egelidos: the prefix here has the privative meaning, as in Colum. 10.282 “nunc ver egelidum, nunc est mollissimus annus” ; but the prefix is intensive in Verg. A. 8.610 “procul egelido secretum flumine vidit.”
[2] furor aequinoctialis: the ancients had long noted that the period of the autumnal and vernal equinoxes were accompanied by storms; cf. Plin. NH 18.221.
[3] Zephyri: the spring-wind of the Romans; cf. Hor. Carm. 1.4.1 “solvitur acris hiems grata vice veris et Favoni” ; Verg. G. 2.330 “(vere) zephyri tepentibus auris laxant arva sinus.”
[4] Phrygii campi: cf. Catul. 31.5 “Bithynos campos” .
[5] Nicaeae: Strabo (12.564) says of Nicaea, the capital of Bithynia, Strabo XII. 564 “περικεῖται δὲ κύκλῳ πεδίον μέγα ῾cf. Phrigii campi᾿ καὶ σφόδρα εὔδαιμον, ῾ξφ.ager uber᾿ οὐ πάνυ δὲ ὑγιεινὸν τοῦ θέρους” (cf. aestuosae). Homer mentions the fertility of the region in Hom. Il. 13.793 “ἐξ Ἀσκανίης ἐριβώλακος” .
[5] aestuosae: cf. Catul. 7.5n. The unhealthy character of the region as summer came on rendered departure even more agreeable.
[6] claras Asiae urbes: i.e. the famous Greek cities on the Aegean coast of Asia proper.
[6] volemus: the figure of flying for sailing is prompted by the eagerness of the desire to be gone; cf. Catul. 4.5 of the same voyage.
[7] praetrepidans: tremulous with eager anticipation; cf. Catul. 63.43 “trepidante sinu.”
[8] pedes: not that Catullus was contemplating, as some have thought, a land journey, but the passionate eagerness for departure is most unaffectedly pictured by its influence upon the physical feelings.
[9] dulces: the social intercourse among the comites had been pleasant, but far outweighing the pain of separation was the delight of homecoming.
[9] comitum: i.e. the other members of the governor's cohors; cf. Catul. 11.1; Catul. 28.1.
[10] longe: modifying profectos; the companionship had been endeared by their very distance from home.
[11] diversae: contrasted with simul profectos.
[11] variae: the homeward paths were not only pursued separately, but were varied in character, Catullus, for instance, making a detour to visit the clarae Asiae urbes.
