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Catullus 86

Catullus compares Lesbia's overall beauty to that of a certain Quintia. Quintia possesses certain attractive points, but her femininity is incomplete as she lacks charm and grace. 

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Quintia formosa est multis. mihi candida, longa,
.....recta est: haec ego sic singula confiteor.
totum illud formosa nego: nam nulla venustas,
.....nulla in tam magno est corpore mica salis.
Lesbia formosa est, quae cum pulcherrima tota est,...................5
.....tum omnibus una omnis surripuit Veneres.

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Meter: elegiacs.
2. haec singula: direct object of confiteor.
3. totum illud: Accusative of Respect; 
formosa: modifies venustas and mica.
5. cum...tum: "not only, but also".
6. omnis Veneres: "all the charms of Venus," "all the graces of all women"; omnis is Accusative plural;
una: modifies Lesbia, "she alone."
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last updated October 17, 2003
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