The dedication defines at the same time a recipient (the reader) and a
beneficiary of the gift. Thevolumen, polished with pumice on its edges, is
the occasion of the usual erotic joke on ‘‘lepidum novum’’; the adjective
lepidusis synonymous withvenustus.Novus, in other words, new on the
market, like the diminutive ‘‘little book,’’ underlines its assimilation to a
puer delicatusstill young and fresh. The book is new because it presents
new epigrams written by Catullus. Its new aspect points out the fragility
of books and the rapid wearing out ofvolumina. The book is a gift offered
to Cornelius Nepos: how will he treat this young boy?
THE LIBRARY OR THE BOOKSTORE?
Whenthe giftofa bookisinscribedin the client-patronrelationship,and the
giver is the poet himself and his patron accepts the gift, he could have it read
in public to gain glory for himself. At that point the poet has a chance to
obtain both financial reward and a certain social cachet. But for that to
happen it is necessary that his capacity to make verse takes the shape of a
materialgift,whichalonecanensurethebook-as-object.Noritualofsongor
recitation exists in Rome that can take its place. The book, unless it is placed
on the market of the bookstore, loses any possibility for evaluation.
17
The
book’s value lies in the success of the exchange.
One can see this very clearly in a passage from theLetter to Augustus
(Hor.Ep. 2.1, and cf.Ep. 1.13). Horace brings a book (liber)toAugustus
(220) and reads the verses aloud to him (223:recitata revoluimus), expecting
from him a subsidy sufficient to live and further orders to write (225–8).
Why should Augustus reward this? Because the books of Horace will come
to fill the library that he has founded on the Palatine next to the temple of
Apollo in 28B.C. Two glories are offered to the versifier: the theater or the
library (214–8).
Verum age et his, qui se lectori credere malunt
quam spectatoris fastidia ferre superbi
curam redde breuem, si munus Apolline dignum
uis complere libris et uatibus addere calcar,
ut studio maiore petant Helicona uirentem.(But come, and give a little attention to those who prefer
to entrust themselves to a reader rather than endure the disdain of the
proud viewer,
if you wish to fill the gift worthy of Apollo
with books and to spur on the poets
to seek with greater zeal verdant Helicon.)- See Cat. 95, quoted below.
152 Books and Texts