Blog Post 8: Catullus and Horace

Both Horace and Catullus talk about love in their poems.

In Horace’s poem XI, he talks about the bitterness of his past love. He says, “It gives no joy to me as once it did,” showing that his love has changed and he cannot find joy in his love (1). Before, even though he was a “laughing stock” and “ashamed” (7) for his loved, Horace still felt that he was “in love” (10) and was persistent to find a way to fit himself into Inachia’s  ideal type, pondering things like “Is money all she wants?” (11). Inachia did not only not love Horace but she was bitter to him. He says Inachia and her companies were “unkind” and “hard” and “it broke [his] hips and ribs,” expressing the pain he felt at the Inachia’s hostile attitude (22). Later in the poem, he changes the direction and talks about how he “gave up the uneven battle” (18) on his love with Inachia and how he started his new love with Lyciscus (21). Horace mentions that with Lyciscus, no “rough abuse” is present, showing the satisfaction he feels with his current relationship.

When Horace says, “love that demands that I should dote more than anyone else,” it reminds me of Catullus in his relationship with Lesbia. Just like Horace, Catullus was the one who loved his lover more. Catullus expresses that he love Lesbia “as no one shall again be loved” (5). Also, “for the things that [he] wanted, things she didn’t quite turn down. They both loved the women so much but the love was not returned. Unlike Horace, who seems to be quiet reserved and indifferent in his attitude while he talks about his past love, Catullus seems to be much more emotional and mad talking about his past love Lesbia, as we can see in his description of Lesbia "bitch, wicked bitch, poor wretch" (15). Horace has moved on to the next love but Catullus' thought is still occupied by Lesbia at this point. He asks questions like "Who will now pursue you?" and "Whom will you love now?," expressing his remaining hostile feelings toward Lesbia (17).