Catullus 38 Translation
Introduction |
In this poem, Catullus shares his emotional status with his friend Cornificius and asks for a word of comfort. Cornificius was a friend of Catullus and he was a poet who bought Pompey’s Roman house in an auction.
In line one, Catullus tells Cornificius that he ill at ease. In line two, he repeats it and adds that he also in distress. In line three, Catullus explained that his distress is increasing by the hour and by the day.
Then, in line four, Catullus asks Cornificius if he has offered to console him at all. And, according to the poem, Catullus has not been consoled – otherwise, he would not feel ill at ease and in distress. Catullus seems frustrated with Cornificius’s lack of caring and the poet shares that he is getting angry with him for mistreating his love this way. So, in line seven and eight, he demands that Cornificius gives him a word of comfort, making it as sad as Simonides’ tears.
Catullus wants his friend to write a poem, in a style that would make the poet Simonides begin to cry. Simonides was a respected poet, so Catullus wants Cornificius to write something notable to cheer him up. The final line of the poem could refer not to a poem that would make Simonides cry, but to the severe sadness that Catullus is facing. He could be so sad that Simonides would cry.
The second line of the poem could also have varying translations. In Latin, the line reads: “malest, me hercule, et laboriose.” The Latin text shows that Catullus is feeling terrible – malest. But, it also shows that he is feeling as badly as Hercules did during his labors. If you add the third line, Catullus could continue the theme of Hercules and how the labors became more difficult as he continued through them by the days and hours. The story of Hercules would have been well known in Rome, even though Heracles was a Greek hero.
Whatever is happening with Catullus, there is one thing that is clear – he is working through something and he needs help from a friend. He wants help in the form of sympathy. Some scholars believe that Catullus wrote this poem as he was growing old; he may have wanted Cornificius to write his eulogy, so he could read it before he died. But, the poem does not show that he is old and dying. Instead, it shows that he is suffering and wants some help from a friend.
Carmen 38 |
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MALEST, Cornifici, tuo Catullo | Your Catullus is ill at ease, Cornificius, |
| 2 | malest, me hercule, et laboriose, | ill and in distress |
| 3 | et magis magis in dies et horas. | and that more and more daily and hourly. |
| 4 | quem tu, quod minimum facillimumque est, | And you, though that is the lightest and easiest task, |
| 5 | qua solatus es allocutione? | have you said one word to console him? |
| 6 | irascor tibi. sic meos amores? | I am getting angry with you – what, treat my love so? |
| 7 | paulum quid lubet allocutionis, | Give me only some little word of comfort, |
| 8 | maestius lacrimis Simonideis. | pathetic as the tears of Simonides! |
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Resources |
VRoma Project: http://www.vroma.org/~hwalker/VRomaCatullus/038.html
