The newest verb tego, which includes a primary sense of ‘conceal’ (Dated s.v. tego step one), frequently form ‘clothe’ (Old s.v. tego 3) and you can obviously include this resonance here in the pointed juxtaposition having nudasse, off nudo, ‘make naked, divest’ (Dated s.v. nudo step one). The fresh new poem thereby declares ‘dress’ – or in other words ‘undress’ – as good polyvalent figure to possess Sulpicia’s elegiac poetics. According to the amatory program of contemporary Latin elegy Sulpicia rights sexual, socially quit strip down more than respected, socially conformist skirt for example would match the face she ‘leaves on’ to possess area, given that she says on the poem’s final couplet (vultus componere famae | taedet, ‘I’m fed up with composing a face mask for rumour,’ step 3.13.9–10). From the expressing from the metaphor out of disrobing the lady purpose to put the woman amatory verses on the stream, Sulpicia brings together several appear to in comparison
In contrast to the new nakedness out of elegy’s patron deity Amor and the new open honesty of elegiac poet-companion, on the other hand, stands the elegiac mistress’s old-fashioned love of luxurious attire and you can high priced decoration
193 Sartorial Attractiveness and Poetic Finesse in the Sulpician Corpus elegiac skirt codes. Propertius, particularly, rebukes his mistress for her interest in high priced gowns and also make-with the brand new observation that the naked goodness does not esteem artificially improved charm (nudus Amor formae non amat artificem, step one.dos.8). Also Ovid contends one, though he may lack the money and you can higher ancestry so you can allure his domme, almost every other features – together with their blameless character, unlock honesty, and you can blushing modesty – is commend him to this lady (Have always been. 1.3.7–14): quand me personally low veterum commendant magna parentum nomina, quand nostri sanguinis auctor eques, nec meus innumeris repus aratris, temperat mais aussi sumptus parcus uterque parens: at Phoebus comitesque novem vitisque repertor hac faciunt mais aussi me personally et celle-ci tibi donat Amor mais aussi nulli cessura fides, sine crimine mores, nudaque simplicitas purpureusque pudor. If the high brands off my personal old forefathers don’t highly recommend me, in the event your composer of our very own ancestry is actually an equestrian, nor was my property revived which have most ploughs, and every moms and dad frugally husbands expenses, still Apollo, brand new nine Muses, his companions, and you may Dionysus, discoverer of your own vine, bring my area also Love whom offers us to your, commitment that will submit to not one, a character without blemish, open trustworthiness, and you can blushing modesty.
Ovid right here elaborates the brand new moral out of Propertius 1.dos.several so you’re able to articulate a link between new elegiac poet’s simple position in addition to elegiac lover’s naked emotion, in which he get and therefore indicate that the brand new elegiac poet-mate employs Amor’s example from inside the eschewing fancy-dress. Propertius describes his wife decked out in most the girl finery (step one.dos.1–6): quid iuvat ornato procedere, vita, capillo mais aussi tenuis Coa veste movere sinus, aut quid Orontea crinis perfundere murra, teque peregrinis vendere muneribus, naturaeque decus mercato perdere cultu, nec sinere during the propriis membra nitere bonis?
On the one hand, nudity is the feature attribute of Amor, tutelary deity off Latin sexual elegy and you will patron of the elegiac poetlover
194 Alison Keith Why, my life, do you really glee to walk away together with your tresses inspired and you will rustle new slender retracts of your Coan gown, or even to drench hair that have Syrian myrrh market oneself for international gift suggestions, marring the natural beauty by buying decoration rather than making it possible for your limbs to glow along with their natural charms?
Myrrh and you may Coan ‘silk’ were expensive eastern luxury imports at Rome, the former an enthusiastic Arabian product readily available due to Syrian trade, aforementioned brought to your area off Cos of the spinning the fresh new filaments regarding a good caterpillar just like the Chinese silkworm.step 1 Given that Coan silk was also nearly transparent (cf. Hor. Seated. step 1.2.101–103), it said the new wearer’s sexual supply (a characteristic you to definitely, paradoxically, aligns this new elegist’s spouse which have Amor). brand new poem’s concluding range, taedia dum miserae sint tibi luxuriae, ‘provided that their wretched privileges confirm monotonous to you personally,’ step one.dos.32), the guy somewhere else claims that the subtlety from her gown inspires his simple elegiac verse (2.step one.3–8): low haec Calliope, low haec mihi cantat Apollo, ingenium nobis ipsa puella facit. sive illam Cois fulgentem incedere †cogis† hac totum elizabeth Coa veste volumen erit; seu vidi ad frontem sparsos errare capillos, gaudet laudatis ire superba comis; Calliope does not sing this type of sounds in my opinion, nor Apollo. My wife furnishes our motivation. For people who compel their to get in glowing within the Coan silks, my personal whole frequency usually come out within the Coan raiment; or if perhaps I have seen their drifting together with her tresses spread over the woman forehead, she rejoices and you may strolls aside arrogantly whenever You will find applauded this lady hairdo.