Catullus IX: To Veranius Returned from Journey
Gaius Valerius Catullus (84-54 BC) was a prominent Latin poet of the late Roman Republic. A contemporary of the statesmen Cicero (106-43 BC), Pompey (106-48 BC), and Julius Caesar (100-44 BC), Catullus was famously known for composing the finest lyric poetry of ancient Rome, significantly influencing prospective poets such as Virgil (70-19 BC), Horace (65-8 BC), and Ovid (43-17 BC). Because no ancient biography of Catullus survives, much of the events in his life remain obscure– however, it is believed that the poet spent most of his early life in his home city, Rome, and had multiple friends including poets Licinius Calvus (82-47 BC), Helvius Cinna (unknown), and Quintus Hortensius (114-50 BC).[1] All of Catullus’ poems have been accumulated into a compendium of 116 carmina (in singular, carmen, meaning songs.) These poems range anywhere from the description of his lifestyle to a love song towards a woman he loved.
Original Latin
Verani, omnibus e meis amicis
antistans mihi milibus trecentis,
venistine domum ad tuos penates
fratresque unanimos anumque matrem?
venisti. O mihi nuntii beati!
Visam te incolumem audiamque Hiberum
narrantem loca, facta, nationes,
ut mos est tuus, applicansque collum
iucundum os oculosque suaviabor.
O quantum est hominum beatiorum,
quid me laetius est beatiusve?
English Translation
Veranius, out of all my friends,
surpassing three hundred thousand to me,
have you come home to your household gods
and your harmonious brothers and aged mother?
You have come. O joyful news to me!
I will look upon you safe alive, and hear you
telling about the places, exploits, and peoples of the Iberians,
as is your way, and embracing your neck
I will kiss your pleasant face and eyes.
O, as many as there is of rather blessed men,
who is happier or more blessed than I am?
A Modern Statue of Gaius Valerius Catullus in Sirmione, Italy
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
appears in a couple other places throughout Catullus’ anthology of 116 carminain Catullus XXVIII as “Verani optime: excellent Veranius” and in Catullus XII as “Nam sudaria Saetaba ex Hiberis miserunt mihi muneri Fabullus et Veranius; haec amem necesse est ut Veraniolum meum et Fabullum: For Fabullus and Veranius sent me Saetaban cloths from Iberia as a gift; it is necessary that I love these as I love my Veranius and Fabullus.” Although not much is known of Veranius other than what is collected by Catullus in these poems, it is understood from the line “Hiberum narrantem loca, facta, nationes: telling about the places, exploits, and peoples of the Iberians” that he had just returned from a long journey in Iberia, today’s Spain. Throughout the song, Catullus heightens his linguistic style to convey his expression of joy over the return of Veranius from Iberia. One noticeable rhetorical device is a hyperbole when addressing his old friend: “Verani, omnibus e meis amicis antistans mihi milibus trecentis: Veranius, out of all my friends, surpassing three hundred thousand to me.” The word “antistans: surpassing” and the exaggerated number “milibus trecentis: 300,000” points to how precious Veranius is to Catullus, compared to his multiple other friends. It could be easily surmised from reading these first two lines that he and Veranius share a very personal and hospitable relationship.
Additionally, Catullus maintains this affectionate tone towards his friend with the repetition of “beatus: joyful, blessed” throughout the song– by reiterating this word three times, Catullus illustrates the pleasure of reuniting with Veranius after his long absence. At the end of the carmen, Catullus even asks a question to himself “O quantum est hominum beatiorum, quid me laetius est beatiusve?: O, as many as there is of rather blessed men, who is happier or more blessed than I am?” indicating that no other man is more “beatus” or blessed than he is, now that Veranius has returned home safely. In a similar manner, Catullus continues to express his delight with the emphatic placement of “venisti: you have come” in the fifth line. This single word, despite its pithiness, carries a sincere meaning– it is an answer to a question he asks before, whether Veranius has truly come home.
Back in Catullus’ days, means of communication were limited– there was nothing like postal service, emails, or phones to send text messages. At a time when traveling was dangerous and unsafe, one could only eagerly await the return of the traveler. Catullus’ reunion with one of his best friends evoked pure joy in him, so much as to devote an entire poem to this special encounter. From Catullus IX, we are able to grasp these tender emotions of the poet about a meaningful friendship.
Venus Appearing to Aeneas and Achates by Donato Creti (1671–1749) at The Museum of John Paul II Collection, Warsaw, Poland
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Notes
[1] Garrison, Daniel H. "The Student's Catullus." BookRags. http://www.bookrags.com/biography/ gaius-valerius-catullus/.