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GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS Translations by Joseph Bienvenu
Letterpress Chapbook
Edition of 180 copies
ISBN 978-0-9842281-2-6
28 pages
4 3/8" X 6 3/8"
Gaius Valerius Catullus contains thirteen short lyric poems
that cover a broad spectrum of Catullus' poetic subject matter. Joseph
Bienvenu's translations of Catullus bring the poet and his poems up
to date and breathe new life into his words.
From the introduction:
Gaius Valerius Catullus was born in Verona in either 84 or 87
B.C.Ebut lived in Rome for most of his life, and his poems reflect
the active social scene of the big city. The twenty three hundred
surviving lines of his poetry mostly consist of short lyric poems
which range the gambit from impassioned love poems to political
satire to bitter invectives. His poetry is full of humor, sadness,
and passion and is unflinching in its portrayal of every facet of
human emotion. Many of his best-known poems deal with his
turbulent love affair with 'Lesbia,' who was probably Clodia, the
sister of P. Clodius Pulcher and wife of Q. Caecilius Metellus
Pulcher. Catullus' poems are modelled in many ways on the Greek
lyric poets whom he so admired but surpasses them in their
exuberance and intimacy. Catullus died in Rome, the city that he
loved, in 54 B.C.E.
Sparrow, sweetie of my girl,
who she plays with
who she squeezes between her breasts,
who she offers the tip of her finger,
as she provokes you
to chase it and try to bite it.
When glistening with desire for me,
she plays some little game with you,
I don't know what, (but I think
it is some relief from heartache
when the heavy craving settles down).
If only I could play with you as she does
and lighten the sad worries of my soul!
. . . . . . . . . . .
It is as pleasing to me as the golden apple
was to the speedy girl, that untied
her girdle, such a long time fastened.
'2.' in Gaius Valerius Catullus Translation by Joseph Bienvenu
(Verna Press 2010)