mittite, praesenti dum careamus humo. 10
Styx quoque, si quid ea est, bene commutabitur Histro,
si quid et inferius quam Styga mundus habet.
gramina cultus ager, frigus minus odit hirundo,
proxima Marticolis quam loca Naso Getis.
talia suscensent propter mihi uerba Tomitae, 15
iraque carminibus publica mota meis.
ergo ego cessabo numquam per carmina laedi,
plectar et incauto semper ab ingenio?
ergo ego, ne scribam, digitos incidere cunctor,
telaque adhuc demens quae nocuere sequor? 20
9 medias] medi*s _B_ || Syrtes] syr*tis _B1, ut uid_ systes _C_ ||
Charybdin _CH_ caribdim _BT_ caribdI _MFL_ caripdI _I_ || 10
mittite _BpcILF2ul_ mitte _MH_ mittat _BacC_ mittant _F1_ mutE _T_
(mittE _legit André)_ || 12 inferIVS _F1c_ || 13 gramina] carmina _C_
flamina _Bentley_ || 14 Marticolis] in articolis _C_ || 15 suscensent
_C_ succensent _BMpcFHILT_ successent _Mac_ || 16 publica] puplica _LP_
|| mota meis] nota meis _H_ meis _I1_ est [meis] _I2(gl?)_ || 17 laedi]
læde _Cac_ || 18 plectar] plectat _L_ || incauto] incapto _M_ || 19
incidere] incindere _F_ || 20 telaque] tela _M_ || sequor] sequar _CP_
ad ueteres scopulos iterum deuertor et illas
in quibus offendit naufraga puppis aquas?
sed nihil admisi, nulla est mea culpa, Tomitae,
quos ego, cum loca sim uestra perosus, amo.
quilibet excutiat nostri monimenta laboris: 25
littera de uobis est mea questa nihil.
frigus et incursus omni de parte timendos
et quod pulsetur murus ab hoste queror.
in loca, non homines, uerissima crimina dixi;
culpatis uestrum uos quoque saepe solum. 30
esset perpetuo sua quam uitabilis Ascra
ausa est agricolae Musa docere senis;
21 deuertor] deuertar _B_ || et] ad _M2, 'quinque libri. quod
placet'--Heinsius_ || 22 offendit] effudit _F1_ || naufraga] naufagra
_H_ || 23 sed] at _fort legendum_ || 24 Quos _B2c_ || 25 excutiat]
excuriat _L_ || 27 frigus] frugus _C_ || de _om I1_ || timendos]
timendus _L_ || 29 in] non _C_ || crimina] carmina _H_ || 30
culpatis] culpatus _BacC_ || solum] locum _MH_ || 31 _'uersus
suspectus'--Heinsius_ || quam uitabilis] quam miserabilis _H_ quam
uitiabilis _A. G. Lee (PCPhS 181 [1950-51] 3), fort recte_ ut
illaudabilis _Bentley_ || Ascra] ascre _BCH, fort recte_ || 32
agricolae] argolici _I2ul_
et fuerat genitus terra qui scripsit in illa,
intumuit uati nec tamen Ascra suo.
quis patriam sollerte magis dilexit Vlixe? 35
hoc tamen asperitas indice docta loci est.
non loca, sed mores scriptis uexauit amaris
Scepsius Ausonios, actaque Roma rea est;
falsa tamen passa est aequa conuicia mente,
obfuit auctori nec fera lingua suo. 40
at malus interpres populi mihi concitat iram,
inque nouum crimen carmina nostra uocat.
33 et] **t _M1_ at _Puteaneus Heinsii (=Parisinus lat. 8239, saec xiii)
(Lenz), Laurentianus 36 2, saec xv (Lenz), edd ante Korn_ non _uel_ nec
_fort legendum_ || in] ut _L_ || 34 intumuit] intimuit _I1_ || Ascra]
illa _I_ || 36 indice] iudice _IL_ || docta _B_ doctus _C_ dicta
_MFHILT_ nota _excerpta Scaligeri, sex codd Heinsii, probante Riese_ ||
loci est] loci _FT_ in est _C_ (I E) || _37 om C_ || 37 non] nec
_L_ || sed mores] sermones _L_ || 38 Scepsius _Scaliger, Castig. in
Catull. 15, 19 (=32, ed. 2) (Lenz)_ sceptius _C_ septius _MFT_ sepTius
_B2c_ septiVS _L2c_ septi _L1, ut uid_ sepcius _I_ celsius _H_ ||
Ausonios] ausononios _uel_ ausonomos _L_ || actaque _MFT_ actaue _BHIL_
acte ue _C_ || 39 falsa] fassa _M1_ || est _om C_ || 40 auctori] actori
_CacF1_ || fera] sua _F1_ || 41 populi ... concitat iram] populum
... uertit in iram _L_ || 42 inque] isque _F_
tam felix utinam quam pectore candidus essem!
extat adhuc nemo saucius ore meo.
adde quod Illyrica si iam pice nigrior essem, 45
non mordenda mihi turba fidelis erat.
molliter a uobis mea sors excepta, Tomitae,
tam mites Graios indicat esse uiros;
gens mea Paeligni regioque domestica Sulmo
non potuit nostris lenior esse malis. 50
quem uix incolumi cuiquam saluoque daretis,
is datus a uobis est mihi nuper honor:
solus adhuc ego sum uestris immunis in oris,
exceptis si qui munera legis habent;
43 tam] iam _C_ || pectore] pectorore _H_ || candidus] callidus _H_ ||
_44-45 in marg add B1F2_ || 44 nemo ... meo] meo ... nemo _H1_ || 45
Illyrica] ilira _L_ || essem] eem _M_ || 46 non] nec _(Fac?)L_ ||
mordenda] mordeda _M_ || 47 uobis] nobis _L_ || 48 Graios _edd_ gratos
_BCMFHIL_ raros _T_ geticos _'unus Vaticanus ... aeque bene [ac
"Graios"!], nisi uis rectius'--Ciofanus_ || 49 gens] ius _C_ ||
Paeligni] pEligni _L_ || 50 lenior _MpcFpcHIT_ leuior _BC(Mac)FacL_
|| 51 uix] uos _F2_] || Incolumi] incolumi _B2c_ in colonia _C_ || 52
is] i/s _B_ est _M_ || est] is _M_ || 53 adhuc] ad hunc _C_ || sum _om
F1_ || oris] aruis _L_ || 54 si qui] siquid _T_ || munera] mumera _C_
tempora sacrata mea sunt uelata corona, 55
publicus inuito quam fauor imposuit.
quam grata est igitur Latonae Delia tellus,
erranti tutum quae dedit una locum,
tam mihi cara Tomis, patria quae sede fugatis
tempus ad hoc nobis hospita fida manet. 60
di modo fecissent placidae spem posset habere
pacis, et a gelido longius axe foret.
57 grata] gata _Hac_ || IGITVR Latone _F2c_ || 59 cara] cala _Cac_ grata
_B2_ || 59 Tomis _HLB2_ tomus _B1T_ thOmVS _I2c, ut uid_ domus _CF1_
thomos _MF2ul_ || quae _BMLT_ quae a _CFHI_ || 61 placidae] placidam _B_
|| 62 foret] forent _F2, ut uid_
XV
Si quis adhuc usquam nostri non immemor extat,
quidue relegatus Naso requirit, agam:
Caesaribus uitam, Sexto debere salutem
me sciat; a superis hic mihi primus erit.
tempora nam miserae complectar ut omnia uitae, 5
a meritis eius pars mihi nulla uacat,
quae numero tot sunt, quot in horto fertilis arui
Punica sub lento cortice grana rubent,
sexto pompeio _B2MFH2_ ad sextum pompeium _I2_ || 1 usquam ... extat]
usquam ... extet _Guethling (Lenz)_ extat ... usquam _M_ || 2 requirit
_Bodleianus Auct. F 2 1 (Tarrant), Laurentianus 38 39 (Lenz), editio
princeps Bononiensis (Lenz), 'ex duobus' Heinsius_ requirat _BCMFHLT_
requiret _I, British Library Burney 220 (Tarrant), Bodleianus Rawlinson
G 105 (Tarrant), Othob. lat. 1469, saec xv (Tarrant)_ || agam] agat
_fort legendum_ || 5 miserae] supere _H_ || 6 pars] noster pars _Bac_ ||
7 horto ... arui] hasto ... arui _C_ horto ... agri _TP_ horti ... aruo
_Williams_ || 8 lento] lecto _'Basil. et hoc probat Barth. Aduers.
xxxvii.10'--Burman_
Africa quot segetes, quot Tmolia terra racemos,
quot Sicyon bacas, quot parit Hybla fauos. 10
confiteor; testere licet--signate, Quirites!
nil opus est legum uiribus, ipse loquor.
inter opes et me, rem paruam, pone paternas,
pars ego sum census quantulacumque tui;
quam tua Trinacria est regnataque terra Philippo, 15
quam domus Augusto continuata foro,
quam tua rus oculis domini Campania gratum,
quaeque relicta tibi, Sexte, uel empta tenes,
tam tuus en ego sum, cuius te munere tristi
non potes in Ponto dicere habere nihil. 20
9 Tmolia terra _BM2ul_ tinolia t. _C_ thimolia t. _L_ thimola t. _T_
timula t. _I, ut uid_ mollia t. _HP_ etholia t. _F1_ gnosia t. _F2ul_
habet methina _M1_ || racemos] ramos _Mac_ || 10 Sicyon] sicio _B1_
scithion _T_ || Hybla] hilba _Bac_ || 11 testere] testare _(M1)LI1P_
tristare _F1_ narare _I2ul_ || signate] signare _LP_ || 12 est _om Fac_
|| loquor] loquar _Mpc_ || 13 rem paruam _MHIT_ paruam rem _BCFL, fort
recte_ || 15 Trinacria] tinacria _H_ || regnataque terra] regnaque terra
_I1_ tellus regnata _M_ || philippo] phiUppo _C_ || 19 tristi] cristi
_L_ || 20 potES _H2c_
atque utinam possis, et detur amicius aruum,
remque tuam ponas in meliore loco!
quod quoniam in dis est, tempta lenire precando
numina perpetua quae pietate colis.
[erroris nam tu uix est discernere nostri 25
sis argumentum maius an auxilium.]
nec dubitans oro; sed flumine saepe secundo
augetur remis cursus euntis aquae.
et pudet et metuo semperque eademque precari
ne subeant animo taedia iusta tuo; 30
uerum quid faciam? res immoderata cupido est;
da ueniam uitio, mitis amice, meo.
21 amicius] micius _Bpc (=mitius)_ amicitius _L_ || aruum] auum _Mac_ ||
23 precando] rogando _HF2ul_ || _25-26 spurios puto. 'ambiguus hic locus
est, eoque difficilior quoque, et obscurior'--Micyllus; 'xv 25 libri
"Erroris nam", quod nisi aegre intellegi nequit, quamquam nec correctio
satisfacit'--Merkel (1884), qui_ maeroris _pro_ erroris _coniecit_ || 25
nam] iam _FI_ discernere] decernere _MI1_ || 26 maius] magis _I_ nauis
_F1_ || auxilium] axilium _M_ xilium _I1_ || 27 flumine] flAmine _M2c,
ut uid_ || saepe secundo] saepe _F1_ secundo saepe _Iac_ || 29
semperque] semper _C_ || 30 iusta] iussa _F1_ || 31 uerum quid]
colloquio _C_ || faciam] fac in _I_
scribere saepe aliud cupiens delabor eodem;
*ipsa locum per se littera nostra rogat.*
seu tamen effectus habitura est gratia, seu me 35
dura iubet gelido Parca sub axe mori,
semper inoblita repetam tua munera mente,
et mea me tellus audiet esse tuum;
audiet et caelo posita est quaecumque sub ullo
(transit nostra feros si modo Musa Getas), 40
33 aliud cupiens] uolens aliud _I_ || delabor] dilabor _L_ || _34 uix
sanus; seclusit Merkel (1884)_ || 34 ipsa locum ... rogat] inque locum
... redit _temptauit Tarrant_ || per se littera ... rogat] pro se tristia
... rogant [_uel_ petunt] _temptaui_ || per se ... rogat] per se ... petit
_unus Heinsii_ per se ... facit _unus Heinsii_ pro se ... facit _Heinsius_
|| 35 me] nos _M2ul_ || 37 munera] carmina _F1_ munere _F2ul_ nomina
_F3ul, ut uid_ || 38 mea] tua _H_ || me] te _(F1)_ || audiet _FHIT_
audiat _BCML_ || 39 audiet] audiat _L_ || est _om M_ || ullo] illo _Mac,
sicut coni Bentley_ || 40 transit nostra feros] transierit seuos _T_
teque meae causam seruatoremque salutis
meque tuum libra norit et aere magis.
41 seruatoremque] serut.atoremque _M_ seruataremque _L_ || 42 meque]
neque _C_ || tuum libra norit et aere magis _Barberinus lat. 262ul
(Lenz), F3? (M = magis)_ tuum libra norit et aere minus _BCMHILT_
(libra _ex_ liba _I_) tuum libra norit et aere datum _F1_ || suum [libra
norit et aere] minus _F2ul_ [tellus ... quaecumque ... ] meque, tuum
libra, nouit, et aere, minus _Gronouius, _Obs._ II i_ meque tuum libra
norit et aere tuum _Heinsius_ tuae libra norit et aere manus _Rappold
(Owen 1915)_ tuae libra norit et aere domus _temptaui; cf Suet _Aug_ 61
1_
XVI
Inuide, quid laceras Nasonis carmina rapti?
non solet ingeniis summa nocere dies,
famaque post cineres maior uenit. at mihi nomen
tum quoque, cum uiuis adnumerarer, erat.
cum foret et Marsus magnique Rabirius oris 5
Iliacusque Macer sidereusque Pedo,
et, qui Iunonem laesisset in Hercule, Carus,
Iunonis si iam non gener ille foret,
quique dedit Latio carmen regale, Seuerus,
et cum subtili Priscus uterque Numa, 10
ad inuidum _B2MI2_ ad inimicum _H2_ || 1 carmina] carmia _M_ || 3 uenit.
at _scripsi_ uenit et _BCMFILT_ ueniet _H_ || nomen] uoto _H (noto?)_ ||
4 tum] tunc _F_ || uiuis] uiuus _H_ || erat] eat _Cac_ || 5 cum foret et
_FHT_ cumque foret _BCMIL_ || Rabirius _MFI_ sabirius _BC_ rabarius _T_
rabirtius _H_ rabilinus _L_ Sabellius _Barth, _Adu._ xxxvii 10 (Burman)_
|| 6 Iliacusque] iliacus _H_ || sidereusque] sidere/usque _B_
Cecropiusque _Bentley; cf x 71 'cum Thesea carmine laudes'_ || PEdo
_M2c_ || 7 Iunonem laesisset] iunonem lesissent _Bac, ut uid_ lesisset
iunonem _M_ || Carus] karus _B_ || 8 Iunonis] iunonisque _H_ || si iam]
siam _C1_ || gener ... foret _BCMFHT (_fOret _M1c)_ neger foret _L_ foret
genus _I_
quique uel imparibus numeris, Montane, uel aequis
sufficis, et gemino carmine nomen habes,
et qui Penelopae rescribere iussit Vlixem
errantem saeuo per duo lustra mari,
quique suam *Trisomen* imperfectumque dierum 15
deseruit celeri morte Sabinus opus,
ingeniique sui dictus cognomine Largus,
Gallica qui Phrygium duxit in arua senem,
11 imparibus numeris] imparibus _[spatium septem litterarum]_ his _H_ ||
12 sufficis, et] sufficis _Mac_ || 13 Penelopae] penelopi _H_ penolope
_CI_ || 13 solinus _H2(gl) in marg_ || 15 Trisomen _C (trisoM)_
trisomem _B1_ trosenE _L_ trionE _F_ troinE _I_ trozenen _M_
troezen _T_ tr****m _H_ troilem _B2_ Troezena _quidam apud Micyllum_
Tymelen _temptauit Heinsius_ Thressen _[=Hero] M. Hertz (Lenz)_ Chrysen
_Roeper (Riese)_ Troesmin _Ehwald_ Troesmen _Owen_ Sinatroncen
_['Parthorum regis nomen'] Bergk, _Opusc._ I 664 pro_ suam t. ||
imperfectumque] imperfectamque _H_ imperfectum _I1_ interruptumque
_Bergk_ || 16 deseruit] destituit _Bergk_ || Sabinus] salinus _(M1)T_
solius _F2ul_ || 17 dictus] dignus _I_ || 18 Gallica] gallia _M1_ ||
duxit] dixit _M1_ || arua] arma _B1?ulHI_
quique canit domito Camerinus ab Hectore Troiam,
quique sua nomen Phyllide Tuscus habet, 20
ueliuolique maris uates, cui credere posses
carmina caeruleos composuisse deos,
quique acies Libycas Romanaque proelia dixit,
et Marius scripti dexter in omne genus,
Trinacriusque suae Perseidos auctor, et auctor 25
Tantalidae reducis Tyndaridosque Lupus,
19 domito ... ab Hectore] domitam ... ab hectore _FM2ul_ domitam ... ab
hercule _Gothanus II 121, saec xiii (André), probante Korn_ ||
Camerinus] caMinus _T_ caminus _F_ || 20 sua nomen Phyllide Tuscus]
fata nomen pillide tuscus _C_ sua tuscus phillide nomen _L_ sua nomen
Phyllide Fuscus _Heinsius ('nomen magis Romanum')_ || 21 ueliuolique]
ueiiuolique _C_ || uates] nomen _Merkel ad Ibin p. 377 (Owen)_ || posses
_BCMHILT_ possis _F, fort recte_ || 23 quique] cuique _C_ || proelia]
pretia _C_ || dixit] salustius _M2gl_ || 24 Marius scripti] marius
scriptor _C_ scriptor marius _B_ || 24 dexter] promptus _M, fort in ras_
_P_ || 25 Trinacriusque _BCFL_ tinacriusque _IT_ tenar*sque _H_
eticiusque _M_ || Perseidos] perseidis _BCI_ Peneidos _Ehwald
(=Daphnes)_ || auctor ... auctor] auctor ... actor _H_ actor ... actor _F_
|| et] set _F2_ || Tyndaridosque] tyndaridisque _MI_
et qui Maeoniam Phaeacida uertit, et une
Pindaricae fidicen tu quoque, Rufe, lyrae,
Musaque Turrani tragicis innixa coturnis,
et tua cum socco Musa, Melisse, leuis; 30
cum Varius Gracchusque darent fera dicta tyrannis,
Callimachi Proculus molle teneret iter,
27 Maeoniam] meonidE _H_ || Pheacida _L_ PHEAcida _M2c_ pheatida _I_
pheicida _H_ ecaeida _B1_ aeacida _C_ hetaterA _F_ hecateida _T_
ecateida _B2_ || et une _HLB2_ et unE _M2c_ et una _IT_ et uni _B1C_ in
anguem _F; 'latet aliquid'--Burman_ || 28 lyrae] l*ræ _Cac_ || 29
Musaque] uisaque _C_ || 29 Turrani _BCMLT_ turani _FI_ tiranni _H_
Thorani _Heinsius_ || tragicis] gtragicis _T_ || innixa] innexa _T_ ||
_30 (in ras?) add C2_ || 30 et tua] ipseque _C2_ || socco] socio _C2, ut
uid_ || Melisse _MFB2_ mel isse _B1_ molisse _IL_ molasse _T_ melose _H_
molesse _C2_ (malesse _legunt Lenz, André_) || leuis] leui _H_ _Othob.
lat. 1469, saec xv (Tarrant), sicut coni Heinsius_ || 31 Varius _LTB2ul_
uariis _C_ uarus _B1MFHI_ || Gracchusque _edd olim_ graccusque _T,
probante Ehwald_ gra*ccusque _B_ gracusque _HIL_ gratusque _CMF_ || 31
darent] daret _F_ parent _(B1)C_ || tyrannis _BC, sicut coni Heinsius_
tyranni _MFHILT_ || 32 Proculus] proculuus _M_ pro cuIus _B2c_ prochius
_C_
*Tityron antiquas Passerque rediret ad herbas,* 33
aptaque uenanti Grattius arma daret,
_33 locus desperatus. 'haec nec Latina sunt, nec satis intelligo quid
sibi uelint'--Heinsius_
Tityron antiquas Passerque rediret ad herbas _B1C_
(Passerque _ex_ passerque _Riese_) titirus antiquas et erat qui pasceret
herbas _HILT_ (titirus: tiarus _Iac_) (pasceret: diceret _L_)
[tityron antiquas] et erat qui gigneret [herbas] _B3ul_
titirus eternas caneret qui procreet herbas _F_ (procreet: pasceret _F2ul_)
titirum et antiquas recus.basse referret ad umbras _M_
[tityron antiquas] recubasse refertur [ad herbas] _B2_
Tityron aprica recubantem pangeret umbra _Heinsius (Korn)_
Tityron aprica recubasse referret in umbra _Heinsius (Korn)_
Tityron apricus recubasse referret ad umbras [_uel_ undas] _Heinsius (Korn)_
Tityrus antiquis armentaque pasceret herbis _Withof (Korn)_
Tityrus antiquas pastorque rediret ad herbas _Korn_
Tityrus antiquas rursus reuocaret ad herbas _Madvig (Adu. crit. II praef)_
Tityrus antiquas capras ubi pasceret herbas _Madvig (Adu. crit. II 105)_
Tityrus apricans, ut erat, qui pasceret, herbas _Bergk (Opusc. I 667)_
Tityron Andinasque esset qui diceret herbas _Roeper (Korn)_
Tityron antiquas pastorem exciret ad herbas _Owen (1915)_
Tityron antiquas carmenque referret ad herbas _Schneiderhan (Lenz)_
Tityron antiquas Passer reuocaret ad herbas _Luck_
33 antiquas] eternas _F_ intactas _uel_ ac uacuas _uel_ ac uirides
_Riese_ || 34 aptaque ... arma] altaque ... arma _M_ armaque ... apta _I_
|| uenanti] uenati _C_ uenandi _F2ul_ || Grattius _Buecheler e cod
illius poetae (RhM 35 [1880] 407)_ gratius _CFLT_ gracius _BMHI_
Naiadas Satyris caneret Fontanus amatas, 35
clauderet imparibus uerba Capella modis,
cumque forent alii, quorum mihi cuncta referre
nomina longa mora est, carmina uulgus habet,
essent et iuuenes quorum, quod inedita cura est,
appellandorum nil mihi iuris adest 40
(te tamen in turba non ausim, Cotta, silere,
Pieridum lumen praesidiumque fori,
35 Naiadas _C. P. Jones_ naiadas a _HLI2_ nayades a _MT_ naidas a
_BCFI2_ || Fontanus] fontusanus _M_ montanus _H, ut uid_ || 38 longa
mora] mora longa _L_ || uulgus habet] uulgus habent _HIac_ fama tenet
_T_ || _39-40 spurios putat Williams_ || 39 essent et iuuenes] _quid
pro_ essent _C, incertum_ et iuuenes essent _H_ || iuuenes quorum, quod
_interpunxi_ iuuenes, quorum quod _edd_ || cura _unus Thuaneus Heinsii
(=Parisinus lat. 8256 uel 8462)_ causa _BCMFHILT_ || 41 tamen in] tanta
in _M1L_ tamen e _Heinsius_ || 42 lumen] numen _'editi aliquot'--Burman_
|| praesidiumque fori] praesidiumque meum _H1; uide Hor _Carm_ I i 2_
maternos Cottas cui Messallasque paternos,
Maxime, nobilitas ingeminata dedit),
dicere si fas est, claro mea nomine Musa 45
atque inter tantos quae legeretur erat.
ergo summotum patria proscindere, Liuor,
desine neu cineres sparge, cruente, meos.
omnia perdidimus; tantummodo uita relicta est,
praebeat ut sensum materiamque mali. 50
[quid iuuat extinctos ferrum demittere in artus?
non habet in nobis iam noua plaga locum.]
43 maternos] fraternos _B1CH_ || Cottas] coctas _L_ || cui _om FIL_ ||
Messallasque _BCM_ messalosque _IL_ messalinosque _HT_ messalanosque _F_
|| 44 Maxime _B1CMpc, sicut coni Burman_ maxima _MacFHILTB2_ ||
ingeminata] cui geminata _F_ || 46 legeretur] regeretur _BCpc_ regaretur
_Cac_ || 47 proscindere] procindere _Fac_ praescindere _T_ discindere
_I_ || 48 neu] nec _IF_ ne _H_ || 49 relicta] retenta _T, ut uid
(retNta)_ || 50 ut] ut ca _Tac_ || _51-52 spurios puto_ || 51
demittere _Berolinensis Diez. B. Sant. 1, saec xiii (Lenz), Laurentianus
36 2, saec xv (Lenz), editio princeps Bononiensis (Lenz)_ dimittere
_BCMFHILT_ || artus] albis _C_ (astus _Lenz; André dubitanter_) ||
explicit liber ouidii de ponto fe li ci ter sint bona scribenti sint
uita salusque legenti _B_ explicit liber ouidii de ponto _C_ explicit
liber publii·o·n·de ponto _M_ explicit ouidius de ponto uade sed
incultus qualem decet exulis esse _F_ explicit o de ponto _H_ hic liber
explicit gratia christo detur _L_
COMMENTARY
=EPISTVLARVM EX PONTO LIBER QVARTVS.= The precise title of these poems is
uncertain. The one mention Ovid makes of the poems' title is of little
assistance: 'inuenies, quamuis non est miserabilis index, / non minus
hoc illo triste quod ante dedi' (_EP_ I i 15-16). The earliest
manuscript of the poems, the ninth-century _Hamburgensis scrin. 52 F_
(extant to III ii 67), gives no title at the start of the poems, but has
'EX PONTO LIBER ·II· EXPLICIT' at the end of the second book. Later
manuscripts generally call the poems the _De Ponto_ or _Epistulae de
Ponto_. The original name was probably not present in the archetype;
these titles were perhaps invented with the aid of the first distich of
the first poem: 'Naso Tomitanae iam non nouus incola terrae / hoc tibi
_de Getico litore_ mittit opus'. Heinsius strongly preferred _Ex Ponto_
to _De Ponto_ ('nihil magis inscitum aut barbarum hac inscriptione'),
citing in its support the first line of _Tr_ V ii 'Ecquid, ut _e Ponto_
noua uenit epistula, palles'. In reality _ex_ and _de_ are equally
acceptable Latin (Cic _Att_ XV xxvi 5; _Fam_ XIV xx), but _Ex Ponto_ is
the title found in the oldest manuscript of the poems and has become
usual since Heinsius' time; in the absence of further evidence it may be
allowed to stand.
Heinsius made two other suggestions for the poems' title. The first,
_Pontica_, seems best suited for a poem describing the geography of the
area around Tomis or the characteristics of its inhabitants. His second
suggestion, _Epistulae Ponticae_, is attractive, but without any
particular probability.
I. To Sextus Pompeius
Sextus Pompeius, _consul ordinarius_ in AD 14, is the most illustrious
of Ovid's correspondents in the _Ex Ponto_; patron of Valerius Maximus,
he was related to Pompey the Great (Sen _Ben_ IV 30 2) and to Augustus
(Dio LVI 29 5). For discussions of his career, see Syme _HO_ 156-62,
Pauly-Wissowa XXI,2 2265 61, and Dessau _PIR_ P 450. He is the recipient
of four poems in the fourth book, but is nowhere mentioned in the first
three books of the _Ex Ponto_. Since Pompeius helped Ovid during his
journey to exile (v 31-38), their relationship must have been of long
standing; clearly Pompeius had indicated to Ovid his preference not to
be mentioned in his verse, even after it had become clear to most of
Ovid's friends that being named by him would carry no penalty. In _EP_
III vi, Ovid exhorts a timid friend to allow him to name him; there is
no indication, however, that the poem was addressed to Pompeius.
Ovid seems to have been best served in exile by those of his friends who
were of no particular eminence. In _Tr_ III iv 3-8 & 43-44 he complains
not only of the treatment he has received from Augustus, but also of the
lack of assistance from those of his friends most in a position to help.
Once Sextus Pompeius had indicated he was willing to be named publicly,
Ovid could not ignore the influence that a man of such position could
bring to bear; hence the number of poems addressed to him in the fourth
book.
Ovid starts the poem with an elaborate assertion of his past and present
desire to mention Pompeius in his verse (1-22), and then briefly
recounts the services Pompeius has rendered to him, and will continue to
render (23-26). The reason he is confident that Pompeius will continue
to assist him is that Pompeius' past assistance has been such that he is
now, in effect, Pompeius' creation, and brings glory to him in the way
that great works of art do for their creators (27-36).
=1. DEDVCTVM.= 'Composed'. _Deducere_ is often used in reference to the
drawing of fibres from the wool on the distaff and the shaping of the
thread (Catullus LXIV 311-14). From this meaning derive the two senses
the word can have when referring to poetry, 'composed' and 'finely spun,
delicate'. The first sense is seen here and at _Tr_ I i 39, _EP_ I v 13,
and at _Tr_ V i 71 'ipse nec emendo, sed ut hic _deducta_ legantur', and
the second at _Ecl_ VI 4-5 'pastorem, Tityre, pinguis / pascere oportet
ouis, _deductum_ dicere carmen', where _deductum ... carmen_ represents
the [Greek: Mousan ... leptaleên] of Callimachus _Aetia_ I 24; Servius
comments on the metaphor from spinning. It has been suggested that _Met_
I 4 'ad mea perpetuum _deducite_ tempora carmen' shows this meaning as
well; see Kenney _Ouidius Prooemians_ 51-52.
Hor _Ep_ II i 225 'tenui deducta poemata filo' stands somewhere between
the two senses.
=2. DEBITOR ... VITAE.= See v 33-36 (Ovid's letter speaking to Pompeius)
'te sibi, cum fugeret, memori solet ore referre / barbariae tutas
exhibuisse uias, / sanguine Bistonium quod non tepefecerit ensem, /
effectum cura pectoris esse tui'. The passage suggests that Pompeius
supplied Ovid with a bodyguard for his journey overland from Tempyra to
Tomis, either in an official capacity--Dessau suggests (_PIR_ P 450)
that Pompeius might have been proconsul of Macedonia--or, more probably,
from his Macedonian estates, for which Dessau and Syme (_HO_ 157) cite
xv 15.
=3. QVI.= Williams' CVI is possibly correct; the line would then refer to
the _titulus_ of the poem in a published text.