This poem is yet another tribute to Catullus's undying love for Lesbia. Someone seems to be a bit vain.
Catullus loudly proclaims that no woman can possibly be loved as much as Lesbia is by him, nor can any faith be found as great as his is in his love. Catullus uses hyperbole, making his statements sound exaggerated and grand; then again, he is talking about love, and if love poetry isn't lofty, I don't know what is. Catullus's use of negatives to prove his point is also interesting. He does not say "Lesbia is more loved than anyone else" or "My faith is greater than anyone else's"; no, he says "Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere..." and "Nulla fides ullo fuit umquam..." There is nothing as powerful as Catullus's love, and this poem suggests that he is prepared to go to high extremes to prove it. It is almost as if he is daring someone to challenge him, and then stand up for his love and claim it through deed as well as word.
No comments:
Post a Comment