Just a brief note in regard to the whole discussion of AGAPAW as equivalent to Latin DILIGO, I thought the following lyric of Catullus might perhaps be illuminating. What is fascinating is the way the poet equates his own former affection for the Lesbia he now knows to be a nymphomaniac with the most intense sort of familial love that he imagines a Roman male can feel. What is signiicant here (perhaps) for our understanding of AGAPAW, at least insofar as DILIGO authentically conveys its sense in Latin, is the apparent equation of it with BENE VELLE, "to wish well." Catullus #72 is the poet's explanation of what is probably the most masterful 2-line poem written in Latin, Catullus #85: [Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris. Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior. "I hate and I love. Why do I do that, you may ask. I don't know, but I feel it happening and I'm being crucified."] Here's a text and my version of #72: dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum Lesbia. nec prae me uelle tenere Iouem. dilexi tum te non tantum ut uulgus amicam. sed pater ut natos diligit et generos. nunc te cognoui. quare etsi impensius uror. multo mi tamen es uilior et leuior. qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis cogit amare magis sed bene uelle minus. "There was a time you'd say you knew ('biblical'sense, NOSSE) Catullus alone, Lesbia, and you wouldn't want Jove's embraces more than mine. I cherished (DILEXI) you then, not just as any guy loves his woman but as a father cherishes (DILIGIT) his sons and sons-in-law. Now I know you: so, though my passion burns the more, all the more worthless and trifling are you to me. "How can that be?" you ask. Because hurting a lover that way stokes a lover's lust but undermines his respect." Carl W. Conrad Department of Classics, Washington University One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA 63130 (314) 935-4018 cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwc@oui.com WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/