Blog Post #8: Horace vs. Catullus - Betrayals

Blog Post #7:

Horace’s Epodes III, Parentis olim and Catullus’ Poem 58A both describe each author’s opinion of unfaithful women. For Horace, he describes Medea’s actions as “she smeared garlic on him, and then before she fled on serpent wings, in garlic steeped her gifts to take revenge on his new whore” (Horace, Epode III). Horace here describes the villainous Medea with the phrase “serpent wings” and creates an association between her and a snake. Her treachery is already linked to an animal associated with dishonesty. An addition to the description is added with the last phrase that examines her reason for betrayal: “his new whore”. In this context it is acknowledged that the victim of her actions may not be entirely undeserving of her wrath. Although there seems a legitimate reason for Medea’s behavior, Horace still explains his disdain for her in the last stanza by suggesting that if his Maecenas were to even think about a similar betrayal, Horace “[does] pray your lover may put up her hand against your kiss and lie far from you on the bed”. Horace completely ignores any justification for Medea’s actions by explaining the misdeeds he wishes on Maecenas if she were to behave in a similar manner. Horace does not find infidelity a reason for Medea to take action against her victim. Unlike Horace, Catullus’ description of Lesbia’s betrayals is described in a much more humorous way. He explains comically how Lesbia finds herself “down alleys [jacking] off Remus’ generous descendants” (Catullus, Poem 58A). In this poem, Catullus vulgarly depicts Lesbia’s adulterous behavior, but comes off comical on purpose. While Horace intimidates Maecenas away from that behavior, Catullus seems quite indifferent to her behavior. A plausible difference in opinion may be that Catullus is a seasoned adulterer compared to Horace and therefore does not find this form of betrayal as treacherous.