Women in Antiquity: Tuesday 14 November 2017 — the impossible queen

On the sources: - Propertius (c. 50-45 - 15 BCE), Latin elegiac poet during the Augustan era. Emblematizes the next generation of Latin poets following Catullus, the independence of the Latin poet tempered by the anxieties of the Augustan era. We possess four books of Propertius’ elegies. The first book, published in 28 BCE, is known also by the Greek name, transmitted by several manuscripts, of Monobiblos, “single book.” As for books 2 and 3, it is not certain whether these were published together or separately; separate publication of the two books, in around 25 and 22 BCE respectively is regarded as more likely. - Horace (65-8 BCE), Latin poet during the Augustan era. Composed in a number of metres: lyric, hexameter, iambic. Fought on the losing side of the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE, was brought into the literary circle around by Maecenas. Reflects the tensions of Roman politics, the daily life of early imperial Rome, the tensions of aristocratic interests in the face of thinly veiled autocracy. - Virgil (70-19 BCE). Ancient Rome’s most famous poet, composed the pastoral Eclogues in hexameters (between 42 and 39 BCE); Georgics, a didactic poem in four books of hexameters (completed in 29 BCE); the Aeneid, an epic poem in twelve books of hexameters, published by the executors of his will. The Aeneid became Rome’s national epic. - Plutarch (c. 46-120 CE), Greek biographer and essayist, known for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. - Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE), Roman author, naturalist, natural philosopher. Composed the encyclopedic Naturalis Historia (Natural History), uncle of Pliny the Younger. Died during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE.

Paul Zanker, The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus, p62:

1 of 12 Propertius, Elegies 3.11 [edited and translated by G. P. Goold, 1990, Loeb Classical Library]

Quid mirare, meam si versat femina vitam Why wonder that a woman governs my life, and hauls off et trahit addictum sub sua iura virum, a man in bondage to her sway? Why do you frame criminaque ignavi capitis mihi turpia fingis, shameful charges of cowardice against me because I quod nequeam fracto rumpere vincla iugo? cannot burst my bonds and break the yoke? The sailor ventorum melius praesagit navita morem, 5 best predicts the temper of the winds; the soldier has vulneribus didicit miles habere metum. learned from his wounds to feel fear. Words like yours I ista ego praeterita iactavi verba iuventa: used to utter in my bygone youth: learn now from my tu nunc exemplo disce timere meo. example to be afraid. The witch of Colchis forced the fire- Colchis flagrantis adamantina sub iuga tauros breathing bulls under a yoke of adamant, sowed the seed egit et armigera proelia sevit humo, 10 of battle for the soil to produce armed warriors, and shut custodisque feros clausit serpentis hiatus, the fierce jaws of the guardian serpent, that the golden iret ut Aesonias aurea lana domos. fleece might go to Aeson’s halls. Penthesilea, the fierce ausa ferox ab equo quondam oppugnare sagittis maid of Maeotis, once dared from horseback to attack the Maeotis Danaûm Penthesilea rates; ships of the Greeks with arrows, and when the golden aurea cui postquam nudavit cassida frontem, 15 helm was lifted to reveal her face, her shining beauty vicit victorem candida forma virum. conquered her male conqueror. Omphale, the Lydian girl Omphale in tantum formae processit honorem, who bathed in Gyges’ lake, won such renown for her Lydia Gygaeo tincta puella lacu, beauty that he who had set up his pillars in the world he ut, qui pacato statuisset in orbe columnas, had pacified plucked with his brute hands soft tasks of tam dura traheret mollia pensa manu. 20 wool. Semiramis built Babylon, the Persians’ capital, by Persarum statuit Babylona Semiramis urbem, rearing a solid edifice with wall of brick such that two ut solidum cocto tolleret aggere opus, chariots might be sent against each other along the et duo in adversum mitti per moenia currus ramparts and yet not scrape their sides with an axle’s nec possent tacto stringere ab axe latus; touch; and she channelled the Euphrates through the duxit et Euphraten medium, quam condidit, arcis, 25 middle of the citadel she founded and commanded iussit et imperio subdere Bactra caput. Bactra to bow its head to her sway. Enough, for why nam quid ego heroas, quid raptem in crimina divos? should I bring gods and heroes to trial on this account? Iuppiter infamat seque suamque domum. Jupiter shames himself and his whole house. What of her quid, modo quae nostris opprobria nexerit armis, who of late has fastened disgrace upon our arms, and, a et, famulos inter femina trita suos, 30 woman who fornicated even with her slaves, demanded coniugii obsceni pretium Romana poposcit as the price of her shameful union the walls of Rome and moenia et addictos in sua regna Patres? the senate made over to her dominion? Guilty Alexandria, noxia Alexandria, dolis aptissima tellus, land ever ready for treason, and Memphis, so often et totiens nostro Memphi cruenta malo, blood-stained at our cost, where the sand robbed Pompey tris ubi Pompeio detraxit harena triumphos, 35 of his three triumphs, no day shall ever wash you clean of tollet nulla dies hanc tibi, Roma, notam. this infamy, Rome. Better had your funeral processed issent Phlegraeo melius tibi funera campo, over the Phlegrean fields, or had you been doomed to vel tua si socero colla daturus eras. bow your neck to your father-in-law! To be sure, the scilicet incesti meretrix regina Canopi, harlot queen of licentious Canopus, the one disgrace una Philippeo sanguine adusta nota, 40 branded on Philip’s line, 2 of 12 ausa Iovi nostro latrantem opponere Anubim, dared to pit barking Anubis against our Jupiter and to et Tiberim Nili cogere ferre minas, force the Tiber to endure the threats of the Nile, to Romanamque tubam crepitanti pellere sistro, drive out the Roman trumpet with the rattling sistrum baridos et contis rostra Liburna sequi, and with the poles of her barge pursue the beaks of our foedaque Tarpeio conopia tendere saxo, 45 galleys, to stretch effeminate mosquito-nets on the iura dare et statuas inter et arma Mari! Tarpeian rock and give judgement amid the arms and quid nunc Tarquinii fractas iuvat esse secures, statues of Marius. What profit now is it to have broken nomine quem simili vita superba notat, the axes of that Tarquin whose proud life gave him a si mulier patienda fuit? cane, Roma, triumphum title derived from it, had we been fated to bear a et longum Augusto salva precare diem! 50 woman’s yoke? Sing out your triumph, Rome, and, fugisti tamen in timidi vaga flumina Nili, saved, pray long life for Augustus. Yet you fled to the nec cepere tuae Romula vincla manus. wandering outlets of the craven Nile—not that your bracchia spectasti sacris admorsa colubris, hands received Roman fetters. You endured the sight et trahere occultum membra soporis iter. of your arms bitten by the sacred asps and your limbs ‘Non hoc, Roma, fui tanto tibi cive verenda!’ 55 channelling the stealthy route of the numbing poison. dixit et assiduo lingua sepulta mero. ‘Having so great a citizen as this, O Rome, you need septem urbs alta iugis, toti quae praesidet orbi, not have feared me’: thus spoke even a tongue stat non humana deicienda manu. drenched in ceaseless toping. The city set high on haec di condiderunt, haec di quoque moenia servant: 65 seven hills which presides over the whole world stands vix timeat salvo Caesare Roma Iovem. 66 not to be destroyed by human hand. These walls the nunc ubi Scipiadae classes, ubi signa Camilli, 67 gods have founded, and these the gods also protect: aut modo Pompeia, Bospore, capta manu? 68 whilst Caesar lives Rome should hardly fear Jupiter. So Hannibalis spolia et victi monumenta Syphacis, what does Scipio’s armada count for now, what et Pyrrhi ad nostros gloria fracta pedes? 60 Camillus’ standards, or the recent capture of Bosporus Curtius expletis statuit monumenta lacunis, by Pompey’s might? What count the spoils won from admisso Decius proelia rupit equo, Hannibal, the trophies of conquered Syphax, and Coclitis abscissos testatur semita pontes, Pyrrhus’ glory shattered at our feet? Curtius by filling a est cui cognomen corvus habere dedit: chasm made himself a lasting memorial; spurring his Leucadius versas acies memorabit : 69 horse Decius broke the enemy’s line; the path of Cocles tanti operis bellum sustulit una dies. 70 still tells of the cutting of the bridge, and there is the at tu, sive petes portus seu, navita, linques, hero to whom a raven gave his name: Leucadian Apollo Caesaris in toto sis memor Ionio. will tell of a host turned in flight: one day put an end to a war of such vast array.But do you, sailor, whether you enter or leave harbour, remember Caesar over all the Ionian sea.

3 of 12 Horace, Epode 9 [edited and translated by Niall Rudd, 2004, Loeb Classical Library]

Quando repostum Caecubum ad festas dapes When, happy Maecenas, shall I drink with you, in joy victore laetus Caesare at Caesar’s victory, in your high house (for that’s what tecum sub alta—sic Iovi gratum—domo, the god intends) the Caecuban that has been laid by beate Maecenas, bibam for a banquet of celebration, while the lyre sounds sonante mixtum tibiis carmen lyra, 5 forth its Dorian music12 mingled with the foreign hac Dorium, illis barbarum, notes of the pipe? That’s what we did, not long ago, ut nuper, actus cum freto Neptunius when the ships of Neptune’s general13 were burnt, dux fugit ustis navibus, and he fled, driven from the sea—the man who had minatus Urbi vincla, quae detraxerat threatened to fasten on the capital the chains he had servis amicus perfidis? 10 removed from the treasonous slaves whom he had Romanus, eheu,—posteri negabitis— befriended. The shame of it! A Roman enslaved to a emancipatus feminae woman (you future generations will refuse to believe fert vallum et arma miles et spadonibus it) carries a stake and weapons, and in spite of being a servire rugosis potest, soldier can bear to serve a lot of shrivelled eunuchs, interque signa turpe militaria 15 while the sun gazes down on the degenerate sol aspicit conopium. mosquito net among the army’s standards. But two at huc frementis verterunt bis mille equos thousand Galatians have turned their snorting horses Galli, canentes Caesarem, in our direction, chanting Caesar’s name; and the hostiliumque navium portu latent sterns of the enemy’s ships, after making off at speed puppes sinistrorsum citae. 20 to the left, skulk in harbour. Hail, Triumph! Are you io Triumphe, tu moraris aureos holding back the golden chariots and the heifers that currus et intactas boves? have never known a yoke? Hail, Triumph! You did not io Triumphe, nec Iugurthino parem bring back such a general from the Jugurthine War, bello reportasti ducem, nor was Africanus such, whose valour built a tomb neque Africanum, cui super Carthaginem 25 over Carthage. Defeated on land and sea, the enemy virtus sepulcrum condidit. has put on a cloak of mourning instead of his scarlet terra marique victus hostis punico one. The man may reach Crete, famous for her lugubre mutavit sagum. hundred cities,16 though the winds are not in his aut ille centum nobilem Cretam urbibus favour, or he is making for the Syrtes that are ventis iturus non suis, 30 buffeted by the South Wind, or else he is carried exercitatas aut petit Syrtis Noto, along over an uncertain sea. Bring larger cups, boy, aut fertur incerto mari. and pour us Chian or Lesbian wine, or rather capaciores adfer huc, puer, scyphos Caecuban so that it may check our seasickness. It’s a et Chia vina aut Lesbia: joy to get rid of our worry and fear for Caesar’s cause vel quod fluentem nauseam coerceat 35 with the sweet Loosener’s help. metire nobis Caecubum: curam metumque Caesaris rerum iuvat dulci Lyaeo solvere.

4 of 12 Horace, Ode 1.37 [edited and translated by Niall Rudd, 2004, Loeb Classical Library] nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero Now let the drinking begin! Now let us thump the pulsanda tellus, nunc Saliaribus ground with unfettered feet! Now is the time, my ornare pulvinar deorum friends, to load the couches of the gods with a tempus erat dapibus, sodales. feast fit for the Salii! antehac nefas depromere Caecubum 5 Before this it was sacrilege to bring the Caecuban cellis avitis, dum Capitolio out from our fathers’ cellars, at a time when the regina dementis ruinas queen, along with her troop of disgustingly funus et imperio parabat perverted men, was devising mad ruin for the Capitol and death for the empire— contaminato cum grege turpium morbo virorum, quidlibet impotens 10 a woman so out of control that she could hope for sperare fortunaque dulci anything at all, drunk, as she was, with the sweet ebria. Sed minuit furorem wine of success.But her frenzy was sobered vix una sospes navis ab ignibus, by the survival of scarcely one ship from the mentemque lymphatam Mareotico flames; and her mind, crazed with Mareotic wine, redegit in veros timores 15 was brought down to face real terror when Caesar Caesar, ab Italia volantem pursued her as she flew away from Italy remis adurgens, accipiter velut with oars, like a hawk after a gentle dove or a mollis columbas aut leporem citus speedy hunter after a hare on the snowy plains of venator in campis nivalis Thessaly, to put that monster of doom safely in Haemoniae, daret ut catenis 20 chains. fatale monstrum. Quae generosius Determined to die more nobly, she showed no perire quaerens nec muliebriter womanly fear of the sword, nor did she use her expavit ensem nec latentis swift fleet to gain some hidden shore. classe cita reparavit oras, ausa et iacentem visere regiam 25 She had the strength of mind to gaze on her voltu sereno, fortis et asperas ruined palace with a calm countenance, and the tractare serpentes, ut atrum courage to handle the sharp-toothed serpents, corpore conbiberet venenum, letting her body drink in their black venom. deliberata morte ferocior: Once she had resolved to die she was all the more saevis Liburnis scilicet invidens 30 defiant—determined, no doubt, to cheat the cruel privata deduci superbo, Liburnians: she would not be stripped of her non humilis mulier, triumpho. royalty and conveyed to face a jeering triumph: no humble woman she.

5 of 12 Virgil, Aeneid 8.626f. [edited and translated by H. Rushton Fairclough, Revised by G. P. Goold, 1918, Loeb Classical Library] illic res Italas Romanorumque triumphos There the story of Italy and the triumphs of Rome had the haud vatum ignarus venturique inscius aevi Lord of Fire fashioned, not unversed in prophecy or fecerat ignipotens, illic genus omne futurae unknowing of the age to come; there, every generation of stirpis ab Ascanio pugnataque in ordine bella. the stock to spring from Ascanius, and the wars they fecerat et viridi fetam Mavortis in antro 630 fought in their sequence. He had fashioned, too, the procubuisse lupam, geminos huic ubera circum mother wolf lying stretched out in the green cave of Mars; ludere pendentis pueros et lambere matrem around her teats the twin boys hung playing, and suckled impavidos, illam tereti cervice reflexa their dam without fear; with shapely neck bent back, she mulcere alternos et corpora fingere lingua. fondled them by turns, and moulded their limbs with her nec procul hinc Romam et raptas sine more Sabinas 635 tongue. Not far from here he had set Rome and the Sabine consessu caveae, magnis Circensibus actis, maidens, lawlessly carried off, when the great Circus addiderat, subitoque novum consurgere bellum games were held, from the theatre’s seated throng; then Romulidis Tatioque seni Curibusque severis. the sudden uprising of a fresh war between the sons of post idem inter se posito certamine reges Romulus and aged Tatius and his stern Cures. Next, the armati Iovis ante aram paterasque tenentes 640 same kings, their strife laid at rest, stood armed before stabant et caesa iungebant foedera porca. Jove’s altar, cup in hand, and made covenant with each haud procul inde citae Mettum in diversa quadrigae other over sacrifice of swine, and the palace was rough, distulerant (at tu dictis, Albane, maneres!), fresh with the thatch of Romulus. Not far from there, four- raptabatque viri mendacis viscera Tullus horse chariots, driven apart, had torn Mettus asunder (but per silvam, et sparsi rorabant sanguine vepres. 645 you, Alban, should have stood by your words!), and Tullus nec non Tarquinium eiectum Porsenna iubebat dragged the liar’s body through the woods, and the accipere ingentique urbem obsidione premebat; brambles dripped with dew of blood. There, too, was Aeneadae in ferrum pro libertate ruebant. Porsenna, bidding them admit the banished Tarquin, and illum indignanti similem similemque minanti oppressing the city with mighty siege: the sons of Aeneas aspiceres, pontem auderet quia vellere Cocles 650 rushing on the sword for freedom’s sake. You could see et fluvium vinclis innaret Cloelia ruptis. him shown as angry, as threatening, because Cocles dared in summo custos Tarpeiae Manlius arcis to tear down the bridge, and Cloelia broke her bonds and stabat pro templo et Capitolia celsa tenebat, swam the river. At the top of the shield Manlius, warder of Romuleoque recens horrebat regia culmo. the Tarpeian fort, stood before the temple and held the atque hic auratis volitans argenteus anse 655 lofty Capitol. And here the silver goose, 21 fluttering porticibus Gallos in limine adesse canebat; through gilded colonnades, cried that the Gauls were on Galli per dumos aderant arcemque tenebant the threshold. The Gauls were close by in the thickets, defensi tenebris et dono noctis opacae. laying hold of the fort, shielded by darkness, and the boon aurea caesaries ollis atque aurea vestis, of shadowy night. Golden are their locks and golden their virgatis lucent sagulis, tum lactea colla 660 raiment; they glitter in striped cloaks, and their milk-white auro innectuntur, duo quisque Alpina coruscant necks are entwined with gold; two Alpine pikes each gaesa manu, scutis protecti corpora longis. brandishes in hand, and long shields guard their limbs. hic exsultantis Salios nudosque Lupercos Here he had wrought the dancing Salii and naked Luperci,

6 of 12 lanigerosque apices et lapsa ancilia caelo the crests bound with wool, and the shields that fell extuderat, castae ducebant sacra per urbem 665 from heaven; and in cushioned carriages chaste pilentis matres in mollibus. hinc procul addit matrons moved through the city in solemn progress. At Tartareas etiam sedes, alta ostia Ditis, a distance from these he adds also the abodes of Hell, et scelerum poenas, et te, Catilina, minaci the high gates of Dis, the penalties of sin, and you, pendentem scopulo Furiarumque ora trementem, Catiline, hanging on a frowning cliff, and trembling at secretosque pios, his dantem iura Catonem. 670 the sight of the Furies; and far apart, the good, with haec inter tumidi late maris ibat imago Cato giving them laws. Among these scenes flowed wide aurea, sed fluctu spumabant caerula cano, the likeness of the swelling sea, all gold, but the blue et circum argento clari delphines in orbem water foamed with white billows, and round about aequora verrebant caudis aestumque secabant. dolphins, shining in silver, swept the seas with their in medio classis aeratas, Actia bella, 675 tails in circles, and cleft the tide. In the centre could be cernere erat, totumque instructo Marte videres seen bronze ships—the battle of ; you could see fervere Leucaten auroque effulgere fluctus. all Leucate aglow with War’s array, and the waves ablaze hinc Augustus agens Italos in proelia Caesar with gold. On the one side Augustus Caesar stands on cum patribus populoque, penatibus et magnis dis, the lofty stern, leading Italians to strife, with Senate and stans celsa in puppi, geminas cui tempora flammas 680 People, the Penates of the state, and all the mighty gods; laeta vomunt patriumque aperitur vertice sidus. his auspicious brows shoot forth a double flame, and on parte alia ventis et dis Agrippa secundis his head dawns his father’s star. 23 Elsewhere, favored arduus agmen agens, cui, belli insigne superbum, by winds and gods, high-towering Agrippa leads his tempora navali fulgent rostrata corona. column; his brows gleam with the beaks of the naval hinc ope barbarica variisque Antonius armis, 685 crown, proud token won in war. On the other side victor ab Aurorae populis et litore rubro, comes Antony with barbaric might and motley arms, Aegyptum virisque Orientis et ultima secum victorious over the nations of the dawn and the ruddy Bactra vehit, sequiturque (nefas) Aegyptia coniunx. sea, bringing in his train Egypt and the strength of the una omnes ruere ac totum spumare reductis East and farthest Bactra; and there follows him (oh the convulsum remis rostrisque tridentibus aequor. 690 shame of it!) his Egyptian wife. All rush on at once, and alta petunt; pelago credas innare revulsas the whole sea foams, torn up by the sweeping oars and Cycladas aut montis concurrere montibus altos, triple-pointed beaks. To the deep they race; you would tanta mole viri turritis puppibus instant. think that the Cyclades, uprooted, were floating on the stuppea flamma manu telisque volatile ferrum main, or that high mountains were clashing with spargitur, arva nova Neptunia caede rubescunt. 695 mountains: in such huge ships the seamen attack the regina in mediis patrio vocat agmina sistro, towered sterns. Flaming tow and shafts of winged steel necdum etiam geminos a tergo respicit anguis. are showered from their hands; Neptune’s fields redden omnigenumque deum monstra et latrator Anubis with strange slaughter. In the midst the queen calls contra Neptunum et Venerem contraque Minervam upon her hosts with their native sistrum; not yet does tela tenent. saevit medio in certamine Mavors 700 she cast back a glance at the twin snakes behind. caelatus ferro, tristesque ex aethere Dirae, Monstrous gods of every form and barking Anubis wield et scissa gaudens vadit Discordia palla, weapons against Neptune and Venus and against quam cum sanguineo sequitur Bellona flagello. Minerva. In the middle of the fray storms Mavors, Actius haec cernens arcum intendebat Apollo embossed in steel, with the grim Furies from on high; and in rent robe Discord strides exultant, while Bellona follows her with bloody scourge. Actian Apollo saw the sight, and

7 of 12 desuper; omnis eo terrore Aegyptus et Indi, 705 from above was bending his bow; in terror at this all Egypt omnis Arabs, omnes vertebant terga Sabaei. and India, all Arabians, all Sabaeans, turned to flee. The queen ipsa videbatur ventis regina vocatis herself was seen to woo the winds, spread sail, andv now, even vela dare et laxos iam iamque immittere funis. now, fling loose the slackened sheets. Amid the carnage, the illam inter caedes pallentem morte futura Lord of Fire had fashioned her pale at the coming of death, fecerat ignipotens undis et Iapyge ferri, 710 borne on by waves and the wind of Iapyx; while over against contra autem magno maerentem corpore Nilum her was the mourning Nile, of massive body, opening wide his pandentemque sinus et tota veste vocantem folds and with all his raiment welcoming the vanquished to caeruleum in gremium latebrosaque flumina victos. his azure lap and sheltering streams. at Caesar, triplici invectus Romana triumpho But Caesar, entering the walls of Rome in triple triumph, was moenia, dis Italis votum immortale sacrabat, 715 dedicating to Italy’s gods his immortal votive gift—three maxima ter centum totam delubra per urbem. hundred mighty shrines throughout the city. The streets were laetitia ludisque viae plausuque fremebant; ringing with gladness and games and shouting; in all the omnibus in templis matrum chorus, omnibus arae; temples was a band of matrons, in all were altars, and before ante aras terram caesi stravere iuvenci. the altars slain steers covered the ground. He himself, seated ipse sedens niveo candentis limine Phoebi 720 at the snowy threshold of shining Phoebus, reviews the gifts dona recognoscit populorum aptatque superbis of nations and hangs them on the proud portals. The postibus; incedunt victae longo ordine gentes, conquered peoples move in long array, as diverse in fashion of quam variae linguis, habitu tam vestis et armis. dress and arms as in tongues. Here Mulciber had portrayed hic Nomadum genus et discinctos Mulciber Afros, the Nomad race and the un-girt Africans, here the Leleges and hic Lelegas Carasque sagittiferosque Gelonos 725 Carians and quivered Gelonians. Euphrates moved now with finxerat; Euphrates ibat iam mollior undis, humbler waves, and the Morini were there, furthest of extremique hominum Morini, Rhenusque bicornis, mankind, and the Rhine of double horn, the untamed Dahae, indomitique Dahae, et pontem indignatus Araxes. and Araxes chafing at his bridge. Such sights he admires on Talia per clipeum Volcani, dona parentis, the shield of Vulcan, his mother’s gift, and, though he knows miratur rerumque ignarus imagine gaudet 730 not the events, he rejoices in their representation, raising up attollens umero famamque et fata nepotum. on his shoulder the fame and fortunes of his children’s children.

Plutarch, Life of Marc Antony 25f. [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/plutarch/lives/ antony*.html]

25. Such, then, was the nature of Antony, where now as a crowning evil his love for Cleopatra supervened, roused and drove to frenzy many of the passions that were still hidden and quiescent in him, and dissipated and destroyed whatever good and saving qualities still offered resistance. And he was taken captive in this manner. As he was getting ready for the Parthian war, he sent to Cleopatra, ordering her to meet him in Cilicia in order to make answer to the charges made against her of raising and giving to Cassius much money for the war. 2 But Dellius, Antony's messenger, when he saw how

8 of 12 Cleopatra looked, and noticed her subtlety and cleverness in conversation, at once perceived that Antony would not so much as think of doing such a woman any harm, but that she would have the greatest influence with him. He therefore resorted to flattery and tried to induce the Egyptian to go to Cilicia "decked out in fine array” [Iliad, 14.162, of Hera, decking herself for a meeting with ] (as Homer would say), and not to be afraid of Antony, who was the most agreeable and humane of commanders. 3 She was persuaded by Dellius, and judging by the proofs which she had had before this of the effect of her beauty upon Caius Caesar and Gnaeus the son of Pompey, she had hopes that she would more easily bring Antony to her feet. For Caesar and Pompey had known her when she was still a girl and inexperienced in affairs, but she was going to visit Antony at the very time when women have the most brilliant beauty and are at the acme of intellectual power. 4 Therefore she provided herself with many gifts, much money, and such ornaments as high position and prosperous kingdom made it natural for her to take; but she went putting her greatest confidence in herself, and in the charms and sorceries of her own person.

26 1 Though she received many letters of summons both from Antony himself and from his friends, she so despised and laughed the man to scorn as to sail up the river Cydnus in a barge with gilded poop, its sails spread purple, its rowers urging it on with silver oars to the sound of the flute blended with pipes and lutes. 2 She herself reclined beneath a canopy spangled with gold, adorned like Venus in a painting, while boys like Loves in paintings stood on either side and fanned her. Likewise also the fairest of her serving-maidens, attired like Nereïds and Graces, were stationed, some at the rudder-sweeps, and others at the reefing-ropes. Wondrous odours from countless incense-offerings diffused themselves along the river-banks. 3 Of the inhabitants, some accompanied her on either bank of the river from its very mouth, while others went down from the city to behold the sight. The throng in the market-place gradually streamed away, until at last Antony himself, seated on his tribunal, was left alone. And a rumour spread on every hand that Venus was come to revel with Bacchus for the good of Asia.

Antony sent, therefore, and invited her to supper; but she thought it meet that he should rather come to her. 4 At once, then, wishing to display his complacency and friendly feelings, Antony obeyed and went. He found there a preparation that beggared description, but was most amazed at the multitude of lights. For, as we are told, so many of these were let down and displayed on all sides at once, and they were arranged and ordered with so many inclinations and adjustments to each other in the form of rectangles and circles, that few sights were so beautiful or so worthy to be seen as this.

27 1 On the following day Antony feasted her in his turn, and was ambitious to surpass her splendour and elegance, but in both regards he was left behind, and vanquished in these very points, and was first to rail at the meagreness and rusticity of his own arrangements. Cleopatra observed in the jests of Antony much of the soldier and the common man, and adopted this manner also towards him, without restraint now, and boldly. 2 For her beauty, as we are p197 told, was in itself not altogether incomparable, nor such as to strike those who saw her; but converse with her had an irresistible charm, and her presence, combined with the persuasiveness of her discourse and the character which was somehow diffused about her behaviour towards others, had something stimulating about it. 3 There was sweetness also in the tones of her voice; and her tongue, like an instrument of many strings, she could readily turn to whatever language she pleased, so that in her interviews with Barbarians she very seldom

9 of 12 had need of an interpreter, but made her replies to most of them herself and unassisted, whether they were Ethiopians, Troglodytes, Hebrews, Arabians, Syrians, Medes or Parthians. 4 Nay, it is said that she knew the speech of many other peoples also, although the kings of Egypt before her had not even made an effort to learn the native language, and some actually gave up their Macedonian dialect.

28 1 Accordingly, she made such booty of Antony that, while Fulvia his wife was carrying on war at Rome with Caesar in defence of her husband's interests, and while a Parthian army was hovering about Mesopotamia (over this country the generals of the king had appointed Labienus Parthian commander- in-chief, and were about to invade Syria), he suffered her to hurry him off to Alexandria. There, indulging in the sports and diversions of a young man of leisure, he squandered and spent upon pleasures that which Antiphond calls the most costly outlay, namely, time. 2 For they had an association called The Inimitable Livers, and every day they feasted one another, making their expenditures of incredible profusion. At any rate, Philotas, the physician of Amphissa, used to tell my grandfather, Lamprias, that he was in Alexandria at the time, studying his profession, and that having got well acquainted with one of the royal cooks, he was easily persuaded by him (young man that he was) to take a view of the extravagant preparations for a royal supper. 3 Accordingly, he was introduced into the kitchen, and when he saw all the other provisions in great abundance, and eight wild boars a-roasting, he expressed his amazement at what must be the number of guests. But the cook burst out laughing and said: "The guests are not many, only about twelve; but everything that is set before them must be at perfection, and this an instant of time reduces. For it might happen that Antony would ask for supper immediately, and after a little while, perhaps, would postpone it and call for a cup of wine, or engage in conversation with some one. 4 Wherefore," he said, "not one, but many suppers are arranged; for the precise time is hard to hit." This tale, then, Philotas used to tell; and he said also that as time went on he became one of the medical attendants of Antony's oldest son, whom he had of Fulvia, and that he usually supped with him at his house in company with the rest of his comrades, when the young man did not sup with his father. 5 Accordingly, on one occasion, as a physician was making too bold and giving much annoyance to them as they supped, Philotas stopped his mouth with some such sophism as the: "To the patient who is somewhat feverish cold water must be given; but everyone who has a fever is somewhat feverish; therefore to everyone who has a fever cold water should be given." The fellow was confounded and put to silence, whereat p201 Antony's son was delighted and said with a laugh: "All this I bestow upon thee, Philotas," pointing to a table covered with a great many large beakers. 6 Philotas acknowledged his good intentions, but was far from supposing that a boy so young had the power to give away so much. After a little while, however, one of the slaves brought the beakers to him in a sack, and bade him put his seal upon it. And when Philotas protested and was afraid to take them, "You miserable man," said the fellow, "why hesitate? Don't you know that the giver is the son of Antony, and that he has the right to bestow so many golden vessels? 7 However, take my advice and exchange them all with us for money; since perchance the boy's father might miss some of the vessels, which are of ancient workmanship and highly valued for their art." Such details, then, my grandfather used to tell me, Philotas would recount at every opportunity.

29 But Cleopatra, distributing her flattery, not into the four forms of which Plato speaks, but into many, and ever contributing some fresh delight and charm to Antony's hours of seriousness or mirth, kept him in constant tutelage, and released him neither night nor day. She played at dice with him, drank with

10 of 12 him, hunted with him, and watched him as he exercised himself in arms; and when by night he would station himself at the doors or windows of the common folk and scoff at those within, she would go with him on his round of mad follies, wearing the garb of a serving maiden. 2 For Antony also would try to array himself like a servant. Therefore he always reaped a harvest of abuse, and often of blows, before coming back home; though most people suspected who he was. However, the Alexandrians took delight in their graceful and cultivated way; they liked him, and said that he used the tragic mask with the Romans, but the comic mask with them. 3 Now, to recount the greater part of his boyish pranks would be great nonsense. One instance will suffice. He was fishing once, and had bad luck, and was vexed at it because Cleopatra was there to see. He therefore ordered his fishermen to dive down and secretly fasten to his hook some fish that had been previously caught, and pulled up two or three of them. But the Egyptian saw through the trick, and pretending to admire her lover's skill, told her friends about it, and invited them to be spectators of it the following day. 4 So great numbers of them got into the fishing boats, and when Antony had let down his line, she ordered one of her own attendants to get the start of him by swimming onto his hook and fastening on it a salted Pontic herring. Antony thought he had caught something, and pulled it up, whereupon there was great laughter, as was natural, and Cleopatra said: "Imperator, hand over thy fishing-rod to the fishermen of Pharos and Canopus; thy sport is the hunting of cities, realms, and continents."

Pliny, Natural History 9.119-121 [edited and translated by H. Rackham, 1940, Loeb Classical Library]

119 nec haec summa luxuriae exempla sunt. duo fuere maximi uniones per omne aevum; utrumque possedit Cleopatra, Aegypti reginarum novissima, per manus orientis regum sibi traditos. haec, cum exquisitis cotidie Antonius saginaretur epulis, superbo simul ac procaci fastu, ut regina meretrix lautitiam eius omnem apparatumque obtrectans, quaerente eo, quid adstrui magnificentiae posset, respondit una se cena centiens HS absumpturam.

120 cupiebat discere Antonius, sed fieri posse non arbitrabatur. ergo sponsionibus factis postero die, quo iudicium agebatur, magnificam alias cenam, ne dies periret, sed cotidianam, Antonio apposuit inridenti computationemque expostulanti. at illa corollarium id esse et consumpturam eam cenam taxationem confirmans solamque se centiens HS cenaturam, inferri mensam secundam iussit. ex praecepto ministri unum tantum vas ante eam posuere aceti, cuius asperitas visque in tabem margaritas resolvit.

121 gerebat auribus cum maxime singulare illud et vere unicum naturae opus. itaque expectante Antonio, quidnam esset actura, detractum alterum mersit ac liquefactum obsorbuit. iniecit alteri manum L. Plancus, iudex sponsionis eius, eum quoque parante simili modo absumere, victumque Antonium pronuntiavit omine rato. comitatur fama unionis eius parem, capta illa tantae quaestionis victrice regina, dissectum, ut esset in utrisque Veneris auribus Romae in Pantheo dimidia eorum cena.

119. Nor are these the topmost instances of luxury. There have been two pearls that were the largest in the whole of history; both were owned by Cleopatra, the last of the Queens of Egypt—they had come down to her through the hands of the Kings of the East. When Antony was gorging daily at recherché

11 of 12 banquets, she with a pride at once lofty and insolent, queenly wanton as she was, poured contempt on all his pomp and splendour, and when he asked what additional magnificence could be contrived, replied that she would spend 10,000,000 sesterces on a single banquet. Antony was eager to learn how it could be done, although he thought it was impossible. Consequently bets were made, and on the next day, when the matter was to be decided, she set before Antony a banquet that was indeed splendid, so that the day might not be wasted,a but of the kind served every day—Antony laughing and expostulating at its niggardliness. But she vowed it was a mere additional douceur, and that the banquet would round off the account and her own dinner alone would cost 10,000,000 sesterces, and she ordered the second course to be served. In accordance with previous instructions the servants placed in front of her only a single vessel containing vinegar, the strong rough quality of which can melt pearls.b She was at the moment wearing in her ears that remarkable and truly unique work of nature. Antony was full of curiosity to see what in the world she was going to do. She took one earring off and dropped the pearl in the vinegar, and when it was melted swallowed it. Lucius Plancus, who was umpiring the wager, placed his hand on the other pearl when she was preparing to destroy it also in a similar way, and declared that Antony had lost the battle—an ominous remark that came true. With this goes the story that, when that queen who had won on this important issue was captured, the second of this pair of pearls was cut in two pieces, so that half a helping of the jewel might be in each of the ears of Venus in the Pantheon at Rome.

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