5 EPISTVLARVM HEROIDVM LIBER 13 LAODAMIA PROTESILAO Mittit et optat amans, quo mittitur, ire salutem Aulide te fama est vento retinente morari: HEROIDES, 13. For the Heroides cf. Intr. § 39; Prop. 4, 3, Intr. For the story of Laodamia cf. Cat. 68, 73, n; Hom. Il. 2, 698-702; Lucian, Dial. Mort. 23. The tradition that Protesilaus, allowed to return to earth to visit his wife, found her embracing his image, is here utilized by Ovid in another form (vv. 151–158). 1-2 Loving greetings! 3-10: Why did you sail, against unwilling winds? 11-28: I said, “Goodbye," watched you out of sight, and swooned away; why did I not die? 29-42: Since then I mourn; 43-64: Paris, Menelaos, ye gods, spare my husband! How I dread those Trojan places and men! 65-92 : Be careful! you have no need to risk your life; and the omens were unpropitious on your departure; 93-106: And that dreadful oracle! see that you don't fulfill it! but hurry back to comfort me. 107122: Why in my visions are you sad? When shall I see you in very truth, and embrace you as I listen to the story of your deeds? 123-136: Troy! gloomy thought! why should the Greeks hurry thither for such a cause? 137-150: How I envy the women of Troy and their happy husbands, who can cheer each other before and after battle! 151-158: I can only comfort myself with your image. 159-164: I will follow you in life or death. 165-166: Again I say, be careful!' 2. Haemonis = Thessala; cf. Prop. 2, 10, 2. 6. saevis i.e. esse saevis (forbidding '). 7. dedissem: sc. si freta obstitissent. 10 15 20 25 30 et sunt quae volui dicere multa tibi. quem cuperent nautae, non ego, ventus erat. solvor ab amplexu, Protesilae, tuo, dum potui spectare virum, spectare iuvabat, at postquam nec te, nec vela fugacia vidi, et quod spectarem, nil nisi pontus erat, lux quoque tecum abiit, tenebrisque exanguis obortis. vix socer Iphiclus, vix me grandaevus Acastus, ut, quas pampinea tetigisse Bicorniger hasta, 13. mandantis: sc. mei (mea). 16. erat aberat. 23. obortis sc. mihi (= meis oculis). 28. indignor: 'I feel abused.' 29. rediit it is in compounds of eo in Ovid that the long quantity is often found. 30. Cf. Prop. 4, 3, 49. 33. quas the Bacchantes. pampinea ... Bicorniger hasta: the thyrsus; cf. Am. 3, 15, 17. 35 40 45 50 creditur, huc illuc, qua furor egit, eo. scilicet ipsa geram saturatas murice lanas, aut illi vellem displicuisse tuam. tu, qui pro rapta nimium, Menelae, laboras, 55 60 65 70 75 nec rapere ausurus, nisi se defendere posset, quique suo Phrygias corpore ferret opes, classe virisque potens, per quae fera bella geruntur : et sequitur regni pars quota quemque sui? his ego te victam, consors Ledaea gemellis, suspicor haec Danais posse nocere puto. hunc ubi vitaris, alios vitare memento et multos illic Hectoras esse puta si cadere Argolico fas est sub milite Troiam, 74-75. not in PG. 59. quae refers to an antecedent including classe virisque. 60. quota: how small'; i.e. in proportion to the vast wealth kept in reserve at home. 61. his i.e. opibus.· consors Ledaea Helen, daughter of Leda, and sister of the twins, Castor and Pollux. For a similar use of con 78. pios vulg. pius Pw. sors cf. Met. 8, 444: consorti sanguine. 63. Laodamia has apparently heard only a rumor of what Paris said to Helen, and knows but vaguely of Hector. 71. fas est: 'is decreed.' 77. vivere poetic infinitive of purpose. 80 85 90 95 100 parcite, Dardanidae, de tot, precor, hostibus uni, saevaque in oppositos pectora ferre viros; nunc fateor volui revocare, animusque ferebat; cum foribus velles ad Troiam exire paternis, ut vidi, ingemui tacitoque in pectore dixi: haec tibi nunc refero, ne sis animosus in armis : iamque fatigatas ultima verset aquas! hoc quoque praemoneo: de nave novissimus exi! to 81. est sc. Protesilaus. 86. Laodamia hesitated speak, for fear she might add some ill-omened word. 88. Cf. Tib. 1, 3, 19-20. 90. Laodamia tried to interpret the omen as favorable. 93. sors: 'an oracular response.' The word is used loosely, as if one sort of divination was essentially the same as another. 97. mille: 1186 in Homer; cf. Prop. 2, 26, 38, n. 104. dolor almost the same as cura, i.e. a cause for worry. venises. |