This new verb tego, with a primary sense of ‘conceal’ (Old s.v. tego step one), seem to setting ‘clothe’ (Dated s.v. tego 3) and clearly include that it resonance within the indicated juxtaposition having nudasse, out of nudo, ‘generate naked, divest’ (Old s.v. nudo 1). The fresh poem and thus declares ‘dress’ – or rather ‘undress’ – while the an excellent polyvalent shape having Sulpicia’s elegiac poetics. According to https://datingranking.net/fr/rencontres-crossdresser-fr/ the amatory system of modern Latin elegy Sulpicia benefits sensual, socially quit undress more respectable, socially conformist skirt such as do fit your face she ‘sets on’ to possess community, just like the she claims on poem’s finally couplet (vultus componere famae | taedet, ‘I am sick of creating a nose and mouth mask having rumour,’ step three.thirteen.9–10). By stating from metaphor from disrobing her intent to get the lady amatory passages to your movement, Sulpicia combines one or two seem to in comparison

With the one hand, nudity is the attribute attribute off Amor, tutelary goddess from Latin sensual elegy and you may patron of the elegiac poetlover

193 Sartorial Elegance and you can Poetic Finesse regarding Sulpician Corpus elegiac dress codes. Propertius, such as for example, rebukes his mistress on her behalf interest in costly attire and make-with the fresh observance your nude god will not appreciate artificially increased beauty (nudus Amor formae low amat artificem, 1.2.8). Similarly Ovid argues you to definitely, even if he may do not have the money and you will large origin to appeal their mistress, almost every other features – also his blameless character, discover trustworthiness, and blushing modesty – is to commend your to the girl (In the morning. step one.step 3.7–14): quand me personally low veterum commendant magna parentum nomina, au moment ou nostri sanguinis auctor eques, nec meus innumeris repus aratris, temperat et sumptus parcus uterque parens: within Phoebus comitesque novem vitisque repertor hac faciunt ainsi que me personally qui tibi donat Amor ainsi que nulli cessura fides, sine crimine mores, nudaque simplicitas purpureusque pudor. If your higher names off my old forefathers don’t recommend me, in case the writer of our very own descent was a keen equestrian, nor was my personal home renewed with countless ploughs, and each parent frugally husbands expense, however Apollo, new nine Muses, his friends, and you will Dionysus, discoverer of the vine, need my part in addition to Love exactly who brings me to you, respect that will submit to none, a character without blemish, open honesty, and you may blushing modesty.

Compared to new nakedness off elegy’s patron deity Amor and you will the latest discover trustworthiness of your elegiac poet-spouse, at the same time, stands the newest elegiac mistress’s antique love of magnificent gowns and you may pricey decoration

Ovid here elaborates the new ethical away from Propertius 1.dos.12 in order to articulate a match up between the fresh new elegiac poet’s modest position therefore the elegiac lover’s nude feelings, in which he can get and thus indicate that the latest elegiac poet-lover uses Amor’s example during the eschewing fancy-dress. Propertius describes his wife dressed up in most their finery (step 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 when you look at the propriis membra nitere bonis?

194 Alison Keith As to the reasons, my life, is it possible you happiness to walk away with your tresses inspired and rustle this new thinner folds of the Coan clothes, or to immerse your own hair that have Syrian myrrh and sell yourself to have overseas gift suggestions, marring their pure beauty by purchasing adornment and not enabling your branches to sparkle and their inborn charms?

Myrrh and Coan ‘silk’ was in fact expensive eastern luxury imports on Rome, the previous a keen Arabian product readily available through Syrian exchange, the latter lead to your island away from Cos by rotating the fresh new filaments regarding a great caterpillar much like the Chinese silkworm.step one While the Coan cotton has also been almost transparent (cf. Hor. Sat. step one.2.101–103), it reported the fresh new wearer’s intimate supply (an attribute you to definitely, paradoxically, aligns the brand new elegist’s wife with Amor). the newest poem’s finishing range, taedia dum miserae sint tibi luxuriae, ‘provided their wretched luxuries confirm monotonous for your requirements,’ step 1.2.32), he in other places claims your refinement away from her gown motivates their slight elegiac verse (dos.step 1.3–8): low haec Calliope, low haec mihi cantat Apollo, ingenium nobis ipsa puella facit. sive illam Cois fulgentem incedere †cogis† hac totum e Coa veste volumen erit; seu vidi advertisement frontem sparsos errare capillos, gaudet laudatis ire superba comis; Calliope doesn’t sing this type of tunes in my opinion, nor Apollo. My girlfriend furnishes our desire. If you force their to go into shining during the Coan silks, my entire frequency have a tendency to walk out when you look at the Coan raiment; or if I’ve seen this lady wandering together with her tresses spread-over the girl temple, she rejoices and you can treks away arrogantly whenever We have applauded this lady hairdo.