# Catullus 52 in Latin & English- Quid est, Catulle- Quid moraris emori-

Catullus is expressing his disgust and despair over the level of corruption in Rome, probably around 55 BC. His attack is aimed at two of Caesar’s political allies.

Quid: what; for what, why?

Moraris: do you delay, put off, hesitate; a deponent verb, passive in form but active in meaning.

Emori: to die, die off; deponent verb.

Sella in curuli: in the curule seat, a folding chair reserved for high-level officials: dictators, consuls, praetors, etc.

Struma: a tumor, especially in the neck. Cicero uses this word several times to describe Vatinius. Catullus is using it here for Nonius, perhaps to emphasize the similarity between the two.

Nonius: a corrupt supporter of Caesar, but we don’t know who he was for sure.

Vatinius: an ally of Caesar, prosecuted by both Cicero and Catullus’ friend Calvus. He was “elected” praetor in 55 BC and promised a consulship by Caesar, which occurred in 47 BC. See Cicero’s “Against Publius Vatinius.”

Per: through, throughout; on account of, for the sake of.

Consulatum: the office of consul, consulship.

Peierat: he swears falsely, perjures himself.

Meter: Iambic Trimeter

Iambic trimeter consists of three iambic units, each of two “feet”. (iamb = u — ). The three pairs of iambs are broken by a caesura (pause) in the middle of the third foot. A spondee ( — — ) may be substituted for an iamb in the first and third feet.

x – u – x || – u – u – u –

quĭd ēst Cătūllĕ? || quīd mŏrārĭs ēmŏrī? sēlla īn cŭrūlī || strūmă Nōnĭūs sĕdēt, pēr…

- Kind: Short
- Year: 2022
- Runtime: 1 min
- By: David Amster
- Archive: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catullus_52_in_Latin_%26_English-_Quid_est,_Catulle-_Quid_moraris_emori-.webm)
- Licence or status: [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) (as the archive states it)
- Credit: David Amster
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/commons/121445758?play=1)