Catullus 101: AFinal Offering at a Distant Grave (Catullus at his brother’s grave at Troy)
Through many racesand through many seas I sailed I had come [advenio], to these wretched rites[inferias], so that I could honor you [donarem] with the final [postremo] giftof the dead and I could address [alloquerer] vainly [nequiquam] to your ashhaving been changed, since [quandonquidem] my fortune carried [abstulit; fromaufero] itself away with you, alas wretched unworthy brother, visit [adempte]me.
Now nonethelessmeanwhile these, which are handed down from the old custom of our parents for[ad = purpose] the rituals of with a sad gift, dripping, accept the brotherlytear greatly, and into eternity, brother, hail and farewell.
Horace Satire1.9.1-34
I was going bychance on the Via Sacra, just as is my custom, meditating [meditans] something[nescio quid] of trifles [nugarum] totally in it. Someone [quidam] known to beonly [tantum] by name hurried up to me and with my hand having been seized[arrepta], he asked “What are you doing, sweetest of things?” “Pleasantly[suaviter], as it now is,” I said, “And I desire everything, which you see[vis].” When he followed closely [adsectaretur] he asked “You don’t see, do you[numquid]?” I take the lead [occupo], but he says “You knew [noris; syncopatednoveris] us. We were taught by you.” To this I said, “You will be about this[hoc; ablative of cause] of much from me.” Seeking wretchedly [misere] hediscovered [discedere; historical infinity], he went [ire] in that way quicker[ocius], again he set down [consistere] I speak to the boy into some ear, whenthe sweat [sudor] spreads to the bottom of my ankle-bones [talos]. “Oh Bolanus[Roman cognomen; identity unknown], you luck of anger,” I was saying [aiebam]silent, since he who chatters [garriet] whatever [quidlibet], he could praisethe villages [vicos], he could pray the city. As I was replying nothing to him:“Wretchedly you desire,” he says, “to go away; now I will have seen [video +dudum = future perfect] some time ago [dudum[LC1] ].But you will do nothing; continuously [usque] I will persist [tenebo]. I willclosely follow [persequar] this, from which the journey is for you.” “I leadaround now work for you: I wish that something is not known to you; across theTiber far off [longe] he lies down [cubat] near the gardens of Caesar.” “I havenothing, which I make[LC2] ,and I am not lazy: I will follow you continuously.” I deign to listen to [demittoauriculas] to him, as the young ass [asellus] of an unfavorable [iniquae], he underwent [subiit] the heavy burden [onus] on his back. He said, “If I knew mewell, you will not regard [facies] Viscus [name of literary brothers, friendsof Horace and his patron Maecenas] as a friend of more value [pluris; genitiveof value], you[LC3] will not consider Varius a friend of more value: for who is able to write moreverse or more swiftly[LC4] than me? Who is able [possit understood] to move softer limbs? Hermogenes mayenvy [invideat; potential subjunctive] what and I sing.” He spoke this for the sake of interrupting [interpellandi]: “It isyour mother, to be related [cognati], the work of whom [quis = quibus] with yousafe[LC5] [salvo]?” “Not [haud] is anything for me,I arranged [composui] everything.” “Joys! Now I remain [resto]. Kill [confice]!For the sad fate for me stands, which the Sabine old woman [anus] sang[cecinit] for a boy when her divine urn was turned[LC6] : neither [neque] the dire poisons[venena], neither the hostile sword kills [auferet] nor the grief of neitherthe lungs [laterum] nor the cough [tussis], nor the late gout [podagra]: thetalkative [garrulus] destroys [consumet] this one at some time[LC7] [quandocumque]. The age, if he is wise[sapiat; ironic] he shuns [vitet], at the same time and the age will have grownup [adoleverit] the talkative [loquaces].
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