2. "The vessel says it was the swiftest." The same construction as the well known sensit medios delapsus in hostes' of Virgil. 66 15. Ultima ex origine, “ of a very ancient stock." 'Quamvis Pontica pinus 'Sylvæ filia nobilis 'Jactes et genus et nomen inutile.'-HOR. 17. Impotentia, "violent, unable to command itself." 'Otium divos rogat impotente 'Prensus Ægæo.' And, Non imber edax, aut Aquilo impotens.'-Hor. So ἀκρατής means " unable to restrain ;” e. g. γλώσσης ἀκρατής. Esch. Prom. Vinct. 884. 20. "Or whether a favourable wind came equally against both sides of the sail :" i. e. it was a full wind, (oupios,) coming straight from the stern. 21. Pedem-Tóda-the rope which fastened the bottom corner of the sail to the side of the vessel; the halser; or, the corner of the sail itself. 'Una omnes fecere pedem.'-VIRG. " made sail." καὶ ναῦς μὲν ἐνταθεισα πρὸς βίαν ποδι ἔβαψεν, ἔςη δ' αὖθις, ἢν χαλᾶ πόδα.—EURIP. Orest. 707. 22. As the vessel had never suffered from a storm, its crew on arriving at land had never performed the vows, which, under the pressure of danger, they had made to the gods of the sea. 23. Mare novissimo, " a very distant sea." Catullus appears to have used this form of the ablative, instead of mari. CARM. V. An invitation to Lesbia to enjoy the pleasures of life, because it is short. The metre of this, and the two next poems, is Hendecasyllabic. 1. Vivamus, "let us enjoy life." Vive memor quam sis ævi brevis.'-HOR. 2. Rumores," the remarks spread abroad about us, by illtempered old men." 4. These lines teach us, that Catullus believed "man to be like the beasts that perish;" and certainly his life was a worthy and consistent illustration of his creed. Moschus has, ἄμμες δ', οἱ μεγάλοι καὶ καρτεροὶ ἢ σοφοὶ ἄνδρες, 12. Malus," using witchcraft." Invidere," to injure." CARM. VI. The poet declares his inability to express the depth of his affection for Lesbia, by saying that no conceivable number of kisses could satisfy him. 4. Laserpiciferis, or Laserpitiferis, "producing the herb called by the Greeks, σíxpiov,-producing the juice laser." 5. Jovis, i. e. “Jupiter Hammon." Batti, the founder of Cyrene. 11. Curiosi, 66 men who pry into such matters," out of a desire to do harm. 12. Fascinare, (Baσkalvei,)" to bewitch." 'Aut si ultra placitum laudârit, baccare frontem CARM. VII. The poet congratulates his friend Verannius on his return from Spain. 2. Antistans, or antestans, "standing before;" hence, "better than." Mihi," in my judgment and affections." 10. "Of all happy men, who is happier than I am?" m CARM. VIII. The poet, in these Sapphic stanzas, tells his friends Furius and Aurelius, that he is confident they would go to the end of the world with him. He begs them to give a message to Lesbia, whose infidelity to him he tenderly rebukes. Horace evidently took these stanzas for the model of the 6th ode of his 2nd book ; herbas.'-VIRG. Fusus [i. e. sanguis] humum viridesque super And infra, CARM. xii.— 'Verum totius ut lacus putidæque paludis madefecerat 5. It is not clear why the Arabians are called molles: possibly from the supposed delicacy of their climate. They were a proverb with the Romans for wealth. 'Intactis opulentior thesauris Arabum ;'— And, Icci, beatis nunc Arabum invides gazis.'-HOR. Tibullus applies the epithet tener' to them, 'Quos tener e terra divite mittit Arabs.' 16. Amorem, "" my heart, which is withered and broken, in consequence of her infidelity." CARM. IX. One Asinius, who came from the Italian Province of the Marrucini, had an unhappy trick of pilfering napkins, handkerchiefs (sudaria,) and other small matters, from the friends that he dined with. He carried these larcenies to such an extent, that his brother Pollio valued the fruits of his thefts at a talent. Amongst other victims was Catullus, who lost a pocket handkerchief, which he begs Asinius to send back, as he valued it extremely, in consequence of its having been given him as a memorial of friendship by Verannius and Fabullus. He also admonishes Asinius, that there is no wit in stealing from one's friends; but on the contrary, great roguery and meanness. The metre of this and the two following poems is Hendecasyllabic. 66 4. Fugit te," you forget," or, you are wrong." 5. Quamvis," very;" literally," as you will." CICERO, pro Rosc. Amer. 16,-' Quasi mihi difficile sit quamvis multos nominatim proferre tribules.' And, ad Div. ii. 16,- Eo si onere carerem, quamvis parvis Italiæ latebris contentus essem.' 8. Leporum disertus," a person who understands what good manners and humour are. The genitive case after disertus, (used in the sense of callidus,) is very remarkable. 14. Setabis, (hod. Xativa, in Valencia,) was famous for its production of excellent flax. 17. Veranniolum. Catullus is fond of diminutive forms, as, pallidulus, turgidulus, lacrymula. But such words are not to be considered as of authority for heroic, or elegiac verse. CARM. X. Fabullus is invited, in these Hendecasyllables, to sup with Catullus, who tells him, if he will bring his supper with him, he shall be happy to entertain him with a hearty welcome; but that, his money being all spent, has left him no means of doing more. He will, however, find perfumes, which the Loves themselves gave to Lesbia. 8. "This purse is full of cobwebs ;" i. e. has nothing in it; has not been used for a long time. 11. HORACE, Od. iv. 12, invites Virgil much on the same terms: 'Adduxere sitim tempore, Virgili ; CARM. XI. Calvus, by way of a joke, had sent Catullus a batch of exceeding bad poetry, as a sort of Christmas box at the feast of Saturnalia. Catullus, however, seems scarcely to have relished the joke; and he tells his friend, in these Hendecasyllables, that he has put his love for him to a hard trial; warning him of his intention to pay him off in his own coin, by sending him all the rubbish (venena) he can get out of the desks of the vilest dabblers in poetry, the Casii, Aquinii, Suffeni, &c. With such scourges (suppliciis) he resolves to punish him. 2. Munere isto, " for this hateful present." 3. Odio Vatiniano;—either, "with such a hatred as Vatinius had for Cicero;" or, "such a hatred as all men had for Vatinius:" as Cicero says in Vatin. i,— Odio enim tui, in quo etsi omnes propter tuum in me scelus superare debeo, tamen ab omnibus pæne vincor.' 8. Calvus, who was a barrister as well as a poet, seems to have defended one Sylla, a grammarian, whom Catullus ironically suspects of having given to Calvus these poems, supposing them to be good; and so he rejoices that his friend's forensic displays do not always go unrewarded, (dispereunt.) 12. Sacrum libellum, "oh! the abominable volume !" 14. "That he might instantly perish on the happiest day of days, the Saturnalia." This feast originally lasted only one day; and such would seem to have been the case in the age of Catullus. Or, if the feast was irregularly prolonged, yet one particular day appears to have been the true Saturnalia. Under Julius Cæsar, several days were added; and, ultimately, the festival lasted seven. 16. Abibit,—ἀποβήσεται, -"shall end,” i. e. “ get off so quietly." you shall not CARM. XII. The indignation of Catullus had been excited, in consequence of some very stupid man having married a beautiful young woman, of whom he was unworthy, and to whose accomplishments he was insensible. This dullard was the inhabitant of some colony; supposed to be the colony of Novo Comum (Como,) lately planted by J. Cæsar, on the shores of the Lacus Larius (Lago di Como.) Catullus addresses this colony, and says that, as it wishes to have a smart bridge, or pier, to be built, but is afraid, lest, from the rottenness of the swampy foundation on which it would be raised, it would fall,-he hopes it may have a beautiful bridge, strong enough for the Sabii to dance on, provided it b |