‘Ut sumus in Ponto, ter frigore constitit Hister.’
10. The Ibis was written at the beginning of his exile. Cf. l. 1,
‘Tempus ad hoc, lustris bis iam mihi quinque peractis.’
The title was taken from the poem in which Callimachus attacked Apollonius Rhodius under the name of Ibis. Cf. l. 55,
‘Nunc, quo Battiades inimicum devovet Ibin,
hoc ego devoveo teque tuosque modo.’
Ovid studiously conceals the identity of the enemy whom he attacks; l. 61,
‘Et quoniam, qui sis, nondum quaerentibus edo,
Ibidis interea tu quoque nomen habe.’
He had once been a friend of the poet, but had proved false to him, doubtless in connexion with the circumstances which caused his banishment; cf. l. 85, ‘capiti male fido,’ l. 130, ‘perfide.’ He persecuted Ovid’s wife, and tried to get possession of his property.
The conjectures that the unknown was Messalla Corvinus or the poet Manilius may be dismissed at once. Many hold that Hyginus is meant; Prof. Ellis suggests the delator Cassius Severus (Tac. Ann. iv. 21), or T. Labienus (Sen. Contr. x. praef. 4), or the astrologer Thrasyllus (Tac. Ann. vi. 20). To the same person probably are addressed Tr. iii. 11, iv. 9, v. 8; Pont. iv. 3.
11. The Epistulae ex Ponto, in four Books, were written A.D. 12-16. In tone they resemble the Tristia, but the composition is more careless, and the friends to whom he writes are mentioned by name.