Catullus 36
Catullus 36 is a Latin poem of twenty lines in Phalaecean metre by the Roman poet Catullus.[1]
Text
Literal English translation | Original Latin | Line |
---|---|---|
Annals of Volusius, shitted papyrus, |
Annālēs Volusī, cacāta carta, |
36.1 |
Analysis
Catullus calls upon the Annales Volusi (lit. 'Annals of Volusius') to aid him in the discharge of a vow made by Lesbia, invokes Venus to recognize the payment, and with the word throws the Annals into the fire.[1]
According to E. T. Merrill, the poem was evidently written about 59 or 58 BC, in the short period of reconciliation after the temporary coolness marked by Catullus 8.1ff.[1]
References
Sources
- Burton, Richard F.; Smithers, Leonard C., eds. (1894). The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus. London: Printed for the Translators: for Private Subscribers. pp. 66–68.
- Merrill, Elmer Truesdell, ed. (1893). Catullus (College Series of Latin Authors). Boston, MA: Ginn and Company. pp. 64–66. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Morgan, M. Gwyn (1980). "Catullus and the "Annales Volusi"". Quaderni Urbinati Di Cultura Classica, 4. pp. 59–67.
Further reading
- Clarke, G. W. (1968). "The Burning of Books and Catullus 36". Latomus, 27. pp. 576–580.
- Comfort, H. (1929). "An Interpretation of Catullus XXXVI". Classical Philology, 24. pp. 176–182. doi:10.1086/361120.
- Morgan, M. G. (1980). "Catullus and the Annales Volusi". Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica, 4. pp. 59–67.
- Østerud, S. (1978). "Sacrifice and Bookburning in Catullus' Poem 36". Hermes, 106. pp. 138–155.
- Solodow, J. P. (1989). "Forms of Literary Criticism in Catullus: Polymetric vs. Epigram". Classical Philology, 84. pp. 312–319.
External links
- C. Valerius Catullus. "Catul. 36". Carmina. Leonard C. Smithers, ed. Perseus Digital Library. Retrieved 27 February 2023.