Lesbius… quem Lesbia malit. Incesto e matrimonio in Catullo 79

A textual and stylistic-literary analysis of Catullus’ poem 79 is presented here. In particular, this essay considers the strange choice of malle (and the subjunctive form malit) to denote Lesbia/Clodia’s affection for Lesbius/Clodius, the tribune who is her brother: rather than an allusion to the incestuous relations of the siblings (a theme which is present but remains only in the background), there is probably a reference to a made-up phrase of colloquial style used by Lesbia (cf. 70, 1-2) who (out of impatience) declares herself ready to marry Lesbius rather than Catullus. Such a defiant assertion is presented by Catullus as a mock response of Lesbia to his own passionate (and iterated) declarations of love for her beyond himself and all his own (especially 58, 1-3, cf. 8, 5 or 37, 12).