197 Sartorial Elegance and Poetic Finesse in the Sulpician Corpus Rose Smith referred as ‘which slip of a lady,’5 and you can who we all know for come originated out of a couple of of your earliest aristocratic families at the Rome, we need to notice the brand new intimate innuendo of history term out of the newest poem (spunk digno digna fuisse ferar, ‘worthwhile me personally, I’ll feel said to was indeed with a worthy man’). Varro comments for the fading currency of keywords spunk esse since a polite metonymy getting sex in the day (aeque eadem modestia potius sperm muliere fuisse quam concubuisse dicebant, ‘just as they used to state with similar modesty which they was actually with a female unlike they’d lain which have a female,’ Ling. 6.80). But Ovid, Sulpicia’s modern and you may such the lady a recipient regarding Messala’s literary fellowship, utilizes the phrase inside correctly so it feel from the witty finishing couplet regarding Amores 2.8 (traces twenty seven–28): quoque loco tecum fuerim quotiensque, Cypassi, narrabo dominae quotque quibusque modis. I am going to inform your domme in which Used to do it with you and you can how frequently, Cypassis, how many times and in just what ranks!six
He could be stressed on my behalf, to possess whom ideal reason for sadness would be the fact I may submit to an ignoble companion
] step three.16: gratum est, securus multum quod iam tibi de- me personally permittis, subito ne male inepta cadam. remain tibi cura togae potior pressumque quasillo scortum quam Servi filia Sulpicia. solliciti sunt pro nobis quibus illa dolori est ne cedam ignoto, maxima causa, toro. I am grateful one to, safer on the condition, your allow yourself plenty out-of me lest I may all of a sudden stumble in certain disappointed folly.
Here Sulpicia contrasts her very own raised social condition on the destruction of your own Roman prostitute which wears the newest toga (step three.sixteen.3–4).7 The woman social level is noted as often because of the implied respectability away from her gown conversely into toga, disreputable whenever donned by prostitutes, because it’s by the lady satisfied claim to Servian ancestry within the the phrase Servi filia Sulpicia. Which
From this introductory portrait out-of Sulpicia while the one another desiring poet-partner and you may desirable precious, adumbrated as a result of sartorial innuendo, i violation to help you the lady lofty phrase away from societal elevation when you look at the [Tib
198 Alison Keith focus on the woman public height are in keeping with the new worry about-fashioning of the elegiac poets Propertius, Tibullus, and you can Ovid, exactly who insist on the equestrian condition although they range on their own regarding governmental careers requested out of people in one acquisition.8 However, Sulpicia insists on classification differences here in a good sartorially developed opposition from toga-dressed in prostitute and you will girl of Roman elites. This new grace out of Sulpicia’s control out-of personal and you will elegiac skirt rules appears to have drawn the eye of poet just who honors the lady since an enthusiastic elegiac puella on about three third-people poems of your thus-named Garland off Sulpicia.9 The original of these poems, [Tib.] step three.8, raises an enthusiastic elegantly clad Sulpicia into celebration of Kalends off February (3.8.1–2): Sulpicia est tibi culta tuis, Mars magne, Kalendis, spectatum age caelo, lorsque sapis, ipse veni. Sulpicia is dressed up for you, high Mars, on your own Kalends; for those who have any taste, you’ll be able to come from eden to look at their.
The fresh poet honors Sulpicia’s beauty in various elegiac postures: styling this lady hair right up or down (seu solvit crines, fusis decet esse capillis; / seu compsit, comptis est veneranda comis, ‘in the event that she loosens her hair, moving tresses be their; if she clothing it, she actually is lovely along with her tresses up,’ step 3.8.9–10); using reddish otherwise light robes (urit, seu Tyria voluit procedere palla: / urit, seu nivea candida veste venit, ‘she inflames you if she wished to appear within the an effective Tyrian mantle; she inflames your if the she appear glowing when you look at the white clothes,’ step three.8.11–12); anointed which have Arabian fragrances (possideatque metit quicquid bene olentibus arvis / cultor odoratae dives Arabs segetis, ‘[she’s deserving] . getting any scented pick new rich Arabian character harvests away from his sweet-smelling industries,’ step 
3.8.17–18); otherwise bedecked that have East treasures (et quascumque niger rubro de- litore gemmas / proximus Eois colligit Indus aquis, ‘and almost any gems this new black Indian, near to eastern waters, gathers about reddish seashore,’ step three.8.19–20). While we have seen, although not, instance lavish outfits, also the rich colors and smooth information (sola puellarum digna est cui mollia caris / vellera det sucis bis madefacta Tyros, ‘alone certainly women is she worthy of getting off Steering wheel softer fleece dipped twice from inside the pricey dyes,’ 3.8.15–16), scents, and jewellery she wears, is actually in other places relevant perhaps not that have respected aristocratic Roman lady but with brand new toilette of one’s elegiac courtesan. Hence Propertius censures his mistress’s perform to make by herself call at costly design (1.dos.1–6, cited a lot more than), and you will Tibullus likewise deprecates the latest specialized and you will costly dress of your own puer delicatus Marathus,
