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coniugium, pueri, laudate et ferte paternum :
capta dabit uestris moribus illa manus.
nec matrem laudate nimis: conlata priori
uertet in offensas libera uerba suas.

༡༠

seu memor ille mea contentus manserit umbra

discite uenturam iam nunc sentire senectam,

et tanti cineres duxerit esse meos,

caelibis ad curas nec uacet ulla uia.

quod mihi detractumst, uestros accedat ad annos: 95 prole mea Paullum sic iuuet esse senem.

et bene habet: numquam mater lugubria sumpsi: uenit in exequias tota caterua meas. causa peroratast. flentes me surgite, testes, dum pretium uitae grata rependit humus. moribus et caelum patuit: sim digna merendo, cuius honoratis ossa uehantur auis.

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NOTES.

I. i.

INTRODUCTION.

THIS elegy was prefixed to the first book of poems which Propertius published under the name of Cynthia. The poet intended it to serve as a preface to the Cynthia poems, as is clear from the pointed references to it in Iv. 24 which commemorates the poet's final release from the attachment whose early wretchedness is depicted here. Written after a year of tyranny on the part of Cynthia and patient submissive waiting on that of Propertius, it shews a strong and slighted passion sinking into a dull and resourceless despair. This year was probably that year of separation, for which see Introduction; compare vv. 7, 35-38 and notes. The poem is addressed to Tullus, for whom see Introduction. This melancholy beginning, in strong contrast with those of Tibullus, Lygdamus and Ovid, is in keeping with the Propertian genius.

ARGUMENT.

Cynthia first subdued me (1, 2). My subjection has been complete. My love has warped my soul and wrecked my life (3-6). Even continued disappointments cannot cure it (7, 8). Milanion's love for Atalanta was once as fierce and hopeless as mine: but it prompted him to exertions which were successful at the last (9-16). Mine is dull and uninventive (17, 18). Ordinary aid is in vain: let magic help me if it can (19–24). Advice is too late, my friends, now: find some remedy, however severe, for this stifling passion (25-28). Take me where no woman can follow: let the fortunate stay at home (29-32). My darling is always reviling me: my love is spurned, but it continues (33, 34). Be warned by my woe, happy lovers, and be faithful lest you repent it (35-end).

1, 2. 'It was Cynthia first with those sweet eyes that made me, poor wretch, her prey: till then no shafts of desire had thrilled through my heart.' Cynthia, see Introduction. prima, i.e. exclusive of the passing fancy for Lycinna Introduction. miserum strikes the key-note of the elegy and the attachment, see Introduction. cepitelλor Meleager (see below): 11. 3. 9 nec me tam facies, quamuis sit candida, cepit; im. Ov. M. 14. 372 per o tua lumina, dixit, quae mea ceperunt. Compare the pretty conceit in Meleager (57) Anth. Gr. 12. 113 καὐτὸς Ἔρως ὁ πτανὸς ἐν αἰθέρι δέσμιος ἤλω ἀγρευθεὶς τοῖς σοῖς ὄμμασι, Τιμάριον. ocellis, the dimin. of erotic poetry and domestic life.

2. contactum unites the senses of (1) reach, hit, Aen. 5. 509 auem contingere ferro, and (2) taint, by communicating poison; cf. III. 3. 19 intactos isto satius temptare ueneno and v. 12 nec quisquam ex illo uolnere sanus abit. In the same connexion Ov. M. 9. 483 quam me manifesta libido contigit. contactum nullis ante cupidinibus = πόθοις ἄτρωτον Meleag.

3-6. 'It was then Love's God cast down my looks of resolute disdain, and trod my neck beneath his feet: till he taught me in his wantonness to hate chaste beauty, and to live without a plan.'

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3. deiecit, effecit ut deicerentur'; Prop. more suo, see Introduction, omitting a link in the conception: cf. Theocr. 2. 112 καί μ' ἐσιδὼν ὥστοργος, ἐπὶ χθονὸς ὄμματα πάξας. Im. Οr. Her. 11. 35 erubui gremioque pudor deiecit ocellos. For sense cf. 111. 28 (22). 9 (Amor) tollere numquam te patietur humo lumina capta semel. lumina fastus=τὸ δ ̓ ἐπ' ὀφρύσι κεῖνο φρύαγμα Meleag.; cf. Plin. N. H. 11. 37. 51. 138 superbia aliubi concep taculum sed hic (in superciliis) sedem habet. fastus='indefinite gen. of kind or contents' Roby 1304; see Introduction,

4. caput impositis pressit pedibus Tooσl war Meleag., as a victor on his fallen enemy, cf. 111. 28 (22). 7 sqq.; imitated Ov. M. 8. 424 ipse pede imposito caput exitiabile pressit. Vv. 3-6 are a close imitation of Meleager Anth. Gr. 12. 101 (cf. id, Anth. 12. 48),

τόν με πόθοις ἄτρωτον ὑπὸ στέρνοισι Μυίσκος

ὄμμασι τοξεύσας τοῦτ ̓ ἐβόησεν ἔπος

τὸν θρασὺν εἷλον ἐγώ. τὸ δ' ἐπ' ὀφρύσι κεῖνο φρύαγμα σκηπτροφόρου σοφίας, ἠνίδε, ποσσὶ πατῶ.

5. castas puellas, not 'as prudes' P. which gives a wrong turn to the sense. It is to be taken closely with v. 6. Cynthia's severe punishment of Propertius' one breach of faith (cf. v. 7 n.) had driven him into unworthier attachments (= quaerere uiles, III. 18 (15). 9, &c.).

6. improbus, cruel and shameless; cf. Virg. Ecl. 8. 50 puer improbus (of Love), and Aen. 2. 80 improba (Fortuna). nullo consilio, aimlessly, recklessly. In Cic. Inv. 1. 34. 58 temere et nullo consilio is opposed to ratione; cf. 111. 3. 4.

7,8. 'And now after a whole year this my madness is not spent, yea though I am forced to have the gods against me.'

7. toto anno. So again in IV. 15 (16). 9 peccaram semel et totum sum pulsus in annum.

8. tamen, in the protasis like Gr. öuws; cf. Ov, M. 2. 782 quamuis tamen oderat illam, talibus affatast breuiter Tritonia dictis. cogor, by an inexorable fate. But observe that cogor tends to become a mere auxiliary in Prop.; see Introduction. habere, cf. v. 11, 13 n.

9-16.

'Milanion, friend Tullus, by shrinking from no toil broke the stubborn cruelty of the daughter of Iasus. He sometimes wandered in Parthenian dells, distraught with love, and went to face the shaggy wild beasts; he was stricken too with a wound from the branch Hylaeus bore, and on Arcadian rocks he moaned in pain. Therefore could he achieve the taming of the swift-footed maiden; such power in love have prayers and deeds of merit.'

9. Milanion; the lover of the Arcadian Atalanta, the daughter of Iasus (Iasius, Iasion). According to Prop. whom Ovid follows, A. A. 2. 185, a passage modelled on this, he owed his success to helping her in hunting and against the Centaur Hylaeus.

10. saeuitiam is explained by durae. A. was cruel because unyielding. contudit, of breaking in animals; cf. Tib. (?) 3. 6. 13 ille (Bacchus) ferocem contudit et dominae misit in arbitrium and Ov. A. A. 1. 12.

11. modo, answered by etiam 1. 13.

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Partheniis, of Par

thenium, the mountain on which Atalanta had been exposed. antris, mountain dells'; cf. v. 4. 3 lucus **hederoso conditus antro, v. 9. 33 luci antro, a wooded dell, and other passages. Comp. el. 2. 11 n,

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