
In lines 10 and 11, Catullus shares that he is annoyed that Juventius will learn to be hungry and thirsty, as he is not having sex. Then, he repeats the threat in lines 12 and 13. If Aurelius does not stop, Catullus will put his penis in his mouth. If he stops, the Catullus will leave him unharmed.
Catullus was quite possessive of Juventius. He refers to his male lover in several poems, and how other men wanted to possess Juventius, too. There is some humor in this poem, especially as Catullus threatens to feed Aurelius by sticking his penis in his mouth. The threat should be enough to “satisfy” Aurelius’s hunger, although not the hunger he has for Juventius.
Roman men who have affairs with other men had an understanding of the different roles men had in their homosexual relationships. Some men were domineering, while others played the feminine role. It seems that Aurelius may have been the man who was dominated by other men. If he wasn’t, Catullus would not have threatened him in the way he did. The threat may have a bit of humor in it, but it would have been very insulting to actually follow through on it. Aurelius would have been humiliated if Catullus stuck his penis in his mouth. Catullus is showing his masculinity with this threat.
Carmen 21 |
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AVRELI, pater esuritionum, | Aurelius, father of all starvations, |
| 2 | non harum modo, sed quot aut fuerunt | not these only but at have been |
| 3 | aut sunt aut aliis erunt in annis, | or are or shall be in future years, |
| 4 | pedicare cupis meos amores. | you wish to sodomize my favourite. |
| 5 | nec clam: nam simul es, iocaris una, | And not on the quiet: you keep with him, jest in his company, |
| 6 | haerens ad latus omnia experiris. | stick close to his side and leave nothing untried. |
| 7 | frustra: nam insidias mihi instruentem | All in vain: as you plot against me, |
| 8 | tangam te prior irrumatione. | I’ll clintonize you first. |
| 9 | atque id si faceres satur, tacerem: | If you had your belly full I should say nothing; |
| 10 | nunc ipsum id doleo, quod esurire | As it is, what annoys me is that |
| 11 | me me puer et sitire discet. | my lad will learn how to be hungry and thirsty. |
| 12 | quare desine, dum licet pudico, | Stop, then, while you can do so unharmed, |
| 13 | ne finem facias, sed irrumatus. | or you will have to stop after I’ve clintonized you. |
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Resources |
VRoma Project: http://www.vroma.org/~hwalker/VRomaCatullus/021x.html
