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What do we learn about Catullus the man from the selection of poetry we have read
bella.' Catullus is biding his time, watching the, 'ocelli' of Lesbia which are, 'rubent turgiduli flendo', and waiting to make his move.
Poems five, eight, seven and thirteen are open to the interpretation of the fact that Catullus is with Lesbia, however there is still much evidence to supply the opposite view. The first two lines of poem two, loudly exclaiming, 'vivemus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus,' and telling her not to care about, 'omnes rumores severiorem senum,' do slightly imply that Catullus is with Lesbia but looking over the body of the poem, it can be seen that this is not the case. It is another deception and looks as if he is projecting a vision to himself. The later lines of the poem, 'nobis cum brevis lux semel occidit' and, 'cum fecerimus multa milia (of kisses)' although pleasantly romantic, have not actually happened yet (they are all talking about the future) and just give the inclination that Catullus is still fantasising. Poem seven is just another one of Catullus' fantasies of courtship. It is a playfull one wittily asking, 'quot mihi basiationes tuae sint satis superque,' for himself. He also shows his academic knowledge by referring to, 'oraclum Iovis…et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum.' Poem eight is one of the few poems, if one was so inclined, that can give rise to a strong feeling that Catullus really had an affair with Lesbia. However, with the direction I have taken it can be seen to give the opposite view. For example when Catullus tells himself to, 'desinas ineptire, et quod vides perisse ducas perditum' he has realised that his positive pontificating is over-this fantasy is going nowhere. 'Quondam candidis fulsere' on Catullus and his visions when, 'multa iocosa fiebant quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat.' If Lesiba hadn't wanted the, 'iocosa' to take place she wouldn't have let them, 'fiebant' and so where, if the, 'iocosa' did take place, would they have happened? In Catullus's mind. This poem is Catullus's 'wake up call' to himself to tell him to stop fantasising and with a, 'obstinata ment perfer,' as from then on he will, 'nec rogabit invitam.' Poem seventy-six although not as strong minded as poems eight and eleven is evidence of a build-up to the sentiment he expresses in those two poems. Although he asks the Gods to, 'eripite hanc pestem perniciem mihi' he shows signs of wanting the contrary as he makes references to 'his', longum amore' and wishes her to be, 'pudica.' Poem thirteen can be seen as some sort of conclusion for either view of Catullus's relationship with Lesbia. It is concrete evidence that Catullus either had a lover (if this is true then it's not Lesbia here) or was once again projecting his visions into reality (if this is the case then he would be with Lesbia.) Catullus definitely seems very much 'high on life' as he jokes lightly about Fabulus bringing a, 'bonam cenam non sine puella et wine et sale.' Catullus is trying [next page]