For declension see B. 22; A. & G. 44. 4. ducentos: sc. sestertios. The
sestertius was worth from four to five cents. 5. O ventum...pestilentem:
O unhealthy draft!

_2._ Latin did not naturally use h at all with consonants nor favor its
use before vowels. Greek, however, frequently employs the aspirated
consonants ch, ph, and th as well as the rough breathing; and, though in
earlier times the Romans were satisfied to take Greek words over into
their language without aspirating, e.g. Corintus for [Greek: Korinthos],
in later times aspirating became a fashion. Of this fashion Arrius is an
unskilful follower, who, while believing himself to be achieving a fine
reputation for good form, makes himself a target for the ridicule of
Catullus.

1. vellet: imperfect subjunctive in the protasis of a general condition,
B. 302, 1, 3, a; A. & G. 518, c. 3. sperabat: he used to flatter
himself. 4. quantum poterat: with might and main. Arrius makes all the
display that he can of his elegant (?) accomplishment. 5. liber:
implying that Arrius' uncle had been a slave and that the family is of
humble origin. Catullus thus intimates that what Arrius thinks an
accomplishment really stamps him as of low birth. 7. misso: sent to
Syria on some public service, perhaps with Crassus in 55 B.C. 8.
audibant: B. 116, 4, b; A. & G. 183, 1. leniter et leviter: the devotees
of the aspirating fashion whom Arrius had left behind in Rome were not
so obtrusive about it as he, did not speak out 'quantum poterant.' 9.
postilla: equals postea. 11. Ionios: news of Arrius would come soon from
the Ionian Sea, for, lying as it did to the west of Greece, it would
soon be reached by him on his eastward journey. isset: B. 116, 1; A. &
G. 181, b.

The following is Martin's translation:

Whenever Arrius wished to name
'Commodious,' out 'chommodious' came:
And when of his intrigues he blabbed,
With his 'hintrigues' our ears he stabbed;
And thought, moreover, he displayed
A rare refinement when he made
His h's thus at random fall
With emphasis most guttural.
When suddenly came news one day
Which smote the city with dismay,
That the Ionian seas a change
Had undergone, most sad and strange;
For, since by Arrius crossed, the wild
'Hionian Hocean' they were styled.

_3._ 1. Veneres: the plural is symmetrical with Cupidines, while
suggesting 'the Graces.' 2. et...venustiorum: and all who have a soul
for beauty. hominum: partitive geniti