This new verb tego, which includes an initial sense of ‘conceal’ (Old s.v. tego step one), appear to means ‘clothe’ (Old s.v. tego step three) and you can demonstrably contains it resonance within their pointed juxtaposition with nudasse, out of nudo, ‘create naked, divest’ (Dated s.v. nudo 1). The brand new poem and so announces ‘dress’ – or rather ‘undress’ – given that a polyvalent figure to have Sulpicia’s elegiac poetics. According to the amatory program of contemporary Latin elegy Sulpicia rights sexual, socially abandoned undress more than respectable, socially conformist top such as for example would fit your face she ‘leaves on’ having society, once the she says from the poem’s last couplet (vultus componere famae | taedet, ‘I am tired of writing a mask to have rumour,’ step 3.13.9–10). From the saying through the metaphor away from disrobing the lady intent to get the lady amatory passages into movement, Sulpicia integrates two appear to compared

Compared with the newest nakedness away from elegy’s patron goddess Amor and you can brand new unlock honesty of elegiac poet-partner, as well, really stands this new elegiac mistress’s traditional love of lavish attire and you may expensive decoration

193 Sartorial Appeal and you will Poetic Finesse regarding the Sulpician Corpus elegiac skirt rules. Propertius, like, rebukes their mistress for her demand for pricey dresses and also make-with brand new observance that the naked god doesn’t esteem forcibly enhanced beauty (nudus Amor formae low amat artificem, step 1.dos.8). Similarly Ovid argues one, even when he may do not have the riches and highest ancestry to charm their mistress, most other features – including their blameless reputation, unlock honesty, and you may blushing modesty – is always to commend him to help you the woman (In the morning. 1.step three.7–14): quand me low veterum commendant magna parentum nomina, lorsque nostri sanguinis auctor eques, nec meus innumeris repus aratris, temperat mais aussi sumptus parcus uterque parens: from the Phoebus comitesque novem vitisque repertor hac faciunt ainsi que me personally et celle-ci tibi donat Amor mais aussi nulli cessura fides, sine crimine mores, nudaque simplicitas purpureusque pudor. If the higher brands out of my old forefathers don’t highly recommend myself, whether your composer of all of our descent is actually an equestrian, neither was my personal house revived that have some ploughs, and every parent frugally husbands costs, nevertheless Apollo, the fresh 9 Muses, their companions, and you may Dionysus, discoverer of your own vine, take my part together with Like who provides us to you, respect which can submit to not one, a character as opposed to blemish, discover trustworthiness, and blushing modesty.

Ovid right here elaborates brand new moral out of Propertius step 1.2.a dozen so you’re able to articulate a link between brand new elegiac poet’s modest status plus the elegiac lover’s naked emotion, and then he can get and so imply that the new elegiac poet-mate observe Amor’s example inside eschewing fancy dress outfits. Propertius makes reference to his spouse dressed up in most the girl finery (1.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 for the propriis membra nitere bonis?

Towards one-hand, nudity ‘s the trait feature off Amor, tutelary deity away from Latin sexual elegy and patron of amolatina one’s elegiac poetlover

194 Alison Keith As to why, my life, might you happiness to walk away along with your tresses themed and you may rustle this new thin retracts of Coan clothes, or even to immerse the hair having Syrian myrrh and sell your self for overseas merchandise, marring the charm by buying decoration and never enabling their limbs to shine and their innate appeal?

Myrrh and Coan ‘silk’ were costly eastern luxury imports at the Rome, the previous an Arabian commodity available through Syrian trade, the latter put towards the area off Cos by the rotating the newest filaments regarding a caterpillar similar to the Chinese silkworm.step 1 Once the Coan silk was also almost clear (cf. Hor. Sat. 1.dos.101–103), they advertised this new wearer’s sexual availableness (an attribute that, paradoxically, aligns the brand new elegist’s girlfriend having Amor). the fresh poem’s finishing line, taedia dum miserae sint tibi luxuriae, ‘so long as your own wretched luxuries confirm tedious to you personally,’ 1.2.32), the guy elsewhere asserts your refinement out-of her gown drives his delicate 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 advertisement frontem sparsos errare capillos, gaudet laudatis ire superba comis; Calliope will not sing these songs for me, nor Apollo. My personal wife furnishes all of our desire. For many who force her to go into shining in Coan silks, my personal whole volume have a tendency to step out inside Coan raiment; or if perhaps I’ve seen this lady drifting together tresses spread over her temple, she rejoices and you may walks aside arrogantly when You will find recognized the woman hairdo.