Catullus 30 Translation
Introduction |
In this poem, Catullus is addressing a man who is better known as Alfenus Varus, a lawyer. After reading line one, it is easy to see that Varus was someone who disappointed the poet as Catullus says he was ungrateful and false to his friends. In line two, Catullus asks if he was ready to stop pitying his friend. Then, in line three, Catullus seems to respond to him by asking what, then telling him to stop shrinking away from and deceiving him.
Catullus seems to be having a conversation with Alfenus in this poem. In line four, he asks if the gods like when someone deceives. Catullus says that Alfenus disregards the preferences of the gods and causes sorrow and trouble in the poet’s life. He asks who he is supposed to trust. Alfenus used to be trustworthy and Catullus entrusted his soul and secrets to him. This lead Catullus to feel safe with him and love him. Then, he drew away and left his words to the “winds and vapours of the air.” His words were unratified, no longer safe.
Catullus then leaves the poem with something that resembles a curse. In lines 11 and 12, he reminds Alfenus that the gods remember it. He specifically mentions Faith and how Faith will make him repent for being unfaithful to Catullus. While he doesn’t curse Alfenus, it seems as though his reminder was not just to the man, but to the gods as well.
Even though Catullus does not reveal what Alfenus did to offend him, it appears to involve a friendship, not a romantic relationship. If Alfenus was a lawyer, he may have broken the trust of Catullus or of someone near him. The friendship appears to be over, as Catullus is hurt by the disregard from Alfenus. Catullus might have thought there was a friendship, but Alfenus might not have reciprocated.
Carmen 30 |
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALFENE immemor atque unanimis false sodalibus, | ALFENUS, ungrateful and false to your faithful comrades, |
| 2 | iam te nil miseret, dure, tui dulcis amiculi? | do you now cease (ah, cruel !) to pity your beloved friend? |
| 3 | iam me prodere, iam non dubitas fallere, perfide? | What? do you not shrink from betraying me, deceiving me, faithless one? |
| 4 | nec facta impia fallacum hominum caelicolis placent. | Do the deeds of deceivers please the gods above? |
| 5 | quae tu neglegis ac me miserum deseris in malis. | All this you disregard, and desert me in my sorrow and trouble; |
| 6 | eheu quid faciant, dic, homines cuiue habeant fidem? | ah, tell me, what are men to do, whom are they to trust? |
| 7 | certe tute iubebas animam tradere, inique, me | For truly you used to bid me trust my soul to you (ah, unjust!), |
| 8 | inducens in amorem, quasi tuta omnia mi forent. | leading me into love as if all were safe for me; |
| 9 | idem nunc retrahis te ac tua dicta omnia factaque | you, who now draw back from me, and let the winds and vapours of the air |
| 10 | uentos irrita ferre ac nebulas aereas sinis. | bear away all your words and deeds unratified. |
| 11 | si tu oblitus es, at di meminerunt, meminit Fides, | If you have forgotten this, yet the gods remember it, remembers Faith, |
| 12 | quae te ut paeniteat postmodo facti faciet tui. | who will soon make you repent of you deed. |
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Resources |
VRoma Project: http://www.vroma.org/~hwalker/VRomaCatullus/030.html
