Sappho and Catullus

(31.) φαίνεταί μοι κῆνος ἴσος θέοισιν

ἔμμεν’ ὤνηρ, ὄττις ἐνάντιός τοι

ἰσδάνει καὶ πλάσιον ἆδυ φωνεί-

σας ὐπακούει

καὶ γελαίσας ἰμέροεν, τό μ’ ἦ μὰν

καρδίαν ἐν στήθεσιν ἐπτόαισεν,

ὠς γὰρ ἔς σ’ ἴδω βρόχε’ ὤς με φώναι-

σ’ οὐδ’ ἒν ἔτ’ εἴκει,

ἀλλ’ ἄκαν μὲν γλῶσσα †ἔαγε λέπτον

δ’ αὔτικα χρῶι πῦρ ὐπαδεδρόμηκεν,

ὀππάτεσσι δ’ οὐδ’ ἒν ὄρημμ’, ἐπιρρόμ-

βεισι δ’ ἄκουαι,

†έκαδε μ’ ἴδρως ψῦχρος κακχέεται† τρόμος δὲ

παῖσαν ἄγρει, χλωροτέρα δὲ ποίας

ἔμμι, τεθνάκην δ’ ὀλίγω ’πιδεύης

φαίνομ’ ἔμ’ αὔται·

ἀλλὰ πὰν τόλματον ἐπεὶ †καὶ πένητα†

From the web site of the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae

Sappho, Fragmenta: Fragmentum 31, 

E. Lobel and D.L. Page, Poetarum Lesbiorum fragmenta. 

Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1955 

(repr. 1968 (1st edn. corr.)): 2, 5-68, 70-103, 108-110.

Ille mi par esse deo videtur,

ille, si fas est, superare divos,

qui sedens adversus identidem te

spectat et audit

dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis

eripit sensus mihi ; nam simul te,

Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi

vocis in ore,

lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus

flamma demanat, sonitu suopte

tintinant aures, gemina teguntur

lumina nocte.

Otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est ;

otio exultas nimiumque gestis.

Otium et reges prius et beatas

perdidit urbes.

From the web site http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/liege1/vsp/vsp7.htm

Catullus, Poem 51.

It seems that Catullus' poetry was not usual at his time, in Rome. Indeed, he does not seem ashamed to write his emotions and his feelings, letting other people read it. We cannot really find any other example among the latin literature of this time. In my opinion, he would have chosen Lesbia's name for Clodia to remind the poetess Sappho, to mark his respect for her and to place himself under his protection. 

Sappho's poem enters very well in Catullus' love story. The love deception is reinforced by the fact that the other is no longer looking for you and that she is looking for someone else. That is why Sappho's poem could easily be included into Catullus love deception theme. 

Catullus' translation may also be an homage to Sappho and a personal fight for Catullus, who, since he is translating Sappho's work, will inevitably be compared to his model, since he is translating Sappho's work.

On one hand, both poems are similar in several ways: both speak to a beloved girl, both show the deception of the writer and how he/she is stricken. 

On another hand, they are different. First, Catullus is a man and Sappho a woman. Then, their love story may be different and the deception's cause also. 

Catullus does not translate this part of Sappho's poem: 

and cold sweat holds me and shaking
grips me all, greener than grass
I am and dead — or almost
I seem to me.

Why? Because it does not represent his state? Because the scan did not fit? Because this part of Sappho's poem has never existed at Catullus time and is a part of the corrupt texts?

Finally Catullus did not translate either the end of Sappho's poem But all is to be dared, because even a person of poverty... Though, the end of Sappho's poem seems to be a topic of discussion among the specialists. Moreover the end of Catullus' poem seems to be also a topic of discussion. This sharp end is unexpected by the reader:

Otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est ;

otio exultas nimiumque gestis.

Otium et reges prius et beatas

perdidit urbes.

What is its significance? Sappho names the death in her poem, so does Catullus with perdidit. Did Catullus translate the entire poem of Sappho, with some tiny differences, and our versions have been corrupt? Or did Catullus take the end of poem as his "moment of liberty", did he enjoy it to mark his originality? Or finally this end not originally a part of the poem and has been included in the poem 51 later?

If this end was originally a part of the poem 51, what does it mean? That Catullus should stop being in love, gaze at her girl and that he should go back to serious business? And further, that he should stop writing his nugas? 

"Do you like the surprises?"

"Do some Greek!"