Catullus 16 in Latin & English: Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo

#catullus
#latinpoetry
#latinpronunciation
It seems that Aurelius and Furius have been badmouthing Catullus and his poetry, claiming he, as well as his verse, is “soft,” effeminate, immoral. In reply, Catullus humorously brings out the most obscene language he can muster, which I’ve chosen to render in rather formal (obscure!) English. He makes the important point that a poet’s moral character shouldn’t be judged by the language used in their verse.
Castum (chaste, morally pure): Catullus’ notion of chastity was a bit different from ours; we know he had an affair with Clodia and Juventius. Perhaps he’s referring to “unmanly” vices.
Chiasmus in the first two lines (ABBA):
PEDICABO ego vos IRRUMABO
AURELI pathice cinaede FURI
Versiculis, molliculi: Catullus loves diminutives!
Alliteration: pathiCe Cinaede
Parum Pudicum, Pium Poetam iPsum; Pueris, Pilosis
durOS, lumbOS, vOS
Milia Multa basioruM, Male Me MareM
Catulli Carmen XVI ad Aurelium et Furium
Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo,
Aureli pathice et cinaede Furi,
qui me ex versiculis meis putastis,
quod sunt molliculi, parum pudicum.
nam castum esse decet pium poetam
ipsum, versiculos nihil necesse est,
qui tum denique habent salem ac leporem,
si sunt molliculi ac parum pudici,
et quod pruriat incitare possunt,
non dico pueris, sed his pilosis
qui duros nequeunt movere lumbos.
vos, quod milia multa basiorum
legistis, male me marem putatis?
pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo.
I’m going to pedicate and irrumate you,
pathic Aurelius and Furius, you catamite
who have thought from my little verses,
since they’re a bit soft, that I am less than modest.
For it is fitting that the pious poet himself be chaste-
it is not at all necessary for his poems,
which, then, in fact have wit and charm
if they’re a bit voluptuous and not especially modest
and are able to arouse that which might itch,
I don’t mean for boys, but for these hairy fellows
who are unable to move their stiff hips.
You, because you read “many thousands of kisses,”
do you think I am not a real man?
I’ll pedicate and irrumate you both!
Translation DWA
Fez, 10/22/20