He was born around 5045 bc in assisium and died shortly after 15 bc. Introspection and engagement propertius study book 3 classical. A lucid and informative introduction sets the scene, and the notes, as well as offering a detailed. Book 3, published not before 23 bce, opens up to a wider spectrum of topicsin particular, reference to hellenistic models such as callimachus and philetas becomes more explicit. Tarpeian jupiter thundered from a bare cliff, and tiber was foreign to. After books focused on his mistress cynthia, he maintains his elegiac role but expands his range to provide a lovers commentary on life, discussing luxury. An edition of the most wideranging and entertaining of the books of the latin love poet propertius. Project muse the complete elegies of sextus propertius. As truly as i hope never again to know any storms in love and hope a night will never come when i lie awake without you, when the restraint of boyhoods garb was lifted from me and i was given freedom to learn the way of love, my accomplice on those first nights, who initiated my untried heart, was lycinna, won, ah me, by never a gift of mine. Aug 28, 2014 gail trimble fellow and tutor in classics, trinity college, oxford discusses the historical context in which propertius composed book 3 of his elegies. Propertius surviving work comprises four books of elegies elegiae. Amor it was who lowered my gaze of endless disdain, and, feet planted, bowed my head, till he taught me, recklessly, to scorn pure girls and live without sense, and this madness has not left me for one whole year now, though i do attract divine hostility. Publication of his first book brought immediate recognition and the unwavering support of. Guy lees translation is fluent and flowing but doesnt really convey the texture of the latin originals.
Publication of his first book brought immediate recognition and the unwavering support of maecenas, the influential patron of. Sextus propertius the elegies world public library. The elegies a complete english translation with indepth name index no joy in corrupting venus to a blind motion. A commentary on propertius, book 3 by sextus propertius. Here, whatever you see, stranger, which is now mighty rome, before trojan aeneas was hills and grass. Commentary on propertius, book 3 propertius sextus. After books focused on his mistress cynthia, he maintains his elegiac role but expands his range to provide a lovers commentary on life, discussing luxury, nudity, art, the. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Propertius elegies latin texts and commentaries, book 4. Love and poetry are the two main themes of his elegies, but the poet can also deal with some contemporary political themes or events. Propertius fourth book is a spectacular, and bewildering, creation, unlike anything else in augustan poetry. Machine readable text of this edition was posted on the latin library by konrad schroder.
A total of 146 propertius manuscripts survive, the oldest of which dates. Persephone, may this your mercy last, and you, persephones consort, be not overcruel. Sexti properti elegiarvm liber tertivs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 b 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25. Sextus propertius was a latin elegiac poet of the augustan age. He was a friend of the poets gallus and virgil and, with them, had as his patron maecenas and, through maecenas, the emperor augustus.
The books 2 and 3 of his elegies were thus composed when he was under maecenass protection lee, propertius, p. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the elegies of propertius study guide and get instant access to the following critical essays. The first of his four books of elegies, published in 29 bce, is called cynthia after its heroine his mistress, whose real name was hostia. The most passionate, individual, and controversial of the latin love elegists, propertius in book 3 covers a broad range of subject matter and a vast geographical. The roman audience was clearly attuned to mentions in latin poetry of. Publication of his first book brought immediate recognition and the unwavering support of maecenas, the influential patron of the augustan poets. Commentary on propertius, book 3 propertius sextus propertius. A profound influence of horaces odes is also apparent.
Born in assisi about 50 bce, propertius moved as a young man to rome, where he came into contact with a coterie of poets, including virgil, tibullus, horace, and ovid. Such endorsement is the more remarkable coming from propertius, the most recalcitrant of maecenas circle. Sextus propertius, elegies, book 3, poem 4 perseus digital library. Anyone interested in the study of the roman poetry book, latin poetry, or propertius specifically will find much to consider in these pages. Who wouldnt bead with sweat at those words in the circumstances, whether from honest. Gail trimble fellow and tutor in classics, trinity college, oxford discusses the historical context in which propertius composed book 3 of his elegies.
Propertius reinvents latin loveelegy in his third collection. The latin library the classics page the classics page. Liber i liber ii liber iii liber iv the latin library the classics page. A total of 146 propertius manuscripts survive, the oldest of which dates from. Who wouldnt bead with sweat at those words in the circumstances, whether from honest shame, or wishing to keep quiet his affairs. Sitting twelfth in a twentyfour poem collection, it negotiates the readers passage into the second half of the bookand it does so by introducing what must seem at first glance a new kind of elegiac woman and, indeed, a new kind of propertian elegy. Rendered into english by a poet who is also one of the nations preeminent propertius experts, the volume brings propertiuss difficult mix of vernacular and high literary allusion into contemporary language. The most passionate, individual, and controversial of the latin love elegists, propertius in book 3 covers a broad range of subject matter and a vast geographical reach. After books focused on his mistress cynthia, he maintains his elegiac role but expands his range to provide a lovers commentary on life, discussing luxury, nudity, art, the empire, and the dangers of travel for profit and war. Propertiuss last book 4 must have been published after a. Guy lees translation is fluent and flowing but doesnt really convey the texture of the latin. The words limen,9 clausus,10and exclusus11are all intimately related to the theme and are fairly common.
A commentary on propertius, book 3 published on by oxford university press. Following catullus lesbia poems, propertius is the first of the latin erotic elegists proper and has a deep influence on ovid. Unlike catullus he has not survived as a school author. Born in assisi about 50 bce, sextus propertius moved as a young man to rome, where he came into contact with a coterie of poets, including virgil, tibullus, horace, and ovid. Propertius 5045 bc till shortly after 15 bc was a roman elegiac poet. The historical context for propertius book 3 youtube. Cynthia was the first, to my cost, to trap me with her eyes. Propertius stayed at the periphery of this literary circle until the late 20s bce. Such endorsement is the more remarkable coming from propertius, the. His poetry appears here for the first time in a duallanguage edition with the translations facing the original latin. Sextus aurelius propertius was a latin elegiac poet who was born around 5045 bce in mevania though other cities of umbria also claim this dignityhespi. The article focuses on the life and works of latin.