Humanitext Reader

Ovid · The Loves §3.15.1-3.15.20

Farewell to Love Elegy and Turning to a Greater Task

Passage 53 of 53 · Latin

Summary

The poet announces the completion of his love elegies, proudly recalling his native town of Sulmo and his noble equestrian lineage. He bids farewell to the Muse of love, preparing to embark on a grander poetic genre inspired by Bacchus. This poem concludes the entire work; would you like to discuss the legacy and overall themes of the collection?

§3.15.1Quaere novum vatem, tenerorum mater Amorum!
Look for a new poet, mother of tender Loves!
§3.15.2Raditur hic elegis ultima meta meis; §3.15.3Quos ego conposui, Paeligni ruris alumnus — §3.15.4Nec me deliciae dedecuere meae — §3.15.5Siquid id est, usque a proavis vetus ordinis heres, §3.15.6Non modo militiae turbine factus eques.
Here the final turning-post is grazed by my elegiac verses; which I composed, a foster-son of the Paelignian countryside — nor did my playful themes bring me dishonor — if that is anything, an ancient heir to my class right from my ancestors, not just made an eques by the turmoil of military service.
§3.15.7Mantua Vergilio, gaudet Verona Catullo; §3.15.8Paelignae dicar gloria gentis ego, §3.15.9Quam sua libertas ad honesta coegerat arma, §3.15.10Cum timuit socias anxia Roma manus.
Mantua rejoices in Vergil, Verona in Catullus; I shall be called the glory of the Paelignian race, whom their own liberty had compelled to honorable arms, when anxious Rome feared the allied forces.
§3.15.11Atque aliquis spectans hospes Sulmonis aquosi §3.15.12Moenia, quae campi iugera pauca tenent, §3.15.13'Quae tantum' dicat 'potuistis ferre poetam, §3.15.14Quantulacumque estis, vos ego magna voco. ' §3.15.15Culte puer puerique parens Amathusia culti. §3.15.16Aurea de campo vellite signa meo!
And some stranger, looking upon the walls of watery Sulmo, which occupy but a few acres of the plain, 'You who were able to bear so great a poet,' might say, 'however small you are, I call you great.' Refined boy, and Amathusian mother of the refined boy, pluck up the golden standards from my field!
§3.15.17Corniger increpuit thyrso graviore Lyaeus: §3.15.18Pulsanda est magnis area maior equis.
Horned Lyaeus has struck with a heavier thyrsus: a wider field must be trodden by mighty horses.
§3.15.19Inbelles elegi, genialis Musa, valete, §3.15.20Post mea mansurum fata superstes opus!
Unwarlike elegies, genial Muse, farewell, my work destined to survive and remain after my death!

Notes

  1. 3.15.2ultima meta — 'meta' refers to the turning-post at either end of a chariot-racing track. Here, it is used as a metaphor for the final goal of a long poetic journey, signifying the completion of the entire work. 'raditur' (is grazed) evokes the imagery of a chariot rounding the post as closely as possible.
  2. 3.15.5Siquid id est — Literally 'if that is anything,' this is an idiomatic Latin expression of conditional modesty (or irony) used when the poet mentions his ancient lineage ('vetus ordinis heres'), balancing modesty with pride.
  3. 3.15.9Quam — Feminine singular accusative relative pronoun, referring back to 'Paelignae gentis' (the Paelignian people, feminine singular) in the preceding line. It introduces the historical context of the Social War (91–88 BC) in which the Paelignians fought against Rome for their liberty.
  4. 3.15.20mansurum — Future active participle of 'maneo' (to remain, endure) in the neuter singular accusative/vocative, modifying the final noun 'opus' (work, neuter singular), which is in the vocative case. The adjective 'superstes' (surviving) also modifies 'opus'.

Cite this passage

Ovid, The Loves §3.15.1-3.15.20. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi001.humanitext-lat2:3.15.1-3.15.20

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