E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, Poem 93

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Apparently a rude answer to some approaches by, or on behalf of, Julius Caesar. The date of its composition, even with reference to Catul. 29.1ff. and Catul. 57.1ff., is doubtful; see Intr. 38. Cf. the remark of Quintilian (Quint. 11.1.38） negat se magni facere aliquis poetarum ‘utrum Caesar ater an albus homo sit,’ insania; verte, ut idem Caesar de illo dixerit, adrogantia est.

nimium: cf. Catul. 43.4n.

studeo velle: with the pleonasm cf. Nep. Att. 4.2 “noli adversum eos me velle ducere” ; Cic. Dom. 146 “nolite eum velle esse privatum” (and Markland's note); Petron. 98 “si Gitona tuum amas, incipe velle servare” ; Sen. Apoc. 14 “incipit patronus velle respondere” .

[2] nec scire: etc., i. e. I have no interest in you whatever.

[2] albus an ater: the expression is proverbial; cf. Cic. Phil. 2.41 “vide quam te amarit is qui albus aterne fuerit ignoras” ; Phaedr. 3.15.10 “unde illa scivit niger an albus nascerer?” Apul. Apol. 16 “etiam libenter te nuper usque albus an ater esses ignoravi” .

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

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