Catullus 16
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Catullus 16 is famous among Catullus's Carmina because it is so obscene and abusive that it has not been translated in print until relatively recently.[1] Several editions of Catullus's works colorfully omit the more offensive parts of the poem; the Loeb Classical Edition of Catullus's works formerly left the first and last lines in Latin,[2] and other works blank out the two obscene words in the same lines.[3] It is famous among classicists as a benchmark of classical obscenity and invective.
Catullus addresses the poem to two unknown men, Furius and Aurelius, perhaps competing poets, perhaps literary constructs, as invective poetry was popular at the time. Modern Catullus scholarship speculates that they are likely the same people referred to in Catullus 11 and other poems.[4][5][6] Apparently, Furius and Aurelius find Catullus' verses to be mollici, or "soft." A better translation in the parlance of our times would be "wussy." Catullus responds with intense abuse and invective:
[edit] Text and translation
| Line | Latin text | English translation[7][8][9][10] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo, | I will fuck you in the ass and throat-rape you. |
| 2 | Aureli pathice et cinaede Furi, | Kinky Aurelius and bottom-man Furius, |
| 3 | qui me ex versiculis meis putastis, | You who think that I'm a pussy |
| 4 | quod sunt molliculi, parum pudicum. | Because of my delicate verses. |
| 5 | Nam castum esse decet pium poetam | It's right for the devoted poet to be chaste |
| 6 | ipsum, versiculos nihil necesse est; | Himself, but it's not necessary for his verses to be so. |
| 7 | qui tum denique habent salem ac leporem, | Verses which then have taste and charm, |
| 8 | si sunt molliculi ac parum pudici | If they are delicate and sexy, |
| 9 | et quod pruriat incitare possunt, | And when they can incite an itch, |
| 10 | non dico pueris, sed his pilosis | And I don't mean in boys, but in those hairy old men |
| 11 | qui duros nequeunt movere lumbos. | Who can't get their flaccid dicks up. |
| 12 | Vos, quod milia multa basiorum | You, because you have read of my thousand kisses, |
| 13 | legistis, male me marem putatis? | You think I'm a pussy? |
| 14 | Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo. | I will fuck you in the ass and throat-rape you. |
[edit] References
- ^ Catullus Purified: A Brief History of Carmen 16. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
- ^ Publisher references censorship for consideration of decency in former edition. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
- ^ translation of poem that leaves out obscene words. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
- ^ Arnold, Bruce; Aronson, Andrew; Lawall, Gilbert. (2000). Love and Betrayal: A Catullus Reader.
- ^ list of poems that Furius is in. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
- ^ list of poems that Aurelius is in. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
- ^ Dictionary. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
- ^ Translation #1. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
- ^ Translation #2. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
- ^ John C. Traupman (1994,1966). The New College Latin & English Dictionary. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.
