Catullus 45

Catullus 45 is a poem by the Roman poet Catullus, describing the love between a fictional couple called Acme and Septimius. It is an over-the-top love poem that is ever so slightly tongue-in-cheek.

Acme and Septimius, painting by Frederic Leighton

The meter of this poem is hendecasyllabic, a common form in Catullus' poetry.

Latin text and translation

Literal English Translation	Original Latin	Line
Septimius, holding his lover Acme in his bosom, said, “my Acme, if I do not love you desperately and I am not further prepared to love you continually through all the years, as much as he who is prepared to die many deaths, alone in Libya and scorched India may I come to meet the blue eyed lion.” As he said this, Love sneezed approval on the left as before on the right. But Acme, bending back her head lightly, and having kissed the drunken eyes of the sweet boy with a purple mouth, “so,” she said, “my love, dear Septimius, let us serve this one master continually, that a flame much greater and sharper burn for me in the gentle marrow.” As she said this, Love sneezed approval on the left as before on the right. Now, having set out from the good omen their souls mutually love and are loved. Poor little Septimius prefers Acme alone to Syria and Britain: the faithful Acme finds pleasure and desire in Septimius alone. Who has seen anybody more blessed, who a luckier love?	Acmen Septimius suos amores tenens in gremio ‘mea’' inquit ‘Acme, ni te perdite amo atque amare porro omnes sum assidue paratus annos, quantum qui pote plurimum perire, solus in Libya Indiaque tosta caesio veniam obvius leoni.’ Hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante dextra sternuit approbationem. At Acme leviter caput reflectens et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos illo purpureo ore suaviata, ‘sic’ inquit ‘mea vita Septimille, huic uni domino usque serviamus, ut multo mihi maior acriorque ignis mollibus ardet in medullis.’ Hoc ut dixit, Amor sinistra ut ante dextra sternuit approbationem. Nunc ab auspicio bono profecti mutuis animis amant amantur. Unam Septimius misellus Acmen mavult quam Syrias Britanniasque: uno in Septimio fidelis Acme facit delicias libidinisque. Quis ullos homines beatiores vidit, quis Venerem auspicatiorem?	45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 45.6 45.7 45.8 45.9 45.10 45.11 45.12 45.13 45.14 45.15 45.16 45.17 45.18 45.19 45.20 45.21 45.22 45.23 45.24 45.25 45.26

Bibliography

• Newton, R (1996). "Acme and Septimius Recounted: Catullus 45". Syllecta Classica. 7: 99–105.

• Gratwick, AS (1992). "Those Sneezes: Catullus 45.8-9, 17-18". Classical Philology. 87: 234–240. doi:10.1086/367311.

• Kitzinger, R (1991–1992). "Reading Catullus 45". Classical Journal. 87: 209–217.CS1 maint: date format (link)

• Frueh, E (1990–1991). "Sinistra ut ante dextra: Reading catullus 45". Classical World. 84: 16–21.CS1 maint: date format (link)

• Williams, MF (1988). "Amor's Head-Cold (frigus in Catullus 45)". Classical Journal. 83: 128–132.

• Nielsen, R (1977). "Catullus 45 and Horace Odes 3.9: The Glass House". Ramus. 6: 132–138.

• Singleton, D (1971). "Form and irony in Catullus 45". Greece and Rome. 18: 181–187.

• Akbar Khan, H (1968). "Catullus 45: What Sort of irony?". Latomus. 27: 3–12.

• Ross, DO (1965). "Style and Content in Catullus 45". Classical Philology. 60: 256–259. doi:10.1086/365048.