this little book is,
             and whatever you like; oh patron maiden,
             let it last for more than one unending century.
             Clearly Catullus feels there is something wrong with what Nepos has done here. The neoterics believed that each poem must have meaning to it. Nepos put the entire history of Italy in to three sheets of paper. Obviously he must have left out a great many details about Italy by doing this. He probably just wrote a small timeline including only the huge events in history that effected Italy. Catullus first shows distaste in this poem by using the word nugae (trifles). This is a very condescending word in the neoteric vocabulary. To Nepos, Catullus' poems may seem like little jokes because of satirical quality. Catullus himself may see Nepos' writings as trifles themselves because any thing which leaves so much out cannot be full of substance what so ever. Even though he does not like his writing Catullus also describes Nepos as doctis (learned), showing that he still think the man is very intelligent. But at the same time he uses the word laboriosus (labored over). If it's one thing neoterics hate its writing that have been over worked. Catullus sees these writings as dry and tiresome. Nepos would not make it as a neoteric poet at all. His writing is not at all lepidum (charming) like that of Catullus' new book that he had dedicated to Nepos.
             The next poem by Catullus that gives us a view of the neoteric style is that of Poem XXII. This poem is written about a fellow writer named Suffenus. Although Catullus thinks that Suffenus is a very charming person he is not a very good poet:
             That Suffenus, Varius, whom you have know,
             Is a charming man, and witty, and sophisticated,
             And the same man makes very many verses far and wide.
             I think that either 10,000 or more verses
             Have been written by that man, not having been done as is common on palimpsest
             New knobs, red leather, parchment covers,
             Having been lined wit...