[2] nigris ocellis: cf. Hor. Carm. 1.32.11 “Lycum nigris oculis nigroque crine decorum” ; Cic. AP 37 “spectandum nigris oculis nigroque capillo.”
[3] longis digitis: cf. Prop. 2.2.5 “fulva coma est longaeque manus, et maxima toto corpore, et incedit vel Iove digna soror.” Even the absurdly long fingers pictured in the older vase-paintings may indicate the partiality of the ancients for this mark of beauty.
[4] nec nimis elegante: none too refined; cf. the similar use of nimis and nimium in Catul. 56.4; Catul. 60.5; Catul. 64.22; Catul. 93.1; and on the litotes also Mart. 9.81.3 “non nimium curo” .
[4] lingua: after mentioning details that appeal to the eye, Catullus passes to that which offends the ear,—for elegans is apparently not used of the shape of features. The slobbering lips (v. 3) were naturally accompanied by a thick and awkward tongue that disfigured the speech.
[5] cf. Catul. 41.4.
[6] provincia: i.e. Gallia Cisalpina, commonly called simply Provincia.
[7] comparatur: it may be that the city-man Mamurra himself had inflamed the vanity of the provincial Ameana by comparing her with the popular beauty of the capital. It is not likely that the relations between Catullus and Lesbia were discussed in the Province.
