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Catullus: The Complete Poems (Oxford World's Classics)

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As a Latin student of Catullus, this book was recommended to me as a guide. While the format is great for students, Latin on the left side, English on the other, I have one serious quarrel with the translation. The translator takes many liberties and does NOT translate literally. He tries to make the English version sound as poetic as Catullus would and fails. Also, Catullus is very graphic in his descriptions of lewd acts and the translator flufs the English version to make it PG-13 instead of the intended R rating.

The flamboyant poet from Verona, Catullus, who lived most of his life in Rome (84-54 BC), is probably one of the greatest personalities that stands out in Latin literature. His bold and skillful invective, summed up in witty epigrams, and his gallant love/hate relationship with the famous Lesbia all bring forth sharp reflections upon human emotions and ultimately surface Catullus' own personality. In these 116 poems, the reader will undoubtedly find something to relate to, even though they were written just over two thousand years ago. Many of the themes found here are relevant to the modern mind and condition, and seldom are boring and obscure archaisms found in the text. This complete collection of Catullus' poems, translated by Guy Lee and furnished with a parallel Latin text, is a great edition and indispensable addition to the classical library.

What can you say about Catullus? He's the poet's poet, a master of structure and language and image and soulful composition. These poems are a high point in classical literature.

The translation is reasonably good, considering the material. The language flows and in the places where the translator attempts to match the spirit of the original, although often the literal meaning of the original is lost. As others have said, he takes a few liberties to try to tweak the rating down to at least a heady PG-13, and that's not the best way to treat the poet. Most often, in this case, what is lost is the impact of the meter on the feel of the sentiment of the poem. But that can't be helped, there's no way to substitute a translation for he real thing, and as far as translations go this one is the best I've ever seen.

This review relates to -Catullus: The Complete Poems-,
Translated and Edited by Guy Lee, Oxford World's Classics,
ISBN: 0192835874.
In the poet Catullus, we have a very interesting figure.
On the one hand he has a mentality which is satiric,
sharp-tongued in its sting (waspish, if not scorpion)
which is quick to feel a slight and retaliate in
even gutter-talk hyperbole -- yet, also, there is a
very intelligent, sensitive, driven soul which is
all too sensitive to its desires, its frustrations,
and the manipulations of others.
Catullus was fascinated and mesmerized and played with
by a woman whom he calls "Lesbia" (who may or may not
have been a notorious Clodia Pulcher, wife of Metellus
Celer -- "notorious for her sexual license, who was
even rumored to have murdered her husband Metellus by
poison" -- Lee, "Introduction.") But Catullus is also
drawn to and played with by a young male whom he calls
"Juventius" (Poems XXIV, XLVIII, LXXXI, and XCIX,
and the series dealing with male love, XV-XXVI).
According to Guy Lee in his "Introduction": "Indeed it
would be true to say that we know more about Catullus
from his poetry than about any other classical poet,
with the exception of Horace and Ovid. This is because
two thirds of his work are concerned with actual moments,
incidents, and personalities in his life. Virtually all
his epigrams (I-LX as well as LXIX - CXVI) are concerned
with his emotional reactions to other people, his
contemporaries."
According to Lee, also, "Catullus came from a rich and
influential family in the neighbourhood of Verona. He
had the entree to high society in Rome and like the
satirist Lucilius in the previous century could afford
to throw his weight about." However, Catullus is
also highly intelligent and literate: "...Catullus is
well known as a *doctus poeta* or scholar-poet (Martial
calls hiim *doctus* on several occasions) and was well
acquainted with Greek literature, as is shown by his
translations from Sappho and Callimachus, his knowledge
of Greek epigram, and his not unlikely connection with
the Hellenistic poet Pathenius...."
The sensitive side of Catullus can be found in the
poems bemoaning the loss of his brother in a foreign
land -- and the description of the betrayal and
abandonment of Ariadne by Theseus (Poem LXIV).
The best poem summing up Catullus might be LXXXV:
I hate and love. Perhaps you're asking
why I do that?
I don't know, but I feel it
happening, and am racked.
-- Robert Kilgore.

All of humanity is but wind racing over the plain of life, never to return. What we have in the poetry of Catullus is an echo of deeply felt love from long ago. Catullus had what I would deem a very un-Roman view of the world. His voice of passion rises, if only briefly, above the usual din of duty and "the good life." It is a wonder to think on the paths pages must make to descend to future generations. It is a happy coincidence that these fascinating pages by a man with a unique voice have come unto us.

Perhaps the best thing about Catullus's poetry is that in them he talks to himself.

Take for example poem number eight. The first two lines begin with Catullus reproaching himself for still loving-we suppose-Lesbia. But then he spends the next six lines, a whole third of the poem, reminding himself of the pleasurable days when they were still lovers. It is almost as if, in reproaching himself for not putting Lesbia behind him and forgetting her, Catullus actually reminds himself of the good aspects her love. Thus, the reproach has the opposite affect of its intent, which to get himself to forget Lsebia. But, the ease in which he falls into reminiscence tells us about the speaker. It illustrates why he must reproach himself.

In line nine, Catullus catches himself and again reproaches himself: "Now she no longer wishes; you mustn't want it." This reproach comes almost as if Catullus realizes what he has done-fallen into the habit of dwelling on her-and gets mad at himself. He obviously still hurts, but Catullus turns this feeling around-in a classic Freudian reaction formation-and addresses the next lines to Lesbia: "Goodbye now, Lady. Catullus' heart is hardened / he will not look to you or call against your wishes." As if telling her will make it so.

The next lines are typical angry lover's rhetoric, warning her that she'll regret her decision to leave him. Following in that same spirit, Catullus uses the next three lines to remind Lesbia what she will miss. But, in an interesting twist, emphasized by the italicized word "you," Catullus addresses the last line of the poem to himself: "But you, Catullus! You must hold out now, firmly!" What has Catullus done? Is it possible that, in warning Lesbia of the things she will miss, Catullus has actually once again reminded himself of the things he will miss?

We are left wondering whether Catullus has actually not made himself feel worse. And this is what makes this a good poem. There is a payoff for taking time reading this poem: seeing how the speaker's overt words contribute, and lead to, more feelings and further reaction. Thus, although the surface poem seems like another example of an angry lover's protestation, the poem underneath is a crafty interior monologue. The poet Catullus gives us a glimpse that perhaps we know more of lover-Catullus's feelings and can read his thinking better than he can.

"How many kisses satisfy, how many are enough and more?"
--Gaius Valerius Catullus

Catullus--wealthy, witty, and elegant--was only 30 when he died in Republican Rome, leaving a relatively small quantity of verse.

Written for his circle of friends, his bawdy and sexually direct lyrics can sometimes shock. His most memorable poetry, as passionate and sensuous as it is subtle, focuses on his love for an unattainable married woman named Lesbia and his changing attitudes towards her.

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