Catullus 14: fickle friendship

                                             

The changing wording and tone in Catullus’ poem 14 show the fickleness of friendship in Roman culture. Catullus’ reference to Calvus’ speedily sending the gift so that it arrives on Saturnalia, “Continuo ut die” quickly transitions into his exclamation that the libellum came on “Optimo dierum” or on Saturnalia the festival of merry making, which precedes Catullus’ statement, “Si luxerit,”  suggesting that the festival day has ended when he plans revenge. The order and tone of these quotes matches the order of Catullus’ tone developing throughout the poem. At first, Catullus appears to hastily threaten condemnation on his friend Calvus with, “Odissem te odio Vatiniano,” but this negativity conflicts with a more lighthearted attitude, “Iuncundissime Calve” at the beginning of the poem and the poem’s near middle part, “Non est mi male…hoc tibi salse.” Catullus, however, finishes his poem with a dark, indifferent remark, “Pessimi poetae.” Catullus appears to act upset with Calvus, but his use of other adjectives for his friend shows otherwise. Meanwhile, he writes about the day in terms of less than optimum, to best, to less than optimum. These fluctuations seem to reflect the way ancient Roman friends would treat one another.