Propertius: The Poems

Flamboyant and passionate, the love poems of Propertius are among the most beautiful to have been written in any language. In this eloquent and consistently faithful translation, W. G. Shepherd does full justice to the work of this remarkable Latin poet. Born about 48 B.C. in Umbria, Sextus Propertius was one of a group of poets influenced by Greek Alexandrian mannerism who developed the genre of Roman love elegy. Through shifting moods of ecstasy and frustration, his early works celebrate his obsessive love for his mistress, Cynthia. All his work is distinguished by strong visual imagery, richness of language, and an intensely personal style.