Page:Catullus, Tibullus and Propertius.djvu/167

Rh keeping with her character and avocations that she should repair the ravages of time, and seek to disguise her grey hairs and her crow's-feet. Whatever her years, however, her spell must have been more than commonly lasting; for seldom have a lover's verses recorded so many and diverse endeavours to win, retain, or recover his mistress's good graces, as the first four books of the Elegies of Propertius. And this in spite of several drawbacks which usually estrange or impair love. Though he had saws and instances by the score to quote against the abuse of wine, Cynthia is an exception to the general rule:—

Though he is ever more or less a prey to jealousy not without foundations, and suffers no slight pangs from stumbling upon her in company with those convenient "cousins" whom all flirts from time immemorial have "loved in a sisterly way"—