mala mens: cf. Catul. 15.14.
miselle: in feigned commiseration.
Ravide: undoubtedly dissyllabic (cf. such forms as lautus from an apparent lavitus, audeo from an apparent avideo, eicit dissyllabic in Lucretius, etc.); there are no cases of synapheia in Phalaecean verse.
[2] iambos: these very verses, though Phalaecean, are perhaps those threatened, iambics being nsed as a general term for all verser of personal satire; cf. Catul. 54.6; Catul. 12.10n.
[3] tibi: ἀπὸ κοινοῦ with advocatus and excitare.
[3] non bene advocatus: pointing to the older belief that a slight mistake in the observance of the ceremonials of invocation might bring down the wrath of the deity instead of his goodwill.
[4] vecordem rixam: cf. Catul. 15.14 “furor vecors” .
[5] pervenias in ora vulgi: cf. Ovid Trist. 3.14.23 “populi pervenit in ora” ; Ennius Epitaph “volito vivos per ora virum.”
[6] quid vis: a colloquial question of indignant expostulation, more common with tibi expressed; cf. Ter. Heaut. 61 “pro deum atque hominum fidem, quid vis tibi?” Cic. De Or. 2.67.269 “quid tibi vis, insane?” Hor. S. 2.6.29 “quid vis, insane?” Prop. 1.5.3 “quid tibi vis, insane?”
[6] qua libet: in any possible way; cf. Catul. 76.14; but in a locative sense in Catul. 15.11.
[7] meos amores: probably of Juventius (cf. Catul. 15.1), who had been exposed to the approaches of Ravidus by his residence with Aurelius.
[8] cum longa poena: cf. Catul. 77.2 “magno cum pretio atque malo.” Catullus expects long life for his verses (cf. Catul. 1.10).
