ABSTRACT
Much like the South Wind as it whips up the wild waves when the Pleiades’ group shines through the torn clouds, he never tired of harassing the squadrons of the foe, and sending his snorting steed through the hottest fires of battle. The problem is prope qualis when taken as a simile that is not wholly accurate, but rather an approximate depiction of the reality, so to speak. According to Shorey – Laing (1919) prope qualis “seems a rather prosaic limitation”; Page – Palmer – Wilkins (1896) write: “the introduction of this word before qualis is very remarkable” stating rightly that, unlike prosaic writers, poets never introduce comparisons with apologies and qualifications. It is worthwhile and useful to have a look at TLL and what it can tells about the use of prope.
