Catullus 49 is a poem by the Roman poet Gaius Valerius Catullus (c. 84–c. 54 BC) sent to Marcus Tullius Cicero as a superficially laudatory poem. Like the majority of Catullus' poems, the meter of this poem is hendecasyllabic. This is also the only time Cicero is ever mentioned in any of Catullus' poems.
The following Latin text is taken from D. F. S. Thomson.[1]
| Line | Latin Text | Literal English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disertissime Romuli nepotum, | O most learned of the descendants of Romulus, |
| 2 | quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli, | as many there are and as many as there were, Marcus Tullius, |
| 3 | quotque post aliis erunt in annis, | or as many as there will be later in years, |
| 4 | gratias tibi maximas Catullus | Catullus gives you the greatest thanks, |
| 5 | agit pessimus omnium poeta, | the worst of all poets, |
| 6 | tanto pessimus omnium poeta | by as much the worst poet of all, |
| 7 | quanto tu optimus omnium patronus. | as you the best lawyer/patron of all. |
It is a constant debate whether this poem is Catullus praising Cicero, who indeed was one of the best speakers of the time, or actually mocking him. He begins by praising him "as the most learned" of all the Romans ever. But as we keep reading, we keep seeing many more superlatives – maximas, pessimus, optimus – even the omnium could be considered as exaggerated. Usually, the frequent use of exaggeration can be discerned as sarcasm, which might be the case here. The last line also reveals more of Catullus' real intent. If Catullus is indeed being sincere, then he just simply means that Cicero was the best "patronus" of all; however, he would also be calling himself the worst poet of all, "pessimus omnium poeta", which doesn't seem much like Catullus. On the other hand, if he is being sarcastic, not only does he not call himself the worst poet of all, the claim against Cicero makes more sense: it would be saying that Cicero is the best "patronus" of all the people, the good and the bad, for money, which isn't really much of a compliment.
A point made by D.E.W. Wormwell also brings some light to the subject: a sincere thanks or praise would sound much different. In lines 4 and 5, Catullus places himself in the third person, making it impersonal in a way and less natural. Yes, Catullus is fond of addressing himself by the third person, but it is usually Catullo, Catulle, and Catullum, rarely Catullus. The feeling of third person 'Catullus' is aloof, almost cold. Another instance where the third person 'Catullus' is used is in poem 8, line 12 – vale puella. iam Catullus obdurat... – and this is clearly not a very warm and pleasing tone; rather Catullus is saying goodbye to his love and passion, Lesbia, very coldly. Thus Wormwell determines Catullus wasn't really praising Cicero, but actually mocking him. [3]
Henry Fielding in Tom Jones (1749, Book VIII, ch. V) adapts the last line of the poem when he has Partridge ask Jones about Squire Allworthy, “How doth ille optimus omnium patronus?”