Elegies
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Author Description
'Delia, when flames engulf my bier you'll weep for me, and then you'll mix your kisses with sad tears.' Tibullus (?55-18 BC) was one of a group of poets known as the Latin elegists, whose number included Ovid and Propertius. Living in the age of Augustus, his poems reflect Augustan ideals, but they are above all notable for their emphasis on the personal, and for their subject-matter, love. Tibullus' elegies are addressed to two different mistresses, Delia and Nemesis, and a boy, Marathus. His pious and idealistic love for Delia is replaced by a more tortured affair with the cruel Nemesis, and the poet's elegies to Marathus give a broader perspective to his treatment of the subject. Anguish and betrayal characterize Tibullus' depiction of love's changing fortunes, in poetry that is passionate, vivid, and sometimes haunting. In this parallel text edition, A. M. Juster's eloquent translations are accompanied by an introduction and notes from Robert Maltby which discuss Tibullus' work in its literary and historical context. Together they demonstrate the achievements of this fine Roman poet. About the series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
The poet confronts the volatility of romantic devotion, framing his personal anguish within the rigid social and political structures of Augustan Rome. Tibullus navigates the shifting dynamics of his relationships with Delia, Nemesis, and Marathus, seeking stability in a world defined by betrayal and emotional turbulence. The narrative framework relies on the elegiac couplet, utilizing a first-person perspective to articulate the internal conflict between idealistic longing and the harsh reality of unrequited or cruel affection. The poet operates under the constraints of Roman societal expectations, contrasting his private obsession with the broader public ideals of his era.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Use of the elegiac couplet form
- Exploration of the transition from idealistic to tortured love
- Focus on the figures of Delia, Nemesis, and Marathus
- Integration of Augustan-era cultural and political ideals
- Emphasis on personal, subjective emotional experience
- Depiction of betrayal and the changing fortunes of affection
- Parallel text format featuring Latin and English translation
- Inclusion of scholarly introduction and contextual notes
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers and critics frequently observe that Tibullus distinguishes himself from his contemporaries through a focus on simplicity and sincerity rather than mythological artifice. Discussion often centers on the stark contrast between his early, idealized devotion to Delia and the darker, more cynical tone adopted in his later poems to Nemesis. Scholars highlight the effectiveness of his atmospheric writing, which captures the vulnerability of the lover in a way that remains accessible to modern audiences. The work is often studied for its technical precision in the elegiac form and its reflection of the social anxieties prevalent during the reign of Augustus. Readers appreciate the balance between the poet's intimate confessions and the historical context provided by the accompanying scholarly apparatus.
Page Count:
176
Publication Date:
2012-01-01
Publisher:
Oup Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191622257
ISBN-13:
9780191622250
Poetry
Latin
Roman
Elegiac
Classical
