Lesbia, I Love You....Until I Write Poem 8

The four Catullus poems that we have translated so far, 5, 8, 43, 51, are not in numerical order. They can, however, be placed in order (when you figure out what the heck Catullus is talking about).

The first poem would have to be Poem 51. Here, Catullus is lusting over Lesbia, saying "Lesbia, aspexi, vocis in ore, lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artis, flamma demanat, sonitu suopte tintinant aures, gemina teguntur lumina nocte." Clearly, Catullus is infatuated. But, we know that they are not a couple, since he admits his jealously of the man sitting across from Lesbia. "Ille mi par esse deo videtur, ille, si fas est, superare divos, qui sedens adversus identidem te spectat et audit dulce ridentem." In case you couldn't tell, Catullus totally wants Lesbia.

The next poem in the sequence would appear to be Poem 43, where Catullus is wondering why a women, who apparently is not all that attractive, would be compared to Lesbia. At, this point, Catullus and Lesbia appear to be together, as he refers to her as "Lesbia nostra" but it has not progressed to the point where he cannot look at other women. (After seeing this woman, he might have changed that behavior.)

Poem 5 is next; Catullus and Lesbia are a couple at this point. (I wonder what their couple name was....Catullbia or Lesullus. Personally I like Catullbia.) He makes it clear that he wants to be with her forever. "Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus" he says. Then later he talks about the death that all must face. "Soles occidere et redire possunt; nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux, nox est perpetua una dormienda." Although its a bit depressing, Catullus is just tying to tell Lesbia that she better hurry up with those 3300 kisses since one day they'll die.

Last, but certainly not least, is Poem 8. Catullus is now upset because he and his love have gone separate ways. (I get a feeling it was her, not him.) He remembers the time they spent together. "Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles, cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla; ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant, quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat, fulsere vere candidi tibi soles." So, the suns no longer shine for poor Catullus. But there is good news....Catullus finally admits that he's a fool!