Gaius Valerius Catullus, Carmina (ed. Sir Richard Francis Burton)
Editions and translations: Latin (ed. E. T. Merrill) | English (ed. Sir Richard Francis Burton) | English (ed. Leonard C. Smithers)
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IN SELF-GRATULATION.If to remember deeds whilòme well done be a pleasure
Meet for a man who deems all of his dealings be just,
Nor Holy Faith ever broke nor in whatever his compact
Sanction of Gods abused better to swindle mankind,
Much there remains for thee during length of living, Catullus,
Out of that Love ingrate further to solace thy soul;
For whatever of good can mortal declare of another
Or can avail he do, such thou hast said and hast done;
While to a thankless mind entrusted all of them perisht.
Why, then, crucify self now with a furthering pain?
Why not steady thy thoughts and draw thee back from such purpose,
Ceasing wretched to be maugrè the will of the Gods?
Difficult 'tis indeed long Love to depose of a sudden,
Difficult 'tis, yet do e'en as thou deem to be best.
This be thy safe-guard sole; this conquest needs to be conquered;
This thou must do, thus act, whether thou cannot or can.
If an ye have (0 Gods!) aught ruth, or if you for any
Bring at the moment of death latest assistance to man,
Look upon me (poor me!) and, should I be cleanly of living,
Out of my life deign pluck this my so pestilent plague,
Which as a lethargy o'er mine inmost vitals a-creeping,
Hath from my bosom expelled all of what joyance it joyed,
Now will I crave no more she love me e'en as I love her,
Nor (impossible chance!) ever she prove herself chaste:
Would I were only healed and shed this fulsome disorder.
Oh Gods, grant me this boon unto my piety due!
There are a total of 51 comments on and cross references to this page.
Further comments from E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus:
poem 76 (general note)
poem 76, line 1: priora
poem 76, line 10: tu
poem 76, line 11: animo offirmas
poem 76, line 11: -que
poem 76, line 11: te reducis
poem 76, line 12: dis invitis
poem 76, line 12: desinis esse miser
poem 76, line 13: longum amorem
poem 76, line 14: qua libet
poem 76, line 16: pote
poem 76, line 17: si
poem 76, line 18: extremam
poem 76, line 19: punter
poem 76, line 2: pium
poem 76, line 20: pestem perniciemque
poem 76, line 21: hei
poem 76, line 21: subrepens ut torpor
poem 76, line 21: imos artus
poem 76, line 23: contra diligat
poem 76, line 24: potis
poem 76, line 3: nec sanctam violasse fidem
poem 76, line 3: nec foedere … homines
poem 76, line 5: parata manent tibi
poem 76, line 6: ingrato
poem 76, line 7: cuiquam
poem 76, line 9 (general note)
Cross references from E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus:
* [Lesbia.]
* [Later years. Relations with Caesar.]
*: dis invitis
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*: contra ut me diligat illa
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Cross references from Sulpicia, Carmina Omnia (ed. Anne Mahoney):
* [Introduction to the notes]
Cross references from Anne Mahoney, Overview of Latin Syntax:
abl [Ablative]: Tu animo offirmas
verb_agree [Agreement]: Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem
pass [Passive]: Haec a te dictaque factaque sunt
Cross references from W. M. Lindsay, An Introduction to Latin Textual Emendation:
2, 2 [Causes of transposition errors]: non jam illud quaero contra me ut [me] diligat illa
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This text is based on the following book(s): Catullus. Carmina. Sir Richard Francis Burton. trans. London. For translator for private use. 1894. OCLC: 878062
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