otium - catullus 50

Hesterno, Licini, die otiosi multum Iusimus in meis tabellis, ut convenerat esse delicatos:

scribens versiculos uterque nostrum ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc, reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum.

Yesterday, Licinius, a leisure day,

We played a lot on my writing tablets

As it had suited us to be frivolour.

We each wrote trivial verses,

Played now in this metre and now in that,

Exchanging lines between us while we joked and drank wine.

Subject of the poem

• calvus is a friend of catullus, referred to by his cognomen (association with Licinia family)

• calvus is believed to refer to ‘Gaius Licinius Macer Calvus’, a roman poet and orator who was part of Catullus’ circle of literary friends.

  • calvus was known for eloquence and skill in poetry

• Calvus portrayed as a person of charm and wit, presence brings joy and inspiration to catullus.

• poem suggests a deep friendship between catullus and calvus → catullus expresses a longing for calvus’ copanionship and laments his absence.

metre and tone

• catullus 50 starts with a happy and light tone when they were having a great time being creative together

  • the first six lines use cheerful words like leisure, indulgent, playing, laughing and drinking.

• when they are separated, the tone shifts to an unhappy tone → shows how much catullus values friendship

vocabulary

‘hesterno die’ is a synonym for ‘heri’, but sounds grander. catullus used long and impressive sounding words → shows he is trying to impress his friend.

apostrophe

the technique of talking directly to someone in the second person - ‘you are…’

• This makes the poem feel more intimate → listening to an actual conversation between the two, intercepting a letter…

• roman poems were meant to be recited- did catullus write this with the intention of reading it to calvus?

atque illinc abi tuo lepore incensus, Licini, facetiisque, ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos sed toto indomitus furore lecto uersarer, ciems uidere lucem, ut tecum loquerer, simulque ut essem. at defessa labore membre postquam semimortua lectulo iacebant hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci, ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem. nunc audax caue sis, precesque nostras, oramus, caue despuas, ocelle, ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te.

est uehemens dea: laedere hanc caveto

indeed, i went away from there so fired up by your charm and wit,

Licinius, that food did not help me in my wretchedness and sleep did not cover my eyes with rest.

But, uncontrollable because of my frenzy,

I tossed about over the whole bed, desiring to see the daylight,

so that I could talk to you and be together with you.

But, when my limbs, tired by suffering, were lying half dead in my little bed,

Incomposed this poem for you, dear chap, from which you might perceive my pain.

Now take care that you are not proud, and, light of my life, we beg, do not despise our prayers,

lest nemesis demand punishment from you.

She is a violent goddess. Beware of offending her.

Mood

catullus explains why he is feeling so hurt and upset- ‘insensus’ is usually linked to ‘amore’ (love), suggesting catullus has both romantic feelings and a strong fondness for his friend’s poetic talent and personal qualities.

talks about catullus’ emotional pain, like feeling anxious, longimg for something, and being depressed → suggests a lovesickness, many classicists believe that catullus may have been in love with calvus

diminuitives

used to make things sound small and cute,

‘oscellos’ is the diminuitive form of the word for ‘eyes’ and suggests that he either finds the eyes cute or wants to make them look cute.

semimortua

compound word (‘half-dead’), which seems to have been invented by catullus.

roman writers liked to show off their intelligence.

nemesis

greek goddess of vengeance.

• romans have their own version of her- invidia.

• romans respected the greeks’ civilisation heavily- saw them as the pinnacle of civilisation.

• by using nemesis instead of invidia, catullus is invoking a goddess who may be seen as more cultured and impressive than his own.

• the goddess of a very specific type of vengeance- hubris.

  • the sin of believing that you were better than the gods and is seen in the story of Arachne and Minerva, where arachne boasted that she was better at weaving than minerva so was turned into a spider.

  • maybe catullus thinks that he and calvus are destined to be together and so to ignore that is to think they are better than the gods.

connection with other poems

• connection with catullus 51- theme of leisure.

  • idea holds various meanings, but for catullus and other esteemed individuals, it signified a purposeful retreat from public life to dedicate themselves to significant artistic pursuits.

  • many classicists believe that catullus intended for both poems to be read together, both juxtapose catullus’ profound sadness ('me miserum’) against fun and leisure time.

• catullus 51 focuses on lesbia (his mistress and wife of a roman senator) and love as the objects of his yearning, lending it a more serious tone, catullus 50 employs a lighter approach to convey a similar longing for the companionship of calvus.

• in both the poems, catullus lists his symptoms as a means of emphasising his affection for his subjects.