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Farewell to Bithynia! – Catullus 46 (with Latin word analysis)

Classical literature of the ancient Graeco-Roman civilisation is known for its mythological themes and epic works of poetry. Just think of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, or Virgil’s Aeneid – great, canonical epics that have set the standard for Western literature for centuries to come. But did you know that the classical Latin literature also had its own “modernist”, avant-garde scene?

Towards the end of the Roman republic, over 2000 years ago, a group of poets started developing a literary style very different from the traditional, experimenting with a wide range of themes and much shorter forms. They came to be known as poetae novi – new poets, in English also called the “neoterics”, after the Greek equivalent νεωτερικοί [neoterikoi]. Chief among them: Gaius Valerius Catullus.

In this post, we’ll have a look at one of his nature-themed poems, no. 46. If you’re somewhat acquainted with those “greater” classical poets, you‘ll notice how different Catullus’ writing feels compared to some of them: there are no gods, heroes or warriors here. His verses are very personal and emotional, focused on celebrating something as simple as the arrival of spring, and his much anticipated travel from Bithynia in the East, where he stayed from the summer of 57 to 56 BC.

If your Latin is a bit rusty or you happen to be a Latin learner, below the poem you’ll find a detailed, verse-by-verse word analysis, along with an English translation. At the very end of the post there are a few links to additional resources on Catullus, and the context of this particular poem.

Iam vēr ēgelidōs refert tepōrēs,
iam caelī furor aequinoctiālis
iūcundīs Zephyrī silēscit aurīs.
Linquantur Phrygiī, Catulle, campī
Nīcaeaeque ager ūber aestuōsae:
ad clārās Asiae volēmus urbēs.
Iam mēns praetrepidāns avet vagārī,
iam laetī studiō pedēs vigēscunt.
Ō dulcēs comitum valēte coetūs,
longē quōs simul ā domō profectōs
dīversae variae viae reportant.

WORD FORM ANALYSIS

VERSE 1

iam – adverb, indeclinable; now, already

ver – noun ver, -is, n. in the nominative sg. case; spring

egelidos – adjective egelidus, 3 in the accusative pl. case; lukewarm, tepid, mild

refert – verb refero, 3. -tuli, -latum in the 3. p. sg. Present Active Indicative; brings back

tepores – noun tepor, -is, m. in the accusative pl. case; warmth, mild heat

VERSE 2

caeli – noun caelus, -i, m. in the genitive sg. case; [of the] sky, heavens

furor – noun furor, -is, m. in the nominate sg. case; fury, madness, rage

aequinoctialis – adjective aequinoctialis, 2 in the nominative sg. case; equinoctial

VERSE 3

iucundis – adjective iucundus, 3 in the ablative pl. case; pleasant

Zephyri – noun Zephyrus, -i, m. in the genitive sg. case; [of] Zephyrus (the west wind, considered a spring wind by the Romans)

silescit – verb silesco, 3. in 1. p. sg. Present Active Indicative; becomes silent, grows quiet

auris – noun aura, -ae f. in the ablative pl. case; breezes

VERSE 4

linquantur – verb linquo, 3. liqui in the 3. p. pl. Present Passive Subjunctive; let [x] be left behind

Phrygii – adjective Phrygius, 3 in the nominative pl. case; Phrygian (a province in central Anatolia)

Catulle – noun / personal name Catullus, -i. m. in the vocative sg. case; oh, Catullus

campi – noun campus, -i. m. in the nominative pl. case; fields, meadows

VERSE 5

Nicaeaeque – noun / toponym Nicaea, -ae, f. in the genitive sg. case + suffix -que; and of Nicea (the capital of Bithynia)

ager – noun ager, -ri, m. in the nominative sg. case; field

uber – adjective uber, 2 in the nominative sg. case; fertile, fruitful, abundant

aestuosae – adjective aestuosus, 3 in the genitive sg. case (f.); burning hot, glowing, scorched

VERSE 6

ad – preposition ad, indeclinable; to, towards

claras – adjective clarus, 3 in the accusative pl. case (f.); famous, glorious, illustrious

Asiae – name / toponym Asia, -ae, f. in the genitive sg. case; [of] Asia (i.e. Asia Minor)

volemus – verb volo, 1. -avi, -atum in the 1. p. pl. Present Subjunctive; let us fly

urbes – noun urbs, -is, f. in the accusative pl. case; cities

VERSE 7

mens – noun mens, -tis, f. in the nominative sg. case; mind

praetrepidans – verb praetrepido, 1, nominative sg. of the Present Participle; hasty, impatient

avet – verb aveo 2. in the 3 p. sg. Present Active Indicative; longs, wishes, desires

vagari – deponent verb vagor, 1. vagatus sum in the Present Infinitive; to wander

VERSE 8

laeti – adjective laetus, 3 in the nominative pl. case (m.); happy, joyful, cheerful

studio – noun studium, -i, n. in the ablative sg. case; with zeal, enthusiasm

pedes – noun pes, -dis, m. in the nominative pl. case; feet

vigescunt – verb vigesco, 3. in the 3. p. pl. Present Active Indicative; gain strength, strengthen

VERSE 9

dulces – adjective dulcis, 2 in the vocative pl. case; dear, sweet, pleasant, charming

comitum – noun comes, -itis, m. / f. in the genitive pl. case; comrades, friends

valete – verb valeo, 2. -ui, -itum in the 2. p. pl. Present Active Imperative; be well, good bye

coetus – noun coetus, -us, m. in the vocative pl. case; band, gang, group

VERSE 10

longe – adverb, indeclinable; far, distant

quos – relative pronoun in the accusative pl. case (m.); who

simul – adverb simul, indeclinable; at the same time

a – preposition, indeclinable; from

domo – noun domus, -us, f. in the ablative sg. case; home

profectos – verb proficiscor, 3. profectus sum in the accusative pl. case (m.) of the Perfect Participle; setting out, departing, leaving

VERSE 11

diversae – adjective diversus, 3 in the nominative pl. case (f.); different, diverse

variae – adjective varius, 3 in the nominative pl. case (f.); different, varied, various

viae – noun via, -ae, f. in the nominative pl. case; roads

reportant – verb reporto, 1. -avi, -atum in the 3. p. pl. Present Active Indicative; carry back

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Leonard C. Smithers (1894)

Now spring brings back mild breezes without cold, 
now heaven's equinoctial fury 
falls silent at Zephyr's pleasant breezes. 
Let the Phrygian meadows be left behind, Catullus, 
and the teeming fields of sun-scorched Nicaea: 
let us fly to the glorious cities of Asia. 
Now my palpitating soul longs to wander, 
now happy in their zeal my feet grow strong. 
O sweet band of comrades, fare you well, 
whom various roads in different directions carry back 
all at once setting out far from home.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

E. T. Merrill’s commentary on Catullus 46

Audio of Catullus 46, read out in hendecasyllabic metre

The spring of our discontent: Catullus 46 and the classical spring

Gaius Valerius Catullus (a Poetry Foundation entry)

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COVER IMAGE CREDIT

Ante Hamersmit via Unsplash