Ovid: Advice to a Rejected Lover

si non accipiet scriptum inlectumque remittet,

If she won’t accept what you’ve written and sends it back unread

lecturam spera propositumque tene

Hope that she will read it and stick firmly to your intention

tempore difficiles veniund ad aratra iuvenci

In time stubborn young bulls come to the plough

tempore lenta pati frena docentur equi

In time horses are taught to accept unyielding reins

ferreus assiduo consumitur anulud usu

An iron ring is worn out through constant use

interit assidua vomer aduncus humo

The crooked ploughshare is ruined by the unrelenting earth

quid magis est saxo durum, quid mollius unda?

What is there harder than rock or softer than water?

dura tamen molli saxa cavantur aqua

Yet hard rocks are hollowed out by soft water

Penelopen ipsam, persta modo, tempore vinces:

Only stand firm, and in time you will win over Penelope herself:

capta vides sero Pergama, capta tamen

You know it took a long time for Troy to be captured, but captured it was

What does the heavy, plodding metre in lines 1–2 reflect?

The repeated rejection and persistent efforts of the lover, spondaic rhythm mirrors the slow struggle

What literary device is used in non accipiet scriptum inlectumque remittet and why?

Chiasmus - emphasises the sequence of events & mimics the “bouncing back“ of the rejected letter

What does lecturam spera mean?

Hope that she will read it - the lover should keep sending letters until she gives in

What is Ovid’s main argument in lines 3–8?

Constant effort eventually wears down resistance

Why is the rhythm faster in lines 3–4?

To suggest resistance will be overcome quickly, contrasts humorously with words suggesting slowness

What is humorous about the metre in lines 3–4?

The quick rhythm contradicts words like tempore and lenta frena which suggest slowness

Why is tempore important?

It’s emphatically placed as time is the key to Ovid’s argument

Why does Ovid mention an iron ring (ferreus anulus)?

Iron was the hardest common metal - shows even hard things wear down over time

What is notable about the repetition of assidua?

Same position in consecutive lines, different meanings but both stress persistence

Why is the word order in dura … molli saxa … aqua important?

Interlocking word order highlights contrasts between hard and soft & symbolises the water seeping into the rock

Who was Penelope?

Wife of Odysseus, famous for loyalty and resisting suitors for 20 years

Why is Penelope an interesting example?

Even her resistance, Ovid claims, could eventually be worn down

Why is tempore repeated in line 9?

Links back to lines 3–4 and reinforces the importance of time

Why does Ovid mention Troy?

Troy fell after a long siege - persistence eventually wins

Why is the repetition capta … capta tamen important?

Reinforces the poem’s message that persistence will eventually achieve victory