Propertius’s lucky survival

by Westbrook

In this poem, Westbrook is referring to the fact that many ancient poets, including Propertius, have come down to us by a process that depends largely on luck, supplemented by the skills of many generations of modern scholars. You can read the blog post explaining more about this process here.

To scroll the original and English translation of the poem at the same time - tap inside one box to select it and then scroll.

Sextus Propertius

In Italy two thousand years ago
His journey through obscurity began
With Cynthia, a pair more brazen than
Horace’s monument. Our bookshelves show
They would survive, but it was no sure thing:
They had two millennia to finesse
Of ignorance, neglect and what forgetfulness,
Water, worm or weary copyist might bring.

Their phantoms, blurring down the whispering ages,
Centuries ago, but now near journeys’ ends,
Found refuge with the ascetic textual sages –
Aloof from many, but forgotten poets’ friends –
Transmuting echoes by their alchemy
Into the gold of a Propertian elegy.

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More Poems by Westbrook

  1. The last of Cynthia?
  2. The lover’s complaint to the door
  3. The Ballad of Edward and Johnny
  4. Westbrook jokes about the novel
  5. Propertius and his sleeping beauty
  6. Cynthia
  7. Menelaus reflects
  8. Back off, Bassus!
  9. Propertius on the razzle
  10. San Lorenzo
  11. A change of fortune
  12. The beauty of simplicity
  13. Back off, Gallus!
  14. The last of Cynthia!
  15. No thank you, Tullus
  16. Tenbury Wells
  17. Seven billion and one
  18. Strangers in the night
    19. View Latin Poems