Catullus 2 - Latin Text and Translation

Latin Text and Translation

The following Latin text is taken from the 2003 critical edition of D. F. S. Thomson.

**Poem 2**
Line	Latin Text
1	Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
2	quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
3	cui primum digitum dare appetenti
4	et acris solet incitare morsus,
5	cum desiderio meo nitenti
6	carum nescio quid lubet iocari,
7	et solaciolum sui doloris,
8	credo, ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
9	tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
10	et tristis animi levare curas!

The following lines 11-13 (Catullus 2b) refer to the Greek myth of Atalanta, a young princess who was remarkably swift of foot. To avoid marriage, she stipulated that she would marry only a man who could beat her in a footrace; suitors who failed to defeat her would be put to death. The hero Melanion (also known as Hippomenes) wooed Atalanta, who fell in love with him. During the race, Melanion threw a golden apple to distract her; stooping to pick it up, Atalanta lost the race, possibly deliberately so that she could marry him. The final line refers to undressing on the wedding night.

**Poem 2b**
Line	Latin Text
11	tam gratum est mihi quam ferunt puellae,
12	pernici aureolum fuisse malum,
13	quod zonam soluit diu ligatam.

Various analyses of this poem suggest that Catullus may have intentionally used the word 'passer', (even though historically speaking any pet bird of the time was likely to be a blue thrush, not a sparrow), as a metaphor of the penis. In Ancient times small birds and in particular, sparrows, were often used literarily as representations of the male genitalia.{cn} With this in mind, it is important to consider the possibility of this poem being a presentation of Catullus' envy towards other furtive lovers his 'darling' Lesbia may have had. 'Solaciolum sui doloris' possibly referring to Lesbia's sexual frustration. This analysis also makes the idea of Atalanta's sexual frustration in lines 11-13, emphasised by the use of the word 'diu', much more significant.

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