E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, Poem 73

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A disheartened complaint concerning the ingratitude and faithlessness of some friend, perhaps of Caelius Rufus, whose rivalry with Catullus in the affections of Lesbia is referred to in Catul. 77.1ff. Cf. also Intr. 21

quicquam: modifies bene mereri, while velle depends upon desine.

[2] aliquem: instead of quemquam, as if repeated from the form of direct discourse aliquis fieri pius possit.

[2] fieri: = esse; cf. Catul. 80.2 “fiant” .

[2] pium: grateful; cf. Ov. Trist. 5.4.43 “pro quibus adfirmat fore se memoremque piumque” ; Cic. Fam. 1.9.1 “cum illud ipsum gravissimum et sanctissimum nomen pietatis levius mihi meritis erga me tuis esse videatur” .

[3] omnia sunt ingrata: cf. Pl. Asin. 136ff. “ingrata atque irrita esse omnia intellego quae dedi et quod bene feci” . With ingrata in this sense cf. Catul. 64.103n.

[3] nihil: (sc.est), 'tis of no avail to have done deeds of kindness; cf. Ter. And 314 “id ‘aliquid’ nil est” ; Cic. Fam. 7.33.1 “nos enim plane nihil sumus” .

[5] ut mihi: sc. obest.

[6] unum atque unicum: cf. Gell. 18.4.2 “se unum et unicum lectorem esse” ; Apul. Met. 4.31 “idque unum et pro omnibus unicum” . The succession of elisons in this verse is noteworthy; cf. Intr. 86a

Catullus. Catullus. E. T. Merrill. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1893.

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