Bibliographic title
Cynthia Vane: A Source in Propertius, Elegies 4:7
Periodical or collection
The Nabokovian
Periodical issue
no. 60
Page(s)
31-38
Publication year
Abstract
Shows the source of Cynthia Vane's first name (in "The Vane Sisters") in an elegy of Propertius to his mistress, Cynthia. Elegy 7 of Book 4 starts off (to translate into English): "So ghosts do exist: death is not the end of all, and a pale shade vanquishes and escape the pyre." Propertius dreams of the spirit of dead Cynthia leaning over his bed.