Page:Catullus, Tibullus and Propertius.djvu/117

Rh connection, induced her to transfer herself to the wealthy spouse whom Tibullus pictures in his sixth elegy (Book i.) as deceived and outraged by her infidelities. But we ought to take Delia's self as painted in our poet's first and happiest colours. The first six elegies of the first book (with the exception of the fourth) tell more or less of his love for her, and are amongst the highest developments of his poetic power. His allusion in the fifth elegy to the beginning of her influence affords, at the same time, some clue to her personal charms. In declaring that her spell is so potent that, though they have quarrelled, he cannot forget Delia amidst other charmers, he analyses the nature of her ascendancy. Was it—

There are indications, too, that she could be kindly and affectionate, and possessed such influence over him through her tenderness, albeit short-lived and inconstant, as to make him sit light on hopes of advancement from a patron, and rather disposed to spend his days with her in silken dalliance and in rural quietude. Ecce signum:—