Catullus 75 Translation
Introduction |
In this poem, Catullus writes to Lesbia, whom he calls “my Lesbia.” In line one, he shares how his mind is reduced by her fault. This means he is hurt and confused. In the second line, he continues his sad elegiac poem to her by writing about how his mind has ruined itself by its devotion to her. With these two lines, it appears that Catullus has already lost Lesbia to Caelius.
In the third line, Catullus says that his mind cannot wish her well, even if she becomes the best woman. In the fourth line, he continues the thought and says he also cannot stop loving her. He finishes line four by saying that she did the worst that she could have done.
Throughout his life, Catullus loved Lesbia, but she wasn’t always good to him. She was married to another man, and cheated on him with Catullus. She also was reported to have poisoned her husband, then had an affair with another man after Catullus left town for a short time. There are clearly things that Lesbia did that were not kind to Catullus. According to her historical account, she lived life on her own terms, even though Catullus wished she would live life on his terms, with only him.
This poem has the sound of an ancient Roman guilt trip, addressed toward Lesbia. He accuses her of reducing his mind and ruining it. He then writes about how she could become the best of women, which is a big snarky to say to someone who has ruined your mind. What is she supposed to say to him in response to this? I’m sorry? He says he will still love her, but she has done the worst she could do to him. Might he eventually become a stalker?
Carmen 75 |
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HVC est mens deducta tua mea Lesbia, culpa | To this point is my mind reduced by your fault, my Lesbia, |
| 2 | atque ita se officio perdidit ipsa suo, | and has so ruined itself by its own devotion, |
| 3 | ut iam nec bene uelle queat tibi, si optima fias, | that now it can neither wish you well though you should become the best of women, |
| 4 | nec desistere amare, omnia si facias. | nor cease to love you though you do the worst that can be done. |
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Resources |
VRoma Project: http://www.vroma.org/~hwalker/VRomaCatullus/075.html
