Catullus: Poem 8

miser Catulle, desinas ineptire, et quod videsperisse perditum ducas

Poor Catullus, stop being a fool, and accept that what you see has finished is over

fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles, cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat

Once suns shone brightly for you, when you always used to go where your girl led

amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla

Loved by me more than any girl ever will be loved

ibi, illa multa cum iocosa fiebant, quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat, fulsere vere candidi tibi soles

Then, when so many enjoyable things were happening, which you wanted and the girl didn’t refuse, truly the suns shone brightly for you

nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli

But now she doesn’t want that anymore: so you, since you can’t help it, must stop wanting it too

nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive, sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura

Don’t chase a girl who runs away, nor live a sad life, but keep going with a firm mind and be strong

vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat; nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam

Goodbye girl, Catullus is strong now, he’s not going to look for you nor ask for you against your will

at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla

But it’s you who will suffer, when you’re not asked at all

scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita?

Alas for you, wicked woman, what kind of life is left for you?

quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella? quem nunc amabis?

Who’s going to approach you now? Who’s going to find you attractive? Who are you going to love now?

cuius esse diceris quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?

Whose are you going to be called, who are you going to kiss? Whose lips are you going to bite?

at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura

But you, Catullus, stand firm, be strong

“miser“ analysis

Immediately sets the tone for the poem, readers understand he’s going through a difficult time

“desinas ineptire“ analysis

The verb ‘desinas’ is a subjunctive which can be used in a similar way to an imperative verb but has a much softer tone: ‘let it go’ rather than ‘let go!‘

“puella ducebat“ analysis

This image of Catullus following his girlfriend around suggests an unequal relationship. In Roman society, it was expected that the man would be dominant because the expectation was that a Roman man would follow logic rather than allow his emotions to get the better of him

“impotens“ analysis

Catullus is ‘powerless’ in the sense that he no longer has any influence over Lesbia and cannot achieve what he desires

“sectare“ analysis

First of four imperatives that together give a sense of urgency to the actions the poet should avoid. The subjunctive has become imperatives as Catullus has not been listening to his own advice and only undiluted commands can stir him to action

“vale puella“ analysis

Catullus switches from addressing him to apostrophising Lesbia, relegating himself to the third person. This creates a vivid picture, in which the reader is able to share his vision of the girl

“quae…vita“

Serves as a general introduction to the following rhetorical questions, which all exemplify the life that he visualises remaining for her now that she has abandoned him

“quis“ analysis

The answer to this and the succeeding questions, Catullus hopes, ‘no one’. The reality is that it will be her next lover. The questions appear to steadily become more passionate and intense, perhaps reflecting Catullus’ difficulty controlling his emotions

“obdura” analysis

This reaffirms Catullus’ determination to be strong and forget Lesbia. The reaffirmation is necessary because previous lines show him lapsing back into fond reminiscence of the time when he was the answer. The repetition shows that little has changed for Catullus since the beginning of the poem, almost like he’s trapped in a cycle