interea nigras pecudes promittite Diti
et nivei. lactis pocula mixta mero.

LIBER QVARTVS

2

Sulpicia est tibi culta tuis, Mars magne, kalendis :
spectatum e caelo, si sapis, ipse veni.

hoc Venus ignoscet; at tu, violente, caveto

33. nigras: as the most appropriate sacrifices to the gods of the lower world, to whom (e.g. Dis, Vejovis, and Manes) black sheep were offered. The same idea appears in the folklore of other nations.

34. lactis cf. 3, 2, 20, n.

4, 2

On the authorship of Book 4, see Intr. § 26.

The old Roman year began on March 1, on which day it was customary to give presents, even after the reformation of the calendar in 46 B.C. by Julius Caesar, which established Jan. 1 as New Year's day. As March 1 was the festival of the Matronalia (the femineae kalendae of Juv. 9, 53), it was especially appropriate for husbands to give presents to their wives. This poem seems to have been written to accompany such a gift made by Cerinthus to Sulpicia, a lover to a prospective wife, which may have been, as Belling

believes it was (Bell. U., p. 3), the following group of poems (4, 3-6), or they may have accompanied other gifts. On the personality of Cerinthus (whose name does not, indeed, appear in this elegy) and of Sulpicia, cf. Intr. § 24, and 2, 2, Intr.

6

1-14: On thy festal day, great Mars, Sulpicia's native beauty is so heightened by her adornment as to make her fit to be compared with the divine Vertumnus. 15-24 She is the only maiden worthy to receive all costly gifts. Therefore, ye Muses, sing of her your choicest praises.'

1. tibi culta: arrayed in thine honor.'

2. ipse veni: cf. 2, 5, 5.

3. Venus: the beloved of Mars. — ignoscet: on account of Sulpicia's remarkable beauty. Cf. Prop. 2, 28, 33. For the quantity of the last syllable cf. 1, 10, 13, n. caveto: the tense implies the usual colloquial familiarity: "You'd better look out." Cf. PAPA., Vol. 26 (1895), p. lxi.

5

IO

15

ne tibi miranti turpiter arma cadant.
illius ex oculis, cum vult exurere divos,
accendit geminas lampadas acer Amor.
illam, quidquid agit, quoquo vestigia movit,

conponit furtim subsequiturque Decor.
seu solvit crines, fusis decet esse capillis;
seu compsit, comptis est veneranda comis.
urit, seu Tyria voluit procedere palla;

urit, seu nivea candida veste venit.
talis in aeterno felix Vertumnus Olympo
mille habet ornatus, mille decenter habet.
sola puellarum digna est, cui mollia caris
vellera det sucis bis madefacta Tyros,

4. miranti: 'as you gaze in admiration.' — -arma cadant: several ancient works of art represent Mars thus forgetful of all but the amorous intentions of the moment. Cf. Baum. Denk., p. 886.

5. oculis cf. Propertius, of Cynthia (2, 3, 14): oculi, geminae, sidera nostra, faces.

6. geminas lampadas: cf. 2, 6, 16; Prop. 3, 16, 16.

8. conponit = ornat.

9. solvit crines: as was often the case in the retirement of the home; cf. 1, 3, 91; Prop 2, 1, 7: vidi ad frontem sparsos errare capillos; Ter. Haut. 288 sq.: ornatam ita uti quae ornantur sibi, nulla mala re os expolitam muliebri.

10. compsit: as was more appropriate when she appeared in public places. — veneranda : ‘adorable,' in the slang use of the word.

11. Tyria: for outdoor wear. 12. candida: for indoor use. 13. Vertumnus: the changing (vertere) god of gardens and fruits exhibited varying phases of beauty as the seasons advanced. Cf. Prop. 4, 2, a poem devoted to this god, his origin, name, and

statue.

14. Cf. Prop. 4, 2, 22: in quamcumque voles verte, decorus ero; Ovid, Am. 2, 5, 43: spectabat terram: terram spectare decebat ; maesta erat in vultu: maesta decenter erat.

16. sucis bis madefacta: 'double-dyed.' The most costly Tyrian purple was thus prepared (dibapha), first with scarlet, then with the purpura. Cf. Hor. Car. 2, 16, 35: te bis Afro murice tinctae vestiunt lanae; Pliny, N. H. 9, 39, 137: dibapha tunc dicebatur quae bis tincta esset.

20

possideatque, metit quidquid bene olentibus arvis
cultor odoratae dives Arabs segetis

et quascumque niger rubro de litore gemmas
proximus eois colligit Indus aquis.

hanc vos, Pierides, festis cantate kalendis,

et testudinea Phoebe superbe lyra.

hoc solemne sacrum multos haec sumet in annos:
dignior est vestro nulla puella choro.

4

Huc ades et tenerae morbos expelle puellae,
huc ades, intonsa Phoebe superbe coma.
crede mihi, propera, nec te iam, Phoebe, pigebit
formosae medicas adplicuisse manus.

2. 23. haec sumet F hoc sumet O sumat w. choro w toro G thoro AV.

24. vestro 0 festo Cartault.

5

effice ne macies pallentes occupet artus,

neu notet informis candida membra color,

et quodcumque malist et quidquid triste timemus,
in pelagus rapidis evehat amnis aquis.
sancte, veni, tecumque feras, quicumque sapores
quicumque et cantus corpora fessa levant:
neu iuvenem torque, metuit qui fata puellae
votaque pro domina vix numeranda facit.
interdum vovet, interdum, quod langueat illa,
dicit in aeternos aspera verba deos.

pone metum, Cerinthe: deus non laedit amantes.
tu modo semper ama: salva puella tibist.
nil opus est fletu: lacrimis erit aptius uti,

si quando fuerit tristior illa tibi.

at nunc tota tua est, te solum candida secum
cogitat, et frustra credula turba sedet.
Phoebe, fave: laus magna tibi tribuetur in uno
corpore servato restituisse duos.

iam celeber, iam laetus eris, cum debita reddet
certatim sanctis laetus uterque focis.

tum te felicem dicet pia turba deorum,

optabunt artes et sibi quisque tuas.

4. 5. pallentes O tabentes Heinsius. Rigler.

6. candida pallida O languida

23. laetus O lautus Haupt gratus Martignon lotus Broukhusius.

8. in pelagus: cf. 2, 5, 80, n. 9. sapores: medicines.' 10. cantus: 'incantations.' 14. aspera verba: cf. 1, 3, 52. 15. Cf. Prop. 3, 16, 11. 21-22. This distich has clearly been misplaced in the Mss.

22. tristior: cf. Prop. 1, 6, 10. 17. candida: i.e. in heart, sincere.'

18. turba: of suitors.

20.

corpore: 'life.' — restituisse duos cf. Prop. 2, 28, 41; Ovid, Am. 2, 13, 15: huc adhibe vultus, et in una parce duobus.

23. celeber... eris: 'thy temple shall be thronged,' and therefore, as a derived meaning, 'thou shalt be renowned'; cf. 2, 1, 83; 3, 2, 28.

5

ΙΟ

6

Natalis Iuno, sanctos cape turis acervos,
quos tibi dat tenera docta puella manu.
totą tibi est hodie, tibi se laetissima compsit,
staret ut ante tuos conspicienda focos.
illa quidem ornandi causas tibi, diva, relegat:
est tamen, occulte cui placuisse velit.

at tu, sancta, fave, neu quis divellat amantes,
sed iuveni quaeso mutua vincla para.
sic bene conpones: ullae non ille puellae

servire aut cuiquam dignior illa viro.

nec possit cupidos vigilans deprendere custos,
fallendique vias mille ministret Amor.
adnue purpureaque veni perlucida palla :

4, 6

6. 3. tota 0 lota w.

On Sulpicia's birthday the poet wishes for her the fulfillment of her greatest desire.

1-4: 'Juno of Sulpicia, may she and her offerings be acceptable to thee this day! 5-20: She has adorned herself ostensibly for thee, but really to please her lover; Juno, they are both worthy; assist her, that their love may be mutual and may triumph over every obstacle.'

1. Natalis Iuno: the tutelary spirit of each woman, corresponding to the Genius of each man, worshiped especially on birthdays. Cf. 1, 7, 49; H. & T. § 188.

sanctos: the adjective really belongs with turis.

2. docta: cf. note on Prop. I, 7, 11; 2, 13, 11; Ovid, Trist. 3, 7, 31; etc.

5. relegat: ascribes,' a poetic meaning.

6. cui: i.e. Cerinthus.
8. vincla sc. Amoris.

9. sic by so doing,' refers to the previous verse. - ullae = ulli: the only instance of this form; cf. Prop. 1, 20, 35: nullae pendebant debita curae . . · poma; 3, II, 57: urbi.

toto.
II. nec
in v. 12.

correlative with -que possit: optative.

13. The vagueness of the line of demarcation between the lady