The speaker, whom we shall call Tibullus (at 1.9.83—in a poem not included in our anthology—when referring to the same amorous triangle, he names himself), is in love with a boy, Marathus (as revealed at 1.4.81–84). Marathus, on the other hand, cruel to Tibullus (cf. 1.8.81), is in love with Pholoe.
