CATULLUS: Poem 70

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4 Terms

1

nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle

Translation:
"My woman says that there is no-one that she would rather marry…" / “My women says that she would rather marry no-one…”

Stylistic Point:

  • Alliteration: The repetition of the "n" and “m” sound in nulli and nubere draws attention to the line's opening and reinforces its rhythm, making it more memorable.

  • Word Order and Hyperbaton: (displacement of words from their natural order) is used to emphasize "nulli" (to no one), as it is placed at the start of the sentence, highlighting the exclusivity of the lover's claim.

  • Ambiguity: “dicit” (she says) introduced underlying doubt

  • Possessive Language: The use of "mulier mea" (my woman) reflects both affection and ownership.

  • Enjambment: The line flows without stop to the text line emphasising it.

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2

quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat.

Translation:
"… than me, not even if Jupiter himself asked"

Stylistic Point:

  • Hyperbole: The claim that not even Jupiter, the king of the gods, could sway the woman (non si se Iuppiter ipse petat) is a powerful exaggeration. This hyperbole serves to emphasize the unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the speaker's beloved to him.

  • Antithesis: The contrast between Jupiter, the most powerful god, and mihi (me), the humble speaker, highlights the exclusivity of the woman’s commitment. This stark opposition amplifies the magnitude of her supposed preference.

  • Irony: The invocation of Jupiter, traditionally associated with seduction and infidelity in mythology, adds a layer of irony. While the speaker claims that even Jupiter could not tempt her, this may subtly suggest the speaker’s underlying doubts or insecurities about her fidelity.

  • Hyperbaton: "quam mihi" (than me) is placed at the start of the line, before the main clause, to emphasize the comparison and underscore the woman’s unique preference for the speaker.

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3

dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,

Translation:
"She says: but what a women says to her eager lover"

Stylistic Point:

  • Repetition: The word dicit (she says) is repeated, drawing attention to the act of speaking. It is neutral which also betrays the speakers doubts about what his lover says.

  • Diction Choice: The choice of “woman” distances himself from her and hints that he believes that all women are like this

  • Contrast: From “my women” to “women” underlines the change in the speaker’s feelings.

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4

in vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.

Translation:
"ought be written on the wind and rushing water"

Stylistic Point:

  • Metaphor: The act of writing "in the wind" or "on swift water" symbolizes impermanence and futility. It conveys the idea that the words or promises being referred to are fleeting and easily erased, much like trying to inscribe something in a medium that cannot hold it.

  • Imagery: The phrase evokes strong visual and kinetic imagery:

    • "vento" (wind): suggests something intangible and impossible to grasp.

    • "rapida aqua" (swift water): conveys motion, instability, and constant change.

  • Chiasmus: “rapida” (Adj.), “scribere” (Verb), “oportet” (Verb) and “aqua” (Adj. This chiasmus empathises unstable imagery of wind and water.

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