Martial: The power of love

casta nec antiquis cedens Laevina Sabinis

Laevina, no less chaste than the Sabine women a antiquity

et quamvis tetrico tristior ipsa viro

and more severe herself than her ever so stern husband

dum modo Lucrino, modo se demittit Averno,

while having a dip, sometimes in the Lucrine Lake, sometimes in Lake Avernus

et dum Baianis saepe fovetur aquis,

and often while being pampered in the baths at Baiae,

incidit in flammas: iuvenemque secuta relicto

she fell into the flames of love: and followed a young man and abandoned

coniuge Penelope venit, abit Helene

her husband - she came as Penelope, she left as Helen

“casta…Sabinis” analysis

In Roman literature, the Sabine women were traditional models of chastity, a virtue expected of Roman wives and daughters

“et…viro” (and more austere herself than her ever so severe husband) analysis

Sabine women were sometimes described as serious but by Martial’s day women who presented themselves this way were considered humourless and old fashioned. That Laevina is more austere than her already stern husband isn’t a compliment, but Martial sets Laevina up for a fall, heightening the contrast

“demittit“ analysis

Martial’s verb choice here implies that Laevina ‘lowers herself’ into the water or into boats on the lakes or that by her life of leisure and luxury, Laevina ‘lowers herself’ morally as well

“iuvenemque secuta relicto coniuge“ analysis

Laevina is presented as following her young man into adultery and as a consequence of this, her husband is left behind. The mirroring of word patterns in ‘iuvenemque secuta’ with ‘relicto conjuge’ emphasises her shift from the influence of one man to another

“et Penelope venit, abit Helene“ analysis

Martial’s punchline is also emphasised by the construction of the closing four words where Penelope venit is mirrored by abit Helene. Martial’s humour relies on juxtaposition: Penelope was faithful and waited for her husband, Helen’s adultery led to the Trojan war.