This fragment is so brief that it is almost impossible to determine
its original character, though it is probably a modest and
grateful recognition of attention at the hands of the public. By
different critics it has been taken to be: the protasis to which
Catul. 2.11 is the apodosis, the
whole thus forming a second, and general, introductory poem,
while
Catul. 1.1 is a special one; a
fragment of the prologue to a
libellus comprising 15-60, while 1 is the
prologue to the
libellus comprising
2-14; a fragment of the original epilogue to the
libellus 2-14, while 1 is a prologue
written expressly for the extant
liber. Other less plausible theories have also
found supporters. But as it seems more likely that the existing
liber Catulli is a rearranged
complex of earlier
libellicf. of
undeterminable content, and was published by an unknown editor
after the death of the author, it is quite possible that this
scrap was found among his papers in its present condition, and
was inserted in this arbitrary position upon the publication of
the
liber. See also
Intr. 47ff.
ineptiarum: cf.
Catul. 1.4
“nugas”
;
Mart. 2.86.9
“turpe est difficiles habere nugas et
stultus labor est ineptiarum”
;
Mart. 11.1.13
“qui revolvant nostrarum tineas inepti.
arum.”
[2]
manus admovere: sc.
ut volumen revolvatis;
with friendly, not hostile intent; cf.
Ov. Met. 10.254
“manus operi admovet.”
[3]
non horrebitis: shall
not disdain; cf.
Hor. Ep. I.18.24
“quem dives amicus odit et
horret.”
Others, who believe that 14b is really the first
three verses of Catul. 16.1, thus
strangely misplaced, would understand these words to mean
‘shall have the impudence.’
