Ovid

• Nil equidem inquiram nec, quae celareparabis, insequar: et falli muneris instar erit

Ovid decrees he would never

investigate her indiscretions

• repetition of negatives inforce

• The short snappy ‘Insequar’ emphasizes the strength of the statement

• Si tamen in media deprensa tenebereculpa et fuerint oculis probra videndameis

He describes a situation in which he catches her in the act

• The idea that it ‘HAS’ to be seen by his eyes, otherwise he wouldn’t care

• He describes her deeds as wicked, but this shows he loves her, but detests only what she does

• Quae bene visa mihi fuerint, bene visa negato: concedent verbis lumina nostra tuis

He admits that a simple denial from her will prevail over what he has seen to be true

• The use of the word concede shows surrender and submission to her

• The repetition of ‘Bene visa’ foregrounds its meaning, which is that the act was ‘Clearly seen’

• Prona tibi vinci cupientem vincere palma est, sit modo ‘non feci’ dicere lingua memor:

Ovid describes how easy it would be for her to defeat him

• Again, he talks about defeat and submission on his part as shown with ‘Prona tibi’ (leaning forward to [her])

• The fact that the words in the second statement are all short show the simplicity of what she has to do

• Cum tibi contingat verbis superareduobus, etsi non causa, iudice vince tuo.

Ovid seems resigned when he describes how easily she can win, not through evidence and loyalty but through defeating his

• The blunt 3 worded final statements emphasize the finality and resignation of his submission to her