Catullus' Ego Essay-Revised

Catullus is quite the narcissist, and this is evident throughout his poetry. In Catullus 5 and 7, his demands of Lesbia are numerous and presumptuous, as he assumes that Lesbia will wish to do as he pleases. In Catullus 10 he goes to the point of deceiving another that he just met in order to look better. He is even angry when she forces him to admit that what he said was false. In Catullus 5, 7, and 10 Catullus shows his high opinion of himself in regards to those he comes into contact with.

In Catullus 5, Catullus starts out in the first sentence by stating that the opinions of all the serious old men are worth but a penny (Cat 5.2-3). He starts out showing how little he thinks of these men in relation to himself, showing his own inflated ego.

Catullus then demands thousands of kisses from Lesbia, assuming she wishes to kiss him this many times (Cat 5.7-10). In Catullus 7, Catullus demands as many kisses as the sands of Libya and more from Lesbia, and nothing seems to be enough for him (Cat 7.3). In Catullus 10, he lies to Varus' lover in order to make himself seem more fortunate, showing that he likes to make good impressions on others of his wealth, as he builds himself up.

In Catullus 5, he starts out using the subjunctive mood, making Lesbia think she has a choice in the matter of kissing him (Cat 5.1). He then turns on her, using the imperative, demanding from her many kisses (Cat 5.7). This shows the power Catullus believes he has over Lesbia, and he assumes  he is worthy enough of her love. Catullus 7 states this is a similar manner, again speaking of many kisses to be kissed (Cat 7.9). Catullus repeatedly calls Varus' lover a wench, showing his opinion of the woman who called his bluff (Cat 10.3 + 24).

Catullus 5, line 6 speaks of night being "perpetual in sleep," but Catullus does not only wish to convey that these are nighttime occurrences, but there is an association with the other mischievous things that go on at night that Catullus is talking about. He wants Lesbia to know that he is serious in his demands for making love, again showing is overblown ego. Catullus 7 shows a similar thought, in that Catullus states "aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox." He wishes for as many kisses as the stars, when night is silent, again giving the connotation of more going on at night (Cat 7.7). In Catullus 10, he open up by calling the girl he is to meet Varus' lover, not dignifying her with a name, and associating her with something naughty (Cat 10.1). 

In Catullus 5, "rumoresque" (Cat 5.2) stands for all the scandalous things about love, as all the serious old mean were talking about. Catullus then shows that he is above those things, saying that what those men say is worth a penny. In Catullus 7, "basia" (Cat 7.9) represents more than just the kiss, but the passion between Catullus and Lesbia. Catullus' demanding of this from Lesbia shows how he believes he has control over her, as he sees himself as better than her. "Scortillum" (Cat 10.3) stands for all the bad things a woman could be called, as Catullus dislikes Varus' lover.

Catullus 5 alludes to Lesbia, Catullus' lover (Cat 5.1), and she is again brought up in Catullus 7. Jupiter is referenced in line 5, showing the scope of the Catullus' seriousness. Catullus is not fooling around. In Catullus 10, Catullus mentions Cinna Gauis, who was actually his friend, after his lie was discovered by Varus' lover (Cat 10.30). He had already claimed Cinna's men to be his own, though, and after discovered, only mentions him in passing, so showing his regard of his friend.

Catullus 5 begins with "vivamus" (Cat 5.1), showing that the poem will be about living, and line one ends with "amemus," showing that the love between Catullus and Lesbia will be a way of living for them, or at least for Catullus. He also makes sure to end the poem with "basiorum" (Cat 5.13), showing the lasting impression he wishes to make is a passionate one, fueled by desire for Lesbia. Catullus 7 starts out in line one with "quaeris," showing that the poem will have a question/answer format. Catullus' answer to how many kisses is an innumerable quantity. Catullus wishes for their love to dominate, again showing his regard for Lesbia. Catullus chooses to end Catullus 10 with "neglegentem" (Cat 10.34), stating that Varus' lover is not one he should be careless around, showing that Catullus thinks Varus' lover is spiteful and is just trying to pick out his mistakes.

Throughout these three poems, Catullus shows repeatedly his high esteem of himself, and his low opinion of others. In Catullus' relationships with Lesbia, Varus, and Varus' lover, he shows how he places them lower than himself socially. Even though he desires for Lesbia, his desire is carnal and it seems like not much more, as all he does is demand of her. In regards to Varus' lover, Catullus believes she was out to get him, and so he dislikes her intensely for making him look like a fool. The clues to Catullus' egotism are clearly placed in his poetry, so as to accurately reflect the person writing it. 

Catullus 5 and 7 Check

ID and Parse 10 verbs from each and translate each poem


CATULLUS 5
Let us live and let us love, my Lesbia,
and let us estimate all the rumors of 
serious old men at one penny!
The suns are only able to fall and rise:
For us, when our brief light falls, 
night is perpetual in sleep.
Give to me a thousand kisses, then one hundred,
then another thousand, then a second hundred,
then all the time another thousand, then one hundred, 
then, we will make with many thousands,
we will confuse that man, let us not know,
but he is not able to cast an evil eye on us,
while knowing the number of our kisses.


1. vivamus-1st person plural present active subjunctive of "vivere" meaning "to live"
2. amemus-1st person plural present active subjunctive of "amare" meaning "to love"
3. aestimemus-1st person plural present active subjunctive of "aestimare" meaning "to value"
4. occidere-present active infinitive meaning "to fall"
5. redire-present active infinitive meaning "to return"
6. possunt-3rd person plural present active indicative of "posse" meaning "to be able"
7. occidit-3rd person singular present active indicative of "occidere" meaning "to fall"
8. est-3rd person singular present active indicative of "esse" meaning "to be"
9. da-2nd person singular present active imperative of "dare" meaning "to give"
10. fecerimus-1st person plural perfect active indicative of "facere" meaning "to make"


CATULLUS 7
You ask, how much of your kissing,
Lesbia, may be enough and more for me.
The great number of Libyan sands in 
which lie asafoetida in Cyrene
between the oracle of sweltering Jupiter
and the holy grave of old Battus;
or as many as the stars, when night is silent,
they see the furtive love of humans:
then your many kisses to kiss
may be enough and more for wild Catullus,
which neither will satisfy the curiosity to count up,
nor may evil speech be able to bewitch.


1. quaeris-2nd person singular present active indicative of "quaerare" meaning "to ask" 
2. sint-3rd person plural present active subjunctive of "esse" meaning "to be"
3. iacet-3rd person singular present active indicative of "iacere" meaning "to lie"
4. tacet-3rd person singular present active indicative of "tacere" meaning "to be silent"
5. uident-3rd person plural present active indicative of "videre" meaning "to see"
6. basiare-present active infinitive meaning "to kiss"
7. est-3rd person singular present active indicative of "esse" meaning "to be"
8. pernumerare-present active infinitive meaning "to count up"
9. possint-3rd person plural present active subjunctive of "posse" meaning "to be able"
10. fascinare-present active infinitive meaning "to bewitch"

Catullus 10-First 10 lines

My Varus lead me at leisure away from

the forum to his lover for an appearance,

 a wench, as it had seemed then to me suddenly,

certainly not lacking grace and not unattractive.

When we came to this point, we fell into

various conversations, among which, how was

Bithynia now, how it was holding itself,

and whether I had profited any money there.

I answered her which was, that neither ourselves

nor the praetors  nor their cohort had,
...

Google Doc on Verbs from Catullus 10

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1WFF20gmwNukbZ98bLBPgOxfLfNqNOs1crQ0lQ-JUA1U

Google Doc on Verbs from Catullus 5 and 7

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=11o-YBUUejofXsSVqSCVkCvTaOO5t9zEFWyRaVbwTeYI

Seduction Essay (Informal)

Catullus' poem #5 is better in that's it is more realistic. Catullus doesn't beat around the bush, and is much more passionate in his poem. Horace may be more respectful in trying to court Leuconoe, but Catullus already knows Lesbia, and they're acquainted enough for Lesbia to know who he is. Catullus then starts the poem by asking, letting Lesbia think she has a choice in the matter, but in the end he is demanding of her real passion. Catullus' poem shows much stronger emotion than Horace's.

 In the end, though, they also show a similar statement of living in the moment, but Catullus really doesn't play around, as he not only states what he wants, he demands it. Horace probably had similar feelings towards Leuconoe, but was too proper and prudent to really speak his full mind. Catullus also crafts a poem more centered around Lesbia, while Horace's poem has more general applications as well as to Lesbia.

Horace is a lot more lighthearted in his approach, being a little less forceful. Catullus is quite the opposite, with a heavier approach, forceful in his commands of Lesbia. Time will tell which poem survives the longest.

An Old and New iPod Touch

I used to have an iPod Touch,*

3rd generation to be more specific.

I put great sweat* into keeping it clean,

that iPod sure was insanely cool.*

The iPod, though, one day was

filled with many songs,

and so before I got my next iPod

surely it wouldn't be a long time.

I browsed online, checking the stats

of the new iPod, 4th generation.

Of many an awesome trait

this was an cool grouping.

So one day I made a deal with a friend,

so that he would buy my old iPod,

and so I could now afford a new iPod,

with that and my Christmas money.

I needed more room, as 32 gigs

was not enough to satisfy,

but now I'd have double the memory

this was something to change.

I eagerly awaited as my new iTouch

was transported at Apple's convenience.

Like the apple in the Garden of Eden*

this would be my guilty pleasure.

And so one day I arrived at home and

found my iPod sitting* on the table.

Of limitless fun and good times

this new iPod would surely lead to.

The four literary devices Catullus and I used were: End-stopped lines vs. emjabment, metonym, personification, and allusion. I starred an example of each.

Parsed Verbs from Catullus 3

Lugete-2nd person plural  present active imperative of "lugere" meaning "to mourn"

Mortuus est-3rd person singular present indicative of "mori" meaning "to die"

Amabat-3rd person singular imperfect active indicative of "amare" meaning "to love"

Erat-3rd person singular imperfect active indicative of "esse" meaning "to be"

Norat-3rd person singular pluperfect active indicative of "noscere" meaning "to get to know"

Mouebat-3rd person singular imperfect active indicative of "movere" meaning "to move"

Pipiabat-3rd person singular imperfect active indicative of "pipiare" meaning "to chirp"

Negant-3rd person plural present active indicative of "negare" meaning "to deny"

Redire-present active infinitive meaning "to return"

Sit-3rd person singular present active subjunctive of "esse" meaning "to be"

Deuoratis-2nd person plural present active indicative of "devorare" meaning "to devour"

Abstulistis-2nd person plural perfect active indicative of "auferre" meaning "to carry"

Rubent-3rd person plural present active indicative of "rubere" meaning "to be red"

Catullus 1, 2, 3

I. To Cornelius

To whom bestow my delightful new book

Just now polished with dry pumice?

To you, Cornelius: For you were in the habit of

Believing my trifles to be something.

Already at that time, when you alone of the Italians

Dared to unfold all ages in three writings…

Experienced, Jupiter,  and laborious!

Hence, have you whatever this is of a little book--

Of whatever kind, which, O virgin patroness,

May it remain everlasting, in more than one age!

II. Lamenting Lesbia's Sparrow

Sparrow, beloved of my girl,

With which she plays, who she holds to her bosom,

Which she gives her first finger, and is in the habit 

Of inspiring sharp bites as he seeks after it,

When looking bright with desire of me

My dear jests, unaware of what is pleasing

And her small consolation from pain,

Then I believe the painful intensity is at rest:

Could I but play with you just as she does

And lift  the sad cares of mind!

IIb.

This was as pleasing to me as that golden apple

Was to the swift girl they speak of,

Which loosened her long-time fastened girdle.

III. Lamenting Lesbia's Sparrow

Mourn, Oh Venus and Cupid,

And men who are so great among many others!

My girlfriend's sparrow is dead

Sparrow, delight of my girl

Whom she loved more than her own eyes,

For it was sweet as honey,

And it's mistress knew it as well as a girl knows her 

Very own mother, nor would it move from her lap

But hopping around, first here, then there

And would only chirp continually for it's mistress.

He who now goes through a dark journey

There, whence they deny anybody to return.

But may it go badly for you, evil darkness of

Orcus, which devours all pleasant things:

You have taken from me so charming a sparrow.

Oh evil deed! Oh poor sparrow!

Now through your work the eyes of my girl,

Swollen with weeping, are red.