C. Valerius Catullus, Carmen 66.51–58
The lock describes its journey from Berenice's head to the heavens. The winged messenger belongs to Arsinoe II, the deified queen of Egypt who was worshipped as Venus at Zephyrium near Canopus.
Tier 1
sorōrēs meae paulō ante ā capite ēreptae erant. eae meum fātum flēbant.
tum equus volucer per āera ad mē vēnit. is equus Arsinoēs erat. Arsinoē ex Locrīs erat. equus sē mihi obtulit. is frāter Memnonis Aethiopis erat.
equus mē sustulit. per umbrās aetheris abiit. mē in sinū Veneris castae posuit.
Arsinoē, Zephyrītis, equum suum ad mē mīserat. ea Graeca domum in lītore Canōpī habet.
Tier 2
abiūnctae paulō ante comae sorōrēs meum fātum lūgēbant. tum āles equos sē obtulit.
is equos Arsinoēs Locridis erat. is Memnonis Aethiopis ūnigena erat. āera nūtantibus pennīs impellēbat.
is mē tollit et per aetheriās umbrās āvolat. in castō Veneris gremiō mē collocat.
ipsa Zephyrītis eum famulum lēgārat. illa Grāiia incola Canōpītīs lītoribus erat.
Tier 3
abiūnctae paulō ante comae sorōrēs mea fāta lūgēbant, cum āles equos Arsinoēs Locridis, Memnonis Aethiopis ūnigena, sē obtulit, nūtantibus āera impellēns pennīs.
isque per aetheriās āvolat umbrās, mē tollēns, et Veneris castō collocat in gremiō.
ipsa Zephyrītis suum eō famulum lēgārat, Grāiia incola Canōpītīs lītoribus.
Tier 4 - Carmen Ipsum
- abiūnctae paulō ante comae mea fāta sorōrēs
- lūgēbant, cum sē Memnonis Aethiopis
- ūnigena impellēns nūtantibus āera pennīs
- obtulit Arsinoēs Locridis āles equos,
- isque per aetheriās mē tollēns āvolat umbrās
- et Veneris castō collocat in gremiō.
- ipsa suum Zephyrītis eō famulum lēgārat
- Grāiia Canōpītīs incola lītoribus.
Original draft written by Robert Amstutz
