< The Poetry of Gaius Valerius Catullus
Text And Translation
Meter - Hendecasyllabic
| Line | Latin Text | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verani, omnibus e meis amicis | Veranius, surpassing all of my friends |
| 2 | antistans mihi millibus trecentis, | in my eyes by three hundred thousand times |
| 3 | venistine domum ad tuos penates | have you come to your home, household gods, |
| 4 | fratresque unanimos anumque matrem? | loving brothers, and old mother? |
| 5 | Venisti. O mihi nuntii beati! | You have come! O blissful news for me! |
| 6 | Visam te incolumem audiamque Hiberum | Will I see you unharmed and will hear you |
| 7 | narrantem loca, facta, nationes, | telling of the places, deeds and tribes of the Spanish |
| 8 | ut mos est tuus applicansque collum | as is your custom, and drawing your pleasant neck close |
| 9 | iucundum os oculosque suaviabor? | will I kiss your eyes and mouth? |
| 10 | O quantum est hominum beatiorem, | O what number is there of happy men |
| 11 | quid me laetius est beatiusvne? | that is happier or more blissful than I? |
Connotations of the Text
Note the two tricolon crescendos in this poem; "your household gods...old mother" and "places...tribes" - these are particularly Alexandrian aspects of Catullus' poetry. This poem also expresses Catullus' Epicurean ideal through his friendship with Veranius.
Line 1
- Verani
Veranius was a friend of Catullus's who had just returned from serving with the governor of Spain.
External Links
- Catullus 9 Translation of Catullus 9
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