Sulpicia 3.16

Question 1

What’s special about 3.16

Answer 1

Uses lots of elisions- more than all her other works combined. Shes angry and upset

Question 2

Gratum est

Im glad

Answer 2

Sarcastic- sets tone of he poem

Question 3

togae

of a toga

Answer 3

a woman wearing a toga/prostitute

Question 4

pressumque quasillo

weighted down with a wool basket

Answer 4

also means ‘oppressed’. Slaves would spin wool

So shes saying ‘you have sex w. slaves’ and is trying to be insulting

Question 5

Scortum quam Serui filia Sulpicia:
Solliciti sunt pro nobis, quibus illa dolori est
Be better for you than Sulpicia, daughter of Servius
People are worried about me, they for whom that is the greatest cause of concern

Answer 5

Sibilance- hissing in anger
mentions Servius to make a point of her own high position compared to his ‘tarts’
Solliciti sunt- people are- v. vague reference. Trying to make Cerinthus jealous w insinuations?

Question 6

ignoto toro

lowborn bed

Answer 6

unclear whose bed
‘They dont want me to fall for a man who sleeps w slaves’
or
‘they dont want me to come in second to a girl who hasnt had my advantages’
either way its an insult