List of poems by Catullus

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This article lists the poems of Catullus and their various properties.

Catullus' poems can be divided into three groups:[1]

  • the polymetrics (poems 160)
  • the long poems (poems 6168)
  • the epigrams (poems 69116)

Historical context

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Catullus (c. 84 BC – c. 54 BC) lived in the waning days of the Roman Republic, just before the Imperial era that began with Augustus. Catullus is the chief representative of a school of poets known as the poetae novi or neoteroi, both terms meaning "the new poets". Their poems were a bold departure from traditional models, being relatively short and describing everyday occurrences and intense personal feelings; by contrast, traditional poetry was generally large and epic, describing titanic battles among heroes and gods. These avant-garde poets drew inspiration from earlier Greek authors, especially Sappho and Callimachus; Catullus himself used Sapphic meter in two poems, Catullus 11 and 51, the second of which is almost a translation. His poems are written in a variety of meters, with hendecasyllabic verse and elegiac couplets being the most common by far.

Catullus is renowned for his love poems, particularly the 25 poems addressed to a woman named Lesbia, of which Catullus 5 is perhaps the most famous. Scholars generally believe that Lesbia was a pseudonym for Clodia and that the name Lesbia is likely an homage to Sappho, who came from the isle of Lesbos. Catullus is also admired for his elegies, especially Catullus 101 and Catullus 96, for his hymn to his homeland, Sirmio, in Catullus 31, and for his many depictions of everyday life in ancient Rome, such as Catullus 4, Catullus 10, and Catullus 13. Finally, he was well-nigh infamous even in his own time for his fierce, sometimes obscene, invectives against faithless friends (e.g., Catullus 12, Catullus 16, and Catullus 116), faithless lovers (Catullus 8, Catullus 30, Catullus 58, and Catullus 70), corrupt politicians (Catullus 28, Catullus 29), and bad poets (Catullus 14 and Catullus 44).

Catullus was admired in ancient times for his elegantly crafted poems, and inspired many of the next generation of poets, especially Ovid, Tibullus, and Sextus Propertius. Even Virgil and Horace are also known to have adopted some elements of his poetry, although the latter was also critical of his work. Martial seems to be the only later Latin poet to be influenced significantly by Catullus. Catullus is mentioned by a few other Roman scholars, such as Pliny the Younger and Quintilian, and by St. Jerome. Since Catullus' work was not adopted as part of a classical curriculum, it was gradually forgotten over time, although one Bishop Rather of Verona is said to have delighted in reading his poems c. 965 AD. That changed c. 1300 AD, with the discovery of a manuscript that contained 116 poems by Catullus.

Main list

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The table below lists all of Catullus' extant poems, with links to the full text, the poetic meter, the number of lines, and other data. The entire table can be sorted according to any column by clicking on the arrows in the topmost cell. The "Type" column is color-coded, with a green font indicating poems for or about friends, a magenta font marking his famous poems about his Lesbia, and a red font indicating invective poems. The "Addressee(s)" column cites the person to whom Catullus addresses the poem, which ranges from friends, enemies, targets of political satire, and even a sparrow.

More information Poem, Text ...
Poems of Catullus
PoemTextFirst lineMeter[2]# linesTypeThemesAddressee(s)Reading
1 Latin EnglishCui dono lepidum novum libellum?hendecasyllabic10FriendsGifts to friends, poemsCornelius Nepos
Catullus 1
2 Latin EnglishPasser, deliciae meae puellaehendecasyllabic10LesbiaA young woman and her pet birdLesbia's sparrow
Catullus 2a and 2b
2b Latin Englishtam gratum est mihi quam ferunt puellaehendecasyllabic3LesbiaAtalanta
3 Latin EnglishLugete, o Veneres Cupidinesquehendecasyllabic18LesbiaEulogy to the girlfriend's pet birdOrcus
Catullus 3
4 Latin EnglishPhaselus ille quem videtis, hospitesiambic trimeter (pure iambic type)27MiscellaneousAn old boat, once fast, entering retirementA little boat
Catullus 4
5 Latin EnglishVivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemushendecasyllabic13LesbiaBrief lives and many kissesLesbia
Catullus 5
6 Latin EnglishFlavi, delicias tuas Catullohendecasyllabic17FriendsUncovering a friend's love lifeFlavius
Catullus 6
7 Latin EnglishQuaeris quot mihi basiationeshendecasyllabic12LesbiaNever growing tired of kissingLesbia
Catullus 7
8 Latin EnglishMiser Catulle, desinas ineptirecholiambic19LesbiaGetting over being dumpedHimself
Catullus 8
9 Latin EnglishVerani, omnibus e meis amicishendecasyllabic11FriendsA friend's homecomingVeranius
Catullus 9
10 Latin EnglishVarus me meus ad suos amoreshendecasyllabic34InvectiveCaught in a boastVarus' girlfriend
Catullus 10
11 Latin EnglishFuri et Aureli, comites CatulliSapphic stanza24LesbiaDumping a promiscuous girlfriendFurius and Aurelius
Catullus 11
12 Latin EnglishMarrucine Asini, manu sinistrahendecasyllabic17InvectiveShaming a napkin thiefAsinius Marrucinus
Catullus 12
13 Latin EnglishCenabis bene, mi Fabulle, apud mehendecasyllabic14FriendsPartying on a friend's dimeFabullus
Catullus 13
14 Latin EnglishNi te plus oculis meis amaremhendecasyllabic23InvectiveDespising pompous poetryBad poets
Catullus 14 and 14b
14b Latin EnglishSi qui forte mearum ineptiarumhendecasyllabic3MiscellaneousRisqué poetryHis readers
15 Latin EnglishCommendo tibi me ac meos amoreshendecasyllabic19InvectiveHands off my boy-toy (cf. 21)Aurelius
Catullus 15
16 Latin EnglishPedicabo ego vos et irrumabohendecasyllabic14InvectiveNasty reply to criticsAurelius and Furius
Catullus 16
17 Latin EnglishO Colonia, quae cupis ponte ludere longopriapean (= glyconic + pherecratean)26InvectiveMy acquaintance, the utter dunceVerona
Catullus 17
21 Latin EnglishAureli, pater esuritionumhendecasyllabic13InvectiveHands off my boy-toy (cf. 15)Aurelius
Catullus 21 in Latin and English
22 Latin EnglishSuffenus iste, Vare, quem probe nosticholiambic21InvectiveEveryone deceives themselvesSuffenus
Catullus 22 in Latin and English
23 Latin EnglishFuri, cui neque servus est neque arcahendecasyllabic27InvectiveNasty insults to whole familyFurius
Catullus 23 in Latin and English
24 Latin EnglishO qui flosculus es Iuventiorumhendecasyllabic10InvectiveDon't give in to his seductions!Juventius
Catullus 24 in Latin and English
25 Latin EnglishCinaede Thalle, mollior cuniculi capilloiambic tetrameter catalectic13InvectiveGive me back my stuff, expressed beautifullyThallus
Catullus 25 in Latin and English
26 Latin EnglishFuri, villula vestra non ad Austrihendecasyllabic5InvectiveLosing the farm to debtFurius
Catullus 26 in Latin and English
27 Latin EnglishMinister vetuli puer Falernihendecasyllabic7MiscellaneousOut with water, in with wine!His cupbearer
Catullus 27 in Latin and English
28 Latin EnglishPisonis comites, cohors inanishendecasyllabic15InvectiveScrewed over by politiciansMemmius
Catullus 28 in Latin and English
29 Latin EnglishQuis hoc potest videre, quis potest pati?iambic trimeter (pure iambic type)25InvectiveWaste of money by politiciansMamurra
Catullus 29 in Latin and English
30 Latin EnglishAlfenus immemor atque unanimis false sodalibusgreater Asclepiadean12InvectiveBoyfriends can't be trusted (cf. 70)Alfenus
Catullus 30 in Latin and English
31 Latin EnglishPaene insularum, Sirmio, insularumquecholiambic14MiscellaneousA hymn to homecomingSirmio
Catullus 31 Latine
32 Latin EnglishAmabo, mea dulcis Ipsitillahendecasyllabic11FriendsGet ready for meIpsitilla
Catullus 32 in Latin and English
33 Latin EnglishO furum optime balneariorumhendecasyllabic8InvectiveFather thief, son gigoloVibennius, Sr. and Jr.
Catullus 33 Latin and English
34 Latin EnglishDianae sumus in fideglyconic (3) / pherecratean (1)24MiscellaneousHymn to DianaDiana
Catullus 34 Latin and English
35 Latin EnglishPoetae tenero, meo sodalihendecasyllabic18FriendsPlease don't goHis papyrus
Catullus 35 in Latin and English
36 Latin EnglishAnnales Volusi, cacata cartahendecasyllabic20LesbiaBurning bad poetry to win loveAnnals of Volusius
Catullus 36 Latin and English
37 Latin EnglishSalax taberna, vosque contubernalescholiambic20LesbiaGirlfriend left for richer menEgnatius
Catullus 37 Latin and English
38 Latin EnglishMale est, Cornifici, tuo Catullohendecasyllabic8FriendsWhy aren't you comforting me?Cornificius
Catullus 38 in Latin and English
39 Latin EnglishEgnatius, quod candidos habet dentescholiambic21InvectiveSmiling hypocriteEgnatius
Catullus 39 in Latin and English
40 Latin EnglishQuaenam te mala mens, miselle Ravidehendecasyllabic8InvectiveThreatening a romantic rivalRavidus
Catullus 40 Latin and English
41 Latin EnglishAmeana puella defututahendecasyllabic8Invectivewoman asking for money (political)Ameana
Catullus 41 Latin and English
42 Latin EnglishAdeste, hendecasyllabi, quot estishendecasyllabic24Invectivethe effectiveness of politenessHis own verses
Catullus 42 Latin and English
43 Latin EnglishSalve, nec minimo puella nasohendecasyllabic8InvectiveInsulting Mamurra's girlfriendAmeana
Catullus 43 Latin and English
44 Latin EnglishO funde noster, seu Sabine seu Tiburscholiambic21InvectiveHead colds and cold writingPublius Sestius
Catullus 44 Latin and English
45 Latin EnglishAcmen Septimius suos amoreshendecasyllabic26FriendsOver-the-top love poem
Catullus 45 in Latin and English
46 Latin EnglishIam ver egelidos refert teporeshendecasyllabic11Miscellaneousthe springtime urge to wanderHis friends
Catullus 46 in Latin and English
47 Latin EnglishPorci et Socration, duae sinistraehendecasyllabic7Invectiveunworthy become richPorcius and Socration
Catullus 47 in Latin and English
48 Latin EnglishMellitos oculos tuos, Iuventihendecasyllabic6JuventiusNot tiring of kissingJuventius
Catullus 48 in Latin & English
49 Latin EnglishDisertissime Romuli nepotumhendecasyllabic7InvectivePraise of a politician-or notCicero
Catullus 49 in Latin & English
50 Latin EnglishHesterni, Licini, die otiosihendecasyllabic21FriendsExchanging poetry between friendsCalvus
Catullus 50 in Latin & English
51 Latin EnglishIlle mi par esse deo videturSapphic stanza16LesbiaThe feeling of love; translation of SapphoLesbia
Catullus 51 Latin and English
52 Latin EnglishQuid est, Catulle? quid moraris emori?iambic trimeter4InvectiveSuicidal thoughts at the current political situationSelf
Catullus 52 in Latin & English
53 Latin EnglishRisi nescio quem modo e coronahendecasyllabic5InvectiveThe crowd's thoughts on a friend's rhetoricCalvus, Vatinianus
Catullus 53 in Latin & English
54 Latin EnglishOthonis caput oppido est pusillumhendecasyllabic7InvectiveDirect attack on Julius Caesar's followersOtho, Libo, Sufficius, and Julius Caesar
55 Latin EnglishOramus, si forte non molestum esthendecasyllabic (decasyllabic)33FriendsTracking down a loverCamerius
Catullus 55 in Latin & English
56 Latin EnglishO rem ridiculam, Cato, et iocosamhendecasyllabic7FriendsSurprise threesomeCato
57 Latin EnglishPulcre convenit improbis cinaedishendecasyllabic10InvectiveAbominable sodomitesJulius Caesar and Mamurra
Catullus 57 in Latin & English- Pulcre convenit improbis cinaedis
58 Latin EnglishCaeli, Lesbia nostra, Lesbia illahendecasyllabic5LesbiaMy (our) ex is a slut nowCaelius
Catullus 58 in Latin & English- Caeli, Lesbia nostra, Lesbia illa
58b Latin EnglishNon custos si fingar ille Cretumhendecasyllabic (decasyllabic)10FriendsTracking down a lover, part IICamerius
59 Latin EnglishBononiensis Rufa Rufulum fellatcholiambic5InvectiveAdultery and graverobbingRufa and Rufulus
60 Latin EnglishNum te leaena montibus Libystinischoliambic5InvectiveHard-hearted benefactor
61 Latin EnglishCollis o Heliconiiglyconic (4) / pherecratean (1)235FriendsMarriage hymn on occasion of friends' weddingJunia and Manlius
62 Latin EnglishVesper adest, iuvenes, consurgite: Vesper Olympodactylic hexameter (lyric type)[3]66MiscellaneousGirls and boys share views on marriageWedding guests
63 Latin EnglishSuper alta vectus Attis celeri rate mariagalliambic93MiscellaneousAttis, who castrated self to be with CybeleAttis
Catullus 63 (Attis), Latin recitation
64 Latin EnglishPeliaco quondam prognatae vertice pinusdactylic hexameter (epic type)408MiscellaneousMini-epic about the wedding of Peleus and ThetisTheseus, Ariadne, Peleus and Thetis
65 Latin EnglishEtsi me assiduo confectum cura doloreelegiac couplets24FriendsWriting poetry after his brother's deathHortalus
66 Latin EnglishOmnia qui magni dispexit lumina mundielegiac couplets94Miscellaneoustranslation of CallimachusBerenice
67 Latin EnglishO dulci iucunda viro, iucunda parentielegiac couplets48MiscellaneousA door
68a Latin EnglishQuod mihi fortuna casuque oppressus acerboelegiac couplets40FriendsTo Mallius(?)Mallius(?)
68b Latin EnglishNon possum reticere, deae, qua me Allius in reelegiac couplets120LesbiaTo Allius, with thanksAllius
69 Latin EnglishNoli admirari, quare tibi femina nullaelegiac couplets10InvectiveClean up your act!Rufus
70 Latin EnglishNulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malleelegiac couplets4LesbiaGirlfriends can't be trusted (cf. 30)
71 Latin EnglishSi cui iure bono sacer alarum obstitit hircuselegiac couplets6InvectiveOn the contagiousness of gout and stink
72 Latin EnglishDicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullumelegiac couplets8LesbiaLesbia
73 Latin EnglishDesine de quoquam quicqum bene velle mererielegiac couplets6InvectiveCan't trust anybody
74 Latin EnglishGelius audierat patruum obiurgare solereelegiac couplets6InvectivePoor uncleGellius
75 Latin EnglishHuc est mens deducta tua mea, Lesbia, culpaelegiac couplets4LesbiaHelpless in loveLesbia
76 Latin EnglishSiqua recordanti benefacta priora voluptaselegiac couplets26LesbiaThe gods
77 Latin EnglishRufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amiceelegiac couplets6InvectiveI thought we were friends!Rufus
78 Latin EnglishGallus habet fratres, quorum est lepidissima coniunxelegiac couplets6InvectiveGallus
78b Latin Englishsed nunc doleo, quod purae pura puellaeelegiac couplets4Invective
79 Latin EnglishLesbius est pulcer. quid ni? quem Lesbia malitelegiac couplets4LesbiaShe loves her brother a little too muchLesbius
80 Latin EnglishQuid dicam, Gelli, quare rosea ista labellaelegiac couplets8InvectiveGellius
81 Latin EnglishNemone in tanto potuit populo esse, Iuventielegiac couplets6JuventiusHow could you prefer him to me?Juventius
82 Latin EnglishQuinti, si tibi vis oculos debere Catullumelegiac couplets4FriendsQuintius
83 Latin EnglishLesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicitelegiac couplets6LesbiaShe insults me because she still caresLesbia's husband
84 Latin EnglishChommoda dicebat, si quando commoda velletelegiac couplets12InvectiveMaking fun of pronunciationArrius
85 Latin EnglishOdi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris?elegiac couplets2LesbiaInner turmoil
86 Latin EnglishQuintia formosa est multis. mihi candida, longaelegiac couplets6LesbiaWhat's beauty without charm?
87 Latin EnglishNulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatamelegiac couplets4LesbiaDepth of my loveLesbia
88 Latin EnglishQuid facit is, Gelli, qui cum matre atque sororeelegiac couplets8InvectiveIncest in the familyGellius
89 Latin EnglishGellius est tenuis: quid ni? Cui tam bona materelegiac couplets6InvectiveIncest in the family IIGellius
90 Latin EnglishNascatur magus ex Gelli matrisque nefandoelegiac couplets6InvectiveGellius
91 Latin EnglishNon ideo, Gelli, sperabam te mihi fidumelegiac couplets10LesbiaSince she's not your relative, I thought you'd stay awayGellius
92 Latin EnglishLesbia mi dicit semper male nec tacet umquamelegiac couplets4LesbiaLesbia and I are the same
93 Latin EnglishNil nimum studeo, Caesar, tibi velle placereelegiac couplets2InvectiveI don't like youJulius Caesar
94 Latin EnglishMentula moechatur. Moechatur mentula? Certe.elegiac couplets2MiscellaneousCock
95 Latin EnglishZmyrna mei Cinnae nonam post denique messemelegiac couplets10InvectiveVolusius
95b Latin EnglishParva mei mihi sint cordi monimenta ...elegiac couplets10MiscellaneousAntimachus
96 Latin EnglishSi quicquam mutis gratum acceptumve sepulcriselegiac couplets6FriendsOn the death of Calvus' wifeCalvus
97 Latin EnglishNon (ita me di ament) quicquam referre putavielegiac couplets12InvectiveOn Aemilius's oral hygieneAemilius
98 Latin EnglishIn te, si in quemquam, dici pote, putide Victielegiac couplets6InvectiveVictius
99 Latin EnglishSurripui tibi, dum ludis, mellite Iuventielegiac couplets16JuventiusRegretting a stolen kissJuventius
100 Latin EnglishCaelius Aufillenum et Quintius Aufillenamelegiac couplets8FriendsCaelius
101 Latin EnglishMultas per gentes et multa per aequora vectuselegiac couplets10FriendsAn elegy for a brotherHis brother
Catullus 101
102 Latin EnglishSi quicquam tacito commissum est fido ab amicoelegiac couplets4FriendsCornelius Nepos
103 Latin EnglishAut sodes mihi redde decem sestertiis, Siloelegiac couplets4InvectiveGive me back my moneySilo
104 Latin EnglishCredis me potuisse meae maledicere vitaeelegiac couplets4Lesbia
105 Latin EnglishMentula conatur Pipleium scandere montemelegiac couplets2MiscellaneousCock
106 Latin EnglishCum puero bello praeconem qui videt esseelegiac couplets2Miscellaneous
107 Latin EnglishSi quicquam cupido optantique optigit umquamelegiac couplets8LesbiaLesbia
108 Latin EnglishSi, Comini, populi arbitrio tua cana senectuselegiac couplets6InvectiveA fitting punishmentCominius
109 Latin EnglishIucundum, mea vita, mihi proponis amoremelegiac couplets6LesbiaLifelong loveLesbia and the gods
110 Latin EnglishAufillena, bonae semper laudantur amicaeelegiac couplets8InvectiveAufillena
111 Latin EnglishAufillena, viro contentam vivere soloelegiac couplets4InvectiveAufillena
112 Latin EnglishMultus homo es, Naso, neque tecum multus homo (est quin)elegiac couplets2InvectiveNaso
113 Latin EnglishConsule Pompeio primum duo, Cinna, solebantelegiac couplets4InvectiveMaecilia
114 Latin EnglishFirmano saltu non falso Mentula diveselegiac couplets6MiscellaneousCock
115 Latin EnglishMentula habet instar triginta iugera pratielegiac couplets8MiscellaneousCock
116 Latin EnglishSaepe tibi studioso animo venante requirenselegiac couplets8InvectiveGellius
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