furum balneariorum: thieves of clothing at the baths were troublesome even in early Rome (cf. Pl. Rud. 382ff.), and the trouble continued into later times; cf. Petr. 30 “subducta sibi vestimenta dispensatoris in balneo”
optime: i.e. most successful; with the ironical use cf. Catul. 36.6 “electissima pessimi poetae scripta” Catul. 37.14 “boni beatique” .
[3] dextra: the left hand is the one traditionally appropriated to stealing (cf. Catul. 12.1n) but here Catullus means simply the hand and not the right as distinguished from the left.
[5] cur non itis: an impatient exhortation; cf. Ter. Eun. 465 “quid stamus? quor non imus hinc?” Hor. Carm. 3.19.18 “cur Berecyntiae cessant flamina tibiae?”
[5] exsilium: perhaps the preposition with oras answers for both nouns, as in Hor. Carm. 3.25.2 “quae nemora aut quos agor in specus” : but cf. Acc. 599 R. “proficisci exsilium.”
[5] malas in oras: with a play between the idea of actual banishment (cf. Ter. Phor. 978 “publicitus hinc asportarier in solas terras” ) and that of the familiar in malam rem.
[8] asse: i.e. the most insignificant sum; cf. Catul. 5.3n.
