Catullus 2: The Sparrow
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari,
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo, ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
A note on some difficult grammar: As a class we got hung up in line 5-7. First desiderio meo nitenti are all dative. for my shining desire. Second cum translate as when. third nescio with quid means some kind.
posted by AwesomeAndrade @ 8:15 AM
9 Comments:
Mr. Perry, Mr. Bihl and I share the common opinion that the sparrow is a metaphor referring to his penis. I haven't translated the whole thing because I am too lazy, but it fits within the first half I have. We'll discuss this risky business tommorow.
Well I will say this. That is an intriguing interpretation. I would disagree however. We are not talking about some piece of tail that Catullus is speaking about. He is talking about a woman he deeply cares about and I doubt that he would speak of her in such vulgar ways. Just a thought.
5-6
...With a desire to shine for me
it pleases my dear not to know some sort of jest..
Yeah, probably way off. I actually checked it against some other translations I found floating around the internet and... mine is pretty different but this is what I had originally before I checked other translations.
The Sparrow
Sparrow, plaything of my girl
With whom she plays, held fast in her lap.
For whom she is accustomed to tease with her finger tips (paraphrased from class discussion)
And to urge on bites
With a longing for my pleasing shine. (whhhhattt)
To make, I dont know what dear joke.
And small solace to her pain. (?...)
Believe, so that her burdened passion be subsided
If only I was able to play with you
And lighten the sad worries of your spirit.
*ok so pretty much my best interpretation of this piece is simply that the guy (narrator) is watching with envy, an actually sparrow (regardless at this point of any riskè ambiguity) being played with by a girl whom he is also watching. (He wants the girl obviously)
With regard to the sexual ambiguity, I dont think it is a coincidence that some phrases can be intepreted as vulgar, it is just not as prevelant as some are making it and rather an intended thought that Catullus most likely would have wanted to cross the minds of his audiance. It is not however, the main point of which we should be interpretting this poem.
There's my 2 cents...... ~Seth
Sparrow, play thing of my girl,
with whom she accostomed to playing,
whom she is accostomed to hold in her lap,
to whom seeking she gives her finger tip and incites sharp bites,
when it is pleasing for my shining desire (dative) to make some kind of joke (nescio+quid+iocari in the genitive=some kind of joke) and to make sweet comfort for her pain, I believe, so that he heavy passion will be laid to rest: alas to be able to play with you yourself and to lighten the cares of your sad heart.
Hmmm I have been looking at this poem for a while and two more things emerged. First iocari is definitely an infinitive. It can't be a noun in the genitive. I am also trying to see how it links with the accusative carum and the accusative solaciolum. More to follow. Also sui is her not he
Whats Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & assist other customers like its aided me. Good job.
[url=http://mini.dha-appraisals.com/]instant payday loans[/url]
payday loans uk
top [url=http://www.001casino.com/]online casino[/url] brake the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]casino[/url] manumitted no set aside reward at the best [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]casino games
[/url].
jqcpfiilz www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com gqthhyfmh [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]louis vuitton wallet for women[/url] osnuivihs
krvtrsert www.louisvuittononsaleshoes.com oxucrukaa [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]louis vuitton wallets[/url] mcnfwrrpj
oysmmdudq www.newdiscountlouisvuittonhandbags.com sznxpjpra [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]discount louis vuitton handbags[/url] mfqvixjme
ibtzsmprv www.louisvuittonluggageonline.com zyxcizhgt [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]louis vuitton bags sale[/url] txhgzukdw
bqurjfhtt www.louisvuittononlineshoes.com qgsuhamgs [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]louis vuitton uk[/url] gvbilfgrx
Post a Comment
<< Home