Un candore d'altri tempi (congettura a Eleg. in Maecen. 1 22)

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).