Commentary on the Heroides of Ovid

Heinsius observes of this epistle, that it has suffered more, perhaps, than any other from the carelessness and incorrectness of transcribers, and that in many places it is so defaced, one is at a loss how to gather any consistent sense. I have been deeply sensible of this in the translation, and must own that there are several passages about which I am not myself satisfied. However, I have taken all possible pains not to mistake the author's meaning, and have generally fixed upon that sense which seemed to be most natural and easy, and to agree best with the whole tenor of the epistle. The oldest editions, and some manuscripts, present us with the following distich, as fit to be prefixed to this epistle: “Accipe, Cydippe, despecti nomen Acontî,
Illius in pomo qui tibi verba dedit.
”

"Receive, Cydippe, this, subscribed by your despised Acontius, by him who deceived you with the inscription upon an apple."

Pone metam. Acontius, as we have seen, had already deceived Cydippe: she might therefore be apprehensive of some now fraud, and in this notion refuse to read his letter. Acontiu, endeavours to prevent this, by assuring her that he had no farther intentions of that kind, and that, satisfied with having once obtainad her promise, he meant no more, than to remind her of her engagements, and give such advice as might tend to her recovery.