Catullus 96 Translation
Introduction |
Catullus often wrote verses about his friends and this is one of those poems. He wrote about the death of his friend Calvus and his love, Quintilla. The way the poem is written, it seems as though both are dead and they are enjoying their love together, beyond the grave. This poem has kindness and longing to it as Catullus seems to be grieving for his friends.
In lines one and two, Catullus wrote about how a silent grave could have some pleasure or sweetness from grief. In lines three and four, he wrote about the grief and regret that makes loves live again and weep for lost friendships. In five and six, he wrote about Quintilla who feels more sorrow for dying than love for him.
It is difficult to distinguish whether Calvus and Quintilla are both dead or if only one of them is. The silence from the grave seems to be coming from both of them. Since Catullus addresses Calvus in line two, it seems that he is dead. And, in line five, Catullus wrote that Quintilla had a “too early death.” She has sorrow for death, but no more sorrow than pleasure from his love.
Since their love is not lost, it seems as if their “old loves live again” in their deaths and their time in the afterlife together. The hints that they are together in the afterlife – or in “the silent grave” – come in the first line when the grave could receive pleasure or sweetness.
In line four, Catullus refers to friendships, plural. This could also confirm that the two of them are dead and enjoying each other beyond the grave. But, it seems as though Catullus is experiencing some grief and regret about how love lives again by weeping for the loses of friendships. Catullus did not write many sad poems, but this is one of them.
Carmen 96 |
| Line | Latin text | English translation |
|---|---|---|
1 | SI quicquam mutis gratum acceptumque sepulcris | IF the silent grave can receive any pleasure, or sweetness at all |
2 | accidere a nostro, Calue, dolore potest, | from our grief, Calvus, |
3 | quo desiderio ueteres renouamus amores | the grief and regret with which we make our old loves live again, |
4 | atque olim missas flemus amicitias, | and weep for long-lost friendships, |
5 | certe non tanto mors immatura dolori est | surely Quintilla feels less sorrow for her too early death, |
6 | Quintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo. | than pleasure from your love. |
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Resources |
VRoma Project: http://www.vroma.org/~hwalker/VRomaCatullus/096.html
