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Catullus 85

Catullus 85 is a poem by the Roman poet Catullus for his lover Lesbia. Its declaration of conflicting feelings, "I hate and I love", is renowned for its drama, force and brevity.[1] The meter of the poem is the elegiac couplet.

Text

Ōdī et amō. Quārē id faciam fortasse requīris.
Nesciŏ, sed fierī sentiō et excrucior.[2]

I hate and I love. Why I do this, perhaps you ask.
I know not, but I feel it happening and I am tortured.[2]

–  u  u /  –   –  /   –   u u / –   –  /  –  u  u /   – –
Ōd'et a / mō. Quā / r'id faci / am for / tasse re / quīris.
 
 – u u  /  –  u u /  – /  –   u  u  / –   u  u  / –
Nesciŏ, / sed fie / rī / sen ti' et / ex cru ci / or.[3]

Musical settings

References

  1. ^ "Odi et amo (Catullus 85)", Classical Literature, ancient-literature.com
  2. ^ a b C. Valerius Catullus. "Poem 85". Carmina. Translated by Leonard C. Smithers. Perseus Project. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  3. ^ Kitchell, Kenneth F. Jr.; Smith, Sean (2006). Catullus: A Legamus Transitional Reader. p. xxix. ISBN 978-0-86516-634-9. Retrieved April 17, 2006.
  4. ^ "Odi et amo" by Jóhann Jóhannsson on YouTube
  5. ^ "Wrecking Ball" (Eric Whitacre Singers & Marius Beck) on YouTube