§140. For the Greek poetry, maidens plus gamble on the meadows, and therefore subject has experienced much scholarly interest that complete dialogue is impossible. ” As the Stehle Stigers demostrates, the latest meadow are an area out-of virginity, in addition to of the loss, the fresh new destiny of its plant life parallel to that away from a great maiden. The brand new antique instance of the new motif was, naturally, Persephone’s fateful selecting of your own vegetation during the an attractive meadow and you will in the company of their own family members. It’s got for ages been noticed that one of the meadow’s defining qualities try the unproductiveness, and this really stands within the clear contrast to your virility of your own ploughed occupation. Much like the metaphor regarding ploughing is expressed regarding Athenian greatest dictum to the intent behind marriage, therefore it is implicit on Russian individualized away from holding a great plough along side door of your newlywed’s bed room. The bride’s songs, on the other hand, will never be concerned about virility, doubt of the the noisy quiet the fact anything is provided towards the bride during the payment for just what she seems to lose. The latest question of your own maiden’s music as well as the bride’s lament was perhaps not age bracket, however, charm and its particular irrevocable losings, depicted just like the sheer depletion.
As an alternative, the fresh meadow are good locus out-of sensual potentiality and you can “waking sexual sense,” a desirable yet , hazardous spot for girls, where, just like the Rosenmeyer sets it, there aren’t any guys, but “risks out of predation hover at the edges
§141. The new haunts of the maidens was breathtaking and ineffective, be they wild places, particularly meadows and you can forest, or spaces which can be, in reality, expanded and secure. This second choice is given that commonplace due to the fact former, but possess additional connotations. On meadows, new maiden is actually unprotected along with the organization out of their particular many years-mates-it is contained in this mode that she is generally seen of the their unique future husband, and you may using this form you to she could be snatched. The picture away from a safe flower lawn, as well, often is russian american girls sexy due to the new bride’s moms and dads, with her protected and lavish existence in the adult house, that’s coming to an end just like the positively because the to play inside the this new meadows. Right here probably the most hitting parallel with the Russian wedding songs appear once again regarding Catullus 62, where in fact the chorus away from maidens refuses to give much better so you can matrimony and you will measures up a good maiden so you’re able to a flower during the a good walled backyard in which neither cattle neither plough can be jeopardize it. While it’s safe, the fresh flower was beautiful and you may common, however, the moment it’s plucked it one another is out and you can is out off check, not “sweet” and “dear” so you can boys and you can girls, a fortune similar to that of new maiden:
Ut flos qui during the saeptis secretus nascitur hortis, ignotus pecori, nullo convulsus aratro, quem mulcent aurae, firmat sol, educat imber. multi illum pueri, multae optavere puellae: idem sperm tenui carptus defloruit ungui, nulli illum pueri, nullae optavere puellae: sic virgo, dum intacta manet, dum cara suis est; sperm castum amisit polluto corpore florem, nec pueris iucunda manet, nec cara puellis.
Suffice they to say that the meadow might have been aptly explained since the a good “room full of Eros” and you may “framework to own online game conducive to help you pleasure out-of amorous appeal,” and yet and additionally a gap which is rarely the latest locus regarding sex
Same as a flower expands undetectable within the an enclosed lawn, not familiar in order to cows, uprooted by zero plough, a flower the breezes caress, sunlight improves, the newest precipitation rears. Of several children, of numerous maidens notice they- One exact same rose shortly after it withers, plucked from the a smooth nail, Zero youngsters, zero maidens interest: Only therefore an excellent maiden, so long as this woman is unblemished, are beloved in order to her family relations; Immediately after she loses the pure rose, their own looks defiled, She does not will still be enjoyable in order to youngsters, nor beloved to maidens.