Editing Tibullus (section)

== Second book of poetry ==
{{main|Tibullus book 2}}
About the second book, scholars can only say that in all likelihood it was published before the poet's death in 19 BC. It is very short, containing only 6 poems (428 verses), but apparently complete.<ref>Dettmer, H. (1980). [https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1524/phil.1980.124.12.68/html "The arrangement of Tibullus Books 1 and 2"]. ''Philologus'', 124(1–2), 68–82; pages 78 ff.</ref> 

The first poem, of 90 lines, describes an idealised life in the country; the second, of 22 lines, celebrates the birthday of a certain Cornutus. The fifth poem is a hymn to Apollo celebrating the installation of Messalla's son as one of the fifteen priests who were guardians of the [[Sibylline Books]] (the {{lang|la|[[Quindecimviri sacris faciundis]]}}).<ref>Johnson, W. R. (1990). [https://www.jstor.org/stable/26308540 "CHAPTER 5: MESSALLA'S BIRTHDAY: THE POLITICS OF PASTORAL"]. ''Arethusa'', 23(1), 95-113.</ref>

In poems 3–6 of the second book the place of Delia is taken by "Nemesis", which is also a fictitious name. Nemesis (like the Cynthia of [[Propertius]]) was probably a [[courtesan]] of the higher class; and she had other admirers besides Tibullus. He complains bitterly of his bondage, and of her rapacity and hard-heartedness. In spite of all, however, she seems to have retained her hold on him until his death.{{sfnp|Postgate|1911|p=930}}

Ovid, writing at the time of Tibullus's death, says:<ref>[[Ovid]], ''Amores'', 3.9, 31-32.</ref> "{{lang|la|Sic Nemesis longum, sic Delia nomen habebunt, / altera cura recens, altera primus amor}}" ("Thus Nemesis and Delia will be long remembered: one Tibullus' recent love, the other his first"). Nemesis is the subject of the last four poems of book 2. The connection had lasted a year when 2.5 was written (see ver. 109). It is worth noticing that [[Martial]] selects Nemesis as the source of Tibullus's reputation.<ref>[[Martial]], viii.73, 7; cf. xiv.193.</ref>{{sfnp|Postgate|1911|p=931}}