V. 1. Etrusca, MSS.; Susa, the conjecture of Beroaldus, has been adopted by Scaliger, Barth, Kuinoel, Lachmann, Jacob, Keil, and Mueller; Hertzberg and Paley admit Itura, the conjecture of Pontanus (a word found in no ancient writer; the country is called Ituraea). Ellis (Professorial Dissertations, 1871-72, p. 9) suggests Atusa, from an inscription on a unique coin ('Atovσiéwv tŵv πpòs tÒV Kánрov, inclosing an arrow and a palm-branch), supposed to belong to an Assyrian city on the Caprus or lesser Zab. V. 4. Ascraeum—nemus. Cf. Propert., iii. 1, 25. V. 5, 6. The wondrous feats performed by Orpheus, the Thracian bard. V. 8. Inachio-Lino. Linus, son of Apollo and Calliope, famous in the legends of Argos and Thebes. V. 19. Nec mea tunc longa spatietur imagine pompa. When the funeral of an individual of high rank and ancient lineage took place, the masks representing his distinguished ancestors (imagines majorum) were taken out of their cases in the atrium and worn in the procession (pompa), in front of the bier (lectus), by persons clad in dresses similar to those worn in their lives by the parties represented, and decorated with their insignia of office. V. 20. Tuba. Cf. Propert., ii. 7, 12, and v. II, 9. V. 22. Attalico-toro. The wealth of Attalus, king of Pergamus, who bequeathed his immense treasures to the Roman people, was proverbial. Cf. Hor. Carm., i. 1, 12; Propert., iii. 24, 12, and v. 5, 24. V. 30. Onyx, properly a kind of gypsum or marble; here, a small vase made from it, in which the finer sorts of perfumes were preserved. The coarser kinds were kept in shells (conchae), or bottles of a globular form (ampullae). V. 33. Busto. The place where the body was burnt (uro). V. 38. Phthii busta cruenta viri. "The tomb of Achilles, gory from the slaughter of Polyxena." V. 48. Gallicus. "Trojan," from the river Gallus, in Phrygia, if the word be not corrupt. Lachmann reads Ilius. V. 49. Antilochi. Antilochus, son of Nestor, slain by Memnon. Cf. Juv. Sat., x. 250-255; and Hor. Carm., ii. 9, 13-15. V. 55. Vocitasse, Mueller; flevisse, Kuinoel; jacuisse, vulgo. Love's dream realised. ELEGY V. V. 6. Falsa-ossa. "The pretended ashes of Orestes." V. 29. Nunc in te, Paley. Keil and Mueller retain the MS. reading ad te, and point with an interrogation at vadis. ELEGY VI. The same subject continued. V. I. O tu Lectule! Cf. Catull., lxi. 114-0 cubile! Dum nos fata sinunt oculos satiemus amore: Cf. Tibull., i. 1, 69, 70 :— Interea, dum fata sinunt, jungamus amores: V. 34. Aridus et sicco gurgite piscis erit. Et freta destituent nudos in litore pisces. V. 44. Nec nostra Actiacum verteret ossa mare. From this verse it is evident that the poet's first success with Cynthia did not occur till after the battle of Actium (Sept., A.U.C. 723). V. 48. Laeserunt nullos pocula nostra deos. It is difficult to reconcile the statement in this verse with the recommendation in v. 42, supra, and with the poet's repeated confessions of inebriety. He probably means to say that he never, by indulgence, incurred the divine displeasure, as did Antony, whose intemperance was notorious. ELEGY VII. The rich praetor (see i. 8, supra) has, to the great concern of Propertius, returned from Illyria, and Cynthia's time is wholly occupied with her old admirer. Unable to mend matters, the poet recommends her to "fleece the silly sheep," and then send him adrift; upbraids her for renewing her connection with him; and warns her, by the examples of Eriphyla and Creusa, to curb her avaricious disposition. V. 3. Saxo-Cerauno. Cf. i. 8, 19, and see note thereon. Cf. Catull., xi. 20. Ilia rumpens. V. 20. Straminea posset dux habitare casa! Cf. Ov. Fast., iii. 183, 184: Quae fuerit nostri, si quaeris, regia nati, Aspice de canna straminibusque domum. V. 28. Mea regna. Cf. Propert., v. 7, 50; and Tib., i. 9, 80 :— Et geret in regno regna superba tuo. V. 29. Eriphyla, bribed by Polynices with the golden necklace which Venus gave to Hermione, betrayed her husband Amphiaräus, and was slain in consequence by Alcmaeon. V. 30. Creusa (or Glauce) was consumed by an embroidered robe besmeared with phosphorus, which she had received as a gift from Medea. See Eurip. Med., vv. 1136-1230. V. 40. Extremo-orbe. "Egypt." V. 46. Quae tibi terra, velim, quae tibi fiat aqua. Cf. Tibull., i. 9, 11, 12; and Hom. Il., vii. 99 :— V. 55. Sidonia="Tyria," "purpurea.” ELEGY VIII. Propertius, being refused admittance by Cynthia, complains of her cruelty; talks of committing suicide; but finally resolves to remain faithful, that thereby he may induce her to relent. V. II. Quem modo felicem, invidia admirante, ferebant. Cf. Mart. Epigr., v. 6, 5 :— Et sis, invidia favente, felix. V. 15. Nec licet. So the MSS., which I have followed; Barth and Kuinoel read Nunc licet. ELEGY IX. He complains of Cynthia's coldness; reminds her of approaching age; and ridicules the artificial means which she is adopting to improve her personal appearance. V. 9. Ulnis, Barth, Kuinoel, Keil, Lachmann, Mueller; undis, Paley. V. 10. Adjunctos, Keil, Mueller, and Paley; abjunctos, Barth, Kuinoel, and Lachmann. V. 16. Memnone. Memnon, son of Tithonus and Aurora, was slain by Achilles. V. 20. Anus. From this expression it has been supposed that Cynthia was older than Propertius, and indeed somewhat advanced in life; but perhaps the taunt of an angry poet is not to be taken quite literally. See iii. 6, 21, which, however, may again be met by v. 33 of the present elegy. V. 23. Infectos-Britannos. "Woad-stained." Cf. Caes. Bell. Gall., v. 14: Omnes se vero Britanni vitro inficiunt quod caeruleum efficit colorem. V. 26. Belgicus-color. By this the commentators understand "Dutch soap" (spuma Batava, Mart., viii. 33, 20), a preparation with which the ancients dyed their hair red. It is surely not a hair-dye here, but a pigment of some sort for the skin. Cf. Propert., iv. 24, 7, 8 : Et color est totiens roseo collatus Eoo, ELEGY X. In this charming elegy, addressed to Cynthia on the eve of a projected visit to the country, Propertius evinces the most tender solicitude for her safety, and a genuine appreciation of the beauties of nature. V. 9. Ludi. Theatrical exhibitions and games. V. 10. Fana. The temples were notorious as meeting-places for lovers. Cf. Propert., v. 8, 16 :— Causa fuit Juno, sed mage causa Venus; and Tibull., i. 6, 21, 22:— time, seu visere dicet Sacra Bonae maribus non adeunda Deae. V. 26. Niveos-boves. The steers of Umbria, so much famed as victims for sacrifice, were supposed to derive their snow-white colour from drinking, and bathing in, the clear waters of the Clitumnus. V. 29. Set (sed), Munro ; sic, vulgo. V. 31, 32: Quin ego in adsidua mutem tua nomina lingua: Prof. Munro, whose interpretation of this vexed passage I have followed, has triumphantly vindicated the integrity of the MS. reading given above (see 'Journal of Philology,' vol. vi. p. 51, 52). ELEGY XI. Propertius tries to console Cynthia by assuring her of the groundlessness of her fears, and declaring his unchanged affection. V. 5 Non tam nocturna volucris funesta querela Attica Cecropiis obstrepit in foliis. Philomela, daughter of Pandion, was changed into a nightingale. Qualia sub densis ramorum concinit umbris and Virg. Georg., iv. 514, 515: Flet noctem, ramoque sedens miserabile carmen V. 7, 8. Nec-Sipylo. Niobe, proud of the number of her children-six sons and six daughters—deemed herself superior to Latona, who had only two. Indignant at her insolence, Apollo and Diana slew the children of Niobe, who herself repaired to Mount Sipylus, was changed into stone, and even thus continued to bewail the loss of her offspring. |