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To Calvus on the death of his wife, Quintilia; cf. Intr. 60. From Propertius (Prop. 3.34.89ff.) we learn that Calvus himself wrote a threnody on his loss.

si quicquam: etc., the phrase is probably not intended as an expression of skepticism which might destroy the effect of the consolation, but to emphasize the apodosis following in v. 5 f.; cf. Catul. 76.17n. Catul. 102.1. For more definite echoes of the prevailing agnosticism among the Romans regarding immortality cf. Sulpicius ap. Cic. Fam. 4.5.6; Tac. Agr. 46.

mutis sepulcris: cf. Catul. 101.4 “mutam cinerem” .

gratum acceptumve: the conjunction of these adjectives is common; cf. also Catul. 90.5 “gratus ut accepto” .

[2] nostro: of men in general, — though Catullus had himself felt the need of similar consolation.

[3-6] desiderio: etc. in apposition with dolore, carrying on the idea with specification; cf. Catul. 2.8 and note.

[4] missas: not here, as frequently, of a thing voluntarily surrendered, but of one given up in obedience to a greater power; cf. Catul. 66.29.

[4] amicitias: of the sentiment rather than the passion of love; cf. Catul. 109.6.


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

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  • Commentary references from this page (8):
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 4.5.6
    • Catullus, Poems, 101
    • Catullus, Poems, 102
    • Catullus, Poems, 109
    • Catullus, Poems, 2
    • Catullus, Poems, 66
    • Catullus, Poems, 90
    • Tacitus, Agricola, 46
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