Catullus 87 Translation

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Introduction

 

In Catullus 87, the poet declares his love for Lesbia. He says that no woman was loved like he loved her. He never kept a commitment to any woman other than her and that the commitment was the biggest trust that anyone has ever had for another person. 

In the English translation, these four short lines show how Catullus felt about Lesbia. But in Latin, there are a few key words that show even more. He uses the Latin words tantum and tanta to describe his feelings about her. He also uses quantum and quanta to further describe tantum and tanta

These Latin words all act as adjectives with quantum and quanta explain adding greatness to tanta and tantum, which also describe a sense of greatness in value. In Latin, Catullus used four descriptive words to show that there is no way that anyone would love Lesbia more than he. It’s not just in English, but he loves her immensely in the original language, too. 

This sweet little poem shows how strongly Catullus loves Lesbia. But, in other poems, readers see that Lesbia did not return the love. As he recognizes that his love is unrequited, his poems become less loving and a bit hopeless. We saw in 72 that Catullus believes she loves so much that Zeus wouldn’t be able to seduce her. But, in 11, his feelings for her are less certain as he sends two friends on a message to bring her a message. 

In 2A, Catullus focuses on Lesbia and her pet sparrow. He refers to Lesbia as his favorite girl. He does the same in a few other poems where he writes about her, but doesn’t use her name directly. 

Even though 87 comes across as a genuine love poem, there is one line that hints toward some concern on Catullus’ part. In the final line, he uses the words “on my side” to describe the level of his commitment. Usually a commitment occurs between two people. So if Catullus is making a point to show that the commitment was on his side, then there is a possibility that the duo did not have a reciprocal commitment. 

So, the 87 could be a poem of sadness or disappointment and not necessarily a poem about deep, endearing love. Yes, Catullus loved her, but did she love him back? This poem does not answer that question. 

Remembering that Lesbia was actually Clodia, the wife of another man, makes it more likely that she may not have loved Catullus the same way he loved her. At least while he was writing 87. 

The poem shows Catullus’s ability with words. In four short lines, he was able to convey strong feelings of love, but sadness, too. He tells that he loves her more than anyone else, but we see that the commitment is on his side or his part. One-sided love isn’t what people want. They want the object of their love to love them back. The uncertainty of returned love is what creates the depth and sadness in this poem. What’s not in the poem is just as important as what is in the poem. 

 

Carmen 87

 
LineLatin textEnglish translation

1

NVLLA potest mulier tantum se dicere amatam

No woman can say truly that she has been loved

2

uere, quantum a me Lesbia amata mea est.

as much as you, Lesbia mine, were loved by me.

3

nulla fides ullo fuit umquam foedere tanta,

No faithfulness in any bond was ever

4

quanta in amore tuo ex parte reperta mea est.

such as has been found on my part in my love for you.

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Resources

 

VRoma Project: http://www.vroma.org/~hwalker/VRomaCatullus/087.html

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