flosculus: cf. Catul. 17.14n.
Iuventiorum: perhaps with a play upon the apparent etymology, as if the word were equivalent to iuvenum.
[2] quot: etc., cf. Catul. 21.2n.
[4] Not that Juventius was rich, nor that Furius had also tried to borrow money from him, but simply that the wealth of a Midas was to the mind of Catullus small in comparison with what Furius asked.
[4] Midae: Midas shared with Croesus among the more ancient worthies, and Attalus among the more modern, the honor of standing as the typical possessor of boundless wealth: cf. Catul. 115.3 “divitiis Croesum superare” , Mart. 6.86.4 “heres divitis esse Midae” ; Ov. Pont. 4.37 “divitis audita est cui non opulentia Croesi?” Hor. Carm. 1.1.12 “Attalicis condicionibus nunquam dimoveas.”
[5] isti cui: etc., i.e. Furius; cf. Catul. 23.1.
[7] quid: this familiar expression of surprise occurs also in Catul. 67.37, and in slightly varied form in Catul. 62.37 “quid tum?” Catul. 52.1, Catul. 52.4 “quid est?”
[7] homo bellus: cf. Catul. 22.9n.
[7] est: bellus often refers to mere superficial attractiveness, and the sarcastic echo bello huic (Catul. 24.8) precludes the idea that Catullus was acknowledging in earnest any real excellence of Furius (cf. also note above); he means ‘Yes, he is a fine fellow, forsooth, this starveling beggar.’
[9] hoc tu: etc., i.e. excuse and extenuate the thing as you please, the ugly fact remains, and you, as well as he, must acknowledge it; and Catullus in the last verse rehearses the charge again to give it due effect.
