recognition from her elegies, hoping her poetry will not end up on an unknown couch. Although she yearns for a lasting legacy as a writer, Sulpicia may also be addressing concerns about her romantic relationship leading her to an unknown bed. Regardless, Sulpicia adds complexity to the female voice with the line sit tibi cura togae (“let it be care of the toga for you” 4.3), fighting against the idea of female voice as mere complaint. Here, the jussive subjunctive adds a tone of gentle warning, but also clearly conveying her emotions to Cerinthus. She uses her power and strongly asserts what she wants whether that is her career as an elegist or a stable relationship with a loyal lover.
In Sulpicia 5, Sulpicia’s poetic voice reaches its peak as she openly declares herself powerless, expressing her desperate desire for her lover’s care. The word calor (5.2) introduces a nuanced duality, possibly alluding to the heat of passion and physical illness. Positioned at the end of the line, its emphatic location asserts the importance of the word in conveying her vulnerability. This notion stands in stark contrast with the word lento (“lazy” 5.6), typically describing an uninterested lover. Sulpicia challenges traditional gender roles in elegies by embracing the word calor to represent herself as the sick one rather than following the usual portrayal of a male figure as the sick lover. Furthermore, directly addressing Cerinthus in the first line, Sulpicia does not shy away from communicating her desires. Her usage of pronouns like mea (“my” 5.2), ego (“I” 5.3) throughout the passage amplifies her narrative strength, shaping her language with directness. She also uses the same number of tuae (5.1) and tu (5.6) with the first person pronouns, symbolizing the equal footing of her and her lover. Although social norms may deem her inferior, she demands respect from her lover and refuses to be silenced because of her gender. The rhetorical question, mihi quid prosit morbos evincere, si tu / nostra potes lento pectore ferre mala? (“what would it benefit me to conquer the illnesses if you are able to bear our ills in your indifferent chest” 5.5-6) suggests her unwillingness to conquer illness without Cerinthus willing her to do so. The deliberative question, rather than a direct question, indicates how she is conscious of social expectations, highlighting her struggle to empower her poetic voice. Yet, the repeated evincere (“to conquer”) in lines 3 and 5 emphasizes the inherent power in her language, using a strong word that signifies conquest. She confidently asserts her stance, expressing her unwillingness to continue the romantic affair, unless it is mutual. Sulpicia’s childlike expressions show how she can fearlessly articulate the strong emotions she has about love.
Sulpicia’s poetic voice emerges as a strong rebellion against social norms, challenging stereotypes in Roman elegy. With bold expressions of her emotions and defiance of established conventions, Sulpicia attests to the resilience of women in the face of social constraints, paving the way for more people who were silenced to speak up.