# Catullus 72 in Latin & English- Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum, Lesbia

#catullus

latinpoetry

latinpronunciation

In this beautiful poem Catullus further develops the idea of Carmen 70: “Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat.” (my woman says she wants to be wed to no one, more than to me, not if Jupiter himself should ask her). He explains how his love for her was not only that of a “regular guy” for his girlfriend, but also like a father’s love. Alas, Clodia probably wanted something less spiritual and more passionate.

Note how Catullus organizes the chronology of their affair with DICEBAS QUONDAM, DILEXI TUM, and NUNC TE COGNOVI, and how he repeats TE three times for emphasis. Note too how in lines 1, 3, and 5 there are four spondees ( — — ) and only one dactyl ( — u u ), slowing down the lines and giving them a somber tone.

Nosse = novisse: perfect infinitive of nosco, to know, here probably in the “biblical” sense.

Prae me: ahead of me, instead of me

Iovem: Jupiter

Dilexi: I loved, esteemed, had regard for

Tantum: only

Vulgus: the crowd, common people = vir vulgaris

Pater ut = ut pater

Gnatos: sons, children

Generos: sons-in-law, but could include both genders

Cognovi: I have come to really know you and who you are; compare with “nosse” in line 1.

Impensius: more eagerly, more strongly, more vehemently; more expensively, at a greater cost. Could Catullus be alluding to all he has paid socially and emotionally to have this relationship with Clodia?

Uror: I am set aflame, I am burning…

- Kind: Short
- Year: 2023
- Runtime: 2 min
- By: David Amster
- Archive: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catullus_72_in_Latin_%26_English-_Dicebas_quondam_solum_te_nosse_Catullum,_Lesbia.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/155955752?play=1)