amores 3.2 - ovid

Non ego nobilium sedeo studiosus equorum;

I do not sit, fond of noble horses;

cui tamen ipsa faves, vincat ut ille, precor.

However, whoever you prefer, let him win, I pray.

ut loquerer tecum veni, tecumque sederem,

I came so that I could talk with you, and that I could sit with you,

ne tibi non notus, quem facis, esset amor

In case the love, which you cause, might not be known to you.

tu cursus spectas, ego te; spectemus uterque

you watch the race, i you:

quod iuvat, atque oculos pascat uterque suos.

let us both watch what pleases us and so both feast our eyes.

o, cuicumque faves, felix agitator equorum!

o, lucky charioteer, whoever you favour!

ergo illincurae contigit esse tuae?

therefore what is he, that you care for him?

charioteers

• seen as celebrities + would attract the attention of the audience

• figurines modelled after charioteers and gladiators

quid frustra refugis? cogit nos linea iungi

why do you run away in vain? the line forces us together;

haec in lege loci commoda circus habet

the circus has these advantages in its seating rules

tu tamen a dextram, quicumque es, parce puellae;

however, you on the right, whoever you are, spare the girl;

contactu lateris laeditur ista tui

she is being hurt by contact with your body

tu quoque, qui spectas post nos, tua contrahe crura,

you too, who is watching behind us, pull your legs back,

si pudor est, rigido nec preme terga genu!

and, if you are decent, don’t press her back with your hard knee!

seating

• tight, people packed together as tightly as possible.

sed iam pompa venit - linguis aminisque favete!

but now the procession comes - quiet your voice and mind!

tempus adest plausus - aurea pompa venit.

the time for applause is here - the golden procession is coming.

prima loco fertu passis victoria pinnis

in first position is victory, carried with wings spread

maxima iam vacuo praetor spectacula circo quadriiugos aequo carcere misit equos

since the circus is clear, the leader has released the four-horse teams, the greatest show, from the fair start.

iamque patent iterum reserato carcere postes;

and now again the gates are opened;

evolat admissis discolor agmen equis

a multi-coloured column of charging horses fly out

nunc saltem supera spatioque insurge patenti!

now overtake at least and surge in the open space!

attitudes of spectators

• admiration decays to criticism.

  • repeats ‘quid facis?’ (What are you doing) and goes on to call the charioteer ‘infelix’ (fool)