The Return of Orpheus

Propertius’ second book is in two ways a response to the Georgics. From its opening poem, it responds to Virgil’s declaration of intent to write an epic for Octavian; and that polemic continues to be couched primarily in mythological terms. At the same time, Propertius responds in a variety of ways to Virgil’s Orpheus as a representation of the tragic, solipsistic love-poet. Propertius’ Orpheus behaves rather differently. Propertius does not deny the tragedy of Cornelius Gallus; he refigures him not as Orpheus but as Adonis, who must die but is eternally reborn.