Un candore d'altri tempi (congettura a Eleg. in Maecen. 1 22)
Author(s)
Date Issued
2017
Type
article
Volume
38
Issue
38
Start Page
19
End Page
34
ISSN
2754304
Journal
Abstract
At eleg. in Maecen. 1 22 the anonymous poet introduces the main argument used in Maecenas’
defence against criticisms concerning his dress and character (1 21 quod discinctus eras, animo
quoque, carpitur unum). Manuscripts read: diluvii hoc nimia simplicitate tua. Editors persuasively
correct with Baehrens diluis hoc (for diluvii hoc). Also nimia simplicitate has been suspected by
many scholars (rightly, in my opinion, because the two words together always have negative meaning,
viz. « excessive ingenuity »). Neverthless no persuasive correction has been put out so far. I suggest to
read: diluis hoc nivea simplicitate tua. Niveus, a poetic word, is very close to the transmitted nimius;
in metaphorical sense and joined with simplicitas it is used, until late antiquity, only in Mart.
viii 73 2 pectore, nec nivea simplicitate prior, where the two words occur in the same verse-position.
The epigrammatist shows elsewhere knowledge of the first Elegia. in Maecenatem and
probably imitates also another verse of that elegy in the same epigram, addressed to a patron sketched
as a new Maecenas. The adjective is particularly appropriated in eleg. in Maecen. 1 22, because
niveus would suit the metaphor of diluere (« wash away », viz. « refute a charge ») and even structural
emphasis is given to Maecenas’ candor (cfr. vv. 1 3 sg., 135-40).
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