2.2 Parallel text 2: Catullus
Now look at the opening lines of Catullus and the dictionary entries in Table 4 below.
Catullus, Poems, 1.1−2.
Catullus introduces his book of poetry.
English
To whom do I give my charming, new booklet
recently polished with dry pumice?
Latin
cui dōnō lepidum nouum libellum
āridā modo pūmice expolītum?
| Latin | English | Dictionary entry |
|---|---|---|
| cui | to whom? | quis? – ‘who?’ |
| dōnō | do I give | dōnō – ‘I give’, ‘I present’ |
| lepidum | my charming | lepidus – ‘pleasant’, ‘charming’, ‘elegant’ |
| nouum | new | novus – ‘new’, ‘novel’ |
| libellum | booklet | libellus – ‘little book’, ‘booklet’ |
| āridā | dry | āridus – ‘dry’ |
| modo | recently | modo – ‘recently’ |
| pūmice | with pumice | pūmex – ‘pumice-stone’ |
| expolītum | polished | expoliō – ‘polish’ |
Activity 6
Jot down the Latin equivalent for the following:
- To whom do I give
- booklet
- with dry pumice
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Answer
| English | Latin equivalent |
|---|---|
| To whom do I give | cui dōnō |
| booklet | libellum |
| with dry pumice | āridā pūmice |
Activity 7
The parallel text of Pliny suggested that Latin tends to use fewer words than English. Does the extract from Catullus support this idea or contradict it? Or does it have no implication either way?
a.
It supports it
b.
It contradicts it
c.
It has no bearing one way or the other
The correct answer is a.
Discussion
The passage of Catullus supports this idea, with 14 English words being used to represent 9 Latin ones.