In an effort to fill the voids in Saturday’s news cycle, the reader will be gracious in forgiving my endeavors to translate the works of Catullus.
Many have translated, and I don’t pretend to be more adept than they; however, many have translated with more regard to reason than rhyme. While this is consistent with Latin poetics (and even modern poetry), I aim to do the opposite. Call me old-fashioned, but I still find English verse infinitely more enjoyable when cadences match in rhythm and sound.
Catullus 1 is an epistolary poem to Cornelius Nepos, Greco-Roman Roman historian and patron of the arts.
This is your 10 heptapodies of Civilization.
**
To whom shall now I dedicate this charming little scroll,
which by my hand is polished clean with arid pumice-stones?
To you, oh wise Cornelius, accustomed to console
me by calling valuable my meager rhythmic groans
You alone in Italy with courage undertook
to explicate the world’s past in three stupendous books—
so thorough in research, by Jove, and equally adroit.
On this account I give to you my works for your exploit.
Please, oh virgin patron, I only ask of thee,
To see my rhymes succeed, beyond eternity!
**
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis…
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo!
**
(This is not a literal translation. Latin students be forewarned — if you attempt to use this in assignment you will likely have much explaining to do…)
