This new verb tego, with a first sense of ‘conceal’ (Dated s.v. tego step one), apparently function ‘clothe’ (Old s.v. tego step three) and demonstrably consists of which resonance within the pointed juxtaposition having nudasse, from nudo, ‘generate naked, divest’ (Old s.v. nudo step 1). The fresh poem and so announces ‘dress’ – or rather ‘undress’ – because the an excellent polyvalent figure to possess Sulpicia’s elegiac poetics. In accordance with the amatory program of contemporary Latin elegy Sulpicia rights sexual, socially quit undress over recognized, socially conformist top eg perform match see your face she ‘throws on’ to possess neighborhood, while the she states on the poem’s latest couplet (vultus componere famae | taedet, ‘I’m sick and tired of composing a nose and mouth mask to possess rumour,’ 3.thirteen.9–10). Because of the expressing through the metaphor out-of disrobing the lady intention to place this lady amatory verses for the circulation, Sulpicia brings together a couple apparently contrasted
Weighed against the fresh new nakedness off elegy’s patron deity Amor and you may new discover sincerity of elegiac poet-lover, on the other hand, really stands the new elegiac mistress’s antique love of magnificent clothes and you will expensive decoration
193 Sartorial Appeal and you will Poetic Finesse on the Sulpician Corpus elegiac skirt rules. Propertius, for example, rebukes his mistress on her interest in costly clothing and also make-with the observation that the nude goodness cannot admire forcibly increased beauty (nudus Amor formae non amat artificem, step 1.dos.8). Similarly Ovid argues you to, even when he may do not have the wide range and you can higher origin to appeal his domme, other services – along with their blameless profile, discover trustworthiness, and you may blushing modesty – is to commend your in order to her (Was. step 1.step three.7–14): si myself low veterum commendant magna parentum nomina, au moment ou nostri sanguinis auctor eques, nec meus innumeris repus aratris, temperat ainsi que sumptus parcus uterque parens: at Phoebus comitesque novem vitisque repertor hac faciunt et me personally qui tibi donat Amor et nulli cessura fides, sine crimine mores, nudaque simplicitas purpureusque pudor. If your high brands away from my personal old forefathers don’t highly recommend me, if for example the author of the lineage try a keen equestrian, neither is my property restored that have most ploughs, each mother frugally husbands costs, however Apollo, the nine Muses, his companions, and Dionysus, discoverer of your own vine, need my personal area as well as Love just who gives me to you, respect that can yield to nothing, a character instead of blemish, discover sincerity, and blushing modesty.
Ovid here elaborates the brand new moral out of Propertius 1.dos.twelve in order to articulate a match up between the fresh elegiac poet’s very humble condition and the elegiac lover’s nude feeling, in which he can get and so mean that the latest elegiac poet-mate follows Amor’s analogy from inside the eschewing costume. Propertius relates to his wife clothed in all the lady finery (1.dos.1–6): quid iuvat ornato procedere, vita, capillo et tenuis Coa veste movere sinus, aut quid Orontea crinis perfundere murra, teque peregrinis vendere muneribus, naturaeque decus mercato perdere cultu, nec sinere into the propriis membra nitere bonis?
Toward one-hand, nudity is the feature feature away from Amor, tutelary goddess regarding Latin sensual elegy and you may patron of the elegiac poetlover
194 Alison Keith As to why, my entire life, would you glee to walk away together with your hair styled and you can rustle this new slender folds of the Coan dress, or even to soak your hair having Syrian myrrh market on your own getting foreign merchandise, marring your natural beauty by buying decoration and not allowing your branches to shine due to their inherent charms?
Myrrh and Coan ‘silk’ was indeed high priced east deluxe imports during the Rome, the previous a keen Arabian commodity readily available courtesy Syrian change, aforementioned put into isle out of Cos by spinning the fresh filaments away from an effective caterpillar much like the Chinese silkworm.step 1 Once the Coan silk was also almost clear (cf. Hor. Sat. 1.dos.101–103), it advertised the fresh wearer’s sexual supply (an attribute you to, paradoxically, aligns the fresh new elegist’s partner with Amor). the poem’s concluding line, taedia dum miserae sint tibi luxuriae, ‘provided that your own wretched luxuries show boring for you,’ step one.dos.32), he somewhere else asserts your refinement away from her dress inspires their understated elegiac verse (dos.1.3–8): low haec Calliope, low haec mihi cantat Apollo, ingenium nobis ipsa puella facit. sive illam Cois fulgentem incedere †cogis† hac totum age Coa veste volumen erit; seu vidi post frontem sparsos errare capillos, gaudet laudatis ire superba comis; Calliope will not play these types of sounds in my opinion, neither Apollo. My personal girlfriend furnishes connexion aansluiting all of our determination. For people who force the woman to enter glowing into the Coan silks, my entire volume tend to step out within the Coan raiment; or if I have seen the girl drifting along with her hair spread-over the woman forehead, she rejoices and you will guides aside arrogantly when You will find acknowledged the lady hairdo.
