E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus, Poem 75

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Another address to Lesbia, resembling in tone, and agreeing in time with Catul. 72.1ff. and Catul. 85.1ff. There is no good reason for believing, with Scaliger and some later critics, that these verses are the conclusion of Catul. 87.1ff., from which they were accidently severed in the life of the archetype. The poem is complete and satisfactory in itself, while a union with Catul. 87.1ff. would necessitate the substitution of nunc for huc (with Scaliger and one interpolated MS.) and of diducta for deducta with Lachmann), contrary to the MSS.

mea Lesbia: the use even here of the earlier affectionate address is in accord with the declaration that love for her still dominates him; cf. Catul. 87.2.

[2] se perdidit: i. e. by devotion to her (suo officio） through good and ill his reason has so far suffered that he is no longer in a normal mental condition, and cannot be consistent, and cease to love when he has ceased to respect.

[3-4] Cf. Catul. 72.7f.

[3-4] si optuma fias: all confidence in her has been irrevocably lost, so that no change in her character could make him believe her true.

[4] omnia: for quidlubet; cf. Hor. Carm. 1.3.25 “audax omnia perpeti” .

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

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E. T. Merrill, Commentary on Catullus
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