Heydenreich, Eschenberg, *Lütjohann, *Conr. Rossberg, Sandström, Faltin, *Haupt (Opuscula) &c.

In the Introduction my obligations to the foregoing are chiefly to Hertzberg, Vol. 1., and in Ch. IV. to L. Müller. But the greater part of it is the outcome of independent reflection and research, and where my facts are taken from Hertzberg my treatment of them is often quite different to his. I must ask leave again to point out that I have often been obliged to be briefer than I could have wished, and that in consequence the facts that I have advanced for a position are generally intended to be examples to elucidate it, not evidence to prove it. The same enforced brevity has often prevented me from developing a question into all its collateral issues and defining its relations to everything connected with it. To take a single example, I have given a short sketch of the grammar of Propertius without, as a rule, attempting to frame it, as it were, in the grammatical usage of the Latin language as a whole.

Of Grammars, I have chiefly used Roby, Kühner and Draeger. I have referred very frequently to Becker's Gallus and Rich's Dictionary of Antiquities, books which no student of Latin literature should be without; and also to Mr Potts' useful 'Latin Prose.'

I have quoted Propertius both by L. Müller's and by Paley's editions (see note on p. li.); and I have added a comparative table of the numbering in these editions, and those of Baehrens and Palmer, which should be referred to in case of doubt.

In conclusion, I wish to express my best thanks to Prof. R. Ellis, who has sent me from time to time notes published and unpublished on various passages of Propertius; to Prof. A. Palmer for some friendly criticisms and suggestions; and above all to Mr J. S. Reid (J. S. R.), who offered unsolicited to revise my proof-sheets, and from whose observations my commentary has derived much advantage, which is by no means confined to the passages where I have quoted him by name. Nor must I forget my brother, Mr L. H. Postgate, who has contributed what I trust will prove a useful index to the Notes.

I have only to add that I shall be very much obliged for any criticisms or suggestions.

J. P. POSTGATE.

TRINITY COLLEGE,
April 12, 1881.

THE second edition of these selections differs in very few respects from the first. Some obvious errors and misprints have been corrected, and one or two new interpretations inserted. I take this opportunity of tendering my sincere thanks to the scholars and reviewers for the favour and friendly criticism which my work has received at their hands and the encouragement thus given me towards the larger undertaking of a complete edition of Propertius.

J. P. POSTGATE.

CAMBRIDGE, December 1, 1884.

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER I.

LIFE.

Authorities.

WITH the exception of his own poems, the matėrials for constructing a life of Propertius are meagre in the extreme, and consist chiefly of scattered allusions in writers of very various dates from Ovid to Appuleius. The poems furnish us with considerable information; but it is often difficult to utilize it, as we do not know how far we are to accept his expressions, nor how much we are to deduct for the habit of vague exaggeration which is characteristic of his work.

It may be safely said that few poets present more problems than Propertius; and the first, Name. though the easiest, is the ascertainment

of his name.

We have the authority of the grammarian Donatus' that it was Sextus Propertius simply. Aurelius and Nauta, to which in course of time Meuaniensis and Vmber might have been added, have been obtruded on him by the undiscriminating bounty of tradition and are the figments of ignorance, corruption or confusion.

1 Verg. Vit. 12. 45.

2 Aurelius is probably due to confusion with the Christian poet Prudentius, a later age finding no difficulty in his

Birthplace.

Like most of the great poets of Italy, Propertius came from the North. He tells us himself that he was an Umbrian and carefully describes the district where he was born, the fair and fertile valley between Perusia and the river Clitumnus. But the exact locality has been disputed. Meuania, now Bevagna, Hispellum, now Spello, and other towns have claimed the poet for their own: and their claims have been supported by argument and, we grieve to add, also by forgery. But there is no doubt that it was Asisium or Assisi, the birth-place of the famous St Francis, that is entitled to the honour. His native place was on the side of a hill not far from Perugia, as his expressions clearly shew, si Perusina tibi patriae sunt nota sepulcra, proxima supposito contingens Vmbria campo me genuit' and scandentes si quis cernet de uallibus arces, ingenio muros aestimet ille meo. Now Asisium is situated on the west slope of the Apennines at the head of the valley, about twelve miles from Perusia, while Hispellum is at their foot, and Meuania some distance in the plain, both being over twenty miles from Perusia. This identification is completely established by the general description which the poet gives of his native country, in which there is a distinct allusion to the passage already quoted: Vmbria te notis antiqua Penatibus edit (mentior an patriae tangitur ora tuae ?) qua nebulosa cauo rorat Meuania campo et lacus aestiuis intepet Vmber aquis scandentisque Asisi consurgit uertice murus murus ab ingenio notior ille tuo3. We hear little about Asisium in ancient writers. Its chief

having two gentile names. Nauta arose from a corrupt reading of III. 19 (16). 38; Propertius as a nauita diues is certainly a rich idea. Meuaniensis (to be discussed presently) and Vmber appear in G. Of all the мss. N alone is sober. Its title is incipit Propertius. v. 1. 121 seqq.

1 I. 22. 9.

2 v. 1. 65, 66.

3

importance seems to have been military. The modern town contains a considerable number of remains, amongst which we may mention the portico of a temple, an aqueduct and baths.

The natural advantages of this region, and especially of the southern part of it, the tract watered by the Clitumnus, have called forth the warmest admiration from the younger Pliny onwards'. The bold forms of the Apennines, and their contrast with the peaceful beauty of the lower valley with the Clitumnus flowing between rich pasturages on which grazed herds of snow-white oxen, designed for the service of the Gods, or spreading out into a clear expanse, so shallow as to be warmed by the summer sun and so broad as to earn the title of the 'Umbrian Lake,' could not fail to impress the early imagination of Propertius, which clung closely to local attachments; and the sadness of later events only deepened the recollection.

Family.

The Propertii were what we should call a 'good county family.' They were well known in their own neighbourhood, and enjoyed the consideration attaching to large landed proprietors. But they were not 'noble'; they had not attained to high official distinction at Rome 2. About the time of Augustus the family, in one at least of its branches, was rising into notice. There is an inscription3, which

1 Plin. Ep. 8. 8. Compare the description in Dante Paradiso XI. 63 seqq. 'Between Tupino and the wave that falls From blest Ubaldo's chosen hill, there hangs Rich slope of mountain high whence heat and cold Are wafted through Perugia's eastern gate. * * * Upon that side, Where it doth break its steepness most, arose A sun upon the world.' (Cary.)

2 Compare the noti Penates, which I refer to Propertius' family, with III. 32 (26). 55, 56 aspice me cui nulla domi fortuna relictast nullus et antiquo Marte triumphus aui and III. 19 (16). 37 nec sanguine auito nobilis. v. i. 121-fin. is the authority for most of the statements about Propertius' life.

3 Corp. Inscr. vi. 1501 and Hermes Vol. iv. p. 370.